NJ - BUILD YOUR FAITH

“FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN”

OPEN / WELCOME

Good morning and welcome to church, it is great to see you all hear as we worship God and thank Him for all He has done for us. If you are visiting with us today, we pray that you will be blessed and that you would encounter Jesus and all He has for you. We look forward to catching up with you around morning tea.

PRAYER

Father we love You and thank You, we thank you for Your grace is sufficient for us; we thank You that in our weakness You are strong. I ask that Your Holy Spirit would bring revelation of Your word and give us strength that we may have the power to overcome. Amen

Ephesians 3:20–21 AMP

Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]— To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it).

INTRODUCTION

TITLE: BUILD YOUR FAITH

As we study the scriptures today we will see the importance of reading and studying the word, with the direct result of this being, that our faith is being built up and we grow in strength. In Romans chapter 10 vs17, it says that: “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”

Romans 10:17 NKJV

17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

We have all been HAVE a mustard seed faith, but it is our responsibility to build/grow our faith.

Matthew 17:19–21 NKJV

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

So what is faith?

POINT 1

WHAT IS FAITH?

The Bible says:

Hebrews 11:1 NKJV

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

This means that faith provides a solid foundation for hopes that are not yet a reality, it acts as the proof for things that are not visible to the naked eye. 

Faith gives a person conviction about the reality of something, even if it cannot be experienced by the physical senses. 

Mark 11:23 NKJV

23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

It is just something that we know on the inside, if we water it, it will grow.

Have you ever had your faith tested?

I know that I have.

James 1:2–4 NKJV

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

It is these times that I go back to what I have learnt and know from the scriptures.

I have experienced God move in my life on so many occasions, that it is undeniable.

We must work on the faith that we have, so that it will grow.

Point 2 We must build our faith.

POINT 2

WE MUST BUILD OUR FAITH

It is our responsibility to build our faith, not someone else’s. We have our pastors and leaders that will help us understand and learn about faith, but is our responsibility to build it.

Miracles don’t build our faith, they help, but it is the word of God that builds our faith.

You can see miracles happen around you, but still have no faith (Israel spent fourth years in the wilderness seeing miracles every day, but struggled to have faith to take what was given to them).

Spend time with God.

Read your Bible: Spend daily time reading and studying scripture, and meditate on its teachings.

Pray: Engage in regular prayer, meditation, and "contemplative prayer".

Talk about it. It will build the faith of us and others.

Romans 10:17 NKJV

17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 10:14–18 NIV

14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”  16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”  17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. 18 But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” 

Isaiah 52:7 NKJV

7 How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

As we study the scriptures, our faith is built and we have something to give.

Good news,

salvation to the lost,

healing to the hurt and broken hearted, (But Jesus said that He came to “heal” the brokenhearted! (The word “heal” to set free or to loosen from the detrimental effects of a shattered life).

To see the captive set free

We have what the world needs, let us be Gods children that will use our faith and believe for greater things.

WE MUST BUILD OUR FAITH - Faith Helps us To Overcome

Mark 4:35–41 NIV

35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Pray for yourself and others, that our faith will not fail us

Luke 22:31–34 NIV

31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

POINT 3

STEP OUT IN FAITH

We need to step out in faith and trust that God is going to move in our lives.

Follow the prompting of Holy Spirit

We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

Philippians 4:13 AMP

13 I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].

THEY WERE ALL HEALED

Acts 5:14–16 NIV

14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.

It is important for is to hold onto our strong belief that Jesus is going to move in our lives by the power of the Holy Spirit

It is more than just knowing, we need to expect that God is going to do it.

“The same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us”.

The enemy / satan does not want you to know this and definitely does not want you live this out.

IN JESUS NAME IT WILL BE DONE

John 14:12–14 NKJV

12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

FAITH

Heb 11:1 Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen.

Heb 12:1-2 Run the race with endurance that is set before us, Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.

Matt 17:20 Faith as a mustard seed.

Rom 10:17 So faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God.

CONCLUSION

SALVATION OPPORTUNITY

Romans 10:9–10 NIV

9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

Ephesians 2:8 NKJV

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

CLOSE

Father we thank you that we have heard Your word today, we ask Holy Spirit to help us to understand Your word and apply it to our lives that we can walk in the fullness of Your plan for our lives.