Sermon Tone Analysis

From this V we see that *our faith is not our own*, but *it is the Lord’s*.

He’s the *author of our faith*.

We *need to find out* what is the *purpose of* our *faith*.

Is it */for us to be blessed/*, or so that we can */say we have great faith/* *and not do anything with it*, */maybe/* it’s */for our family/* to be */blessed/* and */have the desires of their heart/*?

*God does want us to be blessed* and *He wants our families blessed*, but the */main reason for/** /our faith is to reach others/*, for */salvation/*, */healing/*, */safety/*, */deliverance/*, so that others can */experience the goodness of God/* and */His blessings/*.

*Faith should reach out* in every direction.

*Our faith should be reaching out* in every direction.

We need to understand the value and necessity of the reach of faith.

*I.

*But the */1st/* thing we */need/* is to */realize/* *who is the* */source/* */of/* our */faith/*.

We can call it the */upward look of faith/*.

*A.

*Our *opening V* *said*, “*/Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of {our} faith/*.”

*1.

**That’s where our faith comes* *from* and that’s who we have to put our faith in.

*2.

**/PSA 121:1-2/* We have to remember to *look to* the Lord *Jesus* Christ, *that’s where our strength comes from*; that’s where our *power comes from*.

*a.*

*/LUKE 9:1/*

                                           *i.*

The word “*/POWER/*” here is the *Greek* “*/dunamis/*” *meaning* the */miracle working power/*.

*a.*

*Sometimes* the *English* word “*/power/*” is the *translated* from the *Greed* word “*/exousia/*” *meaning* “*/Authority/*”

                                                     *b.*

But in this *V* He *says* that *we Have* the *Power over Satan* and we have the *power*, which comes from the Lord, to *heal the sick*.

*c.*

(*/Matthew 10:1/*) */“He gave them (his disciples) power [against] unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease/*.”

*ii.*

(*/Acts 1:8/*) Says, “*/Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you/*.”

*a.*

*/Jesus/* is the one that */sends/* the */HS/*.

*b.*

(*/John 16:7/**/) “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you/*.”

*c.*

(*/JOHN 15:26/*) Says just about the same thing.

*b.*

*Many times* *when* *results* are *slow* in coming, *worry sets in*, sometimes *fear comes*, *sometimes* we start *reasoning* *out* *God’s Word*.

*i.*

Do you know what the word “*/reason/*” means?

*ii.*

*One* of the *definitions* says it means, */“To determine or conclude by logical thinking/*.*”*

*iii.*

*Logical thinking is the natural way of thinking*.

*a.*

Sometimes *logical thinking has it’s place*.

*c.*

But look at */1COR 2:14/*

                                                      *i.*

*When it comes to spiritual things* the *natural mind is at war with the things of God*.

(*/ROM 8:7/*)

                                                      *i.*

(*/1 Corinthians 3:19/*) Says, “*/The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God/*.”

*ii.* (*/1 Corinthians 1:25/*) “*/The foolishness of God is wiser than men/*.”

*d.*

*/ISA 55:8-9/*

                        *3.*

*Mans understanding* has *not arrived*, that’s why (*/PRO 3:5/*) Says, “*/Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding/*.”

(KJV)

              *B.

**Faith always looks upward* *in spite* of *time*, *failures*, *discouragement’s*, and *disappointments*, *even in* the midst of *tests* *and* *trials*.

*1.

**/2CO 2:14/* If you’re *walking in faith*, *you have* the *victory*.

The *upward look of faith always wins*.

*Faith is the victory*.

*2.

*(*/1JO 5:4/*) Says, “*/For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, {even} our faith/*.”

(KJV)

     *II.

*After you have that */upward look of faith/*, (*trusting in the Lord*), then you’ll have the */lift of faith/*.

*/MARK 9:27/*

              *A.

*Jesus took that man (boy) by the hand and lifted him up.

*1.

**He’ll* take you by the hand and *lift you up*.

                        *2.

*In what area of your life do you need Jesus to lift you up?

                                  *a.*

*Maybe* you’re *sick* or *afflicted*, *if you have* that *upward look of faith*, *Jesus will lift you up*.

                                  *b.*

*Maybe* it’s *sin* that you *need to be lifted up out of* (*/PSA 40:2/*) Says “*/He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, {and} established my goings/*.”

*c.*

All you need is that */upward look of faith/* and */Jesus will lift you up/* *out of that miry clay*, *out of that sin*.

*d.*

*/Matthew 14:28-31/*

                                  *e.*

*Peter had* that *upward look of faith* and *He began to walk on the water*, but he *got his eyes off Jesus*, it said he *saw* the *wind* boisterous, he got his *eyes off Jesus* *and* *The Word* of God.

*              *                   *f.*

Then *Peter got his eyes back on Jesus*, It says, “*/He cried, saying, Lord, save me/*.”

*i.*

He *once again had* that *upward look of faith* and (*/V 31/*) Says, “*/Immediately Jesus stretched forth {his} hand, and caught him/*.”

*g.*

As Peter had that *upward look of faith*, The *Lord* began to *lift him up*.

*B.

*Now *we* *are* the *body* *of* the *Lord* JC, we have to get our *strength from Him*, and when we do, we have to *reach out* to *others*.

*1.

*The *Word* of God will *not return void*, but it will accomplish that what it’s been sent out to do.

*a.*

*As you share Jesus* with others and *believe God for them*, *you are reaching out* to them and the *Jesus* *will lift them up*.

*b.*

*Jesus is still in the lifting up business*.

*III.

**/COL 2:5,7/*

 

 

 

 

 

For your *faith* *to be effective*, *you have to be steadfast and established in the faith*.

*A.

*The Word “*/STEADFASTNESS/*” in (*/COL 2:5/*) means, “*/STABILITY, MAKE STRONG, STABLE, STIFF/*.”

*1.

**You need* to be “*Stable in the faith, strong in the faith, and immovable in the faith*.”

*B.

*The word “*/Stablished/*” in (*/V 7/*) means, “*/Stable, Firm, or Sure/*.”