Hearing is the way by whih faith comes to men.

Not be genetics or hereditary descent (John 1:13

Not by feeling

Not by dreams, visions, or voices

Not through the eloquence, earnestness, or any other good quality of the preacher

Not by hearing anything other than the word of God

What kinds of hearing produces faith?

Hearers that want salvation (John 7:17

Hearers who are convinced that they are lost (Acts 2:36-37

Hearing of the condescending pity and the melting love of Jesus (Romans 2:4

Hearing of the authority of the faith (I Thessalonians 2:13

Hearers that are willing to have the gospel explained (Mark 16:16

Hearers that take the message as personal and pointed (Acts 2:37

The role hearing played in the cases of conversion

On the day of Pentecost, the people listened and heard and were convicted (Acts 2:22

Others of Jerusalem who heard the message believed (Acts 4:1-4.

Those of Samaria gave attention to the message spoken and they believed Philip and were baptized (Acts 8:5,6,12

Cornelius heard the words commanded of God and was baptized (Acts 10:32-33

For all these cases of conversion, it was necessary to hear in order to believe (Romans 10:17. Have you heard? Do you believe? Have you obeyed the gospel?

Developing faith

Hebrews 11:1 - This chapter lists people who showed true faith.

Hebrews 11:7 - Noah had faith in what he had not yet seen.

Hebrews 11:8 - Without faith, we cannot serve God.

What does Romans 10:17 say about how faith is developed?

Faith comes by hearing the word of God.

In I Corinthians 2:5, what did Paul tell them their faith would rest upon?

Their faith would rest upon the power of God.

Given what the Holy spirit said in I Corinthians 15:14, is faith worth anything if it is based on fiction?

Certainly not!

Maintaining faith

Read Philippians 1:21-30. What would help our faith to grow and develop?

Standing firm in one spirit and suffering for Christ’s sake.

What was God’s message to the early Christians in Revelation 2:10?

Be faithful unto death!

What do we learn about faith from the witnesses referenced in Hebrews 12:1?

We have people cheering us on. We should be motivated to maintain our faith.

Losing faith

List some reasons why people stop serving the Lord.

Relationships with unfaithful people

Some calamity happens that is beigger than their faith

Discord in the church

Failure to study and grow

Hypocrisy among other Christians

In Colossians 2:4-8, what did Paul warn the Colossians about?

Persuasive arguments, philosophy and empty deception, and things which have the appearance of wisdom

Acts 22:1-11 - Paul is struck blind on the way to Damascus.

He saw Jesus (Acts 9:6.

He saw that he was a sinner (I Timothy 1:15.

This was a revelation to him because he thought he was doing God’s will.

We must study the word of God so that we will know what sin is.

He saw being religious was not enough (Philippians 3:5-8.

Paul saw that the religion of his parents was not enough.

He saw conscience is not a safe guide (Acts 23:1.

I John 3:20-21 - The intellect, emotion, willpower, and conscience are all parts of the Biblical “heart”.

He saw he must change when wrong (Philippians 3:5-8.

An honest man will change from error to truth when he learns the truth.

He saw the tragedy of living a lie (Galatians 1:15-17.

He saw prayer does not save the sinner (Acts 9:11

Paul couldn’t just pray and be saved. He had to do what God commanded him to do.

He saw that baptism is necessary for salvation (Acts 22:16.

He saw that he must make Jesus’ word the rule of his life (Galatians 1:6-12.

Scientific foreknowledge

Quarantine for leprosy

Leviticus 13:1-3

Circumcision on the eighth day

Leviticus 12:3

Clotting protein level peaks on day eight

Life is in the blood

Leviticus 17:11

Washing

Numbers 19

Ship building ratio 30:5:3

Genesis 6:15

Fulfilled prophecy

Babylon and Jeremiah 50-51

Jeremiah 50:9 - Medes and other nations

“a horde of great nations”

“the kings of the Medes”

“Consecrate the nations against her”

Jeremiah 50:14 - Siege

“Draw up your battle lines against Babylon on every side”

Jeremiah 50:38 - Waters become dry

Jeremiah 51:39 - Babylonians drunk

“I will serve them their banquet and make them drunk”

“I will make her princes and her wise men drunk”

Jeremiah 50:26 - Eventual decline

“Pile her up like heaps”

“Never again to be inhabited”

Historical accuracies

Sargon, king of Assyria (Isaiah 20:1

The Hittites (Exodus 23:28

Erastus (Romans 16:23

The proconsul, Sergius Paulus (Acts 13:7

I Thessalonians 2:13