FAITH THAT OVERCOMES THE WORLD
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OUTLINE
1. WE CAN HAVE VICTORY IN OUR BATTLES AND DESTROY THE ARROWS OF THE ENEMY THROUGH OUR FAITH.
2. WE SHOULD NOT LOSE OUR FAITH OR PATIENCE TILL THE PROMISES OF GOD ARE FULFILLED.
3. THERE IS NO RELUCTANCE ON THE PART OF GOD TO BLESS US AND TO FULFILL HIS PROMISES.
4. WE MUST REMOVE THE HINDRANCES TO FAITH SUCH AS DOUBT ,UNFORGIVENESS ,DISOBEDIENCE ETC.
5. JESUS HAD TOTAL FAITH BECAUSE HE LIVED IN COMPLETE HARMONY WITH GOD.
6. FAITH IS HAVING A COMPLETE ASSURANCE OF THE PROMISE EVEN BEFORE SEEING THE FULFILLMENT.
7. WE MUST BUILD OUR FAITH THROUGH HEARING THE WORD OF GOD AND BY DEMONSTRATING OUR FAITH BY OUR ACTIONS.
THE MESSAGE
FAITH THAT OVERCOMES THE WORLD
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1.WE CAN HAVE VICTORY IN OUR BATTLES AND DESTROY THE ARROWS OF THE ENEMY THROUGH OUR FAITH.
Our faith helps us to overcome the obstacles that we face in life. We can be victorious in our battles through our faith. We can destroy the weapons that the enemy hurls at us through the shield of faith. We must be strong in our faith in our times of trial in order to be victorious.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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1 JOHN 5:4
for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
EPHESIANS 6:16
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
2.WE SHOULD NOT LOSE OUR FAITH OR PATIENCE TILL THE PROMISES OF GOD ARE FULFILLED.
We should not get discouraged and lose our confidence in our difficult times especially in trials that last a long time. The Lord will surely grant justice to His people who cry day and night to Him. But we should remain steadfast in our faith in order to receive the reward. We must be patient after we have done the will of God in order to receive the fulfillment of the promises of God.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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LUKE 18:7-8
And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?
I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"
HEBREWS 10:35-39
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay.
But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him."
But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
3.THERE IS NO RELUCTANCE ON THE PART OF GOD TO BLESS US AND TO FULFILL HIS PROMISES.
The Lord is faithful to fulfill His promises and it is His will and pleasure to bless His children and deliver them. There is no reluctance or indecision on the part of God to fulfill His promises. He gave His only Son for us and surely He will grant everything else that we need in our life. The Lord wants us to ask and receive from Him and enjoy the fulness of joy in our life.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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HEBREWS 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
JAMES 1:5-8
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;
he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
ROMANS 8:32
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
2 CORINTHIANS 1:20
For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
MATTHEW 7:7-11
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
JOHN 14:12-14
I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.
You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
JOHN 16:23-24
In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
4.WE MUST REMOVE THE HINDRANCES TO FAITH SUCH AS DOUBT ,UNFORGIVENESS ,DISOBEDIENCE ETC.
We must be careful and diligent to remove the hindrances in our life that weaken and destroy our faith and block the blessings of God from coming into our lives. Even a faith that is the size of a mustard seed can move a mountain if there is no doubt and unbelief. God is powerful and compassionate towards us. But it is our faith that can release the power of God into our lives. Our doubt and unbelief are a great hindrance to faith. The Holy Spirit will convict us of sin when we have unbelief in our hearts. Unforgiveness and disobedience and sin will weaken our faith and block the blessings of God .Loving the praise and the honour of man will hinder our faith . Prayer and fasting will empower us to overcome the power of the enemy. We can have strong faith when we pursue those things which are according to the will of God for our lives.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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LUKE 17:5-6
The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"
He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ’Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.
JOHN 16:8-9
When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:
in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me;
MARK 9:17-27
A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech.
Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not."
"O unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me."
So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
Jesus asked the boy’s father, "How long has he been like this?" "From childhood," he answered.
"It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."
" ’If you can’?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."
The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He’s dead."
But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
MATTHEW 17:19-21
Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, "Why couldn’t we drive it out?"
He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ’Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.
MARK 11 : 22-26
"Have faith in God," Jesus answered.
"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ’Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."
But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your sins.
1 JOHN 3:21-22
Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God
and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.
1 JOHN 5:14-15
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
JOHN 15:7
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
JOHN 5:44
How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God
5.JESUS HAD TOTAL FAITH BECAUSE HE LIVED IN COMPLETE HARMONY WITH GOD.
The Lord Jesus had total faith in every situation that he faced. When He stood before the tomb of Lazarus who had been dead for four days , He prayed with utmost confidence that God would answer His prayer. Jesus had this confidence because His life was in total harmony with God. He always lived a life that was pleasing to God . He always carried out only the will of God. He only did what He saw the Father do. Therefore He had total faith and confidence in every situation that He faced.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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JOHN 11:40-44
Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"
So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me.
I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me."
When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!"
The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."
MATTHEW 3:16-17
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.
And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
JOHN 8:29
The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him."
JOHN 5:30
By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
JOHN 4:34
"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
JOHN 5 : 17 , 19-20
Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working."
Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these.
6. FAITH IS HAVING A COMPLETE ASSURANCE OF THE PROMISE EVEN BEFORE SEEING THE FULFILLMENT.
Faith is having the complete assurance that we would receive that which we are beleiving for , even before we can see it with our physical eyes. When we have faith in the promises of God , we will live in peace and rest with the total conviction that the promises will be fulfilled. We will not live in fear and anxiety and doubt and worry , wondering about the outcome. The Lord wants us to live in total trust and confidence , being fully persuaded that ,inspite of impossible circumstances, God will fulfill what He has promised. By faith we should be praising and glorifying God for His answer ,even before we have seen the answer.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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HEBREWS 11:1
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
ROMANS 8:24-25
For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?
But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
2 CORINTHIANS 5:7
We live by faith, not by sight.
JOHN 20:24-29
Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.
So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."
A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"
Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
ROMANS 4:18-21
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be."
Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.
Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
7. WE MUST BUILD OUR FAITH THROUGH HEARING THE WORD OF GOD AND BY DEMONSTRATING OUR FAITH BY OUR WORDS AND ACTIONS .
We can build our faith by hearing the word of God. The truth of the word of God will bring deliverance to us. We must know all the promises of God that are available to us. The word of God will reveal the will and the purpose of God for us .Knowing the will of God will inspire our faith. Through the Holy Spirit we can receive a revelation of all the blessings that the Lord has prepared for us. We must act on our faith and not be passive. Faith without action is dead. The more we exercise our faith , the stronger it will become. We must speak words of faith and declare the promises of God with full assurance. We must claim the promises of God by faith and not rest until it becomes our experience.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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ROMANS 10:17
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
JUDE 1:20
But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.
2 THESSALONIANS 1:3
We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.
JOHN 8:32
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
EPHESIANS 1:17-21
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,
which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,
far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
2 CORINTHIANS 2:9-10
However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"
but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
JAMES 2:20-24
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?
Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God’s friend.
You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
ROMANS 10:8
But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:
PROVERBS 18:21
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
MATTHEW 11:12
From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.
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