Faith and How It Works

As a Believer, you have been equipped to walk by faith and not by sight. When you walk by faith, you continually express your confidence in God and His Word. Faith is your victory.

A. The Christian has been called to continually express his or her confidence in God and His Word.
1. Living a life of faith pleases God (Hebrews 11:6).
2. As long as you are alive, you are to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:5-10).
3. Learn how to develop a lifestyle of faith.

B. You have been made the righteousness of God by faith in the blood of Jesus (Romans 10:6-17).
1. Your righteousness is based on what God has done, not your good works.
2. When you confess your sins and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you receive salvation; you are "saved."
a. Salvation or soteria includes protection, peace, wholeness and soundness.
b. Your words establish Jesus as the Lord of your life.
c. You are saved by the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8).
d. Every Christian has been given the measure of faith
i. We all start out with the same faith level when we become born again (2 Thessalonians 3:2).
e. Your confession of faith establishes salvation in your life, but you neglect your salvation when you refuse to confess the Word.
3. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God as it is preached.
a. You can't believe the Word unless you first hear it.
b. You can't have confidence in that of which you have no knowledge.

C. Your victory is in your faith (1 John 5:1-4).
1. First, as a child of God, you must walk in love toward others (v. 1, 2).
a. You will never lose when you love others.
2. Your faith is your victory.
a. Even if it appears that you are losing, hold fast to your faith. In the end you will win.
3. Walk in a practical expression of your confidence in God's Word so that you can be an overcomer.
4. Satan has no defense against a Christian who chooses to practically express his or her confidence in God's Word.
a. The enemy wants you to believe what you can see, however, the unseen realm is more real than what you can see.
b. The spiritual realm is eternal, while the natural realm is temporary.
c. If you can see it, then it is subject to change.
d. The things you can't see (spiritual) will stand firm.
5. Your confidence in God's Word produces victory.

Scripture References: Hebrews 11:6; 2 Cor 5:5-10; Rom 10:6-17; Ephesians 2:8; 2 Thes 3:2; 1 John 5:1-4


Faith and How It Works (Part 2)

Faith can be used by any Christian who puts his or her trust in Jesus. The person who diligently seeks God and His promises will experience the reward of revelation knowledge that comes from heaven. Faith is a practical expression of your developed confidence in God and His ability to reward you, and in the seed-producing ability of His Word to bring forth a harvest in your life.

A. God is not a respecter of persons. Faith is available to everyone.
1. Anyone can use faith for whatever they need, as long as it is within the boundaries of God's will and His Word (Mark 11:23).
2. Those who hear the Word of God preached can also use faith (Hebrews 4:2).
a. The Word must be combined with faith in order to be effective.
3. Faith is a shield that can quench all the fiery darts of Satan (Ephesians 6:16).
a. Hold the shield of faith up in the face of whatever the devil throws at you.
i. You hold up the shield of faith by standing on what God has said in His Word and speaking the Word in the face of challenging situations and circumstances.
b. The shield of faith will always quench Satan's darts.
4. The brethren are qualified to use faith (Ephesians 6:23).
5. God is as free with faith as He is with love.
6. God is not a respecter of persons, but He is a respecter of faith.

B. Your ability to walk by faith is not based on your good "works", or some special ability or anointing. It is based on your trust and confidence in God, His Word and the name of Jesus.
1. Faith is not limited to those called to the ministry.
2. God was able to heal the lame man through Peter and John because the man released His faith in the name of Jesus (Acts 3:12, 16). He connected with the anointing on Peter and John because of his faith.

C. When you walk by faith, you please God (Hebrews 11:6).
1. Jesus walked in perfect faith and pleased the Father.
2. God is a rewarder.
a. God will reward you when you diligently seek Him.
b. Rewards are earned.
c. To diligently seek God is to research Him intensely through His Word.
i. Consistent meditation, prayer and confession of the Word in the face of opposition is the method by which we diligently seek Him.
ii. God will give you more than what you expect when you diligently seek Him.
iii. Be more diligent about seeking Him than being busily involved in church related activities.
iv. The diligent seeker will receive a hundredfold return from God.
v. The person who diligently seeks God will receive revelation knowledge of His Word.

D. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of the things you can't see (Hebrews 11:1).
1. Faith is the "title deed", confirmation and proof of what you are believing God to do in your life.
2. The faith of God is a combination of the promises of God and your confidence in them.
3. Faith is a practical expression of your developed confidence in God and His ability to reward you. It is also having confidence in His Word and its seed-producing ability to bring forth a harvest in your life.
a. Confidence must be developed.

Bible Ref: Mark 11:23; Hebrews 4:2; Ephesians 6:16, 23; Acts 3:12, 16; Hebrews 11:1, 6


How to Release Your Faith
To release your faith, say what you believe based on the Word of God. Your tongue sets the course for your life, so train yourself to speak the right words. Don't speak words that are contrary to what you believe.

A. The spirit of faith is demonstrated by what you speak.
1. You speak whatever you believe (2 Corinthians 4:13, 14).
2. You believe with your heart, but what you believe is established by your words.
a. You establish what happens in your life by what you say.

B. You can speak to literal things (and circumstances) and they will change (Mark 11:22-24).
1. Jesus spoke to a literal fig tree and it withered within 24 hours.
2. Don't speak idle words that you don't believe or you will deceive your heart.
3. Don't say anything when you are in unbelief or doubt.
a. Speak and meditate the Word of God until your heart is convinced of it.
4. You will receive the manifestation of your prayers when you believe the words you speak in prayer.

C. Watch your words because they create your life.
1. You can protect your heart by refusing to speak the wrong words (Proverbs 4:23, 24).
2. A wise tongue is one that speaks the Word of God needed for a particular situation.
a. If you need healing, speak the Word of God on healing (Proverbs 12:18).
b. If you need financial increase, speak the Word of God on financial prosperity.
3. The type of life you experience is determined by the words that you speak (Proverbs 13:2).
4. There are consequences for the words you speak, either good or bad (Proverbs 18:20, 21).
a. Words give birth to things in your life.
5. God always executes the words He speaks (Psalm 89:34, 35).
6. Pray and petition God to help you discipline your mouth (Psalm 141:3).
7. What is in your heart will always be reflected by the words you speak (Luke 6:45).

Bible References: 2 Corinthians 4:13, 14; Mark 11:22-24; Proverbs 4:23, 24; Proverbs 12:18; Proverbs 13:2; Proverbs 18:20, 21; Psalm 89:34, 35; Psalm 141:3; Luke 6:45