Faith Comes When You Hear About Grace

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.-Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)

Faith is the evidence of things not seen. If you can see it, you don't need faith for it.

Oftentimes, when we talk about faith, people will feel condemned, like it is something they have to muster up. Faith comes when you hear something and believe it.

In Romans, Paul tells us how faith comes. So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.-Romans 10:17 (NLT)

In the Gospels, we see stories of people hearing about Jesus, and coming to Him. One of my favorites is about the woman with issue of blood. I especially like the story in Mark's Gospel.

Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”
Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”
But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”
And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”-Mark 5:25-34 (NKJV)


The Bible says she had been that way for a long time, twelve years. She hadn't been hearing about Jesus during that time. She had been looking for help elsewhere. But when she started hearing stories about Jesus, faith in Him arose in her heart. And she received her miracle.

But there is still one more piece that is a part of this story. Grace. That woman, under law, was not supposed to come in contact with other people. She was considered unclean. So, I believe that not only did she hear that Jesus would heal her. She heard that it was safe to be in His presence. She heard that He would not condemn her but love her. She heard that she was forgiven for whatever was potentially holding her in bondage. She heard that He was a healer.

So, that's what we need to hear, stories about Jesus, stories that build our faith in Him, and what He has done for us. We need to hear stories of His grace for us and that He is a healer.

We don't need to hear people's opinions, or about ourselves-those things aren't faith builders. We need to hear about Jesus, just like she did, just like it says in Romans 10:17 and that will change what we believe.

We need to hear it until it roots up all the weeds. We need to heart it until it becomes as real as the next breath we take.

You and I are no different than that woman with the issue of blood. He is saying the same things to you as He did to hear. "Daughter, your faith has made you well. God in peace and be healed of your affliction."


For by grace you have been saved (sozo-saved, healed, preserved, rescued ) through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,-Ephesians 2:8 (ESV)

31 Days of Healing

During the month of October, I will be participating in the Write 31 Days Challenge.The goal of the challenge is to choose a topic and write about it for 31 days. 

For the next 31 days, I will be exploring the subject of healing as found in the ministry of Jesus.  We will be looking at individual cases of healing in all four of the gospels.  I will also share about a few Greek words related to the subject of healing.  If I have time, I might explore what the epistles have to say about healing as well.

The people in these stories are just like us.  People are people.  They have the same universal needs and emotions.  Maybe our thinking is different throughout different cultures, but we are all the same on the inside.

I think the reason God included so many stories in His Word is because we find ourselves there. What I mean is we can easily become part of the story. We can imagine and understand. We can envision what it would be like if that happened to us. And thus, faith is born.

So, I want to explore the stories of healing in the ministry of Jesus.  They were a huge part of His 3 years of earthly ministry, and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). 

I hope you will join me as we explore 31 Days of Healing.

So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.-Romans 10:17 (HCSB)

Day 1: Introductory Post

Day 2: TheMan With the Withered Hand

Day 3: The Demon-Possessed Man

Day 4: Jairus' Daughter
Day 5: The Woman With the Issue of Blood
Day 6: The Syrophoenician's Daughter
Day 7: Healing in Galatia
Day 8: The Ten Lepers
Day 9: Martha's Message From The Centurion's Wife
Day 10: Healing in His Wings
Day 11: The Man at the Pool of Bethesda
Day 12: Healing of Women in the Life of Jesus
Day 13: The Lord's Supper
Day 14: Healing Scriptures
Day 15: Peter's Mother-in-Law
Day 16:  Two Blind Men Healed
Day 17: He Took Our Sicknesses
Day 18: ALL Things Are Possible!
Day 19: The Lord's Supper, Part 2
Day 20: The Healing of Malchus' Ear
Day 21: Grace Causes Healing to Flow
Day 22: Gifts of the Spirit

If you get healed while reading any of the messages in this series, please send me an email at bethlisteningtohim@gmail.com.  
*There are lots of writers writing this month in the category of Inspiration and Faith, so head on over to Write 31 Days and check it out. Make sure you have a look at all the categories under the Linking Up tab. There might be something else there that would interest you too!

Salvation

In the Bible in John chapter 3, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

“How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!”

Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

So, how does someone become born again?

Romans 10:8-13 tells us.

"But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”


Jesus came into the world as a man. He was tortured, beaten, and bruised and nailed by Roman soldiers to a cross to put him to death. But it was all for you and me. After three days of being sealed in a tomb, He was raised to life by the power of God. If you believe this to be truth, and that He did it for you, simply talk to God right now.

You can pray, "Jesus, I ask you to come into my life and make me a new person. I believe you died on the cross and were raised again. I confess you now as Lord. Thank you for making me a new creation. Amen!"

If you prayed that prayer, I encourage you find a church that believes the Bible and start attending so you can spend time with other believers that can encourage you in your faith. Many blessings to you on this new journey!