“Many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.” (Acts 4:4) As Peter and John taught in the temple, many of those who heard the word believed. About five thousand men believed. They believed because of the preaching of the word. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17)
Faith comes by hearing. There is nothing else that will produce faith – not entertainment, not dramas or parties, not special events, but the preaching of the word. “The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness.” (I Corinthians 1:18) However, the preaching of the cross is also powerful. Romans 1:16 says, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
No miracles or works or any other exciting things will convince people of the truth of the Gospel if they refuse to believe the word of God. This is brought out in the story of the rich man and Lazarus as Abraham converses with the rich man in hell, “Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” (Luke 16:29-31) Even the miracle of one rising from the dead will not convince a person who refuses to believe the word of God. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. There is no other way.
Turn Again to the Lord