Real Faith (heart) vs Mental Assent (head)

Real Faith (heart) vs Mental Assent (head)

By Kenneth E Hagin 


Hebrews 11:1 KJV

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.


John Wesley said, 

"The devil has given to the Church a substitute for faith which looks and sounds so much like faith some people can't tell the difference." 

He called it "mental assent."


Many people see what God's Word says and acknowledge that it is true—but it is only with their minds that they are agreeing. 

And that will not get the job done. 


It is heart faith that receives from God. 

Notice what the Bible says,

"For with the heart man believeth.... " (Rom. 10:10).


Jesus said in Mark 11:23, ".. .whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart

[this doesn't say a word about the head], but shall believe [that is, with the heart] that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. "


You may ask, "How can I tell whether I have heart faith or whether I am just agreeing with my head?" 


If it is merely mental agreement or mental assent it says, 

"I know God's Word is true. I know God promises me healing or the Holy Spirit, but for some reason I can't get it. And I can't understand it."


Real faith in God's Word says, 

"If God's Word says it is so, then it is so. It is mine. I have it now." 

Real faith also says, 

"I have it when I can't see it."


Our text declares that faith is "the evidence of things not seen. " 


One who has not prayed in real heart faith might say, 

"I don't see the thing about which I have been praying, so it hasn't come to pass." 

If the thing had come to pass—

if you had it—you wouldn't have to believe it; you would know it.


You must take the step of believing to come to the place of knowing. 


Many want to know it first and then believe it. 

That is, they want to know it from the standpoint of its having come to pass. 

But we know it from the standpoint that God's Word says it is so—then it materializes.


Notice what Jesus says in Mark 11:24, 

"What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, BELIEVE that ye receive them, and ye shall HAVE them. " 

Now notice that the having comes after the believing. 

Most people want to turn that around. 

In common, everyday terms Jesus said, 

"You have to believe you've got it before you get it." 

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