We live in a world of uncertainty and stress. Wars rage. Violence persists in our cities. The threat of terrorism looms. Jobs are uncertain. Money is tight. Health problems make daily living a challenge. The future sometimes looks bleak, with the prospect of one crisis after another. We can only wonder what the world will look like for our children or grandchildren. In this chaotic and confusing world, we all need more peace and tranquility.
Even Christians are not immune from worrying about the future. Christ told His disciples: "Let not your heart be troubled." But frankly, Jesus also recognized the challenges His followers would face. He even said, referring to the last days: "When the Son of man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" What did He mean? And maybe more importantly, for each of us individually, will He find faith in us? We all want faith. We all need faith.
But it seems that our world does everything it can to dismantle and erode it. We need to know how we can have the faith Christ was talking about, especially leading up to His return. Faith is important. It's vital. But frankly, most people today don't really know how to have stronger faith. Today, on Tomorrow's World, let's look into the Scriptures to find out how.
And by the way, get ready to request your free copy of the study guide we're offering today: John 3:16--Hidden Truths of the Golden Verse. So, what are "Three Keys for Stronger Faith?" I'll be right back with the answer. ♪ Welcome to Tomorrow's World, where we find real answers for life and living, from the pages of the Bible. When Jesus was alive and on this earth, He not only taught about the Kingdom of God to those who came to Him, He also healed them of their diseases.
He was moved with compassion when He saw their suffering. In one instance, a man came to Him with a son who was demon possessed, and as a result had seizures. After Jesus' disciples could not cast the demon out, the man begged Christ to do so. And then the man said something I think we can all relate to. This is found in Mark 9:24...
"Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, 'Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" There are times when we believe... we know God is there... we believe in Him... we know He has power... but we need help with our unbelief. We want to be more at peace... have stronger conviction... and feel a tighter connection with God, as we navigate through life. Jesus didn't chide or correct this man for his request. He had compassion for him.
And He will have compassion for us, if we also are wanting stronger belief and stronger faith. So, how can we have that? Before discussing our three keys to stronger faith, we need to define what faith is. Faith is often misunderstood. Some think that it is just the "power of positive thinking." They may not say it exactly in those terms, but in effect that's the result. As long as you stay positive, think good thoughts, God will bless you.
Should we be hopeful and positive and try to avoid thinking negatively? Absolutely. But having faith in God is not like having a wish list we just pull out of our pocket. Just thinking positive thoughts isn't what faith is all about. Faith is not just "belief in Jesus." There are too many people for whom that is the sum total of their religion. And don't get me wrong--belief in God and belief in His Son are vitally important. But those are both only the beginning.
There's so much more that God wants us to see and understand. As James wrote, in James 2:19... "You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble!" Even Satan and his demons believe in God. And yet clearly they're not pleasing God and don't have any intention of trying to do what He says. So, faith must go beyond just believing in God. We don't have blind faith. Our faith is based on concrete evidence.
Our belief in the existence of God, for example, is bolstered by the proofs that we find in creation all around us. Our belief in God is based on evidence, from the tiniest DNA molecule to the largest swirling galaxy. As David wrote in Psalm 19:1... "The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork." Even so, Hebrews 11:1 shows another aspect of faith. As many students of the Bible know, that is where the definition of faith can be found.
Let's turn there, Hebrews 11:1... "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." You see, we can have faith and trust in God even while we wait for our prayers to be answered. Even while we wait for God to intervene in our lives. In those times, Hebrews 11:1 is saying our faith is the evidence we have now, before that prayer is answered. It's the substance of things hoped for, while we patiently wait for God to intervene.
And that's true no matter how dark the day is or discouraging the circumstances. The evidence--or substance-- which is our faith--that is what we hold on to, to give us hope and confidence. It's not just a vague, impersonal, theoretical hope that things will work out. Rather, it's the conviction that there is a living Creator who gives us every heartbeat and every breath. It's the rock-solid confidence that our God has our best interests at heart.
Notice a few verses later, we read this, in Hebrews 11:6... "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." So, how can you and I have more faith? How can we have stronger faith? In a dark and depressing age, this is an important question. And we'll address that in our next segment. Before that, I want to take a moment to mention the study guide we are offering today.
It's entitled, John 3:16--Hidden Truths of the Golden Verse. Written by fellow presenter Gerald Weston, it will help you see what true faith and belief are and what kind of actions they require. As he states: "Many professing Christians have the mistaken idea that 'believing on Jesus' requires no other action on their part... Jesus Himself tells us that we must not only hear His sayings--we must do them!" Find out for yourself the steps God wants you to take in your life.
Order John 3:16--Hidden Truths of the Golden Verse. We'll send you your own copy, absolutely free. So, call, click or write to us. Order now. ♪ For today's free offer call... Or go to... This clear and straight- forward resource will help you understand this vital truth-- straight from the pages of the Bible. If you're calling for the first time, you will also receive a free annual subscription to Tomorrow's World magazine.
Six inspiring issues discussing news, science, and modern culture will help you make sense of your world from a biblical perspective. Call today and join millions around the world who are turning to Tomorrow's World for truth, prophecy, and hope in these confusing times. Call now! Or go to... ♪ In the last segment of our program we saw that when a man brought his son to Christ to be healed, he asked for help to even have the right kind of faith and belief.
That's the right attitude we should have when we come to God. And He will help us if we really want it. But are there specific things we can do, as we are asking God for stronger faith? Absolutely. And in the remainder of today's program we'll discuss those things. We'll break it down into three keys. Key Number 1: Get to know the real Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is not real to most people. That may sound shocking, but let me explain. Many people will say they believe in Jesus.
They may even pray and go to church. But when it gets right down to it, most do not really know the true Jesus. How can I say that? Well, let's look at Scripture. Let's start at the beginning. And when I say the beginning, I mean John 1:1. This verse is describing the earliest moment recorded in the entire Bible, the earliest moment in history. Let's turn there, to John 1:1... "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God."
John 1:1 tells us that before the Universe was created, or even the angels were created, there were just two Beings. These two Beings were God the Father and the Word. The Word was the One who became Jesus Christ. He was born as a man, and died for our sins. But back to the Scripture. How are we to understand the statement: "the Word was with God and the Word was God?" It's describing the God family, God the Father and the Word.
This is not so strange when we think of it in terms of the human family. I am McNair. My wife is also McNair-- she carries my family name. But my wife is also with McNair, because she's with me. She's with McNair and she is McNair. It's really not complicated when you think of it that way. The Word--who became Jesus Christ--was at the very beginning with God the Father. But He was God as well. He was God and He was with God. The Word and the Father comprised the God Family.
Not only that, but the Word was the God who created all things, including the vast Universe. Notice, in John 1:3... "All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." Did you know that? The One who became Jesus Christ was the One who created the stars and planets. He was the One Who said, "Let there be light, and there was light." He created the mountains, the seas and the rivers.
He took dust from the ground and made the first man. He took a rib from Adam and made Eve. He created everything, and that includes you and me. In other words, Jesus is not only our Savior, He is our Creator. Going on, we read, in John 1:10... "He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name." We read earlier about the family relationship between the Father and the Word. But here we read that Jesus came into the world to give us the right to become children in His family. What a profound truth. We have a chance to be in God's very Family. Going on, John 1:14...
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." So, there's no question this is talking about Jesus Christ. Going on, in John 1:18... "No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him." Now, why is this significant? Well, a lot of people sort of assume the Father was the God of the Old Testament.
But this says that no one has seen God at any time. That's significant. During the Old Testament era, people saw God numerous times. And let's just look at one example. In Exodus 24:9... "Then Moses went up, also Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel... But on the nobles of the children of Israel He did not lay His hand. So they saw God, and they ate and drank." They did not see the Father. Jesus said no one has seen God at any time.
Therefore, the One they saw was the Word. Who became Jesus Christ. Think about that for a moment. So, the Word created the Universe... He fashioned Adam out of the ground... And He also thundered the Ten Commandments down from Mount Sinai. That is not a common conception most people have about Jesus Christ. So what's the point? We need to know Christ. And frankly, many simply have a wrong concept of Who He is. He is not a rebellious son who overturned His Father's laws.
No, in fact, He was the all-powerful God who thundered those laws down from the mountain, engulfed in fire and smoke. Our Elder Brother is powerful and mighty and the Ever-Living One. And as we approach Him, and ask Him to help us in our unbelief, we need to correctly understand just Who we are coming before. Jesus warned His followers to not be deceived into accepting a false Christ, especially those living in the end-times. Notice what He said in Matthew 24:4...
"And Jesus answered and said to them: 'Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, "I am the Christ," and will deceive many.'" Get to know the real Jesus. That's the first step to having stronger faith. But what does "getting to know Christ" look like? We'll discuss that in the next segment. But at this time, let me again mention the free study guide we're offering today, John 3:16--Hidden Truths of the Golden Verse.
In it Gerald Weston explains as we get to know Christ, what our relationship with our Father in Heaven should be like: "Jesus tells us we are to worship the Father in spirit and truth...that He came by His Father's authority and not His own...that He came to do the Father's will... and that He came to declare the Father." There's so much in this booklet. You need it to help you really understand your Savior, and Your Father in Heaven.
We want you to have this material--it's been paid forward for you. So, call, write or order online. Order now. ♪ For today's free offer call... Or go to... This clear and straight- forward resource will help you understand this vital truth-- straight from the pages of the Bible. If you're calling for the first time, you will also receive a free annual subscription to Tomorrow's World magazine.
Six inspiring issues discussing news, science, and modern culture will help you make sense of your world from a biblical perspective. Call today and join millions around the world who are turning to Tomorrow's World for truth, prophecy, and hope in these confusing times. Call now! Or go to... ♪ Welcome back. In the previous segments of our program, we discussed what faith is and it's not. We saw that the first key to stronger faith is simply to get to know the real Jesus.
But we can't stop there. We need to know what He wants us to do. And that brings us to the next key to stronger faith. The second key is: #2: Regularly study God's word. If we believe in God our Father and in Jesus Christ, we need to know what they say. We need to know what they want us to do. And we do that by reading the Book that God inspired to be written. That, of course, is the Bible. Some people sort of think of the Old Testament as harsh, and the New Testament as good. But that's wrong.
It's all God's word. It's all good. And by studying it, we learn what God thinks and what He expects of us. And by doing so, we grow in faith. Notice what Paul said about this, in Romans 10:17... "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." The Bible is the mind of God in print. It's intended so we can learn how to live. And as we follow God's instructions, we grow in faith. When Jesus was on this earth, He made this statement, recorded in Matthew 5:17...
"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill." Christ didn't do away with the Law. He came to fulfill it-- to fill it to the full. In fact, as we saw in the last segment, Christ was the One who actually gave it at Mount Sinai. So, it makes no sense that He would do away with that same law. The Greek word translated "Law" here, its "nomos." It has the connotation of feeding and caring for animals. So, think about it.
We know that in the physical realm, food gives us nutrients and minerals to make our bodies work. So, God's Laws--His words and instructions--are like food for us, spiritually. Jesus explained this in John 6:63... "It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life." Even the best physical food only feeds us for a short time. It's temporary. But through spiritual food we gain eternal life.
And along the way, it teaches us how to live, and how to relate to our fellow man, and how to honor our Father and our Elder Brother. It gives us spiritual strength and energy and faith. Jesus explained this further, back in John 6:57... "As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me." Feeding on Christ means listening to and doing what He says. It means going the right way and rejecting the wrong.
It means being willing to be corrected. And frankly, God's loving correction helps us grow in faith, as we become more confident we're aligned with God and on the right path. Notice what the writer of Hebrews said, in Hebrews 4:12... "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account." We can't be afraid of God's gentle correction. It teaches us to make better choices and overcome our sins. It gives us spiritual strength as we grow in faith and confidence toward God. So, let's not fill our minds with spiritual junk food, flooding our thoughts with non- stop trivia and entertainment.
Let's not let our life revolve around mindless and meaningless television programs, YouTube clips and Instagram reels. A little diversion is good, if it's clean and wholesome. But to have a stronger sense of trust and connection with God, we need to make regular Bible study a part of our life. We need to feed on Christ. But that's not all. There's another key that we need. What is that third key? #3: Let Christ live in you. Let's go to one of the writings of the Apostle Paul, Galatians 2:20...
"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." When we accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins, we're not just saying we're sorry for what we've done wrong. We're allowing our old self to be crucified with Christ. Our old ways, our past style of life, our sins, it all dies on the stake with Him.
And then we carry on, living a new life, but not through our own power. Let's go back to what Paul said, in the last half of Galatians 2:20... "...and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." In the New King James, when it says "faith in the Son of God," that word "in" is translated incorrectly. Look it up in a Bible resource. It should be "of."
It should be, "the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith of the Son of God." In other words, our faith isn't sufficient. We need Christ's faith in us. That's a much more powerful and dynamic faith than we could ever have. It's the very faith and mindset Christ had from eternity past... it's the faith and courage He had while alive on this earth... and it's the faith and focus He has to this day, as He sits at the right hand of the Father in Heaven.
Christ wants us to see things from His perspective. He wants us to look beyond our trials by having His very mind and spiritual focus, as hard as our trials sometimes are. In short, He wants to put His faith in us. Think about that. And think about how that can change your life. You may think you don't have what it takes to have the faith God wants you to have. Well guess what? You don't. But that's okay, because Christ does.
And if you let Christ teach you... if you let Him gently correct you... if you let Him live His obedient life in you... He will help you to grow in faith and strength you need in your life. And it will lead right into living with Him and the Father forever in the very Family of God. What could be more awesome than that? There's so much more to discuss on this topic. But we simply don't have time in this short program.
And that's why we're offering you the free study guide, John 3:16--Hidden Truths of the Golden Verse. In it, Gerald Weston writes: "Ask yourself, then, what kind of life Christ would live in us. Would it be a life rejecting the very life He said He lived? Or will Christ live in Christians today the way He lived on this earth, developing in them the same character, based on God's law, which the Apostle Paul calls spiritual, holy, just, and good?" There's so much in this booklet.
You need it to help you really understand your Savior, and your Father in heaven. Find out for yourself-- the steps God wants you to take in your life. Stronger faith comes from the very Son of God living in us. And He will do that if we ask Him to. You need this booklet. Order yours today. Call, click, or write. Order now. ♪ For today's free offer call... Or go to... This clear and straight- forward resource will help you understand this vital truth-- straight from the pages of the Bible.
If you're calling for the first time, you will also receive a free annual subscription to Tomorrow's World magazine. Six inspiring issues discussing news, science, and modern culture will help you make sense of your world from a biblical perspective. Call today and join millions around the world who are turning to Tomorrow's World for truth, prophecy, and hope in these confusing times. Call now! Or go to... ♪ In today's program, we've discussed three keys to having stronger faith.
The Bible is full of encouragement from cover to cover, that can help us overcome the difficulties we face in our everyday life. Especially as we find ourselves in these perilous end-times facing times of distress. The Apostle Paul faced plenty of obstacles in his own life. He understood discouragement. But he also knew how to face trials and troubles squarely and positively. He made this encouraging observation to Timothy, in 2 Timothy 1:6...
"...Stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." Having stronger faith is not just the power of positive thinking... Having stronger faith is not just believing in Jesus... It takes actively responding to God's Spirit as our Father in Heaven and our Elder Brother Jesus Christ work in us, and even live in us.
As we've seen today, if we want stronger faith, there are concrete steps we can take. There are things we can do. Let's review what we've covered today: #1: Get to know the real Jesus Christ; #2: Regularly study God's word; and #3: Let Christ live in you. When we're frightened and worried, in trouble and distressed, we don't have to despair. We can go to God for help. We can cry out to our Elder Brother, "I believe; help [me in] my unbelief."
And don't forget to request our free literature offered today, John 3:16--Hidden Truths of the Golden Verse. Thank you for watching. And be sure to join us next time, as Gerald Weston, Wallace Smith, and I explain the Good news of Tomorrow's World, and the truth, comfort and hope it can bring to you and your family. ♪ For today's free offer call... Or go to... Call today and join millions around the world who are turning to Tomorrow's World for truth, prophecy, and hope in these confusing times.
♪ The preceding program is produced by the Living Church of God.