The ABC, plus of faith

The A-B-C’s, Plus of Faith

Hebrews 11:1:
1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.

One night a house caught fire and a young boy was forced to flee to the roof. The father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, "Jump! I'll catch you." He knew the boy had to jump to save his life. All the boy could see, however, was flame, smoke, and blackness. As can be imagined, he was afraid to leave the roof. His father kept yelling: "Jump! I will catch you." But the boy protested, "Daddy, I can't see you." The father replied, "But I can see you and that's all that matters."
"But I can see you. Jump!" The boy jumped, because he trusted his father. The Christian faith enables us to face life or meet death, not because we can see, but with the certainty that we are seen; not that we know all the answers, but that we are known.
The beginning point of faith is believing in God’s character: He is who he says. The end point is believing in God’s promises: He will do what he says.

When we believe that God will fulfill his promises even though we don’t see those promises materializing yet, we demonstrate true faith.

1.A-sking of Faith

James 1:6:
6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver,

We must believe in not only in the existence of God but also in his loving care. This includes relying on God and expecting that he will hear and answer when we pray.

We must put away our critical attitude when we come to him. God does not grant every thoughtless or selfish request. We must have confidence that God will align our desires with his purposes.

If your faith is new, weak, or struggling, remember that you can trust God!

A. Many fail to receive from God simply because they do not ask.



Matthew 7:7:
7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

Jesus tells us to persist in pursuing God. People often give up after a few halfhearted efforts and conclude that God cannot be found.

B. We are to ask in childlike faith. Just as earthly parents want to give good gifts to their children, so our Heavenly father desires to do the same for his children.

Matthew 7:11:
11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.


Christ is showing us the heart of God the Father. God is not selfish, begrudging, or stingy. He is a loving Father, who understands, cares, and comforts. If humans can be kind, imagine kind God, the creator of kindness can be.

C. Children are persistent. With a child’s persistence we must keep on asking our heavenly Father.

Matthew 7:8:
8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

Continue to ask him for more faith. He will give it to you.

2. B-elieving of Fath

Mark 11:24:
24 I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.

A. Some have difficulty believing. Their doubts cause them to live a defeated life.

B. Everyone is tempted to doubt at times, but we must keep on believing in spite of doubts. We defeat Satan by believing that we believe.

C. Everything is possible for those who believe.

Matthew 9:28-29:
28 They went right into the house where he was staying, and Jesus asked them, “Do you believe I can make you see?”
“Yes, Lord,” they told him, “we do.”
29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, it will happen.”


These blind men were persistent. They went right into the house where Jesus was staying. They knew Jesus could heal them, and they would let nothing stop them from finding him.

That’s real faith in action. If you believe Jesus is the answer to your every need, don’t let anything or anyone stop you from reaching out to him.

Faith pleases God and brings His blessings.

Hebrews 11:6:
6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.


Believing that God exists is only the beginning: even the demons believe that much.

God will not settle for mere acknowledgment of his existence. He wants your faith that leads to a PERSONAL, DYNAMIC RELATIONSHIP.

But does faith make sense, really? Do you believe because faith makes sense, or because faith doesn’t need to make sense?

Some Christians think people cannot understand God and should not try. Others believe that nothing true is irrational, including true faith. The truth is, we should use our minds to think things through but leave room for the unexplainable works of God.

3. C-confessing of Faith

Romans 10:10:
10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.


A. Some people are ashamed to be called Christians. They are fearful of scorn and persecution.

B. We must be courageous about confessing our faith in Jesus Christ. If we are ashamed of Him, he will be ashamed of us also.

Mark 8:38:
38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Rejecting Christ may help us escape shame for the time being, but it will guarantee an eternity of shame later.

C. Salvation depends upon the confession of our faith. We must be willing to share Christ with others.

Romans 1:16:
16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—

Paul was not ashamed because his message was the Good News about Christ. It was a message of salvation, it had life- changing power, and it was for everyone.

When you are tempted to be ashamed, remember what the Good News is all about.

If you focus on God and on what God is doing in the world rather than on your own inadequacy, you wont be ashamed or embarrassed.

4. D-oing of Faith


James 2:20:
20 How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?

A. Doing is the “plus” of faith. Many falter in the Christian life because they fail to act upon or work their faith.

B. We must let the Holy Spirit work through us. We are His channel, the instrument through which He works.

C. We must believe that the Holy Spirit is directing and guiding our steps. He speaks through us as we witness to the unsaved.

John 15:5:
5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

Remaining in Christ means
1. Believing that he is God’s Son
2. Receiving Him as Savior and Lord
3.Doing what God says
4.Continue to believe the Good News
5.Relating in love to the community of believers, Christ body

Many people try to be good, honest people who do what is right. But Jesus says that the only way to live a truly good life is to stay close to Him, like a branched attached to a vine.

Apart from Christ our efforts are unfruitful. Are you receiving the nourishment and life offered by Christ, the vine? If not, you are missing a special gift he has for you.


Tell Jesus, “I put my hope in you. I believe in you.” Trust him to guide you through the perils of life. He won’t let you down. He won’t let you fall into the raging waters below. He has already made it across—long ago at Calvary—so he knows the way. All we have to do is embrace what he has done for us, and our faith will flourish.