Faith ABC (part 2)

   Last week we started on the subject of faith, at that time I didn’t know if I was going to continue teaching on faith or if the Lord was going to have me go back to the series that we were teaching on and that was the Names of God. After seeking the Lord, I just felt so impressed to teach on the subject of faith.

   I. Faith is a subject that we’ll never get away from. The Word of God is filled with teaching on the subject of Faith.

          A. Turn with me to HEB 10:38.

                 1. This is a quote from the OT (Habakkuk 2:4), which also says, “The Just shall live by his faith.”

                        a. Even in the OT the people were taught that it was faith that was going to save them (or as Habakkuk puts it, “It was faith that was going to justify them.”)

                               i. (Galatians 3:11) says, “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.” KJV

                               ii. A system of do’s and don’ts are not going to save a person.

                               iii. It’s by simple faith and trust in God, (Faith in what God has done.)

                 2. So often we used (HEB 10:38) to teach on the subject of faith, (V 39) says something very interesting.

                        a. Look at HEB 10 39

                               i. If you’re reading from the NIV translation, the NIV does not do a very good job in translating this.

                               ii. A better rendering of this V would be, “But we are not of them who draw back to destruction, but [we are] of faith leading to the preservation of the soul.”

                 3. Faith is going to help to the preserving your soul or mind.

                        a. The word “Preserve” means “To keep in a condition of good repair, efficiency, maintain, keep up, sustain, or To protect from loss or destruction.”

                               i. Faith, which comes by hearing God’s Word, will bring “Good repair to our soul or an upkeep.”

                        b. (Psa 23) says, “The Lord restores our soul.”

                               i. Now, we know how the Lord is going to do that.

                               ii. Faith and Trusting in the Lord will bring a restoration to our souls.

                        c. But he also says that faith is going to keep our souls from destruction.

   II. Now turn with me to HEB 6:12

          A. From this V we can see that we are to be followers of those that were walking in Faith and Patience.

                 1. When we’re walking in Faith and Patience, we’ll inherit the Promises of God.

                 2. In the Word of God, God promises many different things, but some of the main 1’s are Salvation, the Baptism in the HS, Healing, Safety, Deliverance, Prosperity, and there are many more.

                        a. It’s through Faith and Patience that we’ll inherit God’s Promises.

          B. Last time I spent some time trying to give you the definition of Faith. I just want to touch on it for a moment.

                 1. Turn to HEB 11:1.

                        a. 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. Your faith in God and in His Word is a guarantee that the promises of God are ours.

                               ii. Faith is a guarantee that the promises of God are yours now.

                 2. The doctors may say that your sick, but God’s Word says in (1 Peter 2:24) “By His stripes ye are healed.” KJV

                        a. Your bank account may say that you’re not going to make it, but the Word of God says, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) KJV

                               i. It’s faith that brings the unseen promises of God into the realm of reality.

                               ii. It’s faith that brings it into this realm, where we can see it and touch it.

                        b. You might hope for healing, but faith says, “It’s already mine.

                               i. How can we say that it is already mine? Because the Word of God says it is.

                               ii. The Word says, (1PET 2:24) “By whose stripes ye were healed.”

                               iii. Notice that, that V said, “By whose stripes ye WERE healed.” (Past tense)

                        c. That’s how faith sees it.

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

                               ii. Faith is a spiritual force 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 have to hear the Word 1st.

                        a. And just hearing the Word is not enough.

   III. 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 have 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.”

   IV. 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, you’re 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 8/18/96 Sun AM