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FAITH-IS.001
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WHAT IS FAITH? #1
The Release of God'S Power in Our Lives
Foundation Texts: Hebrews 11 , Mark 11 :24, 2 Peter 1 , Romans 1 :
17, 10:17 1 Tim. 6:12
Although much has been said on this subject and many wonderful
books and tapes are available to help us, we must agree that many
Christians' lives are reflecting failure in this area!
What do we mean by "FAITH"? It is that active force that
releases the power of God in your
life & circumstances.
Faith is important, because it affects every dimension of our
living. When we know it and do it, it will be obvious to all and
the benefits will be seen!
The heroes of faith are listed in Hebrews 11 but we must remember
that some of those were failures who got up again and made it!
For every one of us, we must decide to forget those things that
are behind, so that we can strive for new gains by faith.
In 2 Peter 1, Peter felt it necessary to remind them and keep on
reminding them whilst he was alive, of the truth of God's Word.
He said "we have not followed cunningly devised fables" ... but
"were EYEWITNESSES"! They had HEARD God's voice from heaven saying
"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew
17:5). Yet, in spite of these things, Peter says "we have a more
sure word of prophecy whereunto ye do well that ye take heed".
Peter had once lived by the senses, but now he lived by the Word
of God!
Some say "the Bible contains truth but is not the truth". We know
that the Word of God is God's voice to us. It is God's Will for
us. Jesus said, "I am the Way, the TRUTH, and the Life: no man
cometh unto the Father, but by Me." (John 14:6)
Romans 1:17 says "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed
from faith to faith: as it is written, THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY
FAITH". No person could stand in God's Presence but because of
our salvation through the blood of Jesus at Calvary, we have been
made the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Cor. 5:21)
When the Bible says that "the just shall LIVE by FAITH", it
indicates that we are talking about a lifestyle! Faith is not a
parachute to use when bailing out; not a panic button to press in
emergencies; BUT A WAY OF LIFE TO LIVE DAY BY DAY.... not just
something to think about when things go wrong but something that
we operate EVERY DAY OF OUR LIVES.
Peter said it was necessary that he remind us and reinforce these
things in our minds and spirits so we will know how to live as
overcomers. UNTIL WE KNOW HOW TO LIVE IN VICTORY, WE NEED TO BE
LEARNING .... TO BE REMINDED!
FAITH COMES FROM GOD Mark 11 :22
FAITH IS THE LINK BETWEEN ME (in the seen world) AND GOD (in
the unseen) 2 Cor. 4:18
FAITH TAKES THE PROMISES OF GOD FROM THE UNSEEN REALM AND
BRINGS THEM INTO THE REALM OF THE SEEN
Just as we have to reach out with our hand and take food in order
to eat it, so it is in the realm of the Spirit. God offers all
His promises but WHAT WE TAKE IS WHAT WE HAVE and when the
decisive word of faith is spoken as we take a persistent stand in
faith, THE ANSWER APPEARS.
YOUR FAITH IS POWER! What we believe in, we are producing and
transmitting! Every minute of the day, faith or unbelief is coming
from us. YOUR FAITH WORKS BY LOVE. If we are believing in a
brother's weak point and speaking it out, we are actually
strengthening those things in him. If we are seeing Christ in
him, we are building up the image of God in him.
We are' responsible to God for the way we influence our brother.
Our attitude not only affects us and gives us release or bondage,
but it also affects him. FAITH WORKS BY LOVE .. SEE YOUR BROTHER
AS CHRIST SEES HIM.
Some of us need to be in the school of faith in order that we
might face the life of faith! We can see that, in this life, an
intercessor gains many positions by faith and does not lose them
unless he does something foolish. Once a person is saved, he
knows it and is fully persuaded of his salvation if he daily
abides in Christ.
We can learn in the school of faith how to conduct a strong
warfare on the battlefield of the spirit and then use that
knowledge in the life of faith. A FULL SURRENDER TO GOD & HIS
WORD; THE FIGHT OF FAITH and the FULL ASSURANCE OF FAITH (Col.
2:2, Heb. 6:11, Heb. 10:22)
Never think "I know it all"! There are many things we are still
ignorant about! In "The Law of Faith" by Norman Grubb, he says
"WHAT WE CANNOT EXPLAIN WE CAN OBEY"!
1. FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH 1 Tim. 6:12
Unless you can conduct yourself in a fight the right way, you will
never win! If we don't know the right way to fight, we will be
overrun by our opponent. If you don't know what you are doing,
you wont be successful when you try it or you may even get hurt!
We have not been asked to fight the devil but THE GOOD FIGHT OF
FAITH. If there is a "fight" of faith, there must be some
opposition to face! The devil tries to take the Word away because
he knows the only way we can harm and affect his efforts is
through our faith in God's Word.
Satan will try and separate you from the Word of Faith or weaken
your stand through doubt, fear, sickness and disease,
circumstances. These pressures are applied against us to rob us
of our faith.
2. FAITH OVERCOMES 1 John 5:4
"For whatsoever is born of God OVERCOMETH the world: and this is
the victory that overcometh the world, even our FAITH."
Many habits are of the world and many Christians are overcome by
these worldly things - cigarettes, alcohol, pill popping, drug
taking, sexual sins, fear, etc. The Bible says WE OVERCOME BY
FAITH. Therefore you and I should understand WHAT FAITH IS so
that we will be victorious and overcome the world.
JUST LISTENING TO THE WORD IS NOT ENOUGH - WE MUST BE DOERS OF IT.
WE MUST PRACTISE IT. YOUR FAITH WILL MAKE YOU AN OVERCOMER IN
YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE; IN YOUR MARRIED LIFE; IN YOUR BUSINESS LIFE;
IN RAISING YOUR CHILDREN, etc.
3. TRYING OF YOUR FAITH WORKS PATIENCE BUT LET PATIENCE HAVE
HER PERFECT WORK THAT YOU MAY BE PERFECT & ENTIRE, WANTING
NOTHING. (James 1:3,4)
We are to count all the trials and tests JOY, KNOWING THIS
THE SPIRITUAL FORCE OF FAITH COMES FROM GOD (Eph.2:8,9,
Rom.12:3)
IT COMES THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT TO OUR SPIRITS (Rom.10:17)
INTO OUR MIND & IS SPOKEN OUT OF OUR MOUTH (Mark 11:23,
Rom.10:8-10)
AND IS FOR DAILY LIVING (Romans 1:17, 2 Cor. 5:7)