Introduction: In the past twelve messages, we have seen and learned many truths.  Each of these truths will enhance our lives as believers of the Lord Jesus Christ.  When we really learn these truths, we will be more like the Lord Jesus.  That is part of the process that comes with our spiritual life, as we grow older in Christ.  Let me give a quick review as regards to how the fruit of the Spirit as regards in how it is like fruit.

      Love is the color of the fruit, and joy is the bloom and peace is the skin, then longsuffering was the flavor of the fruit.  Flavor is a virtue fruit possesses, but which others must taste if it is to be realized and praised.  Since longsuffering is the flavor, then gentleness and goodness are the distinctive flavor of the fruit.  The next three virtues, faith, meekness and temperance, are the perfect unity of the fruit.  It also could be called the stem of the fruit.

      Faith is a very broad subject.  I was reading much material on the subject in regards to faith and want to just jump into the message itself very quickly.  We should remember that these three virtues really work both on the inside and are manifested on the outside.  People will be watching for these even thought they don’t understand them, they will respect them in one-way or another.  It was the faith of the early martyrs that helped spread the gospel or another.

I.  THE DEFINITION OF FAITH

      I found this definition in Easton’s Bible Dictionary.  Faith is in general the persuasion of the mind that a certain statement is true.  Its primary idea is trust.  A thing is true, and therefore worthy of trust.  It admits of many degrees up to full assurance of faith, in accordance with the evidence on which it rests.

      Faith is the result of teaching.  Knowledge is an essential element in all faith, and is sometimes spoken of as an equivalent to faith. Yet the two are distinguished in this respect, that faith includes in it assent, which is an act of the will in addition to the act of the understanding. Assent to the truth is of the essence of faith, and the ultimate ground on which our agreement to any revealed truth rests is the reality of God.

      Historical faith is the apprehension of and assent to certain statements, which are regarded as mere facts of history.  Some people try to discount historical facts.  Some people try to say that the Holocaust during World War II did not occur.  They are trying to disregard historical facts that are very well documented.  That is just one example of historical faith.  I did not live in that period of time but I trust the historical fact.

      Temporary faith is that state of mind which is awakened in men (such as Felix) by the exhibition of the truth and by the influence of religious sympathy, or by what is sometimes styled the common operation of the Holy Spirit.  Felix was under conviction and could have been saved. 

      That is a whole lot words.  But the Bible definition is simply stated.

                              Hebrews 11:1

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

II.  THE DIRECTION OF FAITH IN THE WORD OF GOD

      We find that there is SCRIPTURE faith in the Word of God.  It is referring to everything written in the Word of God. Jude 1:3 

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

      I am glad that we have a completed Bible that we can have complete faith that every word is God’s Words.  I don’t have to wait for some new revelation to come by.  The expression "once delivered" is understood as "one time for all time".   That is, "the faith" that body of doctrine that we are to believe was delivered to those who believe "one time for all time".  Revelation was not to be repeated, nor was there more to be revealed later on!     2^nd Timothy 3:16-17

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

                              Romans 15:4

“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

      We also find that there is SAVING faith found in the Word of God.  This is where we cast away all confidence in the flesh, and fling ourselves upon the mercy and grace of God, in a spirit of repentance, and commit our souls into His hands.

                                                Hebrews 10:39 

“But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”

                                                Ephesians 2:8-9

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

      Too many try to stake their saving faith in church membership or family.  Corrie Ten Boom made this quote and it is important to give it here.  “The Lord has many sons and daughters but no grandsons or granddaughters.”  Some stake their faith on the keeping of the Ten Commandments or do good works.  But these same people cannot tell you how much good works is enough.

      We see there is SERVING faith in the Word of God.  This use of faith takes us to the matter of fidelity.  Before illustrating with the Word of God examples of serving faith, I want to explore the word “fidelity”.   Titus 2:10

“Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.”

      It is the conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the New Testament of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervor born of faith and joined with it.

      But to understand fidelity, we see the word “purloining”.  Purloining is walking off with or defrauding or holding back the truth of God's Word.  So we must use fidelity in our faith.

      The same word translated fidelity here in Titus 2:10 is the same word translated FAITH in Galatians 5:22, so what we are talking about here in Galatians 5:22 is FAITH in the realm of FIDELITY; that is, being faithful to the faith.

                        It is spoke of the New Testament Church at Thyatira, Jesus said of those Christians.

                                                Revelation 2:19 

“I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.”

                        Paul testified of his own faith without bragging. 

                                                2^nd Timothy 3:10 

“But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience”

      The word “fidelity” is a word that should be in every relationship.  It is a word should describe us in every way.

      So we see the definition of faith that we have in our study today is the reality of the realm of fidelity.

III. THE DIVERSITY OF FAITH IN THE WORD OF GOD

      There is a real diversity of faith in the Word of God.  It will help us to see the faith in the fruit of the Spirit by knowing what the different kinds of faith in the Bible. 

A. Demonic Faith  James 2:19

“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”

      Many people try to tell us that they believe but it does not lead them to the saving faith of the Lord Jesus Christ.  This makes them no better than a demon of hell. 

B. Dead Faith  James 2:17-26

“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

      Dead faith is basically when your faith does not produce works for the Lord.  This is part of the goodness we visited in that virtue of the Spirit. If in the Old Testament, Abraham or Rahab had not exercise faith, we would not be telling others of their faith.  It is when they put their faith to work did the Lord actually reward them. 

                        Hebrews 11:6

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

      The rest of the chapter in Hebrews chapter eleven is dedicated to those they diligently sought Him by putting their faith to work.

C.  Delivering Faith  Ephesians 2:8,9

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

                              Romans 5:1,2

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

      We are delivered from hell and its penalty by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is faith that only Jesus can save us, plus nothing and minus nothing.

D.   Determined Faith  Hebrews 11:6

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

      We must by faith be determined to serve the Lord.  This is not a half hazard attempt but a bulldog determination to serve Jesus regardless of the cost.  If you just look at the apostles of the Lord Jesus, all of the apostles died horrible deaths with the exception of the Apostle John for the Lord Jesus.  If the Lord wants our deaths in serving the Lord, then it should be “so be it”.  But the Lord wants us to live for Him more than the idea of dying for Him.

                        Romans 12:1-2

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

IV. DEGREES OF FAITH FOUND IN THE WORD OF GOD

         A. You see the faithless.  This can be the agnostic or atheist.  An agnostic basically believes that you cannot know anything for sure.  It was this that the book of 1^st John was written.  We can know for sure that we are saved.

                                             1^st John 5:13

               “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

                              We can know for certain that Jesus is coming again.

                                                1^st John 3:2

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”

      So the atheist is a faithless person.  He is lower than a demon.  A demon believes Jesus but an atheist does not even believe that.

                        Psalm 14:1

“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.”

         B.   We see the little faith.  It is not necessarily size of faith, but in strength.  It is weak and limp.  I don’t have the time to review the Gospels with you today about the incidents of the little faith seen by the disciples with the Lord Jesus.  But it is seen over and over again.  However, if we have been there, we would probably have the same little faith as the disciples.  We have little faith many times today.  Let me give you a few verses though in regards to little faith. 

                                             Matthew 8:26

      “And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.”

                                                Matthew 16:8

“Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?”

         C. We see great faith.  This is the great confidence in God according to His written word. Jesus said size does not matter (faith the size of a mustard seed). Just the object of our faith (GOD’S PROMISES) – now THAT matters!

                           Remember what D. L. Moody say about the promises of God?

                           "Take the promises of God.  Let a man feed for a month on the promises of God and he will not talk about how poor he is.  You hear people say "Oh my leanness"; it is their laziness.  If you would only read from Genesis to Revelation and see all the promises made by God to Abraham, to Isaac, to Jacob, to the Jews and to the Gentiles and to all His people everywhere- if you would spend one month feeding on the precious promises of God.  You would not be going about complaining how poor you are.  You would lift your head and proclaim the riches of His Grace because you could not help doing it."  If we want to see examples of great faith, we could just read Hebrews chapter eleven.  Over and over again, we see great faith. 

Conclusion: These are just a few thoughts on the subject of faith and the fruit of the Spirit.  I want to get personal.  Is our faith actually basically faithless?  Or it could be said that we have little faith or great faith?  It is the great faith in our Lord that demonstrates the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. 

      Maybe you have never put your faith in the Lord Jesus for salvation.  Today is the only day you have right now.  So be saved today.