S2E1. Faith How it Works - 1

Speaker A 00:00:02 Let's open our Bibles to first John, chapter five. Speaker A 00:00:05 And before we read from the word of God, let's have a word of prayer together. Speaker A 00:00:10 Father, we thank you for the word this morning. Speaker A 00:00:12 We give you praise and thanksgiving for it. Speaker A 00:00:15 We ask you by your spirit to use me, spirit and soul and body, to deliver this word accurately and under the anointing of the Holy Spirit of God. Speaker A 00:00:27 Thank you for it. Speaker A 00:00:29 In Jesus name, Amen. Speaker A 00:00:32 If you have your Bible, I wish you'd open it up and read it. Speaker A 00:00:35 If you have it there where you can. Speaker A 00:00:36 It's so important that you know that your Bible says to you the word of God. Speaker A 00:00:45 And it's not good enough just to say, well my pastor said this, or to say, well, you know, Brother Copeland said this. Speaker A 00:00:55 Know what the news media said about it? Speaker A 00:00:57 Well, it really doesn't matter what your pastor said about it, doesn't matter what I say about it, doesn't matter what the news media says about it, doesn't matter what anything says about it except the word of God. Speaker A 00:01:10 And you need to stay in your Bible until you are assured in your heart of what the Bible's saying to you. Speaker A 00:01:19 Alright? Speaker A 00:01:21 First John, chapter 5, verse 1. Speaker A 00:01:24 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God and everyone that loveth him, that begat, loveth him also that's begotten of him. Speaker A 00:01:36 By this we know that we love the children of God when we love God and keep his commandments, for this is the love of God. Speaker A 00:01:47 Read that just a little bit differently there. Speaker A 00:01:49 For this is loving God that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not grievous. Speaker A 00:01:57 Now I want you to pay careful attention to this verse right here. Speaker A 00:02:00 Now watch this. Speaker A 00:02:02 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world. Speaker A 00:02:08 And this is the victory overcometh the world, even our faith. Speaker A 00:02:16 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? Speaker A 00:02:23 The reason I'm laughing right here is because it's amusing to me as I think about this. Speaker A 00:02:29 Years and years ago I was reading this and studying this and I began to realize that I was already, according to the word of God, a world overcomer. Speaker A 00:02:46 But I was not overcoming. Speaker A 00:02:50 Okay, you catch what I'm saying there? Speaker A 00:02:53 You are an overcomer, but you may not be overcoming. Speaker A 00:02:59 You are in the eyes of God, in the heart of God. Speaker A 00:03:04 If you've made Jesus Christ the Lord of your life, you are an overcomer. Speaker A 00:03:09 But now you may not be overcoming. Speaker A 00:03:14 Things may be overcoming you. Speaker A 00:03:16 And it's A shame to be overcome when you're the overcomer. Speaker A 00:03:22 So now I want us to take this scripture apart here verse by verse. Speaker A 00:03:26 I want you to see some things here. Speaker A 00:03:28 Whosoever believeth. Speaker A 00:03:33 Now notice the word whosoever. Speaker A 00:03:35 You Remember in John 3:16. Speaker A 00:03:38 John uses these words a great deal in his writings and the way he, the way he shares the word of God because he, you have to remember this man was part of Jesus own personal staff. Speaker A 00:03:55 And there are things here that really made an impression on him. Speaker A 00:03:58 And I'm convinced fact that Jesus was no respecter of persons is one of the things that really made a deep impression on the apostle of John because he's the one, you know, and said, for God is to love the world. Speaker A 00:04:11 He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Speaker A 00:04:19 Now notice this whosoever. Speaker A 00:04:20 If you believe the whosoever in John 3:16, then want you to believe the whosoever in first John 5:1. Speaker A 00:04:30 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God and everyone that loveth him that begat or everyone that loves the Father, in other words, loveth him also that is begotten of him. Speaker A 00:04:50 So you could, you could arrange the wording of that verse like this. Speaker A 00:04:55 Everyone that loves the Father loves the children. Speaker A 00:05:01 By this we know that we love the children of God when we love God and keep his commandments. Speaker A 00:05:07 For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments. Speaker A 00:05:11 And his commandments are not grievous. Speaker A 00:05:13 Now notice this fourth verse. Speaker A 00:05:16 Whatsoever I love it whatsoever born of God overcometh the world. Speaker A 00:05:28 And this is the victory that overcometh the world. Speaker A 00:05:32 Even our faith. Speaker A 00:05:35 Now, just in case you didn't get it, just in case it didn't come really clear to you, the Holy Spirit by the apostle John says, who is it now that overcomes the world but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? Speaker A 00:05:55 So what have we determined here? Speaker A 00:05:58 First of all, we've determined that whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. Speaker A 00:06:07 If you believe that Jesus is the Christ, then you are born of God. Speaker A 00:06:13 Say, well, I don't know whether I've ever been born again or not. Speaker A 00:06:16 Well, do you believe that Jesus is the Christ? Speaker A 00:06:19 Well, yes I do. Speaker A 00:06:21 With all your heart? Speaker A 00:06:22 Yes, I do. Speaker A 00:06:23 Well then you are born of God according to this scripture, Praise the Lord. Speaker A 00:06:27 So don't ever, don't ever doubt it again. Speaker A 00:06:31 Don't go by the way you feel, go by what the word of God says, if God says it, you believe it. Speaker A 00:06:38 That ought to settle it. Speaker A 00:06:40 Now, whosoever believeth Jesus is the Christ born of God. Speaker A 00:06:44 Whatsoever is born of God is a world overcomer. Speaker A 00:06:52 Whatsoever is born of God is a world overcomer. Speaker A 00:07:00 Well, Brother Copeland, you know, I believe Jesus is the Christ and I believe that I'm born again, but, you know, I just don't believe I'm a world overcomer. Speaker A 00:07:15 Don't argue with the Bible. Speaker A 00:07:16 Now, like I said earlier, you may not be overcoming yet, but that's what we're dealing with here. Speaker A 00:07:22 That's where we're going with this, is to bring you to a place to where you are overcoming as a world overcomer in your everyday life, faith and walk in the. Speaker A 00:07:41 I don't care whether it's the storms of life or whatever it is, you ought to be overcoming everything the world order has to throw at you, you ought to be overcoming it because you believe that Jesus is the Christ. Speaker A 00:07:54 And if you believe that Jesus is the Christ, then you're born of God. Speaker A 00:07:58 And whatsoever. Speaker A 00:07:59 Whatsoever is born of God. Speaker A 00:08:06 World overcomer. Speaker A 00:08:08 Amen. Speaker A 00:08:09 So settle that right this moment. Speaker A 00:08:12 Don't ever back out of that again. Speaker A 00:08:15 You are a world overcomer. Speaker A 00:08:19 You need to know how to overcome. Speaker A 00:08:24 You need to know what your overcoming weapons are. Speaker A 00:08:29 You need to know the process that it takes to live this kind of world overcoming life. Speaker A 00:08:38 Because I tell you, this whole world is a. Speaker A 00:08:40 This is a pitiful place. Speaker A 00:08:42 And if you don't know how to live by faith in Christ Jesus, I'll tell you right now, you've got some trouble. Speaker A 00:08:50 You know that and I know that. Speaker A 00:08:52 So I want you to listen very, very carefully. Speaker A 00:08:56 Now, we go into these verses of scripture and believe them as we go. Speaker A 00:09:02 Don't argue with them. Speaker A 00:09:04 The word of God is not something to argue with. Speaker A 00:09:09 You can't negotiate with it. Speaker A 00:09:12 You can't argue with it. Speaker A 00:09:14 Just go on and prove it's true. Speaker A 00:09:16 Amen. Speaker A 00:09:17 Now this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Speaker A 00:09:34 Now this is where we are going to center our study for the next few broadcasts so that you can understand more about this very powerful central weapon. Speaker A 00:09:56 You remember in Ephesians chapter 6, where the Spirit of God, through the Apostle Paul, says above all, taking the shield of faith. Speaker A 00:10:03 It lists all the full armor of God, lists the helmet, the breastplate, the belt, the sword, the shoes of the preparation of the gospel, peace and so forth. Speaker A 00:10:13 It says, above all, taking the shield of faith. Speaker A 00:10:18 Faith is involved in every weapon. Speaker A 00:10:21 It's involved in everything of life. Speaker A 00:10:26 So now, as we study it and as we learn it, we become more proficient at the use of it. Speaker A 00:10:35 In walking in the things of God, in walking in life, coming against the storms of life. Speaker A 00:10:42 Faith is vital to your victory. Speaker A 00:10:47 So we're going to really kind of just lay it out here and take it apart and put it back together and see what makes it work. Speaker A 00:10:55 And then put it to work. Speaker A 00:10:56 Say, oh, but, Brother Copeland, I don't have that kind of faith. Speaker A 00:10:59 Now, don't start backing down on me. Speaker A 00:11:02 Come with me. Speaker A 00:11:04 Don't reject and turn away the things of faith. Speaker A 00:11:10 Come on with me as we study it, as we learn it. Speaker A 00:11:13 Because you'll. Speaker A 00:11:13 You do have that kind of faith. Speaker A 00:11:15 That's one of the things we're going to find out. Speaker A 00:11:16 In fact, that's one of the first things that we're going to learn. Speaker A 00:11:21 Once we know where faith comes from, then we know how it is received, and we know how it is fed or energized or developed and built up, and we know how it's released. Speaker A 00:11:43 Then we have arrived at a place where we can begin our success. Speaker A 00:11:51 Isn't that true? Speaker A 00:11:54 You could be standing, looking at an automobile and think, wouldn't it be wonderful to have one of those? Speaker A 00:12:01 Wouldn't it be wonderful to ride in one of those? Speaker A 00:12:03 My, wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to drive one of those? Speaker A 00:12:07 Oh, if I only had one of those. Speaker A 00:12:10 And you're standing there looking at this car, and you didn't know that somebody had already put that car in your name and you had the title to it and didn't know it. Speaker A 00:12:22 You could stand there and look at that car. Speaker A 00:12:24 You could walk to work and back every day right past that new car and say, oh, wouldn't it be wonderful? Speaker A 00:12:32 I see all these other cars driving up down the street. Speaker A 00:12:35 Wouldn't it be wonderful if I had one? Speaker A 00:12:38 That's really the way faith is. Speaker A 00:12:43 You. Speaker A 00:12:45 Once you found out that that's your car, somebody came along and said, now, wait a minute. Speaker A 00:12:50 Look here, fella. Speaker A 00:12:52 Here's the title deed to this car. Speaker A 00:12:54 It's got your name on it. Speaker A 00:12:56 That's your car. Speaker A 00:12:57 You mean that's my car? Speaker A 00:12:58 Yeah. Speaker A 00:12:59 Well, all you would have to do then is believe that that was your car enough to learn how to drive it. Speaker A 00:13:08 Now, it still wouldn't do you any good to know it was yours if you wouldn't believe it was yours. Speaker A 00:13:15 And it wouldn't do you any good to know that it was yours if you would not do what was necessary to use it. Speaker A 00:13:23 So as we go into faith, as we look into this central weapon of our warfare that will overcome the world, Hallelujah. Speaker A 00:13:36 I want you to put yourself right now in a position of believing. Speaker A 00:13:41 Believe you receive it. Speaker A 00:13:43 Believe everything you hear from the word of God. Speaker A 00:13:48 Believe what you're hearing. Speaker A 00:13:50 This is God's word speaking to you. Speaker A 00:13:53 That's the reason I wanted you to. Speaker A 00:13:55 If it's all possible for you to go get your Bible and sit here and study these things out of the word of God that's speaking to you. Speaker A 00:14:03 Praise the Lord. Speaker A 00:14:04 Now, who has faith? Speaker A 00:14:08 That's the first Bible question that we want to answer. Speaker A 00:14:13 Who has world overcoming kind of faith? Speaker A 00:14:18 Well, it's very obvious from what we read here that whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ overcometh the world. Speaker A 00:14:30 That's just a statement there in the fifth verse. Speaker A 00:14:33 Who is he that overcometh the world? Speaker A 00:14:34 But he that believeth that Jesus is the Christ, whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world. Speaker A 00:14:42 And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Speaker A 00:14:47 So it's very obvious to me that whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world. Speaker A 00:14:54 And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Speaker A 00:14:58 And then he says, whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, then any born again believer then must have faith. Speaker A 00:15:12 Mean, isn't that right? Speaker A 00:15:13 He must have faith, else how would have he been born again if he didn't have faith? Speaker A 00:15:22 How did he get born again to start with? Speaker A 00:15:25 No way, since we're saved by grace through faith. Speaker A 00:15:29 Now I want to establish this, I mean so completely solid in your thinking and in your, your thought life, that you will never ever again, as long as you live, ever have the idea that you don't have faith. Speaker A 00:15:51 Now if you've been going by your feelings, I mean, there's a lot of times that I don't feel like I have any faith. Speaker A 00:16:00 I mean, I've, if I went by feelings, I'd just go, you know, just go roll up somewhere and try to die. Speaker A 00:16:07 I mean, you just, you feel terrible. Speaker A 00:16:09 You just, oh, where's my faith? Speaker A 00:16:12 Where did my faith go? Speaker A 00:16:13 I just don't feel like I'm anointed. Speaker A 00:16:16 Jesus said he'd never leave us nor forsake us even to the end of the world. Speaker A 00:16:19 Greater is he that's in you than he that's in the world. Speaker A 00:16:23 And at times when you just, I mean you, you just feel like that the worms are, are looking down on you, that you're, you're, you're looking up at even the things that crawl. Speaker A 00:16:35 You're so low. Speaker A 00:16:37 That's a good time to begin to exercise what you know the Bible says. Speaker A 00:16:44 And you know that the word of the living God says you have faith. Speaker A 00:16:51 And that is vitally important. Speaker A 00:16:53 Let's look at Romans chapter 10. Speaker A 00:16:56 And let's look from the 6th through the 17th verses. Speaker A 00:17:00 Romans chapter 10, 6, 17. Speaker A 00:17:03 But the righteousness which is of faith speaks on this wise. Speaker A 00:17:09 Say not in thine heart who shall ascend into heaven, that is to bring Christ down from above, or who shall descend into the deep, that is to bring up Christ again from the dead. Speaker A 00:17:24 But what does it say? Speaker A 00:17:26 Now, here's what faith says. Speaker A 00:17:28 The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth and in thine heart. Speaker A 00:17:34 That is the word of faith which we preach. Speaker A 00:17:38 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Speaker A 00:17:51 For with the heart, man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Speaker A 00:17:59 Scripture saith, whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Speaker A 00:18:05 I just have to. Speaker A 00:18:06 I just have to stop and smile again because there's that whosoever again. Speaker A 00:18:10 And I always remember the song that I first heard in a Southern Baptist Sunday school and when I was just a little boy. Speaker A 00:18:19 Whosoever meaneth me. Speaker A 00:18:21 And every time I see that word, whosoever, whosoever believeth whosoever whosoever, it's a very, very important word in redemption. Speaker A 00:18:32 Because God is no respecter of persons that whosoever believeth in him. Speaker A 00:18:42 Oh, that's just such a. Speaker A 00:18:44 Such a great, great word. Speaker A 00:18:46 And it just thrills my spirit. Speaker A 00:18:49 If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shall believe in thine heart, that God raised him from the dead shalt be saved. Speaker A 00:18:57 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Speaker A 00:19:03 For the Scripture saith, whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Speaker A 00:19:09 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek. Speaker A 00:19:13 For the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. Speaker A 00:19:19 Now, whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Speaker A 00:19:26 Praise God. Speaker A 00:19:27 Whosoever meaneth you, Whosoever meaneth me. Speaker A 00:19:32 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? Speaker A 00:19:36 And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? Speaker A 00:19:43 How shall they hear without a preacher? Speaker A 00:19:46 How shall they preach, except they be sent as it is written? Speaker A 00:19:50 How beautiful are the feet. Speaker A 00:19:51 Of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things, but they have not all obeyed the gospel. Speaker A 00:19:58 For Isaiah said, lord, who hath believed our report? Speaker A 00:20:02 So then, now listen. Speaker A 00:20:05 Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Speaker A 00:20:14 Now what faith is he talking about? Speaker A 00:20:17 He is talking about that faith that came from hearing the word that the preacher preached when he was sent to the whosoever that called on his name when the preacher preached what he preached when he was sent to preach it. Speaker A 00:20:36 Now I hope you got a hold of that because I don't want to have to repeat it. Speaker A 00:20:40 Okay? Speaker A 00:20:42 The thing that I'm pointing out to you here is if you have heard the word of God and you believe in your heart that Jesus has been raised from the dead, you know you're born again, then the faith of God is there. Speaker A 00:20:58 Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Speaker A 00:21:03 Now it still comes the same way. Speaker A 00:21:07 It still comes that way after you're born again. Speaker A 00:21:10 It's been placed inside your spirit being. Speaker A 00:21:13 It's in there, see. Speaker A 00:21:15 Now you need to realize it's there. Speaker A 00:21:18 You need to believe it's there. Speaker A 00:21:20 You need to trust the fact that it's there, whether you feel it or not. Speaker A 00:21:24 Faith doesn't come by feeling. Speaker A 00:21:26 Faith doesn't come by praying for it. Speaker A 00:21:28 Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Speaker A 00:21:33 And whosoever believeth in him shall not be ashamed. Speaker A 00:21:37 Whosoever has heard the word and believed it, Jesus Christ, the Lord of his life, is born again. Speaker A 00:21:44 And the faith of God is in him or in her. Speaker A 00:21:48 Praise God, it is there. Speaker A 00:21:52 God didn't put just a little drop of it there for you to get born again on. Speaker A 00:21:56 And then take it back and say, now then, I'm reserving the rest of this for my super preachers. Speaker A 00:22:02 No, no, no. Speaker A 00:22:04 You have just as much faith in anybody. Speaker A 00:22:09 Now it may not be very well developed. Speaker A 00:22:11 That's another thing altogether. Speaker A 00:22:13 We're going to get into that later. Speaker A 00:22:14 The thing we need to establish with you right now is the fact that it's there, that it's yours, and God expects you to use it. Speaker A 00:22:24 Let's go over here to the book of Ephesians, the second chapter. Speaker A 00:22:30 For by grace you saved through faith and that not of yourselves. Speaker A 00:22:40 It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. Speaker A 00:22:44 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Speaker A 00:22:57 So our statement here then is that born again men and Women have the faith of God. Speaker A 00:23:11 It has been invested in your spirit. Speaker A 00:23:16 When eternal life was ministered to your spirit and you were born again, the spirit of God came on the inside of you. Speaker A 00:23:26 Born of his spirit. Speaker A 00:23:28 So you have his faith. Speaker A 00:23:31 The faith was brought there to be born with, but then he came in there Himself. Speaker A 00:23:37 Jesus himself, by his spirit, came inside you to dwell. Speaker A 00:23:42 I want to tell you something, dear heart. Speaker A 00:23:44 He brought his faith with Him. Speaker A 00:23:47 Amen. Speaker A 00:23:48 I want you to remember that he's in there. Speaker A 00:23:51 I tell you, that just thrills me. Speaker A 00:23:53 Just excites me all over. Speaker A 00:23:55 Jesus is in there and he brought his faith with Him. Speaker A 00:23:58 Praise God. Speaker A 00:23:59 Now let's go back over to Book of Romans. Speaker A 00:24:03 We can't close out on this thought until we see something from the 12th chapter of Romans. Speaker A 00:24:11 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Speaker A 00:24:23 And be not conformed to this world. Speaker A 00:24:26 But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Speaker A 00:24:39 For I say, through the grace given unto me to every man that is among you. Speaker A 00:24:47 Now, he was not speaking here to the whole world. Speaker A 00:24:52 He wrote this letter to the believers at Rome. Speaker A 00:24:55 But whatever was right for the believers at Rome or right is right for the believers in Texas and for the believers in Australia, and the believers in England, and the believers in Canada or wherever you happen to be. Speaker A 00:25:08 So he's saying, I say through the grace given unto me to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly. Speaker A 00:25:22 Now he's telling us the way our thought patterns ought to be formed. Speaker A 00:25:28 Think according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith. Speaker A 00:25:33 Now, if I come up against a situation here and I say, you know, I don't. Speaker A 00:25:44 Man, I don't know what I. Speaker A 00:25:46 I don't really know what I'm going to do with that. Speaker A 00:25:52 Well, how should my thought patterns be organized then? Speaker A 00:25:58 The Word says for me to think soberly. Speaker A 00:26:00 Think rightly. Speaker A 00:26:02 Don't just jump off out into anything that comes through your little brain. Speaker A 00:26:09 Think soberly according to the word of God and think according to the fact that you have faith. Speaker A 00:26:15 Well, I don't know, you know, I guess it'd be better for me if I just end it all today. Speaker A 00:26:21 That's not faith talking to you. Speaker A 00:26:23 That's the world trying to get you to kill yourself. Speaker A 00:26:26 Think soberly according as God has dealt to you the measure of faith and you are a world overcomer. Speaker A 00:26:31 Yeah, but I'm not overcoming. Speaker A 00:26:33 Well, begin to think faith thoughts. Speaker A 00:26:37 You have the faith of God. Speaker A 00:26:39 You are among the brethren that he's talking to. Speaker A 00:26:42 Begin to think faith thoughts. Speaker A 00:26:46 Begin to read books that talk about faith. Speaker A 00:26:49 Begin to read this faith book. Speaker A 00:26:52 This is a faith book. Speaker A 00:26:53 The apostle Paul said that he was a preacher of faith, said the word of faith which we preach and God has dealt to every one of you the measure of faith. Speaker A 00:27:07 Boy, I tell you that that is, that is so vital to your daily, everyday walk in life. Speaker A 00:27:16 Everything you walk toward, everything you're coming to, everything that the world order throws at you, you ought to be constantly remembering it all time. Speaker A 00:27:28 I have faith. Speaker A 00:27:29 I have the faith of God in me. Speaker A 00:27:31 I know I'm victorious. Speaker A 00:27:33 I am a world overcomer. Speaker A 00:27:36 I have the faith of Jesus. Speaker A 00:27:38 Jesus is in me. Speaker A 00:27:40 I have invited Jesus to come in me. Speaker A 00:27:43 He lives in me and his faith is alive in me. Speaker A 00:27:48 Hallelujah. Speaker A 00:27:49 Alright, now one more scripture on this who has faith. Speaker A 00:27:53 And let's turn over here to second Thessalonians where the apostle Paul makes a very, very interesting statement. Speaker A 00:28:03 Second Thessalonians, chapter three, first verse. Speaker A 00:28:09 Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified even as it is with you, that we may be delivered from unreasonable wicked men. Speaker A 00:28:25 For all men have not faith, but the Lord is faithful who shall establish you and keep you from evil. Speaker A 00:28:34 Now he's made a very interesting statement here. Speaker A 00:28:37 In the book of Romans, he said God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Speaker A 00:28:43 But the every man here he's talking about is not everybody in the whole world. Speaker A 00:28:47 He's talking about being saved by grace through faith. Speaker A 00:28:51 It is the gift of God. Speaker A 00:28:53 For whosoever has made Jesus Christ the Lord of his life is born of God. Speaker A 00:28:59 And whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world. Speaker A 00:29:02 And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Speaker A 00:29:05 So every man in the whole world doesn't have this faith of God, this saving faith, this miraculous power of God that is in Christ Jesus. Speaker A 00:29:18 The Bible says that our righteousness is of the faith of Jesus Christ, Jesus own faith. Speaker A 00:29:26 Praise God. Speaker A 00:29:27 And for somebody in the light of that to come up and say, well, you know, I just don't, I just don't have good enough faith to do that. Speaker A 00:29:35 Oh, don't, don't ever say that. Speaker A 00:29:38 You have the very faith of God. Speaker A 00:29:41 Faith of Jesus. Speaker A 00:29:43 Now out there in the world there is a, there is a natural Human faith and it's quite powerful. Speaker A 00:29:53 You, I mean you would, you'd be, you'd be afraid to walk outside your front door if you didn't have just plain. Speaker A 00:30:01 Some of you are anyway. Speaker A 00:30:02 But you've got enough natural faith to be not afraid to sit down on a chair or something like that. Speaker A 00:30:13 There is an element of faith about you. Speaker A 00:30:17 And when that element of faith is aroused by the word of God and reaches out to God, God brings his faith on the scene and applies it to your spirit. Speaker A 00:30:28 You were born again. Speaker A 00:30:30 The spirit of God came inside you. Speaker A 00:30:32 Jesus came to live in you brought his faith with him. Speaker A 00:30:38 Praise God. Speaker A 00:30:39 So you have the faith of God inside you. Speaker A 00:30:44 Wicked men do not. Speaker A 00:30:46 Amen. Speaker A 00:30:47 So by the mouth of two or three witnesses we have established from the word of God who has faith, the born again believer. Speaker A 00:30:58 Now the next question that comes along believe we ought to deal with here is who has the right to use it? Speaker A 00:31:11 I like what, I like what Charles Kalp said one time. Speaker A 00:31:15 He said, you know, the Bible is so simple that we've had to have help to misunderstand it. Speaker A 00:31:21 And we've had a lot of help in that area. Speaker A 00:31:24 I don't know why anybody would idea that God would give a person faith and then not allow him to use it. Speaker A 00:31:37 That's just man made ideas anyway. Speaker A 00:31:40 Because the Bible says it's impossible to please God without faith. Speaker A 00:31:44 So we want to establish beyond a shadow of a doubt in our thinking who has the right, who in the eyes of God should use their faith. Speaker A 00:32:01 This God given faith that's on the inside of us, the born again believer. Speaker A 00:32:09 Now who can use it? Speaker A 00:32:10 Let's look at the word of God once again. Speaker A 00:32:12 Let's go over to Mark's Gospel, chapter 11. Speaker A 00:32:18 This is Jesus classic teaching on faith where he just really word by word described it and explained it. Speaker A 00:32:27 And it is really the outstanding passage on the subject of Faith. Speaker A 00:32:38 Mark the 11th chapter, 22nd verse. Speaker A 00:32:42 Jesus answering, saith unto them, have faith in God. Speaker A 00:32:46 Now I have a little reference here, my Bible and the cross reference says or have the faith of God. Speaker A 00:32:55 He could have said this like this because he's about to explain the way he used faith. Speaker A 00:33:00 Something had happened here and they had asked him about it. Speaker A 00:33:05 He could have said, now this is the way you use God's faith. Speaker A 00:33:09 Now we've already found out from Ephesians 2:8 that the gift of God, the faith of God is in us. Speaker A 00:33:19 Now I don't want to confuse this in your thinking with what is commonly referred to as the gift of faith in First Corinthians, chapter 12, when it's listing the gifts of the Spirit. Speaker A 00:33:36 If you will study those gifts of the Spirit, you'll find out after some study that those gifts actually, well, really would have been a little better translation had it said manifestations of the Holy Ghost. Speaker A 00:33:52 And in one or two places there, it did. Speaker A 00:33:55 And it kind of changes our viewpoint of that. Speaker A 00:33:59 One of the manifestations of the Holy Ghost is the manifestation of his faith. Speaker A 00:34:07 Now, in just a moment of explanation here, because of the similarity of the wording, I want you to understand this. Speaker A 00:34:19 I have the faith in me that was put in me when I was born again. Speaker A 00:34:24 It's the faith in me that I got born again with. Speaker A 00:34:29 Okay? Speaker A 00:34:30 You understand that? Speaker A 00:34:31 Now that's in me. Speaker A 00:34:32 It's mine. Speaker A 00:34:33 It'll be in me forever. Speaker A 00:34:35 It is the gift of God, was God's gift to me as a victory that overcometh the world. Speaker A 00:34:44 It's God's gift to me as the key to the life that I have in Christ Jesus. Speaker A 00:34:55 But God by the Holy Ghost, can add to my faith, his faith. Speaker A 00:35:07 And that is another area that's. Speaker A 00:35:10 Let's call that special faith, okay? Speaker A 00:35:15 That special faith here is not what we're talking about. Speaker A 00:35:20 We're talking here about this faith that will operate in you daily. Speaker A 00:35:27 Live as you walk, as you exercise, the fact that you are a world overcomer. Speaker A 00:35:39 Amen. Speaker A 00:35:41 Now let's look again at Mark 11:22. Speaker A 00:35:47 Jesus answering, said unto them, have faith in God or have the faith of God. Speaker A 00:35:53 Verily I say unto you that whosoever praise God, there it is again. Speaker A 00:35:58 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. Speaker A 00:36:15 So whosoever that believeth Jesus is the Christ, is born of God. Speaker A 00:36:23 Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world. Speaker A 00:36:27 And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Speaker A 00:36:31 So whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ has world overcoming victory, faith in them. Speaker A 00:36:39 And whosoever will say, whosoever is willing to say with his mouth, his faith can use it. Speaker A 00:36:56 I really like to put it this way. Speaker A 00:36:58 Whoever needs it has a right to use it whenever faith is needed. Speaker A 00:37:03 And that's every day, you have a right to use it. Speaker A 00:37:10 So really, I see no argument about this unless you feel some way different or another. Speaker A 00:37:19 Well, I just don't feel like God wants me to do that. Speaker A 00:37:23 Well, as I said, before as long as you're going to walk by those feelings, you're always going to walk away from your faith instead of towards your faith. Speaker A 00:37:31 Now that couldn't possibly be true because Hebrews 11:6 says that it's impossible to please God without faith. Speaker A 00:37:40 So we please God with faith. Speaker A 00:37:43 You know, there's a lot of people try to please God with works. Speaker A 00:37:47 Oh, but I tell you now that I'm born again, now that I'm saved, man, I mean, I got this ministry to build, I got this work to do. Speaker A 00:37:56 Oh, I got a witness. Speaker A 00:37:57 I got to please God. Speaker A 00:37:59 I got to please God. Speaker A 00:38:00 You're not going to please God like that. Speaker A 00:38:01 You please God by walking by faith. Speaker A 00:38:05 And when faith is in manifestation, when faith is in operation, when you're walking by faith, you're not like, oh I got to do it. Speaker A 00:38:13 Oh I got to get it done. Speaker A 00:38:14 Oh my God, I got to go, oh God, oh I got to get this done. Speaker A 00:38:18 No, I'm not going to please God if I don't get this done. Speaker A 00:38:21 No, faith is never like that. Speaker A 00:38:24 That's unbelief and fear. Speaker A 00:38:25 That's like that. Speaker A 00:38:27 Afraid you're not going to please God. Speaker A 00:38:30 Faith just says, well God started this thing, he can finish it. Speaker A 00:38:36 And I'm just going to walk by faith. Speaker A 00:38:39 He told me to preach the word in seasoning out and that's what I'm going to do. Speaker A 00:38:44 Well, what about it? Speaker A 00:38:45 If people persecute you? Speaker A 00:38:46 Well, they're going to just walk by faith. Speaker A 00:38:51 Don't get all disturbed and upset about it. Speaker A 00:38:54 Just walk by faith. Speaker A 00:38:55 Just walk by faith. Speaker A 00:38:57 Live by faith. Speaker A 00:38:58 You have victory over coming faith your heart, it's yours and you have a right to use it. Speaker A 00:39:10 Now I like what in Hebrews 4. Speaker A 00:39:14 Let's turn over there in the fourth chapter of the book of Hebrews and the second verse. Speaker A 00:39:20 Well, let's read the first two verses. Speaker A 00:39:22 Let us therefore fear lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest. Speaker A 00:39:27 Any of you should seemed to come short of it. Speaker A 00:39:30 For unto us was the gospel preached as well as unto them. Speaker A 00:39:34 Now faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God, but did not profit them not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. Speaker A 00:39:46 So who can use faith? Speaker A 00:39:47 Anybody that hears the word of God. Speaker A 00:39:51 You have a right to use faith today. Speaker A 00:39:55 If you have never used faith in your entire life care what is matter with you? Speaker A 00:40:01 You have a right to use your God given faith. Speaker A 00:40:04 And I'll tell you this, your faith will change it. Speaker A 00:40:08 Your faith can begin today the process of your deliverance and begin your healing and begin the very thing that you need the most, whatever it is. Speaker A 00:40:21 So I want you to release it. Speaker A 00:40:24 I want you to prepare today. Speaker A 00:40:27 Saying this out loud with me. Speaker A 00:40:30 Say it out loud. Speaker A 00:40:32 Who has faith. Speaker A 00:40:35 Did you say it? Speaker A 00:40:36 Well, say it out loud now. Speaker A 00:40:38 If you were here with me or if we were in a church auditorium somewhere and I told you to say that, you'd say it. Speaker A 00:40:44 Now say it. Speaker A 00:40:46 I don't care where you are, say it out loud. Speaker A 00:40:48 Who has faith? Speaker A 00:40:50 Thank God I have faith. Speaker A 00:40:54 Thank God the faith of Jesus is in me and thank God I have the right to use it. Speaker A 00:41:06 Now, if you don't have faith, you say, well, you know, I've never made Jesus Christ the Lord of my life. Speaker A 00:41:13 Well, right now I'm going to give you an opportunity to take care of that. Speaker A 00:41:19 Want you to do just exactly what the word said do. Speaker A 00:41:25 If you believe in your heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead, then right this moment, right where you are, I don't care what you've done in the past, the Bible says and teaches very plainly that God's not holding your trespasses against you. Speaker A 00:41:43 He's not holding them against you. Speaker A 00:41:45 And as you receive your forgiveness, you can pray with me right now and you can believe that Jesus comes into your life and into your heart and he'll bring the faith to do it. Speaker A 00:42:05 Your decision right now to do it is what is so vital and so important. Speaker A 00:42:09 Just say it out loud. Speaker A 00:42:10 Say, lord Jesus, come into my heart. Speaker A 00:42:16 I repent of sin and I receive you and I receive your faith. Speaker A 00:42:25 Thank you, Father. Speaker A 00:42:26 In Jesus name, amen.