Enemies

     We're going to continue on our subject of faith.

     I. HEB 11:1-6 (In review)

              A. The KJV of (HEB 11:1) Says, ...

                        1. My own translation of this V says, "Faith is the guarantee that the things we've hoped for is already ours."

              B. (ROM 10:17) Says, "So then faith {cometh} by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

                        1. But if you put this together w/ what Jesus said, just hearing is not enough.

                        2. LUKE 8:18, 11-15

                        3. The only way the Word of God will cause faith to grow in our lives, that will produce fruit, is by earnestly listing to it & by keeping (holding) it in our Hearts.

                                  a. Giving the Word 1st place.

                                  b. LUKE 8:21  Hearing the Word which causes faith in God & in His Word (& do the Word.) .....

                        4. Last time we looked at the difference between the Thomas type of faith & the Abraham type of faith.

                                  a. Thomas said in (JOHN 20), "I will not believe that Jesus is alive until I see Him & touch Him."

                                  b. He was operating by his physical senses.

                                           i. He was being moved by what he say.

                                           ii. Saw Jesus crucified, die, & buried.

                                           iii. He allowed the circumstances to control him.

                                           iv. Really, he should have been controlling the circumstances. I'm Glad that Jesus resurrection wasn't based on Thomas' faith.

                                                     a. How? (Control circumstances)

                                                     b. Like Abraham

              C. In (ROM 4) we know that in the natural Abraham couldn't have children.

                        1. But God promised he would.

                        2. Abraham was fully persuaded that what God promised would come to pass.

                        3. Abraham didn't look at his circumstances.

                                  a. He looked at what God said.

                                  b. He put his trust & his faith in what God said.

                                  c. My Example (When sent me to Rhema)

              D. We have God's Word, just like Abraham.

                        1. We need to put our trust in it. & We should not consider our physical senses.

     II 1TIM 6:12

              A. If we have to fight, that means there are Enemies. There are enemies to our faith.

                        1. 1 of those enemies is a sense of unworthiness.

                                  a. A sense of unworthiness & a lack of faith go hand & hand.

                                  b. The devil will keep bringing up failures.

                                           i. Said something

                                           ii. Slap kids

                                           iii. Told lie

                                           iv. Did something wrong

                                           v. Sin

                                  c. He makes you feel unworthy, if you let him.

                                  d. But you're worthiness is not based on you.

                                           i. If it was based on us as individuals, none of us would be worthy. (ROM 3:23) Says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."

                                           ii. But our worthiness is based on the Lord Jesus Christ.

     III. (JOHN 10:10) Says, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have {it} more abundantly."

              A. Abundant life is God's phrase for the "Good Life."

                        1. "Abundant" means, "excess, more than enough, bountiful, rich, profuse, extravagate, fully enough & lavish."

                        2. This is the life God has planed for you.

                                  a. Your life is to be, blessed, abundant, prosperous, & successful.

                                  b. The devil is the thief, the killer, & the destroyer.

                                  c. God is the blessé, the giver & the abundant one.

                                           i. Don't get God & the devil mixed up, they're opposite.

                                           ii. God is for you & the devil is against us.

                                           iii. ROM 8:31

                                                     a. If God is for you, the devil can't stand against you.

              B. Jesus came to bring us God's life.

                        1. God's life is abundant, full, & ample.

                        2. Do you ever see God in lack

                                  a. He's abundantly provided for. & He wants you to enjoy that abundant life.

              C. 1 thing that is necessary for us to have God's abundant life, is to have fellowship w/ Him.

                        1. 1JOHN 1:3

                                  a. 1 thing this V implies is that we should only fellowship w/ those who fellowship w/ t Father & w/ His Son. (Christians)

                                           i. We can minister to sinners. (no fellowship)

                                           ii. Jesus minister to them.

                                           iii. How can you fellowship w/ them? Nothing in common.

                                  b. 1 of the greatest privileges of being saved is fellowship w/ the Father & the Son.

                                           i. There's no greater joy. (presence)

                                           ii. We can enter into fellowship because of what Jesus did for us in removing our sins.

                                           iii. There is no sin that the blood of Jesus can't take care of.

                        2. Strong faith is a product of close fellowship w/ the Father.

                        3. Revelation knowledge flows out of an intimate communion w/ Him.

                        4. As you come to know Him more personally, you come to a better understanding of your victory in Him.

                                  a. I just want to encourage you to seek after Him.

                                  b. Don't just seek victory & Success.

                                  c. Seek Jesus & you'll experience blessings & prosperity. You'll have victory.

                                  d. (MATT 6:33) Says, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

WOLCC 12/1/91 SUN AM