How do you build on faith?

Answer 1

First, God has toGIVE us ourFaith in Him:

"For by Grace are ye saved through FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the Gift of God..." (Eph.2:8 KJV)

[same verse LVB Living Bible]: "Because of His Kindness you have been saved through TRUSTING Christ. And even TRUSTING is not of yourselves; it too is a Gift from God."

Like the "genetic traits" that a human father passes on to his children when they are conceived... so does the Father's Seed, His Holy Spirit, bearing witness with our spirit thatWE ARE GOD'S CHILDREN [see Rom.8:16], plant the seed or spark of Faith of God into our hearts.

The Bible maintains a "familial" reference to mankind's relationship with his Creator; as Jesus refers to the One who sent Him as His FATHER.

"...worship the Father in Spirit and Truth. The Father is looking for anyone who will worship Him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and Truth." (John 4:23-24 NLT New Living Translation)

God created man... and the "family structure" for, both, the male and female's bearing and rearing of children in the teachings of the Lord [ideally] -- as well as to SHOW MAN WHAT HE IS DOING WITH HIS SPECIAL CREATION, MAN, created in His image [as a human father creates his children in his image]. God ismaking for Himself the future "Family of God."

And FAITH is the "Seed" of God planted and conceived in the "human spirit" much like the physical seed of a human father impregnates the female egg.

As for the "building" or "growth" of that Faith -- GOD's WORD is the "nourishment" [the Bread of Life - see Matt.4:4] by which we as God's Child, and our Faith develops.

The Holy Spirit dwelling within God's Child is the umbilical cord between heaven and the human heart; the Food Source, that reveals God's Truth to the human spirit and heart. And it'sour "obedience" [our subsequent works and deedsin response to God's Truth] that exercises God's Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding in us, that "builds" and develops Righteous Godly Character in the growing, gestating, Child of God.

"...When will you ever learn that Faith that does not result in good deeds is useless? ...So you see, we are made Right with God by WHAT WE DO, not by Faith alone." (James 2:20-24 NLT)

"...I have food you don't know about... Jesus explained: 'My Nourishment comes from DOING THE WILL OF GOD, who sent Me, and from FINISHING HIS WORK." (John 4:32-34 NLT)

"For we are God's Masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things He planned for us long ago." (Eph.2:10 NLT)

Bottom line: WE DON'T BUILD FAITH! God builds it in us.

Like a human child growing in his mother's womb... it'sthe spiritual growth and developmentof God's Child that results from his "obedience" to the "instruction" [Nourishment] of God's Word... which:

"...is useful to teach us what is True and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is Right. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every Good Thing God wants us to do." (II Tim.3:16-17 NLT)

Building Faith is taking whatever measure of itGod has given us... overcoming the flesh... and growing in Spirit... through obedience to Jesus Christ.

The building of Faith is learning to LOVE other than the self. It's overcoming envy, jealousy, lust and greed [the nature of the flesh].

"So now I am giving you a new Commandment: LOVE EACH OTHER. Just as I have Loved you, you should Love each other. Your Love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples." (John 13:35 NLT)