“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17)
If you desire to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord, you need to read the Word of God, and not just as a pastime, not just when you cannot fall asleep, not when it’s convenient or you feel obligated to. We have one Book written by the Holy Spirit, one complete and inerrant set of Books that are what the Almighty wanted us to know about Himself.
I personally use a King James Bible, and all that I would ask of you is that you compare every Bible you can get ahold of with it, if you have asked the Lord to give you Spiritual discernment in this area, and your main goal in reading His Word is so that the Holy Spirit can lead you in greater ways to glorify His name, He will show you which one you should be reading.
If your pastor is truly a man of God, one which is Christ-centered and filled with the Holy Spirit, then that is one way that our opening verse will assist you in hearing the Word of God. Radio, television, internet sites, books, even some of these letters are how we hear the Word of God, and our faith is increased. We learn to trust the Almighty more.
One of our adversary’s greatest deceptions has been, “if you can’t beat them, make them think you have joined them.” Many false bibles, many false teachers, thousands of false religions, and all of them to those who have not been blessed with Spiritual discernment in one way or another seem to be correct. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1) What can never be fully expressed can only be shown by our actions, the person who seeks the face of God never stops seeking Him, the one who desires to be Christ-like will behave in a Christ-like manner, notwithstanding our human frailties and ever-present sinful nature. But you also must always remember this, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
Many a person who believes themselves to be saved are not, but they live lives that seem to the outside world, and even to their deceived selves, to be so. They fit into the “better” part of society, they are sociable individuals, polite and giving, but they are not saved, for their lives revolve around what they believe a Christian is to be, not what the Word of God says. They are not led by the Holy Spirit, for He is not in them. They are no less than works-based “religious” people.
They are usually very easy to spot, they are almost always polite and endearing, never judging, never reproving or correcting, almost always in a good mood when you meet them, and never contentious. Bring this to their attention in love and they will smile at you, bring it up again and they will become angered and possibly never talk to you again. “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” (Gal. 4:16)
They listen to the Word, but they do not hear, their faith, if indeed it even exists, does not grow, and at best they fulfill 2 Timothy 3:7, “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
For the born-again believer, even our faith is a gift from God, and each day He offers more of it to you, He reveals more knowledge to us when we seek His face for His glory. You cannot grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord if you do not stay in His Word, if you do not contemplate it when you are not reading it, and neither your faith or that grace and knowledge will be given to you if it is not sought solely for His glory.
Much prayer is needed in this area, much humility must be within us if we desire to be Christ-like. Your faith will grow when you realize it does not come from you.