The Faith Crash Course:
How to Have Right-Now Faith
This quick course has been designed to help you get a hold of believing God for your miracle.
Please feel free to print this page and refer to it as many times as you need.
If you are not a Christian and would like to become one, click here.
Introduction
This course is designed to help you quickly develop a strong, unwavering faith. In the natural, when we need to learn a new skill in a hurry, we take a "crash course." In the spiritual realm, difficulties come up that overwhelm us and we need faith fast. This "quickie" Bible study is designed to help you learn how to have:
- Faith to overcome fear and anxiety.
- How to be calm in the midst of your storms.
- A faith plan for overcoming anger and other self-will problems.
- Faith for your loved ones' deliverance.
You need to ask yourself these questions:
- Do I feel that Jesus really cares about every problem I have? Or do I feel He is far, far away?
- Do I feel that Jesus doesn't hear me because I have been too bad and I have failed Him too much?
- Is my familiarity with the Word of God like saying "hello" to somebody I barely know as I go to work? Or is it like a relationship with someone I deeply love and feel very close to?
These four basic things are the foundation of a strong faith:
- Knowing your sins are forgiven through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. (If you do not feel that you are a Christian, please click here.)
- Being willing to trust His Word even in the face of the worst difficulties.
- Knowing that Jesus is with you all the time simply because His Word says that He is; even when you do not feel His nearness.
- Knowing that He really cares, because His Word says so.
Getting Reacquainted with Christ
No matter how long you have known the Lord, you can always re-acquaint yourself with Him. It is His joy to always be there for you. Jesus said for us to abide in Him (John 15). Abide in that assurance that He is with you and that He cares, all the time. (Someone has described this as a "moment by moment conscious dependence upon Him.") Then your faith will spring forth abundantly!
In the Bible, the Greek word for believe, pisteuo, means to adhere to, cleave to, trust in, to have faith in, to rely on, or to depend upon. This is much more that just a mental assent to God's Word. It denotes a loving relationship.
Key Faith Building Verse:
"I will never, I will lever leave thee; I will never, I will never, I will never forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:3, paraphrased).
(In the original Greek, the word never is repeated as above.)
It is difficult for our human minds to grasp just how much God loves us. Bask in His great love for you. Claim this promise as your very own by reading it and saying it over and over again. Know that He is talking to you, individually, because the Word says that God is no respecter of persons. Take the time to let Hebrews 13:5 really sink into your spirit.
Practical Instructions:
- Every day review the above Key Faith Building Verse.
- Absorb one of the verses listed in the next section of this lesson each day. Memorize it if you can. At least read it again and again throughout the day.
- Apply the verse to happenings in your daily life. If you will use this study in this way daily for several months, you will see a definite increase in your faith.
Overcoming Anxiety and Fear
On a daily basis, our faith is tested again and again. We will be on the mountain top until trouble comes, then some of us fall over a cliff! The following verses, once they have really gotten into your spirit, will help you hold on for your rescue.
- Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest (Joshua 1:9). He commands you not to be afraid nor dismayed. Make it your heart's desire to please Him in this by overcoming the fears of your life, even if it means listing them and attacking them one at a time. Take Him at His Word. Always see in your mind's eye that God is with you.
- Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27). Jesus does not want you to allow yourself to be afraid. He will still the storms of life for you. The waves may be high at times, but with Christ at the helm, who or what can harm you? When Peter walked to Jesus on the water, his faith fell and he began to sink, but Jesus caught him, and they walked on. You can overcome your impossible situations too, walking with Jesus.
- Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear NO evil: for Thou are with me (Psalm 23.4). The Lord is YOUR Shepherd. Do not let your soul "graze" in fields of doubt and fear. You do not need to be afraid of anything that the devil has planned for you. You are the sheep of the Lord's pasture and He will keep the wolves away from you as you continually trust Him!
- Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance (Psalm 42:5). When we are filled with faith, we have a quiet, undisturbed spirit--a calmness in the midst of troubles. Our awareness of His continual love helps us hold out for the answer instead of giving up.
- Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me (Psalm 50:15). We are not to call upon everybody else first, then call on Him. If we are truly acquainted with the Love of Christ, and aware of his loving Presence, it is easy to call on Him and believe for deliverance. Lay all you burdens and cares at His feet. He cares.
- Cast thy burden upon the Lord and He shall sustain thee (Psalm 55:22). He wants to carry that load for you! If you are already riding His ship, why carry a heavy back pack of troubles. Lay it on His ship of faith. He is equipped to handle a load of any size!
- Casting ALL your care upon Him for He careth for you (1Peter 5:7). God is pleased when we do things in a total way. In addition to your fears, give to Him your shortcomings, the things about yourself that continually grieve you. Give Him your will. Pray for His plan to unfold in your life. He will steady your feet along the path he has chosen for your life as you seek that path day by day.
(Helpful Tip: This course will work best for you as you use it again and again—like a medicine on a wound.)
How to be Calm in the Midst of the Storm
Take time daily--preferably the first thing each morning--to get alone with God before Satan's crusade against you can begin. You need to:
- Shut out everything except you and the Lord
- Lay all your cares upon Him through prayer.
- Give Him each day, seeking His plan for your individual life.
- Feed from His Word. Expect to find answers to your problems in the Bible.
- Feast on the precious faith building promises presented in this study.
This is the basis for building a peaceful, untroubled center for your life. This allows Christ to abide in you by putting Him first each day. It works!!!
Look at the following Scriptures:
- My peace give I unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you (John 14:27). Jesus loves you so very much. It is His heart's desire to give you the great gift of Peace. It is free. It is yours to keep, to enjoy, to keep you calm in the storms of life. He will not forsake you in the midst of your troubles. When things are not turning out like we hoped, it either means that God has a different plan, or we simply need to persevere more in prayer and fasting, and binding evil spirits. Remember, nothing is impossible with God.
- Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee because he trusteth in Thee (Isaiah 26:3). If we can somehow take our mind off the crisis at hand, and concentrate on the Promise, we will soon have victory. Better still, if we can keep our mind stayed on Him, like this verse says, we will have perfect peace.
- They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles: they shall run, and not be weary: and they shall walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31). Notice that important word wait. When we run out of strength, we wait for His strength. Waiting in His loving presence, we peace, hope, joy, and strength for tomorrow--things that money cannot buy, things that the world cannot in any way give to us. It does cost us time. We must take the time to be with Jesus in prayer and studying His Word to receive this peace.
- These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have PEACE. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world (John 16:33). Jesus wants you life to be filled with His peace, the peace that can only come through knowing and loving Him and totally submitting your life and plans to Him.
- Acquaint yourself with Him and be at peace (Job 22:21). "Practice the presence of God." Those are the words of a famous saint of God who lived in he seventeenth century; a man by the name of Brother Lawrence. The Bible says that the Lord is everywhere present at the same time (Psalm 139). So that means there is no escaping Him. You may as well enjoy His nearness. When the devil tells you that God is far away, he is lying to you. When we do not sense God's presence, we are just somehow failing to acknowledge what the Word tells us about His location. So enjoy the Lord. Get to know Him better. Talk to Him often. He is listening.
- Abide in Me, and I in you... (John 15:1). Abiding, living, dwelling in Jesus is the greatest source of peace and power that there is in the universe! Get close to God in your thoughts, and stay there. The remainder of this powerful chapter, John 15, tells us how to abide in His love and keep His words, and become fruitful and productive in His work.
- He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91:1). Again we see living, dwelling, abiding in the Spirit of God. This powerful chapter in Psalms goes on to tell of the mightiness of His protection and mercy for those who abide in Him. That secret place He speaks of is the place of total committal, desiring His plan for your life every day, every moment.
(Helpful Tip: Every time you read or quote a verse repeatedly, the Word of God is flowing through your mind and spirit; bringing cleansing, healing power into your being.)
Overcoming Anger and Self-Will
Delay is the cure for many things. The Lord wants us to wait instead of saying the angry remark. Wait! Do not overeat, or overspend, or whatever self-will problem is a continual grief. Let patience have her perfect work (James 1:4). Acting on impulse is the root cause for many serious problems. God's Word will give you power over your impulsive self. Use His Word in a practical way. When tempted, say the Wait Verse again and again in order to receive power to overcome:
Wait upon the Lord. Be of good courage and He shall strengthen thine heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord (Psalm 27:14).
Study these verses below:
- He that is slow to anger [or any harmful emotion] is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city (Proverbs 16:32). Being slow to react is important. It allows time to think about the promise God has given you. It gives you time to ask yourself, "What would Jesus do in this circomstance?" Because Jesus dwells within you, believe that He is placing the right thoughts in your mind to help you handle the situation correctly. When things go wrong, your first thought should be "Wait!" Give God time to help you.
- A soft answer turneth away wrath [and other harmful emotions] (Proverbs 15:1). Regardless of the kind of crisis you face, be determined to speak with a calmness that indicates inner strength and control--the kind that comes only from a close walk with the Lord. Jesus was able to calm the stormy sea because the Holy Spirit was within Him, and He communed--spent time--with His Heavenly Father. Spending time in the Lord's Presence will produce strength within you as well.
- He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might, He increaseth strength (Isaiah 40:29). How can He give strength to them with "no might"? He creates it. If it is not there, for Him to increase it He has to first create it. Give that troublesome emotion to the Lord. He knows just what to do about it. He will replace it with the strength you need as you totally surrender to HIm.
- Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him: fret not theyself... (Psalm 37:7). Rest on His promises. Wait for Him to bring them to pass in your life. If we fret, we destroy the inner strength and peace the Lord has given. Turn to the promises instead of fretting.
- My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my defense; I shall not be moved (Psalm 62:5,6) Remain unswayed. Remain steady. Study the Psalms, and when the word enemy or enemies is used, see anger or impulsiveness as your enemy that God is going to help you slay--just as David was able to destroy his enemies.
- I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me (Philippians 4:13). What is the secret of great power with God? Christ in you! You have His strength, His ability, His wisdom, as you are at one with Him.
- Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4). When the Holy Spirit was given on the Day of Pentecost, the people were filled with power and boldness. The baptism in the Holy Spirit will give you power and boldness as well. You will have greater power over temptations; and power to witness more effectively.
(Helpful Tip: There are two basic things you need to remember about each promise of God: (1) Jesus loves you, and (2) This verse of promise is YOURS because you are His.)
How to Believe for Your Loved Ones
When worry and fear about a loved one keeps plaguing you, use these promises to fight your fears. Say your faith verse over and over, and stop the worry cycle that wants to go round and round in you head. Remember the helpful tip on the last page: (1) God loves you, and (2) the promise of God is yours to claim on an individual basis because he is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11).
Look at the following Scriptures:
- Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved, and thy house (Acts 16:31). That means you and your whole family. We do not have to stand by, wringing our hands with worry about our loved ones. Stand on God's promise. Claim it for you and yours. Hold to it and do not let go. Do not be dismayed when it looks like things are getting worse. God is faithful over His Word.
- (Your name) be of good comfort: thy faith hath made (your loved one's name) whole; go in peace (Luke 8:48). Jesus told the woman in the Bible that her faith had made her well. He is no respecter of persons. He will do the same for all who believe in, adhere to, and trust completely in His promises.
- Fear not. Believe only and (your loved one) shall be made whole (Luke 8:50). Fear works against faith. That is why Jesus often said, "fear not." He has to keep reminding us, because we are so human and apt to look down at the waves of trouble instead of keeping our focus on Him.
- And her spirit came again and she arose (Luke 8:55). Keep seeing your loved ones rise up from their condition, whether it be spiritual or physical. By faith, see them rise and walk away from their sinful or afflicted condition. Hold fast to this "vision" until it comes to pass.
- I will bring the blind by a way they knew not; I will lead them in paths they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do to them and not forsake them (Isaiah 42:16). The Lord loves that person that you are concerned about, even more than you do; because He is capable of such a tremendous powerful love--a delivering love. Do not worry. He is definitely looking after that one who concerns you.
- I know in whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep (your loved ones) which I have committed unto Him against that day (2 Timothy 1:12). Through prayer, you have committed your family and friends into Jesus' tender care. Though you may not actually see immediate evidence does not mean Jesus is not at work on the problem. Take Him at His Word. You will see the victory as you hold steadfast.
- I will save thy children (Isaiah 49:25). I will pour My Spirit upon thy seed, and My blessing upon thine offspring... (Isaiah 44:3). These are precious Words we can claim for our children, and other loved ones. God loves those whom you love. Because you love Him, the things that concern you also concern Him deeply. When results are not immediate, it does not mean God has gone on a journey or does not care. Dealing with the human will can be time consuming.
(Helpful Tip: Every promise of the Bible is yours because you are His.)
Scriptures to Encourage Your Faith
Have a Good Day: Lessons from Proverbs 15
We will be happier if we strive to make others happy. (You may wish to copy down the verses, and then write after each verse what it means to you.)
- A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken (v.13).
- He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast (v.15).
- A wholesome tongue is a tree of life (v.4).
- Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counselors they are established (v.22).
- A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it! (v.23)
- The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things (v.28).
- The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise (v.31).
When We Fail
Sooner or later, we all stumble along the way. Here are some "pick me up" verses: (Again, You may wish to copy down the verses, and then write after each verse what it means to you.)
- My little children, these things write I unto you that ye sin not. But if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1John 2:1).
- For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth (Hebrews 12:6).
- The Lord will not cast off forever. But though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies.
- For He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men (Lamentations 3:31-33).
- For His anger endureth but a moment; in His favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning (Pslam 30:5).
- He will not always chide: neither will He keep His anger forever (Psalm 103:9).
- Fear thou not for I am with thee. Be not dismayed for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee, yea I will help thee, yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of MY righteousness (Isaiah 41:10).
- I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins (Isaiah 43:25).
Conclusion
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word WAS God...All things were made by Him...In Him was Life; and the Life was the light of men (John 1:1-4).
Jesus is the Word. His words are not just mere words. There is life in the words He spoke. Learning His Word is like bringing more of Jesus into our thinking processes. You will learn to think like Jesus thinks, and you will have more power over your difficulties. The word will be planted in your heart as you study this course. As you learn the word of God day by day, your faith will grow stronger and stronger.
If you need prayer help, we want to help you. We are always glad to pray with you. You can submit your prayer request be email, or call or write. Just go to our Contact page.
Pastor Wayne Parks