Faith Strengthening

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Faith strengthening is a vital aspect of the Christian walk, as believers are called to grow in their trust and reliance on God. In Romans 10:17, we learn that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God, emphasizing the importance of engaging with Scripture to bolster our faith. As we delve into the teachings of Jesus, we see in Matthew 17:20 that even a faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains, illustrating that the potency of faith lies not in its size but in the object of our faith—Christ Himself. Moreover, in Ephesians 2:8-9, we are reminded that our salvation is through faith, a gift from God, which lays the foundation for a life of trust and obedience. The Apostle Paul encourages believers in 2 Corinthians 5:7 to walk by faith, not by sight, reinforcing the idea that our spiritual journey often requires stepping into the unknown with confidence in God’s promises. Additionally, the role of spiritual gifts, as discussed in 1 Corinthians 12, serves to strengthen the faith of the church collectively, as each member contributes to the body of Christ. Ultimately, faith strengthening is a continuous process of seeking God, embracing His word, and participating in the life of the church, leading to a deeper, more resilient faith.

Spiritual Gifts

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John Piper preaches on the importance of understanding and utilizing spiritual gifts for the purpose of strengthening others' faith. He emphasizes that spiritual gifts are given to be shared and used to help others maintain their faith during life's challenges. Piper encourages believers to focus on

Romans 10:17

“Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”

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Matthew 17:20

““Because you have so little faith,” He answered. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.””

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Ephesians 2:8

“For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,”

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2 Corinthians 5:7

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

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1 Corinthians 12:1

“Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.”

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Romans 3:22

“And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand. He did this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and to justify the one who has faith in Jesus.”

Ephesians 2:5

“made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!”

Hebrews 11:1

“Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see. This is why the ancients were commended. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised. And so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. Now those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac on the altar. He who had received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his bones. By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were unafraid of the king’s edict. By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin. He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.”

Romans 4:16

“Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.”

John 1:12

“But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.”