the essence of faith

Some quotes from the book our 'care group' (Bible study group?) is studying:

..."The critical issue is what you believe, or who you believe in. Telling people to 'live by faith' is invalid if they have no understanding of the object of their faith. You can't have faith in faith."

..."When people struggle with their faith in God, it is not because their 'faith object' has failed or is insufficient. It is because they don't have true knowledge of God and his ways. They expect him to respond in a certain way or answer prayer a certain way -- their way, not his -- and when he doesn't comply they say, "Forget you, God." The problem is not with God. He is the perfect 'faith object.' Faith in God fails only when people have a faulty understanding of him."

... "If you want your faith in God to increase, you must increase your knowledge of God"

..."The only way to increase your faith is to increase your knowledge of God, who is the believer's only legitimate 'faith object.' That is why Paul wrote that 'faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.'"

..."We have a covenant relationship with God (a binding contract, if you will) that we can count on being true. If God declares something to be true, you simply believe him and live according to what is true. If God didn't say it, no amount of faith in the world will make it so. Believing doesn't make God's word true. His word is true; therefore we believe it."

Neil T. Anderson, "Victory Over Darkness" - highly recommended by me....