Redefining Culture - Part 5: The Culture of Faith

We are a Church with a Culture of Faith

This means that The Ark Christian Church is not just a great organization, but a family of people who trust in and follow a living God who loves us and wants to lead us supernaturally - so we follow HIS WAY of living.

This means we don’t just believe IN healing, we have faith FOR healing

We don’t just believe IN miracles, we have faith FOR miracles

We don’t just believe IN the supernatural-natural; we have faith FOR the supernatural-natural!

We don’t just believe IN a God who CAN; We believe in a living God who DOES

Where you go to church is, very literally, a matter of life and death!

Psalm 27:13 NKJV

13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.

Faith is a Lifestyle Not a Topic

Hebrews 10:38 NKJV

38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”

Heb 10:38

Galatians 3:11 NKJV

11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.”

2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV

7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.

The better our sight, the harder it can be to walk by faith!

It is largely a decision of our will to choose live by faith even when we can see well.

Faith is a Substance

Faith is not a feeling

Hebrews 11:1 AMP

1 NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].

Faith is the Title Deed!

So, If I show you the title to a vehicle that has my name and address on it, though you have never seen that vehicle, Would you thoroughly believe that I own it and have it?

This is what faith does - it allows us to possess the promises of God that we may not see.

Faith feels like a knowing that goes beyond your intellect and your knowing. Faith is a God-breathed, confident assurance of the outcome.

Even the things I cannot see.

So how do I know if I have faith???

2 Thessalonians 3:2 NKJV

2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.

Faith ONLY comes to us ONE WAY!

Romans 10:17 NKJV

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

Matthew 4:4 NKJV

4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”

If it’s not in the Bible, it cannot be faith!!!

Matthew 13:4 KJV 1900

4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

You can’t stop the birds from flying over your head, but you can stop them from stealing your word-seed

EVERYTHING in the Christian life happens the SAME way

This is why we push so hard (& will continue to push so hard) to get EVERYONE reading their Bible DAILY

If something does not come from the Bible & is not “breathed on” by God, Faith will not be activated in your heart and life.

If it’s in the Bible & clearly stated, in at least 2-3 places, we can KNOW that God has established that word forever and has not changed His mind.

Ephesians 2:8 KJV 1900

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

James 1:17 NKJV

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

2 Corinthians 1:20 NKJV

20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

Matthew 18:16 NKJV

16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’

Just One Thing:

The moment when the faith in our heart connects to the grace of God, EVERYTHING changes!!!

Since the just are meant to live by faith, get into God’s word DAILY at least long enough for Him to speak for you for the day!

Discussion Questions:

What smartphone feature would you actually be excited for a company to implement?

What is at least 1 thing that stuck out to you about faith? What was the reason that particular thing stood out to you?

Please read and share about the practical strategies and (possible) challenges that you face in choosing a life of faith instead of sight.

Please share about at least 1 time that you KNEW that you were operating in faith. If you can’t think of another time that you have experienced walking in faith, please share how you came to salvation through Jesus - that itself was a moment of faith! If you have not yet given your life to Jesus, please allow your group to pray for the faith to come to your heart to received Jesus as your Lord and Savior.