WALK BY FAITH 1 FAITH What is Faith

WALK BY FAITH 1. FAITH – What is Faith ? ? 2. Why FAITH ? ? 3. How do I apply FAITH in my daily life today ? ? 1

WALK BY FAITH - What is Faith ? ? 1. This is a question I think we should all ask ourselves often. . ‘cause if we don’t think about it. . you will struggle to truly walk in the Power of it. . . and will always think that you have faith and then wonder why nothing ever happens. . . and you don’t see the power that we read about in the bible. . . 2. 3. Rom 10: 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 4. 5. It is one thing to Believe in God…and even to confess you believe in Jesus, and the Cross, and His Death & Resurrection, etc…, but to truly LIVE by FAITH, is a completely different thing. . !!! James writes: Jam 2: 19 -20 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 6. 7. THUS: We need to understand FAITH, apart from just Believing, and need to APPLY IT in our daily Lives…. SO: To understand FAITH – we need to look at the Bible to see how the different Bible Characters lived their lives, and why God was proud of them… 8. We’re going to find it very difficult to look in and/or at the world to understand Faith. . 9. As Faith is Developed from a Personal Relationship with the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. No other way…!!! 10. Let us thus start at the Chapter everyone refers to as the Chapter of Faith… Heb 11 11. It starts off with a Definition in Verse 1: 12. Heb 11: 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 13. SUBSTANCE: Means the Actual Material or Matter that something else is or can be made of or formed from… 14. Eg: The substance of a wooden table – is wood – i. e. one or more Trees that grew in a Forest somewhere, that was chopped, and taken to a place where a skilled person could make the table from the wood of those trees… 15. THUS: The Bible says: FAITH is the Substance of what we HOPE for … in other words something that causes us to keep our hold on to something we can’t see yet – HOPE. . !!! 16. Rom 8: 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 17. i. e. You don’t Hope for something that you already have in your possession. . You hope for something still to come, usually something BETTER than what you currently have ? !? 18. And FAITH is that EVIDENCE of that what you HOPE FOR : i. e. evidence of things not seen. Heb 11: 1 -2 (MSG) The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd. 2 20. The bible refers to Jesus as the Rock/Foundation that we Build our Faith on…!!! (Mat 7) 19.

WALK BY FAITH 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. FAITH - What is Faith ? ? ‘Cause - Outside of Jesus, it is hard to believe in a Better Future. . !!! Circumstances alone will never let you believe in a better future – you will always be downcast in your mind, if you look at your circumstances… But through believing in JESUS, and knowing God’s Word & Promises, etc… – we start looking at life differently, and we start speaking differently, and we start Prophesying a Better Future. . !!! And not long after, we even start seeing some results of the words that were speaking, boosting our Faith to continue… And our lives start looking differently… there is change, and growth. . etc… Heb 11: 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. And Reading the rest of Chapter 11 – and going on to Chapter 12, we see there a few promises for us in store as well, if we choose to step into this Faith that the people in the Bible Times had: Heb 11: 32 -34 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 7. Heb 11: 35 -38 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy: ) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 8. Heb 11: 39 -40 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. 9. Heb 12: 1 -2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 10. Heb 12: 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 11. Heb 12: 3 MSG When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! 3

WALK BY FAITH 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Why Faith ? ? Paul writes in Rom 4 of Abraham: Rom 4: 16 -17 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations, ) before Him Whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Rom 4: 18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. Rom 4: 19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: Rom 4: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God ; Rom 4: 21 -22 And being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. If you look at this scripture: Abraham wasn’t weak in Faith – He was Fully Persuaded that what God had promised He was also able to perform 9. Key Words to note – on why Abraham was so blessed, and why God counted it to him for Righteousness 10. Now the Bible says – we who are also believers, just like Abraham – are thus also being included under the SAME BLESSINGS that Abraham received. . !!! 11. Gal 3: 6 -7 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 12. Gal 3: 8 -9 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 13. Gal 3: 10 -11 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 14. Gal 3: 12 -14 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 15. To Receive the PROMISES of God - is THROUGH FAITH. . Taking it for yourself, making it your own!! 16. And it is by receiving the Holy Spirit in our Lives, that all the Blessings starts manifesting in our lives 4

WALK BY FAITH How do I apply FAITH in my daily life today ? ? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. Let’s first look at an Example of Faith: For instance – if someone is looking for a Job, they will start out by preparing their CVs, and send it out in all directions, trying to get some interviews etc… Later on, they will start going to different companies, to see if they can’t get hold of a manager or something, to try and convince them for an interview or even for someone to give them a chance to prove themselves, …etc But if nothing comes through, eventually most people will go home, and just decide to stay at home, sitting in Sackcloth and Ash – and just say, there is no work out there, and they will start feeling sorry for themselves, feeling very demotivated. . etc. . And later on, won’t even try any more to find anything. . They will just stay at home, and look in other peoples eyes to provide for them, loosing all selfesteem, and don’t want to do anything anymore… BUT: Someone with Faith in their hearts, having a HOPE in their Hearts, that God is their Source and their Hope, will also go through the same process, but with 1 difference… They will KEEP ON CONFESSING that God will come through for them…even when they don’t see anything. . They might not find anything initially, and it might also take months and still nothing BUT: the difference is, they won’t give up HOPE. . . they will hold on, and will keep on trying to go out in different directions and try different things… And they will keep on praying, and asking God, and keep on trusting Him, that He won’t let them down. They will hold onto Scriptures like Mat 6, and even when things go very tough, and they feel that they can’t hold on anymore, they will then pull themselves together and get up the following morning, still Declaring – MY GOD will NOT give up on me !!! And that is when - after they went through those tough times, where everything seems dark, and hopeless, and it feels like they just want to give up, and they get up the following day, and try again, that their break through will shine through like the Morning Sun !!! And they will find that Perfect Job, and Life gets restored, and all is going well again…even better than before… But it took the enduring of the Trying of their Faith – to bring the break through…!!! A step of – I won’t give up – I WILL hold on to God’s Word & Promises…no matter what… And sometimes, we are truly being tested in what we believe… (Persecuted because of the Word - Mat 13) 5

WALK BY FAITH How do I apply FAITH in my daily life today ? ? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Like what James says in James 1 Jam 1: 2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; (or tests) Jam 1: 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. Jam 1: 4 -5 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. Jam 1: 6 -8 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Sometimes we need to learn this lesson of ENDURANCE…in our Faith Walk. . to find Stability. . Don’t give up Pre-Maturely when things don’t always seem to go your way the first time… As not everything always just miraculously work out by just speaking things quickly/easily… Sometimes it asks that you are faithfully doing the right thing, continually confessing, and praying, and sowing, and giving. . etc… 10. And in due course – if you don’t get tired and give up, you will receive your Break Through. . 11. Jesus says in Mat 7: 7 -8 12. Mat 7: 7 -8 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 13. But in the Greek Language – the words used here is Knock – and Keep on Knocking, Ask, and keep on Asking, Seek & keep on Seeking… 14. Keep on Keeping on – is the KEY – to walk by Faith and not by sight. . !!! 15. 2 Cor 5: 5 -6 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 16. 2 Cor 5: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight: ) 17. 2 Cor 5: 8 -9 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him. 6

WALK BY FAITH How do I apply FAITH in my daily life today ? ? 1. 2. The Message Bible states it better: 2 Cor 5: 5 -9 The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what's ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our 3. 4. And that is why Paul could say in Rom 8: 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. hearts so that we'll never settle for less. That's why we live with such good cheer. You won't see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don't get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead. It's what we trust in but don't yet see that keeps us going. Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us? When the time comes, we'll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming. But neither exile nor homecoming is the main thing. Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing, and that's what we aim to do, regardless of our conditions. nakedness, or peril, or sword? Rom 8: 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Rom 8: 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Rom 8: 38 -39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Paul’s Faith was strong & Steadfast in God – Rock Solid… He didn’t let hardships or difficulties come in his way… He pushed forward…!!! (See also 2 Cor 4 - We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; …etc ) And that was what God wanted to do with Israel during their 40 years in the Desert – yes, it was only a 3 -days journey for them through the Desert to the Jordan. But because of their lack of Faith, and rather having a slave and complaining mentality, God had to take them away, back into hardship – to learn FAITH FIRST…before they could step into their PROMISED LAND !!! It is one thing to Believe God, it is another thing to WALK & LIVE BY FAITH !!! As Faith is a choice in the midst of everything that comes against you. . Meaning you see the negative. . . you recognise it. . . but then you say. . MY GOD IS GREATER THAN THIS SITUTION. . . !!! THUS: As that Video says – The Mountains you are facing today isn’t “the real problem”, they are just there to get you to GROW in your Faith…!!! (Renewing your mind – Rom 12: 1 -3) Once you have developed a Strong Faith in God, He will lead you away from the Mountains & the Desert, and He will guide you to go and conquer your Promised Land He has in store for you. . !!! ***** HALLELUYA !!!! ***** 7

WALK BY FAITH How do I apply FAITH in my daily life today ? ? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. And Lastly a question you need to also ask yourself Regularly: What then stops us from walking by faith. . . and seeing the results of FAITH IN ACTION: – Doubt, Fear & DECEPTION (caused by Twistedness) – Not Having the Knowledge & Understanding – Complacency – too lazy to do something about it – rather listening to others’ negative talk Hos 4: 6 a My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: Pro 23: 7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: THUS: You have to be aware of these things on a constant basis, and not to let your guard down at all… Watch what and whom you listen to… Focus on Renewing your Mind Spiritually everyday – not to be conformed to & thinking like the world anymore, but to be Renewed / TRANSFORMED into a whole new Being by the Spirit of God. . !!! And Rather choose what Paul says in Phil 4: 8 Phi 4: 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 10. Phi 4: 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. 11. Take Authority over every Situation, and command it to bow the knee before the Name of Jesus. (No need to shout – you can speak normally, but with Authority – that you will not stand for this thing that rises itself over your life – and to let fear take a hold of you. . etc. . ) – 2 Cor 10 12. And I can promise you, you will move mountains of all shapes and sizes, even physical mountains when required. 13. And you will be like Caleb, at 80 years old: 14. Jos 14: 11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. 15. Jos 14: 12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said. 16. Jos 14: 13 And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance. 17. Joshua and Caleb were men of TRUE FAITH and Strength in God… Go ye and be the same…!!! ***** AMEN ***** 8