FAITH: Comes by Hearing the Word of God
Romans 1:29–31: Being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful.
FAITH: Comes by Studying the Word of God
The mental vacuum created by dismissing God was filled (the perf. tense implies filled full) with four forms of active sin: wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. These four in turn express themselves in 17 more specific types of wickedness. 1
FAITH: Comes by Obeying the Word of God
I fear lest, that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced. 2 Corinthians 12:20–21
Jesus, thank You for emptying me of all my unrighteousness, and for filling me with the fullness of Your Holy Spirit. I want to be found by You as Your servant who is living a Spirit-led life. May I be given to the pursuit of Your holiness. May I not be found bound up in sinful practices. Please make me and keep me as a vessel for Your honor.
FAITH: Comes by Experiencing the Transforming Work of God
To be found by Him, in yielded obedience, would bring the greatest joy.
FAITH: Comes by Praying with the Word of God
So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? Matthew 15:16
Dear Father, I need You. I want to know You, experience You, and to understand Your ways and purposes for my life. Teach me to hear and obey…in Jesus Name. Amen.
1. Witmer, J. A. (1985). Romans. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary.
