World Overcoming Faith

1Jo 5:4 ... and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith...

1.) Faith is the source of victory that will overcome whatever is trying to overcome us. (Sickness / poverty / etc)

            a.) We are given faith when we are Born Again (become a Christian) Ro 12:3 ...God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. We have all been given THE MEASURE of the faith of God!

            b.) No believer has more faith or less faith; however some have learned to use their faith to a higher degree. Ga 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith... (if God's spirit lives in us we have faith!)

            c.) This gives us confidence in the face of overwhelming circumstances.

2.) What is faith anyway?

            a.) It's not a generic term for religion.

            b.) It is in it's simplest form...BELIEVING THE WORD OF GOD!

            c.) Heb 11:1 ¶ Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. {substance: or, ground, or, confidence}

            d.) 2Co 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)... SO FAITH IS BELIEVING WHAT GOD'S WORD SAYS REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE SEE / FEEL / OR HEAR IN THE NATURAL

3.) How do we release our faith?

            a.) Thru the Words of our Mouth. Mr 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. {Have...: or, Have the faith of God} Here Jesus tells us to have the faith of God (we learned from point one that we do have the faith of God to overcome the world) Then He tells us how to release that faith...(by saying) Mr 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Lu 17:6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

3.) What hinders our faith?

            a.) Doubt...Mt 21:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

            b.) Fear ... Lu 8:50 But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.

            c.) Failure to walk in love ...Ga 5:6 ...faith which worketh by love... We must be determined to walk in love / forgiveness / forbearance etc. (As a result our faith will be operative)

            d.) Worry ... Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

                        >careful means worry / anxiety etc. Worry will hinder our faith because you can't believe God and worry at the same time (So how do we stop worrying? Stay focused on the Word of God / the promise of God / meditate on scripture when your mind wants to worry, doubt or fear...see Joshua 1:8 & Psalms 1:2!

4.) In Conclusion

            #1.) Find a promise in the Word that covers your situation...Example if you are sick ...1 Peter 2:24...by whose stripes ye were healed.

            #2.) Pray the promise not the problem...Example...instead of praying O God I'm sick please heal me, the prayer of faith says , " Dear Father I thank you that Your Word says that by your stripes I am healed regardless of how my body says I feel.

            #3.) Confess or say out loud the promises you are standing on all during the day (to yourself in a whisper or a shout)

Example... In Jesus name by the stripes of Jesus I am healed!

            #4.) Praise God with the Promises! (Praise will keep you faith focused on the promise and not the problem)

Example.... Father I praise you this morning that you are a good God and by your stripes I am Healed and I want to just thank you for it!

Pastor Russ