Some time ago I heard a man who claimed to be a born again believer make a wild statement. He said that he was sick and tired of hearing about faith.
He said he was tired of what he called the “faith message” and thought that many ministers were just making too much about faith. He said that Christians had more to think about and more to do than to be concerned about faith.
How sad that this man didn’t truly know the heart of God.
It’s Impossible To Please Him Without It
Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him.” Isn’t that interesting? Without faith it is impossible to please God. If we as Christians want to please Him, we must have faith.
That is not a doctrine of a denomination. It’s not written in the by-laws of a church or ministry. It’s written in God’s Holy Word, the Bible. That makes it undebatable. Without faith, it is impossible to please God.
Since we have established, by God’s own Word, that faith is required to please Him, then I propose this thought: We need to do everything possible to make our faith grow and be strong.
In Hebrews chapter 4, verse 2 the Bible says,
For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.
This verse tells us that the gospel, the good news, was preached to two groups of people. But the gospel did not profit one group because it was not mixed with faith.
Now to me that makes faith an important item. We should all want the gospel to profit us in our lives. From this biblical example I would say it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that faith is required. After all, without it we cannot please God. Right?
In the book of Luke, chapter 8, a woman followed Jesus. She had been sick for twelve years. She had given her entire livelihood to doctors and was not healed by any of them.
As she followed Jesus, she decided that if she could just touch Him, she would be healed. She moved through the crowd of people and pressed forward until she was able to touch the border of Jesus’ robe.
Jesus felt the power go from Him and he turned and asked, “Who touched Me?” In front of everyone, the woman fell before Jesus and declared the reason she had touched Him and how she was immediately healed.
Jesus then made a statement often overlooked. He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer. Your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” Did you get that? Jesus said her faith had made her well. Is faith important? Well it sure seems so, doesn’t it?
When Jesus was in Capernaum, four men brought a paralytic to Him. Because of the crowd, they took off part of the roof and these four men let down the bed with the paralytic on it. When Jesus saw what they were doing, the Bible tells us that the first thing Jesus saw was their faith. Later the man was healed.
Faith Understood Is Victory
Faith is not a movement. Faith is not a denomination. Faith is a substance in the spirit realm and is required to please God.
God is moved by faith. All through history God has been looking for men and women of faith in order to perform His Word. He is never moved by doubt and unbelief.
According to the Bible, faith is required to receive salvation, healing, the Holy Spirit and holiness.
Without faith we cannot please God or get Him to respond to any request. Without faith the Word will not profit us.
The victory that overcomes the world is our faith and as a Christian we are to live by faith.
Is faith really important? Faith is really important!
The next time someone tells you that faith is not important or they imply that “faith” is a movement, take out your Bible (and you should have one with you at all times) and show them Hebrews 11:6.
Faith is not a movement. It’s not a philosophy. It’s not a doctrine of man. It’s required by God to please God. To me that makes it a very important thing.
Excerpt permission granted by Larry Ollison Ministries
Dr. Larry Ollison is founder and Senior Pastor of Walk on the Water Faith Church and founder of Larry Ollison Ministries. With over forty years in the ministry, he is a very popular speaker nationally and internationally and ministers the Word of Faith through radio, television, Internet, and daily e-mail devotionals. As the author of twelve books (including The Power of Grace, The Practical Handbook for Christian Living, Breaking the Cycle of Offense, Life is in the Blood, and recently released The Paradise of God), he is in frequent demand for radio/TV interviews, book signings, and magazine publications.
Dr. Ollison was raised a Southern Baptist. While majoring in theology at Southwest Baptist University, he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. For many years he traveled extensively speaking at Full Gospel Business Men's meetings and conventions. He later earned an M.A. in Theology and a Ph.D. and Th.D. from Life Christian University.
Currently President of International Convention of Faith Ministries (ICFM), Dr. Ollison is also Vice-President of Spirit FM Christian Radio Network, Missouri State Director of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), and a Trustee on the boards of several international ministries. He is also the host of The Cutting Edge Radio Broadcast and authors The Cutting Edge Daily Devotional.
As the owner of a marine dealership, his extensive business background brings a unique flavor to his teaching. He founded and served as chairman of the Missouri State Marine Board, President of the Marine Dealers’ Association, Vice-President of a bank holding company, along with holding several directorships in various corporations.
Dr. Ollison's strongest areas of teaching are the blood of Jesus, faith, relationships, the Hebrew language, the Holy Spirit, the end times, and heaven. During ministry, he operates freely in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. His use of humor and his ability to make a theological concept simple makes it enjoyable and easy for everyone to understand. Countless testimonies have been received from people who say their lives have been changed after experiencing Dr. Ollison's unique ministry.
Dr. Ollison is a pastor, pilot, teacher, and author. His number one goal is to meet the needs of the people through the teaching of faith in God's Word. He and his wife, Loretta, have two children and six grandchildren.