Faith is a victory

Victory comes with surrender, comes with faith.

Series focal passage (1Jn5:4-5)

1 John 5:4–5 NASB95

4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

World described (1Jn2:15-17)

1 John 2:15–16 NASB95

15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

1 John 2:17 NASB95

17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

Faith is a victory picture inserted here

Described as lust of the flesh

immorality, inordinate emotions

Described as lust of the eyes

Materialism, greed, covetousness

Described as boastful pride of life

Vainglory, boasting, arrogance

Faith, the right faith needs to be in faith, believe, surrender to Jesus Christ. We will get more into that as we go today and throughout the series.

Faith is the victory over what could be summed us as “SIN”

Some other things to think about that can hinder our relationship, our victory in Christ Jesus, our walk, our overcoming

Anxiety, Depression, Fear

Grief, discontentment, boredom

Despair, loneliness

You can probably add other things to the list.

These just mentioned are emotional and may not be sin itself but can bring sinful behavior or hinder your walk and try to take your victory away from you.

Our victory in overcoming the world is our faith!

Faith in Jesus Christ that overcame the world (Jn16:33)

We will in this series cover a variety of topics that surround faith is a, faith is our victory that overcomes the world. This morning we will look at:

Faith in Jesus Christ defined

Faith in Jesus developed

Faith in Jesus Christ

Is it enough to say you have faith? Or is your faith a display of your surrender to Jesus? May we look at a few things regarding faith this morning.

Faith in general

What do you define faith as?

Eastman’s

Faith is in general the persuasion of the mind that a certain statement is true.

Its primary idea is trust

Biblical example (Heb11:1)

Hebrews 11:1 NASB95

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Or how about from one?

Hebrews 11:1 NLT

1 Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.

Living examples of faith in general

Can you give a living example of something/someone you have faith in?

Your parents are your parents, your kids are your kids they were not nor were you swapped at the hospital.

This is based on your conviction ad trust in the reliability of their word and the hospitals

This faith causes a result, acting in such a manner that what you believe, what you have faith in is true.

Jesus is the son of God slide here

Faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God

Describe what faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God is to you, if you were to share it with another.

It is believing, having faith in who Jesus is.

He is what He claims (Jn10:36; Jn14:6)

Jn10:36 “36 do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?”

Jn14:6 “6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

Jesus proved who He is by what He did and is doing (1Cor15:3; Heb12:1-2)

1Cor15:3 “3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,”

Heb12:1-2 “1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Faith is a victory for Christ is the author and perfecter of our faith

Jesus by what He did, satisfy God’s wrath voluntarily (Rom3:25; 1Jn2:2, 4:10)

Rom3:25 “25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;”

1Jn2:2 “2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.”

You can look up 1Jn4:10 on your own.

He lives for us (Heb7:25; Jn14:1-3)

Heb7:25 “25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”

Jn14:1-3 “1 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”

Faith in what Jesus said (Jn14:6-7)

jn14:6-7 “6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. 7 “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.””

Faith in Peter’s confession (Jn6:68-69; Mt16:15-16)

Jn6:68-69 “68 Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. 69 “We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.””

Or better yet

Matthew 16:15–16 NASB95

15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Faith is a victory when you personally know this, are convicted by this, are able to confess this.

This type of person looks to Jesus as the solution to problems in this world we may face.

That His words are true; which means His answers through the scripture are true.

That you are willing to act on your conviction, your faith, your trust. (Lk6:46; 6:47-49)

Luke 6:46 NASB95

46 “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?

So be a wise man and build your house of faith on the rock (vv.47-49)!

Faith is a victory to those who believe, those who act knowing Jesus is with them through the storms of life, as well as the tribulations we face. Jesus has equipped us to face whatever comes our way.

Is your faith willing to listen and obey to what Jesus and apostles say?

This is the kind of faith that overcomes the world, that faith is a victory. Now the problem is many have faith to hear, to confess, but not all have sufficient faith to do (obey) what He says.

(Transition) - This all sounds good, but maybe you are young in faith, even if you are old and it needs to be developed, so let’s discuss that next

Faith in Jesus Developed

What does it mean to develop something?

It is verb: grow or cause to grow and become more mature, advanced, or elaborate

Faith is not blind slide here.

Faith is not blind as many say, true faith is a strong conviction (Heb11:1)

A strong conviction of things not seen.

Example George Washington; Abraham Lincoln

Spurgeon said it like this: “Faith is not a blind thing; for faith begins with knowledge. It is not a speculative thing; for faith believes facts of which it is sure. It is not an unpractical, dreamy thing; for faith trusts, and stakes its destiny upon the truth of revelation.”

Faith, or a measure of faith is given from God, but is available to all (Eph2:8; Rom12:3)

Eph2:8 “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;”

And

Rom12:3 “3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.”

Faith that it is God’s desire for all men to be saved (Tit2:3-6)

Faith that God wants the gospel proclaimed to all nations (Mt28:20; Rom1:16, 16:25-26)

Rom1:16 “16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

Romans 16:25 NASB95

25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past,

Romans 16:26 NASB95

26 but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith;

Faith, victorious faith comes from God proven faith (Jn5:36; Jn10:37-38, 14:10-11)

Faith that gives life (5:36)

Faith in the works given by the Father to do (10:37-38)

Faith, belief in the works

John 14:10–11 NASB95

10 “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. 11 “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.

Faith, victorious faith comes from the Word of God (Rom10:17 Jn20-30-31)

Rom10:17 “17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”

and the purpose that the gospel of John was written, and many of you should know if here on Wednesday nights.

John 20:30–31 NASB95

30 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

Faith is developed by the word of God

Faith is developed by the evidence the word provides

Many don’t have victorious faith for they do not truly believe, have faith that what God says, what the word says is true.

Don’t have weak faith, have confident, strong conviction

Invitation slide, strong conviction

Victorious faith is more than just overcoming sin, but that has to be the starting point.

Victorious faith is overcoming this world and the things of this world

Victorious faith is believing the word of God and doing something with it.

Do you have victorious faith that overcomes the world?

What does that look like in your life, your everyday life today?

Do you have convicting faith today and want to do something with it? COME

Do you have faith that you want to grow and be more than just words? COME

(Song) (Prayer) (Close)