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Romans 4:17-21, I Corinthians 2:4, 5

Romans 4:17-21 teaches some tremendous truths regarding faith. Abraham was told by God that God had made him the father of many nations. At the time, this was physically impossible. Abraham had no physical evidence that it would be so yet God put this promise in the past tense. God claimed to do two things — quicken (or make alive) the dead and call those things which are not as though they were. It does not say that God calls things that are as though they are not.

People sometimes get confused and think they are to deny that problems exist and call it “living by faith.” They do not go to their fellow believers for help and encouragement because they are pretending there are no problems. How can something be fixed if we do not admit it is broken?

When God calls us to do something or gives us a promise, He does not care about the circumstances or situations. God said He MADE Abraham the father of many nations. He was not moved by Abraham’s weaknesses.

As a result of what God said, Abraham believed in hope that he would be the father of many nations. When God tells us something, we can believe it. We must ask ourselves, “What is God telling each of us in our particular circumstances in life?” If we do not know what He has said, we cannot have faith in Him. Abraham was able to believe when everything looked hopeless because God had spoken His promise to Him. In whatever “mess” we are in, we must ask ourselves what God has said to us and stand upon that — not regard the circumstances. We must also be careful to remember that we will not necessarily see the solution immediately.

Abraham did not arrive at the place where he was not “weak in faith” immediately. The scriptures tell us that it took many years for him to get to this place. We all have to start somewhere and will probably start off staggering.

To walk in faith, we must first find out what God has promised. We must know what God has said. Others, including pastors and preachers we admire, may be able to help us but we must remember that our faith is not in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. We can be fully persuaded that what God promises, He will perform. That is having faith in God!