The Basics Of Faith

I. How do I believe (or have faith ) for something?

-First: Living a clean and sinless life.(For God does not hear sinners - John 9:31)

-Second: Pray for ___________. (healing, to have a need met, etc.)

-Third: Confess what you believe will happen as a result of your prayer

*Mark 11:23 What you say matters.

*Say what you want to happen accompanied by an appropriate scripture.

*Tell someone what you are believing for. This makes it harder for you to give up because they will ask you how you are doing regarding this. Also, they can believe with you.

-Fourth: Follow any particular instuctions you may have been given by God.

*2 Kings 5:10 This man was told to wash in a dirty river seven times...

-Fifth: Act as if it has already happened.

*Matt 21:2 And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.

*Mark 11:24 Whatever you desire, when you pray, believe that you have recieved them, and ye shall have them.

-Sixth: Keep believing, confessing, and praying on the fact that it will happen, even if things look bad!

*Mark 8:22-25 Jesus even had to pray twice about something.

Note: The Bible instructs that faith without these actual works listed above is merely hope. James 2:17-26

II. Enemies of Faith:

Doubt - Don’t say anyting contrary to what you are believing. Get to the point that you know that your prayers will be answered. Knowing is a much stronger word than believe. Believe that it will, but know that it has. Note: preparing for your prayers not to be answered is not doubt.... Daniel 3:17, 18 If God didn’t, they already knew what they were going to do. He honored this and saved them from certain death.

Worry - “What if....” Matt 7:27-33 If you know it is going to happen, you will not worry. Worry makes it less likely to happen.

Sin - For God does not hear sinners. You can’t wait until you need something to repent. Only grace can help you then.

Looking at circumstances - 2 Cor 5:7 Walk by faith not by sight. Confess your healing even if you look and feel terrible. This will be hard for non-believers to understand.

IV. How big is your faith?

A. Start small - As a rule, you won’t be able to raise the dead if you can’t have faith for a headache. The disciples couldn’t drive out the demon but Jesus could. Their faith was not big enough.

B. Use it or lose it. What are you believing for right now? Choose a need in your life right now and start believing for it. If you get that need met, move on to bigger things, if not, keep on believing until you do.

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Scriptures to confess:

The unfolding of Thy words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. Psalm 119:130

With God all things are possible Matt 19:26

By his stripes we were healed. 1 Peter 2:25

The wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous. Proverbs 13:22