Judges 1:20 “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit”
How can we build upon our faith? Before we determine how that is accomplished, one needs to establish a real definition of faith. Is faith merely a leap in the darkness? In Hebrews 11:1, the Bible tells us, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (NKJV). Notice three very valuable words in this context. The first word is “substance” which means “to have confidence, assurance.” The next word “hope” defined means a “favorable and confident expectation.” And last is “evidence” meaning “a proof, proving, test.” (All definitions provided by the Vine’s New Testament Word Study.) Let’s consider this verse in light of these words, “Now faith is the confident assurance of things confidently expected and the proof of things not seen.” Does that sound like a blind leap?
A stronger faith does not come by prayer only, or wishing it would happen, or merely pew sitting on Sunday morning. As important as prayer and worship attendance is, there are still things we must do. In Romans 10:17, Paul wrote “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” No student of the Bible would understand this to mean that faith is built upon merely hearing the word without some action on our part. In Matthew 7:24, Jesus closed the Sermon on the Mount with the parable of the wise and foolish man. Notice how Jesus introduces this parable, “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Not only do we hear His word but we do what His word teaches. Notice Paul’s encouragement in Colossians 2:7, “rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.” That pretty much settles it! Our faith is built up (or established) by being taught. One of the main functions of the body of Christ outside of preaching the gospel is to build her up. Notice Ephesians 4:15-16 “but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” Spiritual growth comes from the truth (vs. 15) and each part works together as a whole to cause her to grow. Now look at the end of vs. 16, “and edifying (or building) of itself in love.” So far we have seen that our faith is established by hearing and doing God’s word, and by love. Not only are we concerned for our own personal faith but also the faith of the entire body of Christ.
The next way of building on the faith of the body is by positive, instructive, verbal communication. “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29). Much harm has been done by members of the church who used their speech to damage the faith of others. Those people will have their judgment. We are to use our speech to build up, not tear down.
The last point we will consider is taken from 1 Timothy 1:4, where Paul writes to Timothy, “nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.” We must be set for the defense of the gospel (Philippians 1:17) but should not waste time with foolish contentions.
Terry Jackson