Faith Comes by Hearing and Fear Steps in Next
Faith comes by hearing, a familiar scripture, is one most Christians know.
Romans 10:17 (AMP)
So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the [preaching of the] message concerning Christ.
To accept Jesus, your ears heard the salvation message first. Because He’s in heaven, you couldn’t touch or see Him. You accept Jesus by faith because either a family member, friend, or minister told you about Him.
Then, your heart and mind contemplated what it meant. Because God’s Word is Holy Spirit-driven, He got involved the moment the Gospel message reached your heart. God’s Word produces faith when a person receives Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Faith Comes by Hearing Meaning
In addition to hearing someone speak words of faith, a person reads the Bible and those words get inside them in abundance. You can’t overdose on God’s Word! Faith comes when you hear God’s Word in your mind whether you read a verse or recite it.
Therefore, you can hear faith with your ears, mind, and heart. Sometimes I make up songs using scripture and sing to myself. What’s the result? Faith comes by hearing the song!
Unfortunately, fear gets inside us the same way faith does.
Fear Comes by Hearing
My mother repeated to her children what her parents taught her. She’d panic and nearly scream when we were close to a pond or a pool. She’d say, “If you go in the water, you’ll drown.”
As youngsters, we believed her and carried those words in our hearts into adulthood. To this day, I haven’t overcome fearing water because I put faith in her words.
This scripture describes what I experienced.
Romans 14:23 (AMPC
But the man who has doubts (misgivings, an uneasy conscience) about eating, and then eats [perhaps because of you], stands condemned [before God], because he is not true to his convictions and he does not act from faith. For whatever does not originate and proceed from faith is sin [whatever is done without a conviction of its approval by God is sinful].
I could still blame Mom because I continue to fear water but I don’t. I’m responsible for my thoughts.
Fear causes a person to doubt because it’s the evidence they believe in. If you don’t believe that’s true, meditate on this scripture.
Luke 8:49-50 (AMPC)
While He spoke, a man from the house of the director of the synagogue came and said [to Jairus], Your daughter is dead; do not weary and trouble the Teacher any further.
But Jesus, on hearing this, answered him, Do not be seized with alarm or struck with fear; simply believe [in Me as able to do this], and she shall be made well.
Jairus made the right choice. He decided to cast out fear and didn’t give it a chance to overshadow faith. Had he chosen fear, Jesus couldn’t heal his daughter. Someone might say, “Jesus can do anything.” He can but Jesus gave this father conditional instructions before He could heal Jairus’ daughter.
Faith Comes By Hearing and How to Replace Fear with Faith
Here are suggestions from my article “Overcome Fear with Faith: Let God Help You Now” on ways to live free from fear.
- No matter what, put the Word first and develop a deeper-working-believing-knowledge of truth.
- Connect quicker to God by praying away worry.
- Recognize fear when it comes. Immediately stop cowering under its pressure. The longer fear lives inside and controls you, the deeper its roots grow.
- Change any thoughts or actions that don’t line up with faith. Honor what Jesus did for you—He died to deliver you from the fear of bondage (Hebrews 2:15).
- Back away from fear and run to Jesus.
- Don’t put up with mental bombardments of fearful thoughts. Immediately listen to praise music, dance before the Lord, bind the spirit of fear, and celebrate. As a believer, you’re spiritually connected to God and free in Jesus.
Also, get these Bible verses deep inside you.
Joshua 1:8-9 (AMPC)
This Book of the Law won’t depart out of your mouth. Meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you be prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.
Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Don’t fear, neither dismay for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
More Thoughts About Faith Comes By Hearing
Fighting fear on your own strength without God doesn’t work. You wear out quickly.
What does work is to actively build your faith to cause fear to diminish. Basically, fear operates as a spirit. Believers have authority over evil spirits through the blood of Jesus and His name! That means you have power over fear.
Just as you grow from glory to glory, it may take a while before faith dominates fear. Just know that you can’t be in fear and faith at the same time.
Keep practicing the above suggestions on how to replace fear with faith and be especially aware of your thoughts. Thoughts and emotions tend to agree with your sinful flesh to sabotage your spirit.
Moreover, fear isn’t normal for a Christian. If you believe it is, you invite fear to dwell inside your holy temple. Instead, see yourself covered with God’s protective shield.
Proverbs 30:5 (AMP)
Every word of God is tested and refined [like silver];He is a shield to those who trust and take refuge in Him.
Believe that truth and you’re well on your way to living abundantly—fulfilling one of the reasons why Jesus said He came.
John 10:10 (AMP)
The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].
Amen!