Scripture Text: "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17 (KJV)

A man by the name of Georges Bernanos (a French Novelist, Political Writer back in 1888-1948) once said:

"Faith is not a thing which one ''loses,'' we merely cease to shape our lives by it."

W.H. Auden (poet) once said,

"May it not be, that just as we have to have faith in Him, God has to have faith in us and, considering the history of the human race so far, may it not be that ''faith'' is even more difficult for Him than it is for us?"

Man has a problem believing in this day and age because he has "ceased to shape his life by it". We are an enlightened bunch you know - and we do not tolerate Biblical preaching and teaching any better than we tolerate eating a big Pizza Pie just before going to bed. Why? Because we get full of the pie, but we don't take time to digest it. What's more . . . we've become as selective about the taste of the preacher's sermons as we have about the taste of the Pizza We order. In other words, "preacher, if you don't make me like you as much as the Pizza Hut, I can shop around you know. So you better make sure you put plenty of what I like on your menu". The sad thing is - preachers "are" preaching what they know their crowd likes to hear - and that's sad because there are very few preachers out there who seek the face of the Lord when they preach, so that they don't have to worry whether or not they have a job next week because they offended somebody.

But that's what the text is about today. Faith is Born in the heart of every man and every woman who hears "THE WORD".

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God". Romans 10:17

Now, in closing today, I have to admit to you that I have fallen into that same crowd of preachers recently. I'm talking about the radio station now. The way we're set up, you can watch the stats and see the listeners (in real time) during those morning hours when we air the ministries on ITGM RADIO. Having been playing music all night long we'd see that at 7:45 AM in the morning we would have a crowd of listeners, and when 8:00 AM rolled around and the Ministries started, the people started dropping off two-by-two. WHOA! Now friends, the Holy Spirit just quickened something to my spirit having said that . . . let me share it with you. When I mentioned that two-by-two, I was of course referring to the flood where Noah was ordered by the Lord to have two of every kind so that He could replenish the Earth when the flood subsided.

Now what does a flood do? It destroys everything in it's path. Could it be that "good people" people who Name the Name of God don't want to hear the ministries we air on the radio because they are deceived into thinking that they don't need to grow anymore or maybe they like "being in control" of their lives and they know that for God to move in their lives and make them what they ought to be - they would have to makes some drastic changes?

Got Faith? Listen to the WORD!

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God". Romans 10:17

Let's pray:

Father - we need a good spiritual house cleaning in the church today. We're all singing praises about like we eat Pizza during those mid-night hours. But Father, we're not worshipping before you. We're not spending time on our face before you seeking your will in all things through the reading of your Word - testing every thought and every intention according to your will for us. Oh Father cause us to come to Your River Oh Lord, Cause us to Drink at your River O Lord, Cause us to Come, cause us to drink, cause us to LIVE! In Jesus' Name I Pray, Amen.