Basics of Faith
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Faith is defined as having confidence and assurance in things hoped for but not seen, and involves worshipping God, being patient while waiting on Him, living a holy life, persevering through trials, and trusting God rather than relying on oneself. True faith results in works and obedience to God's word, not just words without action. Faith has Jesus Christ as its central object and is based on His finished work on the cross to overcome sin and give believers authority over Satan. The document provides guidance on growing one's faith through studying Scripture, prayer, taking every thought captive to Christ, and demonstrating faith through actions rather than relying on personal effort alone.
Basics of Faith
- 1. Faithis… What isFaith? 1. Substance (Title Deed/Assurance) of thingshopedfor(Havingthe Hope Now) 2. Evidence of thingsnotseen(Thingsthathappenthatcome fromthe unseensupernatural realm) 3. WorshipingandFearingGod(Eccl 12:13, Isa 43:7) 4. BeingPatientandWaitingonGod (Isa40:31, Heb6:12, 2 Peter1:5-8) 5. Livinga Holyand BlamelessLife(1Tim4:12) 6. PerseveringthroughTrials(James`1:2-10) 7. CastingAll Cares/BeingDependentonGod(1 Peter5:6-7) 8. OvercomingEvil withGood(Romans12:17-21) 9. LovingGod and LovingOthers(Matthew 22:37-39) What isnot Faith? 1. Wishing/Beggingthatthingswillcome topass.Faithisbelievingithasalreadybeendone.(Heb 11:1). 2. Gettingeverythingyouwantbynamingit or claimingit.Faithworksbythe will of Godaccording to hisword.We are to name andclaimthe wordof God inour livesandstandon God’struth. 3. Beingmonetarilywealthy.Goddoesnotcall everyone tohave grandriches.Godonlyentrusts certainpeople toitthat can handle it. 4. Beinghealthy24/7. While Goddoeswantto heal us,we may not understandhow he doesitat timesbutit ishiswill toheal us spirituallyandphysically)(Psalms103:2). Ourbodiesdecayand age andwe will have healthproblems…butwe canchoose totrust God overour circumstances and putit inhis hands. 5. Confession/Professionwithoutfruit.Faithalwaysresultsinworks.Always. We cannottrustGod and notuse commonsense orwisdominmakingdecisions.Godexpectsustouse wisdomwhich isan integral part of our faith.(IEBeingsickand trustingGod while doingwhateverwe canto feel better).Godexpectsustodo our part and he will dohis.TrustinginGod doesnotmeanwe throwcommonsense outthe window. (James2) 6. Havinga life above troublesandtrials…Jesuscame togive usan abundantlife,withpersecutions and trials.We can have victoryin the midstof trials. 7. GettingGod to doanything….we receive whatGodhasalreadydone. 8. Que Sera Sera…whatwill be will be.Faithisnotbasedoncircumstances,butontrustingGod. The centralityof faith 1. Faithhas to has an object…JesusChristiswhowe trust. 2. Basedon Christ’sfinishedworkonthe cross. 3. Christshedhisbloodin5 places: A. Circumcision-Freedomfromthe Law B. WhippingPost-Healing C. Garden-Dominion D. Crownof Thorns-FreedomfromLack/Poverty
- 2. E. Calvary-FreedomfromSin 4. Jesusalreadytookcare of sinon the cross, we justhave to take dominioninthe name of Jesusoverthe sininour livesbyfollowingGod’sword. 5. Faithis inGod’slove…soitistiedto dependence onChristandhislove forus…thisishow we live aholyand righteouslife (Gal 5:6). RestoringDominion 1. God createdmankindtohave dominionoverthe earth,evenSatan(Gen1:26-27). 2. SinenteredandseparatedmanfromGod. Satangot control of the planet(2 Cor 4:4). 3. Jesuscame and triumphedoverthe enemy,givingthe keysbacktoman (Luke 10:19). 4. Whenman trustsin Christ,theyhave the abilitytoreigninlife (Rom5:17). 5. Man hasauthorityoverthe devil throughthe name of Jesusif theybelieve inJesusChrist(Luke 10:19). 6. Man can take authoritybysubmissiontoGodand resistingthe devil.(James4:7) What Jesusandthe ApostlesTaughtonfaith: Mark 11:22-26 Luke 17:6 John3:16 John8:31-36 Galatians5:6 Matthew21:21-22 Mark 4 (Parable of the Sower) Romans10:6-17 Ephesians2:8-10 1 Peter1:5 2 Peter1:5-8 James1-2, 5 Hebrews10:23 Hebrews11 Hebrews12:1-2 Romans12:1-3 Romans5
- 3. Galatians4-5 Do we have to have perfectfaith? Thisis where legalism tendstogetinthe way.We cannotkeepthe law…we canonlytrust God’sGrace. God justwantsus to trust himand take himat hisword regardlessof the storms.Ourfaithisbeing finishedbyGod(Heb12:2) so God doesnot expectustoneverhave any doubtsor neversin.Buthe doeswantus to surrendertohimon a dailybasis.Godseesus justas he seesJesus,sowhile we are beingperfected,he hasalreadyperfectedusina legal sense (Heb10:14).We justhave to have a sober viewof ourselvesandstart where we are at inorderto grow. We have to do the firstthingsfirstbefore we go ontothe next.Itisa process.Godonlyholdsusaccountable to whatwe know so he will honor our faithbasedonif we are trustinghimor not. How to growyour faith: 1. Knowwhoyou are in Christ 2. Spendtime withGodinprayer.We needtoask God for everything. 3. Read,Hear and ApplyGod’sWord(2 Peter1:5-8) 4. Take EVERY thoughtcaptive tothe obedience of Christ.Keepyourthoughtlife inGod’sWord. 5. Believe God’sword withoutwavering.Continue totake everythoughtcaptive. 6. ConfessGod’sWordin yourlife andthen 7. Demonstrate hiswordinyourlife.Have the courage to do whatGod wantsyou to do. 8. We cannotlive the Christianlifethroughthe armof the flesh(doit ourselves),we canonlydoit throughthe spirit.We have to say NOto sin andYES to Jesusona dailybasis. SayNO to “me” and YES to “Jesus”. 9. Remember,Faithinthe Grace of God producesActions. Be sure youare beingledbythe Spirit of God. 10. Serve OtherswithGenuine Humility.WorshipGodandGlorifyGodineverythingyoudo. 11. Do your part,and God will dohispart. Your part isto trust God and obeyhiscommands.If you believeGod,youractionswill follow (Integrity). None of us will everarrive soenjoythe journey Start Where youare at Use whatyou have Do what youcan and Trust God to do the rest