Faith ABC (part 3)

    For the Last two weeks we’ve been teaching on the subject of Faith, and we’re going to pick up where we left off last time.

    I. 1 of the things that we brought up last time was (HEB 10:38) which says, “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” KJV

            A. You and I that have been Justified by receiving Jesus as Lord and Saviour are now to live by faith.

                    1. Quite often, people have a hard time with the definition of word “Faith.”

                            a. (Proverbs 3:5) Gives us a good definition of faith, it says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” KJV

                            b. Faith is simply trusting the Lord to do what He says in His Word.

                    2. In (HEB 11:1) Adds quite a bit to that definition.

                            a. (HEB 11:1) Says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” KJV

                            b. The New Jerusalem Bible says, “Only faith can guarantee the blessings that we hope for, or prove the existence of realities that are unseen.”

                                    i. I like the 1st part to that V, “Only faith can guarantee the blessings that we hope for.”

                                    ii. Faith is a guarantee to the promises of God.

                            c. (HEB 6:12) Tell us That it’s through faith and patience we’ll inherit (or receive) the promises. KJV

                                    i. Again this V is telling us that it’s through faith (trusting God) that will bring His promises to this natural realm.

            B. The promises of God already belong to us, and they are already done in the Spirit.

                    1. (2 Corinthians 1:20) Says, “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” KJV

                            a. The Word “AMEN” means “So be it.”

                            b. So what God is saying to us through the Word is that the promises of God have already taken place in the Spirit through the work of Jesus.

                                    i. But it’s through faith that brings them into this natural realm.

                    2. Turn with me to 1PET 2:24

                            a. You might still see sickness in you body, but this V is telling us that when Jesus went to the Cross and paid the price for our sins, at the same time He paid the price for our Sicknesses and Diseases.

                                    i. That’s why Paul can say, “By Jesus stripes ye were healed.”

                                    ii. You were healed 2000 years ago. It’s done in the Spirit, Now Faith will bring it to our physical bodies.

                            b. That’s the same for Prosperity, deliverance, safety, all of the promises of God.

                                    i. It’s done in the Spirit, but faith will cause them to manifest.

                                    ii. Faith says that it’s already mine before you see it in this realm.

                                    iii. Faith is a spiritual force (a spiritual power) that will bring thing into this realm of reality.

                    3. Turn with me to ROM 12:3

                            a. What I wanted you to see in that V was that God has given each Christian THE measure of faith.

                                    i. Some have tried to say that God gives each person a different measure of faith, some more and others less.

                                    ii. But that’s not the character of God.

                                    iii. (ROM 2:11) Says, “For there is no respect of persons with God.”

                            b. Our V in (ROM 12:3) says, “God has dealt to us “THE measure of Faith.”

                                    i. God has predetermined to give each Christian a set amount of faith. We’re all given the same amount of faith.

                                    ii. Now, what you do with that amount of faith is up to you.

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

                    1. Your faith will grow and be strengthened by hearing the Word and by using your faith. (Muscle)

                    2. So exercising your faith will help your faith grow, but you’ve got to hear the Word 1st.

                            a. and just hearing the Word is not enough.

    II. Look at LUKE 8:18

            A. You have to earnestly listen to the Word of God.

                    1. LUKE 8:11-15

                            a. The word “KEEP” here in (V15) means “To hold or to hold fast, to have, to take possession, seize.”

                            b. The only way the Word of God will cause faith to grow in our lives, that will produce fruit, is by earnestly listening to the Word and by Keeping (Holding) it in our heart, giving the Word 1st place.

                                    i. Seize on to it.

                                    ii. I found something interesting when I looked up the word “Seize” in the dictionary.

                                    iii. One of the definitions of the word was “To lay claim to for oneself or as one’s right.”

                                            a. We need to “Lay claim” to the Word of God for ourselves.

                            c. Notice that Jesus said at the end of (V 15) “Bring forth fruit with Patience.”

                                    i. (MARK 11:24) Says “Believe that you receive or have faith that you receive and you shall have them.”

                                    ii. You’ve got to believe that you received 1st then you’ll have it.

                                    iii. You have to believe that it’s yours now before you ever see it.

                                    iv. You believe that it’s yours now, but it doesn’t say how long it will take to actually see it. But again we see the Word Patience

                                    v. (HEB 10:36) Says, “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.”

    III. I few minutes ago I briefly made reference to “Being a doer of the Word.”

            A. James said, “Faith without works is dead.”

                    1. If faith doesn’t have a corresponding action to go with it, is dead. It’s not going to produce anything.

                    2. LUKE 8:21

                    3. You remember the woman with the issue of blood in (MARK 5) She put action with her faith. _____ (Heard about Jesus {faith came} she ran to Him).

                            a. Jesus replied to her, “Daughter thy faith hath made thee whole.”

                    4. ACTS 19:6

                            a. They had faith to receive the H.S. with tongues.

                            b. But what was the corresponding action?

                            c. “They spake”

                                    i. The corresponding action can be as simple as confession the Word.

                                    ii. But if you have faith in the Word, you have to act on it.

                                    iii. If you refuse to act on it, your doubting the Word.

            B. (MARK 11:23) Says, “Shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe.”

                    1. Too often we’re ruled by our physical senses (what we see or feel) and that causes doubt.

                    2. JOHN 20:25-29

                            a. Thomas’ faith was NOT based on the WORD of God. It was based on his PHYSICAL senses. (saw or didn’t see) (touch)

                            b. Thomas wouldn’t believe unless he could see Jesus and touch His wounds.

                                    i. That’s natural human faith, that’s not the God kind of faith.

                                    ii. Natural human faith (which even non-Christians have) Says, I’ll believe it when I see it.

                                    iii. But the God kind of faith says, “I believe it before I see it, because God said it’s so.”

            C. ROM 4:17-21

                    1. Can you see the differences between Abraham’s faith and Thomas’ faith.

                    2. Abraham was fully persuaded that, what God had promised, He was able to perform.

                    3. We need to have faith like Abraham’s faith.

                            a. 1st Abraham had God’s Word for it. _____

                            b. 2nd Abraham believed God’s Word. _____

                            c. 3rd Abraham didn’t consider his physical senses. (What he saw or felt)

                            d. 4th Abraham gave praise and worshipped God.

                                    i. In (V 20) it says that Abraham “gave glory to God.”

                                    ii. The word “Glory” means “praise and worship.”

                                    iii. Never forget about praise and worship, Abraham did it before he ever saw the manifestation.

                    4. The God kind of faith says, “If God said it, than it’s true.”

                            a. Too often our faith is based on what we see, feel, think, circumstances, or what we hear others say.

                            b. Let your faith be based on God’s Word ALONE.

WOLCC 11/17/91 SUN AM and WOLCC 8/25/96 Sun AM