How Does Faith Come?


Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.”
So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to
him, and he went his way.
John 4:50


Only the word of God can arouse faith in a
person. Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith comes
by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” This
is why faith was stirred up in the man with the
dying son. Jesus’ words reached him precisely in
the situation he was in. He was desperate. He
refused to give up. He refused to be intimidated
by Jesus’ reproval. As he continued to plead with
Jesus, Jesus gave the releasing word, “Go your
way; your son lives.” That was all he needed. He
now had a Word from Jesus on which to stand.
Already on the way home, he received news that
the Word had been fulfilled and that his son was
well again.

What was the key? The key was the specific word
that Jesus spoke to him. The Bible is full of
God’s Word, His logos. But the Holy Spirit brings
forth specific words that you need. This becomes
your rhema. Both logos and rhema mean “word” in
the Greek language; however, rhema is the word
spoken specifically to you. It comes after you
have prayed and sought the Lord. It comes as an
assurance in your inner man. Faith of the heart
grows, no matter what the circumstances look
like, and power is provided to fulfill the word.

It was Jesus’ word that restored hope to this
father. It was the Word that enabled the father
to obey and return home. It was the Word that
healed his son. He sent His word and healed them!


- Ulf Ekman