1. Hearing the Word
Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
2. Speaking the Word aloud
Faith comes by hearing the word and speaking. This is why reading the Bible aloud is so important.
3. Focusing on the salvation
It is the Grace hat has saved us but it was faith that made it possible.
Romans 4:16
Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all.
Ephesians 2:8-9
[8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.
4. Faith added by salvation itself
Faith can actually come through the salvation which is Jesus.
Acts 3:16
And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
Faith in Jesus healed the man but that faith came through Jesus.
5. Knowing your measure of faith
We should know where our faith is.
Romans 12:3
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Illustration: Many people ask about this scenario. It is the classic case of hiding the Jews from the Nazis and contemplating whether to lie or not when the Gestapo knocks at the door. There is a third option available to us. If we have faith God will deliver us without us having to lie he will and the evil ones would just turn around and leave. This is actually the perfect will of God but we need a measure of faith to do that. If we don't have the faith we may lie to save the Jews. The great thing about God is that He is merciful and when we don't we use the measure of faith that we have but remain righteous He will meet us there.6. Faith through tithing
"God doesn't want what you don’t have. He wants what you have. It's about faith."
Randy Grier.
When we tithe and give offerings we are trusting God to be able to provide for us. When we hold money back we are saying we trust ourselves and to the money we have to take care of us instead. All the while money is not alive. It is the created. We should trust the creator instead.
7. Adding things to faith
2 Peter 1:5-9 AMP
[5] For this very reason, adding your diligence to the divine promises, employ every effort in exercising your faith to develop virtue (excellence, resolution, Christian energy), and in exercising virtue develop knowledge (intelligence), [6] And in exercising knowledge develop self-control, and in exercising self-control develop steadfastness (patience, endurance), and in exercising steadfastness develop godliness (piety), [7] And in exercising godliness develop brotherly affection, and in exercising brotherly affection develop Christian love. [8] For as these qualities are yours and increasingly abound in you, they will keep you from being idle or unfruitful unto the full personal knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). [9] For whoever lacks these qualities is blind, spiritually shortsighted, seeing only what is near to him, and has become oblivious to the fact that he was cleansed from his old sins.
By adding these things to our faith we will abound in our knowledge to the word. It is interesting that, in this particular passage, it is not learning (the word) that will lead to these actions. Rather it is these actions that will lead to revelation of the word.
These are not necessarily things that we add to our faith. Faith is always foundational but as we exercise faith these things are activated or added to us.
Note that these are not fruits of the spirit. Those are found in Galatians 5. It is not good to title this list if the writer (Paul) does not himself title them.
8. Releasing faith
One way to begin a session of prayer is to repeat words of affirmation. This will start us off and, after a while, the Holy Spirit will lead us into worship. We shouldn't act before the prompting of the Holy Spirit.Everything is about releasing the faith. You shouldn’t sing, speak or shout and laugh (in a worship service) without release of faith. It is not a show. God can always tell. Praise brings a release of faith greater than words.
9. Resisting tests and trials
Whenever we are believing God for something the Devil will bring tests and trials. Difficulties are designed to get our mind out of the place of belief and begin rationalizing or doubting.
James 1:2-4
[2] My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; [3] Knowing this , that the trying of your faith worketh patience. [4] But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
10. Rejoicing
The key attitude to attain peace is rejoicing. The answer to tests and trials is rejoicing. The longer it takes to receive the manifestation the more we should rejoice because the closer we are to it. When we rejoice we get over to the place of receiving.1 Peter 1:5-9
[5] Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. [6] Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: [7] That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: [8] Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: [9] Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
The rejoicing will take us to a place of peace. We are overcome with a joy unspeakable. It releases our faith and takes us into a place of peace.
There is a practical reason to all this. If we will receive the breakthrough one day and it will make us full of joy, then why not start rejoicing right now? Whether in Heaven or, earlier, on earth, we have a breakthrough for what we are believing. Act on earth as you would in Heaven.
1 Peter 4:12-13
[12] Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: [13] But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
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[The majority of the following material is based on sermons at Promise of Life Church and Christian literature available in its library.]
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