10-27-04

10-27-04

Faith

If people don’t understand something, then they will criticize it.

Faith is not something you hope for.

Faith takes what we hope for and brings it into reality.

Hebrews 11:1

What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see.

Faith believes now. Hope believes in the future.
Faith helps us to understand God.
Faith is an assurance that it will happen and be there.

Hebrews 11:6

So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

· Only please God with faith. Absolute trust. There cannot be any doubting.

· Faith isn’t a formula used in emergency. It is a life style.

· Fear is the opposite of faith.

Romans 12:1-3

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? [2] Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.

[3] As God's messenger, I give each of you this warning: Be honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you.

Each of us has a measure of faith.
Peter sees Jesus walk on water and then imitates what Jesus does. Fear comes in Peter as he looks around his surroundings. Peter wasn’t consistently walking in faith.
Must be consistent in my Faith.
When God gives me a word, must accept it though faith and believe.
Must have faith in scripture over my life.

Romans 10:17

Yet faith comes from listening to this message of good news—the Good News about Christ.

Build my faith by hearing the Word of God.
Faith is where the will of God is known.

When all of the natural is exhausted, then God comes in with the supernatural.

Matthew 17:13-21

Then the disciples realized he had been speaking of John the Baptist.

[14] When they arrived at the foot of the mountain, a huge crowd was waiting for them. A man came and knelt before Jesus and said, [15] "Lord, have mercy on my son, because he has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. [16] So I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn't heal him."

[17] Jesus replied, "You stubborn, faithless people! How long must I be with you until you believe? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me." [18] Then Jesus rebuked the demon in the boy, and it left him. From that moment the boy was well.

[19] Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, "Why couldn't we cast out that demon?"

[20] "You didn't have enough faith," Jesus told them. "I assure you, even if you had faith as small as a mustard seed you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible." [21] However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.

The Will of God

Can’t have faith in things, in my own ability, or in knowledge. Have to have faith in God.

Mark 11:22-24

Then Jesus said to the disciples, "Have faith in God. [23] I assure you that you can say to this mountain, 'May God lift you up and throw you into the sea,' and your command will be obeyed. All that's required is that you really believe and do not doubt in your heart. [24] Listen to me! You can pray for anything, and if you believe, you will have it.

· Amazed that Fig tree died.

Matthew 7:21

"Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as 'Lord,' but they still won't enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven.

Jesus always wanted to do the will of the Father.

Luke 22:42

"Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine."

John 5:30

But I do nothing without consulting the Father. I judge as I am told. And my judgment is absolutely just, because it is according to the will of God who sent me; it is not merely my own.

John 6:38

For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do what I want.

John 7:16

So Jesus told them, "I'm not teaching my own ideas, but those of God who sent me.

Jesus’ whole mind set was to do the will of God. When he knew the will of God, he acted in faith.

Romans 12:1-2

I must know and can know the will of GOD!!!
So many believers just don’t do anything for God bc they don’t take time to find out the will of God.
Everyone of us was made to be GREAT!!!!!
We have to know the will of God and walking in faith. Must know that I am led by the HOLY SPIRIT.

How do I find the will of the Lord?

Psalm 119:1-8

Happy are people of integrity,

who follow the law of the Lord.

[2] Happy are those who obey his decrees

and search for him with all their hearts.

[3] They do not compromise with evil,

and they walk only in his paths.

[4] You have charged us

to keep your commandments carefully.

[5] Oh, that my actions would consistently

reflect your principles!

[6] Then I will not be disgraced

when I compare my life with your commands.

[7] When I learn your righteous laws,

I will thank you by living as I should!

[8] I will obey your principles.

Please don't give up on me!

Col. 1:9-11

So we have continued praying for you ever since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you a complete understanding of what he wants to do in your lives, and we ask him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom. [10] Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and you will continually do good, kind things for others. All the while, you will learn to know God better and better.

[11] We also pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need. May you be filled with joy,

Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp for my feet

and a light for my path.

Col. 1:9-11

[11] We also pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need. May you be filled with joy,

Find the will of God in the WORD.
Must mediate on the Word day and night.
Relationship with God through prayer will reveal God’s will.
Word, prayer, through Godly Leaders will help find the Will of God.

Col. 3:15

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

· When pray and follow God will know the peace of God.

· When step out of God’s peace a war within begins.

· Need to be in submission to Godly Leaders to find the will of God.

Proverbs 19:20

Get all the advice and instruction you can, and be wise the rest of your life.

Proverbs 20:18

Plans succeed through good counsel; don't go to war without the advice of others.

Proverbs 24:6

So don't go to war without wise guidance; victory depends on having many counselors.

My experiences don’t tell me what is right and wrong. Only the Bible tells me what is right and wrong. Can’t have doubt and unbelief. Must believe on the Word of God. Situations must line up with the Word of God.