How do we develop faith?

Ro 10: [13] For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved
[14] How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
[15] And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
[16] But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
[17] So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

This is how we develop the shield of faith. We know that it is our goal to speak very scripturally (I Pet 4: [11] If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.)

Heb 5: [12] For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. (by specificity.)

…shows that we are to be taught these as babes in Christ. Under the old law, there was actually a command to speak of the law to children more or less at all times. Deut 11: [18] Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.
[19] And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
[20] And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:

This is how the Lord fulfilled the promise to write his law in our hearts

[33] But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

This is quoted in Heb 8: [10] For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
[11] And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

... as fulfilled prophecy. We see that as we become forgetful, we renew our minds (Ro 12: [2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.)

When proof is demanded of the Christian, he may not be able to demonstrate God by a sign. Heb 11: [6] But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

If we had proof, we would not need faith. However, we CAN “by patient continuance in well doing,” prove what is the will of God. Ro 2:[5] …God;
[6] Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
[7] To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

When we have begun to do these things, we develop the shield of Faith (Eph 6:16) demonstrated by Christ in the wilderness (Lk 4:1-13.)

We spoke above of “knowing the Lord.” This is also the goal of the serious Christian. Consider 1 Jno 2: [3] And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
[4] He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
[5] But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
[6] He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

The word perfected is from the Greek to complete. We see how this is done in Jno 14: [15] If ye love me, keep my commandments..

Christ in fact indicted an audience one time by asking Lk 6: [46] And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
[47] Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
[48] He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

We see in vs 47 that we should both hear and do. This is also true of teaching. Mt 5: [19] Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Works do not save one. Eph 2: [8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
[9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.

However, in order for the faith to be a living faith, it must be accompanied by obedience. Jas 2: [24] Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

In fact, faith without works is dead, being alone Jas 2: [17] Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

We should never tire of being reminded of these things as we grow in Christ (2 Pet 1: [12] Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.
[13] Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;
[14] Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.
[15] Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.)

(The phrase “in this tabernacle” refers to his physical body)

The whole of Jas 2 is a treatise on Faith.