How Faith Gets Strong
Romans 4:18-21
Romans 4:18–21 (ESV)
In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.
1. Faith Gets Strong by Feeding on God’s Word
Romans 4:18 (ESV)
In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”
Romans 10:17 (NKJV)
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
2. Faith Gets Strong by Focusing on God’s Promises
Romans 4:19–20a (ESV)
He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God.
3. Faith Gets Strong by Giving God Glory
“Trade much in the promises. The promises are great supports to faith. Faith lives in a promise, as the fish lives in the water. The promises are both comforting and quickening. The promises of God keep us from sinking when we come to the waters of affliction. O! trade much in the promises; there is not condition that you can be in, but you have a promise.” - Thomas Watson
Romans 4:20b–21 (ESV)
he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.
“There is nothing so insulting to God as not to believe him.” - David Martyn
