FAITH: THE HEARTBEAT OF AN AUTHENTIC CHRISTIAN LIVING
“WHAT FAITH IS ALL ABOUT”
MEMORY VERSE: Heb 11:1 (NKJV ) 1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Introduction:
It is time for you to move out of doubting-ville Avenue to Faith-ville Boulevard
1. Faith Defined:
Greek word: Pistis. assurance, believe, belief, faith and fidelity.
The word was used 244 times in the King James Version. Out of this, the following occurrences are observed:
faith (239 occurrences)
assurance (1 occurrence)
believe +
belief (1 occurrence)
them that believe (1 occurrence)
fidelity (1 occurrence)
assurance (1 occurrence)
believe +
belief (1 occurrence)
them that believe (1 occurrence)
fidelity (1 occurrence)
Matt 8:10 (NKJV ) 10When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!
Mark 2:5 (NKJV) 5When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
Luke 8:25 (NKJV) 25But He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!”
Mark 2:5 (NKJV) 5When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
Luke 8:25 (NKJV) 25But He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!”
Heb 11:1 (NKJV) 1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Heb 11:1 (ASV) 1Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen.
Heb 11:1 (TMSG) 1The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see.
“sure” and “certain” NIV
Greek word hypostasis
means “a setting under (support), i.e. (figurative) concrete essence, or abstract assurance (object or subject) :- confidence, confident, person, substance.”
The word is translated into different words in the Bible. The same word can mean:
confidence (2 occurrences)
confident (1 occurrence)
person (1 occurrence)
substance (1 occurrence)
matter (1 occurrence)
nature (1 occurrence)
reality (1 occurrence)
situation (1 occurrence)
confident (1 occurrence)
person (1 occurrence)
substance (1 occurrence)
matter (1 occurrence)
nature (1 occurrence)
reality (1 occurrence)
situation (1 occurrence)
Greek word elenchos
means: proof, conviction, evidence.
Heb 3:14 (NKJV) 14For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,
Heb 3:14 (TMSG) 14If we can only keep our grip on the sure thing we started out with, we’re in this with Christ for the long haul.
Rom 8:24 - 25 (NKJV) 24For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
Faith is “the unshakeable confidence in the reality of the yet unseen world and the certainty of God’s yet unfulfilled promises.” --Walter Elwell
1 Cor 2:9 (NKJV) 9But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”£
2. The Foundation of Faith:
Eph 2:8 - 9 (NKJV) 8For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Greek word Charis means unmerited favor.
Rom 10:8 - 10 (NKJV) 8But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”£ (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Rom 10:13 - 14 (NKJV) 13For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”£ 14How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
Rom 10:17 (NKJV) 17So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Rom 10:13 - 14 (NKJV) 13For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”£ 14How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
Rom 10:17 (NKJV) 17So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
2 Pet 3:9 (NKJV) 9The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward £us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
1 Tim 2:3 - 4 (NKJV) 3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
John 8:24 (NKJV) 24Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
Acts 13:7 - 8 (NKJV) 7who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
Gal 1:11 (NKJV) 11But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.
Gal 1:23 (NKJV) 23But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.”
Gal 1:11 (NKJV) 11But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.
Gal 1:23 (NKJV) 23But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.”
Acts 15:7 (NKJV) 7And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
Acts 17:11 (NKJV) 11These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
Acts 17:12 (NKJV) 12Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.
Acts 17:12 (NKJV) 12Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.
Acts 11:13 - 14 (NKJV) 13And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, 14who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.’
3. The Function of Faith.
Heb 11:3 (NKJV) 3By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Matt 9:22 (NKJV) 22But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.
Mark 5:34 (NKJV) 34And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”
Mark 5:34 (NKJV) 34And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”
Acts 14:7 - 10 (NKJV) 7And they were preaching the gospel there. 8And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. 9This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 10said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked.
Rom 1:16 (NKJV) 16For I am not ashamed of the gospel £of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
Matt 21:21 (NKJV) 21So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.
Rom 4:17 (NKJV) 17(as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”)£ in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;
Rom 4:17 (NKJV) 17(as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”)£ in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;
1 John 5:14 - 15 (NKJV) 14Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
John 15:7 (NKJV) 7If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you£ will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
John 15:7 (NKJV) 7If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you£ will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
a. When you need strength for a task. Speak God’s word: Phil 4:13 (NKJV) 13I can do all things through £Christ who strengthens me.
b. When you are being attacked.
Isa 54:17 (NKJV) 17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.
c. When in doubt, claim faith. Mark 5:36 (NKJV) 36As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.”
d. Pray for your success in every area
Gen 39:3 (NKJV) 3And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand.
3 John 1:2 (NKJV) 2Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
3 John 1:2 (NKJV) 2Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
Isa 53:5 (NKJV) 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
1 Pet 2:24 (NKJV) 24who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
1 Pet 2:24 (NKJV) 24who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
4. The Fruition of Faith:
Heb 11:2 (NKJV) 2For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
Heb 11:6 (NKJV) 6But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Heb 11:6 (NKJV) 6But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Rom 5:1 - 5 (NKJV) 1Therefore, having been justified by faith, £we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Heb 11:1 - 3 (NKJV) 1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 3By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Matt 17:20 (NKJV) 20So Jesus said to them, “Because of your £unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
Luke 1:37 (NKJV) 37For with God nothing will be impossible.”
Luke 1:37 (NKJV) 37For with God nothing will be impossible.”
Rom 5:5 (NKJV) 5Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
CONCLUSION:
Psalm 119: 89 Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.
2 Corinthians 1:20 (NKJV) 20For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV) 8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
