What is the source of our faith?What is the source of our faith?Romans 10:13 For "whoever calls on the Romans 10:13 For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." 14 How name of the LORD shall be saved." 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!" 16 But they have not all of good things!" 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?" 17 So then who has believed our report?" 17 So then faith faith comes comes by hearing, and hearing by the by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.word of God.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.the Jew first and also for the Greek.2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is is given by given by inspiration of God, and inspiration of God, and is is profitable for profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.equipped for every good work.

Matthew 7:21" Not everyone who says to Matthew 7:21" Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 "Many will say to Me Father in heaven. 22 "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 "And then I will declare to Your name?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'you who practice lawlessness!'

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is it is impossible to please impossible to please Him, Him, for he who comes for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and to God must believe that He is, and that that He He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.Him.

Some have a weak faith and some have a Some have a weak faith and some have a strong faith. strong faith. Matthew 8:23 Now when He got into a boat, Matthew 8:23 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And His disciples followed Him. 24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. 25 Then His waves. But He was asleep. 25 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" 26 But He said to them, "Why are you 26 But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then He arose fearful, O you of little faith?" Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.there was a great calm.

Hebrews 5:12 For though by this time you Hebrews 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need ought to be teachers, you need someone someone to to teach you again the first principles of the teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes partakes only only of milk of milk is is unskilled in the word of unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, food belongs to those who are of full age, that that is, is, those who by reason of use have their those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. senses exercised to discern both good and evil. 6:1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the 6:1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary elementary principles principles of Christ, let us go on to of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.and of eternal judgment.

Why is it important to have a strong faith?Why is it important to have a strong faith?

2 Peter 3:18 grow in the grace and 2 Peter 3:18 grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.Christ.

Ephesians 4:11 And He Himself gave some Ephesians 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be to be apostles, some prophets, some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; Christ; 14 that we should no longer be 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,deceitful plotting,

15 but, speaking the truth in love, may 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all thingsgrow up in all things into Him who is the into Him who is the head -- Christ -- 16 from whom the whole head -- Christ -- 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. 17 This I say, edifying of itself in love. 17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you you should no longer walk as the rest of the should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;because of the blindness of their heart;

19 who, being past feeling, have given 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But you uncleanness with greediness. 20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.holiness.

Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we must give the Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have more earnest heed to the things we have heard, heard, lest we drift away.lest we drift away. 2 For if the word 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 received a just reward, 3 how shall we how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvationescape if we neglect so great a salvation, , which at the first began to be spoken by the which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard heard Him,Him, described in, described in,

Philippians 1:23 For I am hard pressed Philippians 1:23 For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, and be with Christ, which is which is far better.far better.

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, have finished the race, I have kept the faith.I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, righteous Judge, will give to me on that will give to me on that DayDay, and not to me only but also , and not to me only but also to all who to all who have loved His appearing.have loved His appearing.

Let’s examine some reasons why some Christians have problems in developing a strong faith. 1. They didn’t count the cost of discipleship

Luke 14:26 "If anyone comes to Me and Luke 14:26 "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 "And whoever does not bear his cross 27 "And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 "For which of you, intending to build a 28 "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it -- cost, whether he has enough to finish it -- 29 "lest, after he has laid the foundation, 29 "lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 "saying, 'This man began to mock him, 30 "saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'to build and was not able to finish.'

31 "Or what king, going to make war 31 "Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 "Or else, him with twenty thousand? 32 "Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 "So likewise, whoever of you peace. 33 "So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.My disciple.

Some do not grow because of:Some do not grow because of:• Doubt Doubt • A lack of trust in GodA lack of trust in God

Psalm 143:8 Cause me to hear Your Psalm 143:8 Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.You.

1. Do you base your faith on a gut feeling or 1. Do you base your faith on a gut feeling or do you base it upon the Word of God?do you base it upon the Word of God?2. How much time do you spend studying God’s Word?3. How often do you pray?4. Do you have confidence in your salvation?5. Do you resist peer pressure and say no?6. Are you willing to work for the Lord?Acts 26:20 that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.

7. Do you attend the church services 7. Do you attend the church services faithfully?faithfully?