Faith 101: The Basics That Change Everything - Rick McFarland - Charis Daily - Season 14 Ep. 6

Main ideas & lessons conveyed

• Missing faith usually isn’t a lack of deep theology—it’s missing a basic Christian practice.
• “Fundamentals” matter: Like championship sports teams, spiritual maturity comes from consistently doing core fundamentals, not from flashy “trick plays.”
• Faith is central in the Christian life, and Scripture repeatedly connects faith to grace, not to law-keeping.
• Law is not faith; grace is faith:
  • The Old Testament word “faith” appears only twice (with examples given from Deuteronomy 32:20 and Habakkuk 2:4).
  • The Old Testament is portrayed as law-based, where people rely on their own doing rather than dependence on God.
  • The New Testament uses “faith” far more frequently and emphasizes that faith operates in line with grace.
• Spiritual truth vs. natural facts:
  • Spirit realm = truth (unchanging).
  • Natural realm = facts (changeable).
  • Faith does not create truth; it brings into manifestation in the natural what is already true in the spirit.
• Biblical faith is “heart assurance” (Hebrews 11:1 concept):
  • Faith is described using the Greek idea behind “substance” (hypostasis), likened to a foundation/assurance/title deed—tangible proof of something you can’t yet see.
• Do not focus on symptoms/facts over truth:
  • Uses a train illustration:
    • Locomotive = truth
    • Boxcars = the time while waiting
    • Caboose = manifestation
  • The warning: when people shift attention from truth to the natural realm prematurely, unbelief is “ministered,” delaying manifestation.
• Faith’s foundation is the Word of God:
  • “Faith comes by hearing…” the word of God (Romans 10:17).
  • A distinction is emphasized between:
    • logos = the whole written Word
    • rhema = the specific spoken/quickened Word from God to the individual (Holy Spirit revelation)
• Real faith differs from presumption:
  • Faith is grounded in God’s rhema.
  • Presumption is acting as if you have faith without the revealed word.
• Relationship, not religion/formula:
  • Faith grows from personal communication with God.
  • Jesus is used as the example: he does what he “hears/see[s]” from the Father—rarely repeating the same method because each situation is met with fresh guidance.
• Faith vs. believing:
  • Faith is a noun (a gift/possession in the heart).
  • Believing is a verb (action that releases/expresses faith).
  • Faith becomes effective in the natural when released through speaking and/or acting.
• “Dead faith” needs release:
  • Based on James 2:17 (“without works faith is dead”).
  • Clarifies “dead” as separated from manifestation—present in the heart but not yet connected to the natural outcome.

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Methodology / instruction-style content (detailed bullets)

• Step 1: Check whether you’re missing a “fundamental of faith,” not theology
  • If something in your Christian life is off, look first for basic faith practices you aren’t applying.
• Step 2: Keep your eyes on spiritual truth, not natural facts
  • Refuse to test God’s word by symptoms or visible outcomes first.
  • Stay aligned with the Word even if the natural realm seems to contradict it.
  • Replace “waiting for manifestation” while staring at the natural with sustained attention to the truth of Scripture.
• Step 3: Build faith on the Word of God
  • Use Romans 10:17 framework: hearing → faith.
  • Understand Word types:
    • logos (general Word) is the source
    • rhema (personal, Holy-Spirit-revealed word) is what faith in your heart rests on
  • Ensure your belief is grounded in what God has specifically spoken/quickened to you.
• Step 4: Distinguish faith from presumption
  • Presumption = acting in the absence of a rhema.
  • Faith = acting because God’s revealed word has produced assurance in your heart.
  • Example lesson (Peter): Peter could walk because he stepped out on the specific word (“come”), while others without that rhema would not have the same result.
• Step 5: Convert faith into believing (release it)
  • Faith is released in two primary ways:
    • By speaking the Word in line with what God has said
      • Example scriptural basis: “I believed and therefore I spoke” (2 Corinthians 4:13).
      • Principle: “whatever you do in word or deed” (Colossians 3:17).
    • By acting on the rhema (obedient action that matches the word given)
      • The sermon repeatedly shows Jesus giving a rhema and healing occurring as people acted on it.
• Step 6: Apply the “one rhema away” mindset
  • If faith exists but manifestation hasn’t happened yet, the missing link is often the release through:
    • correct words, and/or
    • obedience consistent with the revealed command.
• Step 7: Practice relationship-based faith
  • Instead of seeking a universal formula:
    • ask God what he says about your specific situation,
    • request a rhema from the logos,
    • ask the Holy Spirit what action or words you should use.
  • The expected outcome: faith stops being “dead” and begins to produce natural change.
• Step 8: Remember the “walk” principle
  • Mature believers “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).
  • The maturity marker is consistently acting on truth despite sensory evidence.

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Key examples used to teach the principles

• Old Testament “faith” scarcity explained:
  • Faith is only mentioned twice in the Old Testament (word-level), but faith actions exist.
  • Law is portrayed as not functioning like faith (Galatians 3:12 cited), especially because law-religion emphasizes self-sufficiency rather than dependence.
• Peter and walking on water:
  • Jesus provides the logos (“Jesus” as Word) and gives a rhema (“come”).
  • Peter steps out on the rhema, enabling supernatural walking.
  • The lesson: without rhema, acting to show faith would likely fail.
• Testimony/eyewear illustration:
  • A person with a rhema from God believes healing and acts (throws away glasses), leading to manifestation.
  • The warning: others might imitate the outward action without the same rhema—turning it into presumption.
• Paul and the crippled man (Lystra):
  • The man has faith to be healed but isn’t yet healed in manifestation.
  • Paul recognizes the situation and commands, “Stand up!”
  • The lesson: ministers (or God) may help release faith by prompting action, but faith still must be expressed.
• Jesus’ rhema-to-action healing patterns:
  • Withered hand: “Stretch out your hand.”
  • Ten lepers: “Go, show yourselves to the priests.”
  • Blind man: “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam.”
  • Lesson: healing follows obedience to the specific communicated word.

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Conclusion (what the video ultimately emphasizes)

• Fundamental faith involves:
  • believing the Word of God above what you see,
  • receiving a Holy-Spirit-rhema from the logos,
  • and releasing that faith through speaking and acting.
• The natural realm can change as a result of spiritual truth—but faith must be released to connect heart assurance to manifestation.

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Speakers / sources featured

• Speaker: Rick McFarland
• Referenced author/ministry resource: Andrew Wommack (Insights into Faith)
• Scripture references (sources quoted/cited):
  • Deuteronomy 32:20
  • Habakkuk 2:4
  • Galatians 3:12
  • Romans 4:16
  • Hebrews 11:1
  • Romans 10:17
  • Matthew 14:26–29
  • Acts 14:8
  • 2 Corinthians 4:13
  • Colossians 3:17
  • James 2:17
  • Romans 4:17
  • 2 Corinthians 5:7
  • Matthew 12:13
  • Luke 17:14
  • John 9:7
  • Additional references implied by the discussion (e.g., Jesus’ statements about hearing/seeing the Father) though not all exact verses are quoted in the subtitles.