Faith and Hearing

“And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, when she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.” – Mark 5:25-29 KJV

Christianity and faith are intertwined, they can’t be separated as the salvation of a Christian is on the basis of faith. Christians, Christ followers, are expected to work by faith and not by sight, as it’s believed that without faith, it is impossible to please God. Many preachers of the Word understand that faith is very paramount in running the Christian race and for this reason, they always preach to their congregation to develop and increase their faith. If increasing one’s faith can be done by turning knob, by now there won’t be any Christian without an increased faith.

Yes, I agree that we have to increase and develop our faith; if we have a little faith like that of mustard seed we will be able to move mountains. Most Christians acknowledge that they need faith to serve and please God but how to get it developed and matured for use are their worries. Romans 10:13-14 KJV – “[13] For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. [14] How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not HEARD? And how shall they hear the Word without a preacher?” However, Christians are expected to be believers of God and followers of Christ, then what’s the problem

In the book of Mark 5:34, Jesus recognised a woman with the issue of blood who touched the elm of His garment and He said unto her that “Daughter, thy FAITH hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.”

The question here is how did this woman come across this type of faith that was recognized by Jesus and led to her healing? Verses 27 and 28 of the above text gave the clue. It reads “When she HAD HEARD of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched His garment. For she said, If I may touch but His clothes, I shall be whole.” Amplified version put the verse as “She HAD HEARD THE REPORTS concerning the good works of Jesus, and she came up behind Him in the throng and touched His garment.”

She knew fully well that her condition was the kind that couldn’t be resolved . She held unto this false belief like many people today. But her belief changed when she heard stories and reports of the wonders Jesus had performed. She heard of many impossible tasks Jesus had resolved and she concluded within her heart that her story was nothing compared to what Jesus had done, all she needed to do was to touch His garment. She did just that and received her healing immediately. She got her faith developed to one of a kind by what she heard about Jesus. What are you listening to? Are you listening to what will make or break your faith?

Romans 10:17 KJV – “So then faith cometh by HEARING, and HEARING by the word of God.”

To increase your faith, the Word of God is the only means; turn to God’s word always, meditate on it, hear it, read it, share it and do not depart from it. God, himself, is the Word.