Teaching summary
In this teaching, Pastors Leonard and Lori Rola explain how true faith flows and how it is not something people must work up, grow, or force. Using Mary’s encounter with the angel Gabriel, they show that faith comes only after God speaks His word. Faith is birthed through hearing the living word of Christ, not through self-effort or mental determination. This message frees believers from guilt, shame, and condemnation around faith and points them back to resting in God’s voice.
Bible verses referenced
Luke 1:38- And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Luke 1:45- And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
Romans 10:17- So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
John 10:10- The thief cometh not, but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Teaching notes
Table of Contents
- Opening Fellowship and Gratitude
- Learning from Mary: Highly Favored
- Mary’s Response: “Be It Unto Me According to Your Word”
- What Faith Is Not: Mental Assent and Self-Determination
- Freedom from Guilt and Condemnation About Faith
- Faith Comes by Hearing: Paul’s Teaching
- Mary’s Encounter with the Living Word
- The Rhema Word and the Birth of Faith
- Believing, Speaking, and Acting on God’s Word
- God Still Speaks and the Importance of Rest
- Closing Encouragement: Favored and Faith-Filled
- Opening Fellowship and Gratitude
Opening Fellowship and Gratitude
Pastor Leonard and Pastor Lori begin by warmly greeting the congregation and expressing joy, gratitude, and personal excitement, particularly about spending time with family during the Christmas season. They thank the listeners for their love, prayers, encouragement, correspondence, and financial support, acknowledging that these offerings make the ministry possible. They emphasize their commitment to being available, praying for each listener, and walking with them faithfully. This opening sets a tone of love, relationship, and mutual appreciation before moving into the teaching.
Learning from Mary: Highly Favored
Pastor Leonard reminds the listeners that in previous teachings, they learned from Mary that believers are highly favored. Mary’s story reveals truths about identity and grace. She was not striving for favor or trying to earn God’s attention; favor was declared over her life by God Himself. This truth applies to every believer today, establishing the foundation for understanding faith as something that flows from God, not from human effort.
Mary’s Response: “Be It Unto Me According to Your Word
The focus turns to Luke chapter 1 and Mary’s response to the angel. Pastor Lori reads Luke 1:38 aloud.
“And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.”
Pastor Leonard emphasizes that this statement is critical because it reveals the nature of faith. Mary did not initiate the promise. She did not wake up one day deciding to believe she would conceive the Son of God. Instead, she responded to what God spoke. Her faith flowed from hearing God’s word, not from self-generated belief.
What Faith Is Not: Mental Assent and Self-Determination
Pastor Leonard explains what faith is not by using vivid examples. He humorously suggests that someone could claim faith to walk across the Hudson River, believing hard enough that they could run across the water. He explains that this is not faith; it is mental assent or self-determination. Even strong confidence or repeated affirmations do not produce biblical faith.
He stresses that faith is not a muscle that grows through exertion, striving, or willpower. This misconception leads people into frustration, disappointment, and self-blame when things do not happen as expected.
Freedom from Guilt and Condemnation About Faith
Pastor Lori affirms how damaging it is when people are told they do not have enough faith or are not using their faith properly. She shares how such teachings create frustration and hopelessness rather than peace. Pastor Leonard explains that many believers feel guilt, shame, and condemnation because they believe they are failing at faith.
This teaching is meant to bring freedom. Faith is not something believers need to produce; it is something that comes when God speaks.
Faith Comes by Hearing: Paul’s Teaching
Pastor Leonard connects Mary’s experience to the Apostle Paul’s teaching in Romans. He quotes Romans 10:17.
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
He explains that faith comes when people hear about Christ. As the word of Christ is spoken and heard, faith is present with that hearing. Faith does not come later as a result of effort; it is already there when God’s word is heard.
He points out that throughout the Gospels, people heard about Jesus—His authority, His compassion, His power to heal—and faith came with that hearing. This is why the centurion sought Jesus and why the woman with the issue of blood reached out to Him.
Mary’s Encounter with the Living Word
Pastor Leonard vividly describes Mary’s moment before the angel appeared. She was living her normal life, engaged to Joseph, likely thinking about her future. Suddenly, Gabriel appeared and declared that she was blessed and highly favored and that she would give birth to the Son of God.
These words were spoken to her by God. They were not imagined or self-generated. After hearing them, Mary responded in faith. Her faith came because the word came first.
The Rhema Word and the Birth of Faith
Pastor Leonard explains the significance of the word “word” used in Luke 1:38 and Luke 1:45. In Luke 1:45, it says,
“And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
He explains that the word translated as “word” refers to a living, spoken word—what he describes as the rhema word. When this living word is spoken by God, faith comes with it.
Mary received the rhema word, and faith was birthed in her heart at the same time. That is why she could say, “Be it unto me according to your word.”
Believing, Speaking, and Acting on God’s Word
After receiving the word and believing it, Mary acted. She went to visit her relative Elizabeth, who was also miraculously pregnant. Pastor Leonard highlights that belief followed hearing, and action followed belief.
He shares personal testimonies of healing, explaining that when the rhema word came, faith came with it. They believed and spoke, knowing the work was finished. This included healing from cancer, physical conditions, and illness. The confidence did not come from effort but from hearing God speak.
God Still Speaks and the Importance of Rest
Pastor Leonard reminds listeners not to say that God does not speak. He points to John chapter 10.
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
He explains that believers know God’s voice. God speaks, but many times people are too distracted, anxious, or overwhelmed by life’s noise to hear Him. Rest is essential because rest creates space to receive. When believers rest, they hear, and when they hear, faith flows.
Closing Encouragement: Favored and Faith-Filled
Pastor Leonard summarizes the two main truths of the teaching: believers are favored, and faith flows from hearing God’s word. Faith is not something to grow, force, or perform. It comes with the rhema word of God.
Pastor Lori encourages listeners to read the Word because the living Word will come from it, and faith is already there to receive it. They close by expressing love and gratitude and encouraging listeners to continue resting, hearing, and trusting God.
We hope this article blessed you and brought clarity and freedom to your understanding of faith. If this teaching encouraged you, please consider sharing it with others so they, too, can experience the rest and confidence that comes from hearing God’s living word.