Sermon Central
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Faith Is The Substance Part 2 Series
Contributed by John Brewster on May 10, 2004 (message contributor)
Summary: Faith is the substance. This is part 2 showing how we can grab hold of the promises of Christ from the supernatural realm and bring them into the natural realm of life.
FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE
PART 2
Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
SUBSTANCE is what pulls things from the supernatural realm into the natural realm for us
The more we give ourselves to God - the more we can pull from the supernatural realm
CONFESSION
- Jesus asks them ....
"Who do you say that I am"
Our faith substance is determined by our confession of who we say Jesus IS within whatever circumstance or situation we are facing
Hebrews 4:14 (KJV)
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Our confession or profession of faith has to be based on whatever God has said CAN BE - God is the one who makes all things possible
SO - what will we place our TOTAL CONFIDENCE IN ....
What we are living, feeling, facing, fearing
- OR -
What God has said can happen
for us at some point in time
Maybe like Abraham - 25 years later - will you still be standing in faith making your faith declarations AND KNOWING THAT GOD WILL PERFORM IT!!
COMMITTMENT TO OUR CONFESSION
Is what we think and words we speak focused on God’s interest for our lives?
Denying self is simply surrendering ourselves to Christ’s Plan for Our Lives -
When We Want It One Way - We Do It God’s Way
When We Want It Done Our Way - We Do It God’s Way Instead
When We Want People To Be One Way, Our Wat - We Treat Them God’s Way
When We Don’t Get It Our Way - Will We Behave According To God’s Way!
Everything we do, say and how we treat others corresponds directly to what and how we receive from God
LOOK AT THIS - PETER ACTUALLY GIVES US A MYSTERY IN HOW TO RECEIVE FROM GOD’S REALM ....
Let’s look closely at these additions - vitally important additions WE ARE TO MAKE ....
FAITH ADD VIRTUE = excellent praise
remember what Joshua told the people to do for the walls of Jericho to come down on that last day and time around - SHOUT LOUDLY - this was before any proof that the walls would even fall ....
TO VIRTUE ADD KNOWLEDGE = a knowing
We receive this "Knowing" through the constant study of God’s Word
TO KNOWLEDGE ADD TEMPERANCE = self control
How do we control ourselves according to learned patterns during our past life - our old man patterns - we have to act out of "Self Control" in order to break those old man patterns
Anger - Criticism - Judgemental - Hateful - Breaking Habits - Breaking wrongful parenting actions during our childhoods - Abusive victim patterns
Examine yourself -
Why do you do the things you do?
Why do you act the way you act sometimes?
Why do you say the things you say sometimes?
TO TEMPERANCE ADD PATIENCE = cheerful, constant endurance
This is exactly what Abraham did for 25 years of waiting on God’s Promise to come
TO PATIENCE ADD GODLINESS = God’s kind of holiness, the heart holiness
2 Cor. 7:1 (NIV)
Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
Ephes. 4:24 (KJV)
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
TO GODLINESS ADD BROTHERLY KINDNESS = philadelphos = love of the brothers, brotherly love
Romans 12:10 (KJV)
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Romans 12:10 (MsgB)
Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.
Psalm 133:1 (KJV)
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
1 John 3:14-18 (NIV)
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
1 Peter 3:8-9 (NIV)
Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
