Study on How To Have A Healthy Faith

Heb 11:1

Intro:

1. Not many years ago the health craze began sweeping the country.

a. This emphasis on having a healthy body is in full swing.

b. Diet programs, exercise programs, health food.

c. Many testimonials of how to get fit and stay that way. (Tommy Lasorda, Jane Fonda, Richard Simmons)

2. Why do we spend so much time, energy and money on our bodies, when sooner or later, we will all get wrinkled, flabby, bald and die?

3. Why do we spend so little time, energy and money on something that will last throughout eternity? --our soul. I Tim 4:8.

4. Truly perceptive people will realize that to have a healthy FAITH is far more important than having a healthy BODY, contrary to popular opinion.

5. All faith is not the same.

a. Living - dead, Ja 2:20

b. Strong - weak, Rom 4:20, 14:1

c. Sincere - counterfeit, I Tim 1:5

6. The Bible also talks about "sound" faith.

a. Titus 2:2, 1:13

b. "sound" comes from Greek meaning "healthy".

7. How can we have a "healthy" faith?

a. First realize man is a complex being (multi- dimensional).

b. He is intellectual, emotional, physical and spiritual embedded in all 3.

c. Physical health requires development in all areas.

d. Spiritual health also must involve intellect, emotion and physical.

I. Faith and Intellect: Believing With Our Heads.

1. Faith is rooted in the thinking process.. not an instinctive quality.

a. It is based on the examination and acceptance of facts.

b. We believe in God through evidence.

(1) Nature, Rom 1:20, Ps 19:1 (cause/effect; design)

(2) Logic and reasoning (something had to start all this)

2. There is a reasonable, rational basis for faith, Heb 11:1, Rom 10:17

a. Through the collection and testing of facts, the Bible has been proven to be the word of God, yet each must decide for himself to believe.

b. God wants us to examine with our minds, Jn 20:30-31

c. Those who examine, then believe are blessed, Jn 20:29

3. Faith is not a leap in the dark, or a "gift" from God.

a. Evidence to be gathered and analyzed.

b. Faith is born in the mind (those incapable of such a process are not held accountable)

c. Noah examined the facts, and built the ark, Heb 11:7.

d. Moses chose to save God as he considered the situation, Heb 11:24-26

4. However, Faith is not a mental process only.

a. If it exists only in the mind it is worthless

b. Unfortunately, many have mentally accepted the faith of the Bible, and were content to "know the truth"

c. More is involved in Biblical faith than mere mental conviction.

II. Faith and Emotion: Believing With Our Hearts

1. Healthy faith must also involve the emotion.

a. Philip told Ethiopian to believe with heart, Act 8:36-38

b. Paul also said we are to believe with our heart, Rom 10:9-10.

2. "Heart" is used in different ways in the scriptures.

a. Man's entire mental and moral make-up, I Pet 3:4 "inner self, hidden man of the heart"

b. Feeling, distinct from thinking process, Mk 12:30, Rom 10:1

3. Healthy faith touches the intellect and the emotion (know I need to exercise)

a. Knowing and obeying the truth should stir our emotions (feel good about exercise)

(1) Make us happier -- more zealous -- loving

(2) Make us more confident and fervent

b. Note the disciples who walked with Jesus on Emmaus Rd., Lk 24:32

c. Faith is not intended to be the cold and emotionless truth.

d. Heb 11:1 "assurance of things hoped for" as well as "evidence".

e. Can you imagine an emotionless David saying: Ps 119:97,103

III. Faith and Physical: Believing With Our Hands

1. As important as fact and emotion are to faith, without a third ingredient, faith is worthless (not healthy, sound)

2. Just as intellect and emotion are put to use in our physical bodies, so a healthy faith must be demonstrated through the work of the hands.

3. Faith requires work -- action -- obedience.

a. Faith works by love, Gal 5:6

b. Thessalonians were praised for their works, I Thess 1:3

c. Paul speaks of the "obedience of faith", Rom 16:26

d. James insisted that faith alone was useless, James 2:18-26

e. Heb 11 is crammed full of examples of working faith.

Conclusion:

1. A healthy faith involves conviction, emotion, and action.

2. If any of these areas are weak, your faith will be weak.

3. To believe in God is costly -- demands are great.

4. But the rewards more than justify the requirements.

5. Don't settle for anything less than a strong, sound, healthy faith.

a. It comes from the word of God, Rom 10:17

b. It causes our hearts to turn to Him, Rom 6:17.

c. It is an obedient faith.

From: Mark Copeland’s Executable Outlines