My Faith Is Changing Me!

Hebrews 11:13–16 NKJV

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

pray

Confession of Faith

I am not moved by what I see or by what I feel. I am moved by what I believe. I believe the WORD of God! The victory is mine! I have it now! I can see it through the eyes of my faith! In Jesus Name

Introduction:

How does faith change a person’s focus and perspective?

Today Let’s look at the Faith needed to change our perspective on how we live - what we do, and our focus on what’s important!

Hebrews 11:4 NLT

4 It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.

Hebrews 11:5 The Message

5 By an act of faith, Enoch skipped death completely. “They looked all over and couldn’t find him because God had taken him.” We know on the basis of reliable testimony that before he was taken “he pleased God.”

Hebrews 11:7 NLT

7 It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.

Hebrews 11:8 NLT

8 It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.

Hebrews 11:11 NLT

11 It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise.

Sometimes God places a goal or desire in our spirit. - I call that getting pregnant in the Spirit.

The only way were are to achieve or obtain or reach the goal is by our Faith In God through the Holy Spirit.

To have that Abel Faith

To have Enoch Faith

To Have Noah Faith

To Have Abraham Faith

and To have that Sarah Faith

Requires us to Believe that God is who he say he is and to diligently seek him to receive the reward!

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

With this in mind I can allow my faith to change me –

With this in mind I can operate my life so that My Faith empowers me to dream big,

With this in mind I seek after God in all things,

Stop for a second and let this rest in your spirit

All things are possible!!

It is possible that you and I can accomplish things for the Kingdom of God that most people only daydream about.

Only What you do for Christ will last

There is a song says that song has a different meaning for me in my second half: Only what you do for Christ will last. Some of the verses say,

You may build great cathedrals large or small, you can build skyscrapers grand and tall, but only what you do for Christ will last….

You may seek earthly power and fame, the world might be impressed by your great name, soon the glories of this life will all be past, but only what you do for Christ will last. Remember only what You do for Christ will last.

Only what you do for Him will be counted at the end; only what you do for Christ will last.

My Faith Is Changing Me!

The patriarch's faith was a faith that endured,

They constantly looked for the heavenly country.

They all believed what God had promised.

They had to accept God’s promises by faith.

They had to Believe the promises God made to them

They did not put the hope in themselves but the hope and faith was in Jesus.

They did this so they could posses what God had promised.

My Faith is changing Me

To have that life changing faith – you must operate in 4 types of Faith

1. Visionary Faith

1. Our spiritual fore fathers and mothers had visionary faith They saw the promises of God not by sight but in their hearts and minds.

Faith helps us to see and understand the promises of God.

2. Growing Faith

They saw the promise of God and were thankful to God for the privilege of seeing it.

They were persuaded of the promises of God. They believed that the promises were true!

They believed that God was going to give it them everything he said..

They believed in God and that what God promised He was going to fulfill.

They embraced the promises.

Embraced means to greet and welcome.

They were thankful and appreciative to God!

They rejoiced and loved the promise,

They set theirs eyes, and never looked away

3. Working Faith

Their faith was a working faith.

They actively sought after what God had promised

They actively declared God’s promises it to everyone they talked to

We can’t just sit back and talk about the promises! We can’t spend our time just thinking that God would just give it to us when it was time. “Let go of the gimme spirit”

We cannot go on living our lives ignoring the promises,

People of Faith actively seek after the promises.

We got to get up, put the work in, intensively seek God and his promises

We must get up and work for the promises leaving the world and its possessions behind.

By their separation from the world and seeking after God's promises, they declared plainly that they were men and women of true faith.

4. An Enduring Faith

4. Their faith was an enduring faith. They never returned to what they were or use to do.

They had separated from the world and began a search for the promise of God and they stayed on the search.

Simply stated, You must keep your their mind and thoughts on the promises.

⇒ They did not harbor the thoughts of the old world's pleasures and desires, possessions and indulgences, feelings and comforts.

⇒ They did not return to the old world when they had the chance.

⇒ The patriarchs endured to the end. In fact, they went to their grave believing in the great hope of God for the promises

Romans 4:21 NLT

21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.

Faith— Reward: the reward of the patriarchs.

Their reward was twofold:

1. They received God's approval. God is not ashamed to be called their God.

God is acting now; it is today that He is unashamed.

He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob today, and He is not ashamed to be called their God.

God loves and commits Himself to all who believe Him and His promises.

God is not ashamed and never will be ashamed of those who confess that they seek Him!

2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV

7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.

2. They received the promised land.

God prepared a city for them, a heavenly city that will last forever and ever.

Romans 4:13 NKJV

13 For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Romans 4:13 The Message

13 That famous promise God gave Abraham—that he and his children would possess the earth—was not given because of something Abraham did or would do. It was based on God’s decision to put everything together for him, which Abraham then entered when he believed.

SOMETHING BETTER For Christians, our better days are always ahead. We must Walk By Faith!

Don’t be moved by what you see or how you feel! Have faith in the WORD OF God! The Victory Is Yours, The Promises of God belong to us!

See it through the eyes of your faith in the Word!

Let me end it here - say this

My Faith is Changing Me!!!