Introduction

In connection with the fruit of the Spirit, faith means faithful or trustful. It is a total reliance upon the promises of God in our everyday lives. It is living our lives trusting fully in the Lord.

• It is being faithful to Christ in the most difficult situations because His Word can be relied upon.
• It is trusting the Lord at all times and in every circumstance knowing that everything is working together in His plan and purpose. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Faith in the believer's life is a beautiful fruit because it rests in the Lord. Paul rejoiced when he found a living faith and love one for another in the churches:

Ephesians 1:15-16 "Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers."

Colossians 1:3-4 "We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints."

Difference Between the Gift of Faith and the Fruit of Faith

Introductory Story: Tried in the Fire

1 Peter 1:7 "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ."

• The fruit of faith will keep us steadfast in what the Lord wants us to do.
• The Lord will allow trials to test our commitment.
• He will allow people to speak against us to see what is in our heart.

The works of the flesh will seek an opportunity to react against the trials and accusations, but the fruit of faith rests in the plan and purpose of God.

Exposition

1. Faith Rests

Psalm 4:8 "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for you, LORD, only makes me dwell in safety."

Faith has total confidence in the Lord.

Illustration: Learning to swim - gaining confidence in the water. Someone who struggles because of fear cannot learn to swim until they rest in the confidence that the water is able to hold them up.

• Faith learns to rest through maturity. The rest of faith is a continuous process that begins with salvation and continues as the fruit of faith grows in our daily lives. "There remains therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from his." (Hebrews 4:9). David's faith was great in his youth but years of trials produced a mature faith that rested.
• Resting means being dependent upon Christ alone - in our relationship with Him, in our prayer life, and in worship.
• Resting means trusting Him without regard to our own welfare. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego - Our God is able to deliver us but even if He doesn't we will not bow (Daniel 3). Daniel in the lions den - God is in control (Daniel 6).

2. Faith Trusts in the Character of the Lord

• When we know His nature and His character we have confidence to trust Him. As the Lord led His people He revealed to them His character. The name of the LORD became their strong tower.
• Trust in His loving kindness because He is merciful. He delights to show mercy (Micah 7:18).
• Faith trusts in His unfailing love. Fear is cast out by love. "He that loves not knows not God; for God is love." (1 John 4:8)
• Faith seeks after His righteousness. "But seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33)
• Trust develops through relationship. "The just shall live by faith" (Hebrews 10:38). Faith grows through the closeness of our relationship with the Lord.

3. Faith Relies Upon the Word of the Lord

Psalm 119:49 "Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope."

• The fruit of faith is produced through growing confidence in the promises of God. Knowing the promises of God. Filling our minds with the scriptures. Letting the scriptures abide in us (John 15:7).
• Faith does not doubt the promises of God. The promises of God are certain. "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us." (1 Corinthians 1:20)
• Faith is not affected by difficult circumstances. Faith trusts the promises of God even in the face of great difficulty. "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." (Job 13:15a). Faith rejoices at all times in the Lord (Philippians 4:4).

4. Faith Overcomes in the Lord

Romans 8:37 "...in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."

The Greek word for "more than conquerors" means literally "above an overcomer" (hupernikao). We are more than conquerors because in Christ we have victory in all things. The victorious Christian is the one who understands that in Christ we have inherited all things and nothing can separate us from God's love.

Conclusion

The fruit of faith:

1. Rests in the Lord
2. Trusts in the character of the Lord
3. Relies upon the Word of the Lord
4. Overcomes in the Lord