We Need Faith To Please God

“Faith: You can’t please God without it”

 

 

 

Gal:5,24-25 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (In the word)

You must realize your faith will be tried, but the trying of your faith work patience. If you don't give in to the enemy at the end of your test there is strength and confidence to gain.

Ja:1,2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Faith definition: trust in, rely on, have confidence in be fully assured and persuaded, God is able to do what he says. All of that simply mean – “Believe God and act on his word” The authority of the believer is delegated power, and  the strength of that power is the force behind it, which is Jesus

 

The name of Jesus is our badge of authority, and the spoken word is the power source. Gen:1-3,6,9,11,.....an so on.

Just about everyone you talk to, if you ask, do you have faith in God? Most people will say yes.

 

Now if you ask, how do you use your faith, or do you know how to release your faith, just about everyone will say something different.

In this lesson we will talk about faith, how it comes and how to release it, how it protect us according to the scriptures so you can benefit from it and be a blessing. We will also speak briefly about how we are to remember the Sabbath day God's Sabbath day of rest.

Heb: 11-6 But without faith it is impossible to please him for he that commeth to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

To have faith in God you must believe that God is alive now and that he will reward you when you seek him with your whole heart, believing he is the only true God. Is: 44-6-8. When you walk by faith it show the Lord you are dying to the flesh and rising up to live by and trust in the word of God
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Gen 12-1,4 God introduced himself to Abram, and gave him some instructions. Abram heard God, believed what God said and through obedience he put action to what God said and he departed. Then God accounted it to him for righteousness

So how does faith come?

Rom 10-13-17 Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

Some questions were asked how can you call on him whom they have not believed, or heard: and how can they hear without a preacher sent from God:

The answer: faith cometh, it continually comes by hearing the word of God. So every time you hear the word by someone God has sent faith cometh, God’s faith is in his word. Our part is to believe and receive the word of faith and do it

 

How do you release your faith

Mark 11-12-14, 20-21, 22-26 these scriptures gives us a demonstration of Jesus releasing his faith. The scriptures are above, let me paraphrase these actions.

 

Jesus and his disciples were coming from Bethany and were hungry. Jesus saw a fig tree from afar and they went to it in hopes there might be some figs on the tree. But when he came to it there were nothing but leaves, for the time of the figs were not yet.

In V-14 here is the example of Jesus releasing his faith. Notice what he did. The fig tree said to Jesus I’m not ready yet, it is not time for figs. Hear Jesus response, and Jesus answered and said to it “No man eat fruit of thee hereafter forever.” And his disciples heard it. 

V-20-21 The next morning when they passed by the fig tree they saw it dried up from the roots. Peter speaking up said master the fig tree which you cursed is dried up from the roots.

If we go over what Jesus did we will see how he released his faith by speaking words. He spoke to the fig tree, what would happen to it. The following day we see the tree withered and dead, a demonstration of power in the spoken word of God. The message over looked here is, Jesus want you to be ready when he come.

 

How to protect yourself with faith

Ephe:6,16-17 6 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Whoever obeyed God's word spoken by Moses to put the blood of the lamb over their door post and on the side post saved their first born from dieing. Ex;12-7 (The Pass over)

Ephe 6-12 And when you have done all to stand – stand: Wherefore take unto you the whole amour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, >>>until you see what you’re standing there for!

 Heb 4-1,2 Paul says we should fear least the promise of us entering into his rest we fall short of it. He tells us not to be like our fathers, the word preached did not profit them because they didn't mix faith with what they heard.

Ja 1-22 But be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own self.

V-6 When you ask God for anything you must ask in faith not doubting, for when you doubt or you’re not sure, it’s like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. That man will not receive anything from God.

V-8 a double minded man is unstable in all his ways, and God will disregard him.

Look at the ten virgins in Matt 24: 1-12 Five were wise and five were foolish. The five that trimmed their lamps with oil were ready when the bridegroom came. They went into the marriage supper with him and the door was shut. The foolish were left out, not ready, neither was the fig tree nor the people Noah preached to, they were all left out, the door shut. Be ye therefore also ready.

 

Let’s go to Gen: first chapter and see how God caused things to materialize or come forth in the beginning.

 

Gen 1-31 We see how God released his faith, every time God spoke, it was so. If God had not said anything there would be nothing. And God said and it was so. now we need to stop crying to God about how big our mountain is but speak the word and show the mountain how big our God is. It takes faith to move God.

Jn 1-3 We see the word that was in the beginning with God is the part of the God head that became Jesus, who made everything. God said: and it was, or became. We will stop here and go to chapter: 17 and start at V-3 to v- 22

 
In v-3 we see God releasing his faith again by saying words to Abram, talking about the covenant of being circumcised then changed Sari name to Sarah. And said I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.
19 And God said Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shall call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant and with his seed after him.
21 But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year. After God made these promises to Abraham he tested him to see if he trusted and feared him.

Gen 22-2 God told Abraham to take his only son and offer him for a burnt offering in the land of Moriah upon a mountain I will tell you.

V-5 Here Abraham releases his faith following after God’s example, saying to the men that were with him. Stay here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship and come again to you.

Here we see Abraham trusting in, being fully assured and relying on the word God spoke to him. If Isaac had died nothing God said to Abraham would have come true except God raise him from the dead, which Abraham saw in a figure: Hebrews 11:19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

 

Rom 3-4 Let God be true and every man a liar.  So Abraham acted on the word of God, believing God would provide himself a lamb, remembering and trusting in the covenant God made with him.
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V-9 They came to the place God told him. Abraham build and alter, put the wood on it, bound Isaac his only son and laid him on the alter upon the wood. Abraham took the knife to kill his son, but the Angel of God call from heaven Abraham, Abraham and he said here am I.

V-12 And he said lay not thine hand upon the lad neither do thou anything to him: for now I know that thou fearest God. Seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

To everyone that say I walk by faith, you will be tested to see if what you say is true, so God can testify of you as he did with Abraham. For now I know that thou fearest God.

Gal 2.20 Tells us something about ourselves: I am crucified with Christ nevertheless  I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me, and the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. Question, how do we live by his faith? Hear his word, believe it and do it.
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This should be encouraging to know the faith we are working with in this flesh body is the faith of Jesus. When our minds really get a revelation of this we will speak the word with boldness taking authority over circumstances and anything that opposes our faith, take authority over it and have the victory Rom 5-17

Jn 16-33: In the middle part of this scripture Jesus said in the world ye shall have tribulation but be of good cheer I have overcome the world. Everybody in the world will have test and trials, and these are the things we must overcome, as well as overcoming ourselves, from the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life. How do we get victory over these things?  "It takes knowledge"

 

Ephe:2,5-6 

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Ephe:1,19-23 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

In Matt: 10-1, and when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

In Heb:13-8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and for ever.
When Satan come with sickness, disease, stress, strife, anxiety, fear, oppression and anything to harm us, we must stand in the authority given to us by Christ and speak the word. If we stand on God's word, no weapon formed against us shall prosper. Is:54-17

• 1.  First in Jn 17-14: He gave us his word. Own it
• 2. He gave us his life, live it. 2Corth:5-17
  
• 3 16-17 He delegated authority to them that believe on him, in my name....use it
  
• 4  He gave us power over all unclean spirits. cast them out
  

Let’s go back to Mk 11-22-26 Jesus said have faith in God. Whosoever shall say to 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.

Notice Jesus spoke to the circumstance, told it what to do and it happened. We can get the same results if we release our faith in the same manor, and don’t doubt, we can have what we say.

1 Cor 10-13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man, but God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able: but with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it.

Don’t think you are alone or what you are going through is unique. No, these temptations aren't new, they are common, Satan have used them over and over again on many people and it’s possible that billions have lost their lives, because of them.

But to the believer God has given us a way out. Satan can’t take over our mind and use us for his pleasure. No! God have given us his word and the authority to use his name. (The devil is defeated)

 

We are to open our mouth and speak the word in the name of Jesus to circumstances, problems, or any challenges we have, say what you want to happen and if you don't doubt your words should obey you.

 

1Jn 5-4  this is the victory that overcommeth the world even our faith.

 

We can overcome anything with our faith in God. Remember the faith of Jesus abide in us. If we have his word in our heart, every time we speak the word in faith against the enemy however he come, we put Jesus before us and the problem, he is the living word of God.

 

Is:59-19  So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.

 

There is no devil or demons that can stand in the presence of Jesus without fear and trembling coming on them with a readiness to obey his every command Mk 1-23-26

Jer 1-12  God said I will hasten my word to perform it.

Ps 46-1 He is a very present help in time of trouble.

Rom 8-31 If God be for us he’s more than the world against us.

Ps 119-89 the Word is settled in heaven…. It is sure, you can rely on and trust it.
Is55-10, 11 Therefore when we speak the word in faith it will not return to us void but accomplish what we  please. 

In 2-Pet: 1,4-8: 4 whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; (showing high moral standards) and to virtue knowledge;(having facts or know how) 6 and to knowledge temperance; (moderation restraint) and to temperance patience;(not hasty) and to patience godliness; 7 and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. If these things be in you and abound they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Peter tells us to add to our faith the character of Jesus Christ, and as we develop in character we will become more like him reflecting the wisdom and knowledge of Christ in our lives outwardly becoming fruitful in every good work.

1 Tim 6-12 Fight the good fight of faith…..

Timothy let us know when walking by faith there is going to be a fight, the flesh against the mind of the spirit so he tells us to fight the good fight of faith and lay hold on eternal life because we win.

1 Jn 4-4 Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.

Romans 8:31 [More than Conquerors] what, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Jn 14 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Acts 17-28 For in him we live and move and have our being. We are dead, the old man died when we repented and got baptized in Jesus  name, receiving Jesus as our Lord and savior. The scripture says we are dead and our lives are hid with Christ in God. Col:3-3,  This is all the protection we need if we believe it.

Jesus spoke about Great faith, little faith, and no faith. Let’s look at some examples of the three and see in which place do we stand. If we are not at the place of great faith we need to ask God to help my unbelief.

 

Great faith came from the story of the centurion Matt 8-5-10 when he told Jesus about his servant being sick of palsy being tormented.

V-7 Jesus said I will come and heal him.

V-8   The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. ⁹ For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

V-9 He understood authority, I am in authority under authority

V-10 Jesus said I have not found so great faith no not in Israel.

 

So we can say according to Jesus when you are faced with circumstances ,problems, sickness, disease or any such things, if you understand the authority you have in Christ: in authority under his authority you can speak the word in his name and believe what you say will come to pass, and don’t doubt you are operating in Great Faith.

Matt 8-23-26 Jesus got into a ship and his disciples followed him. There arose a tempest in the sea and the ship was covered with the waves, but Jesus was asleep.

His disciples awoke him and said Lord save us we perish, Jesus responded why are ye fearful oh ye of little faith.

 

Jesus disciples allowed fear to choke the faith they had in him for the moment when they looked at the waves or circumstances and believed in it more than Jesus.

 

Then they came to themselves and went to Jesus and he got up rebuked the winds and the sea and everything was all right.

Little faith is when you allow circumstances to overtake your faith for the moment until you come to yourself and began to speak the word, to the problem, circumstance or whatever it is in the name of Jesus to give you victory over it.

Deut 32-20  God said this of Israel after he blessed them in the wilderness. They waxed fat and forsook God. They sacrificed to devils and not to God. 

 

When the Lord saw it he abhorred them and said I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be, a forward generation, and children in who is no faith.

After God had blessed Israel they had great substance. God took care of them. He made them to ride on the high places of the earth they had no want for anything. Then they turned on God and went after strange gods that could do nothing for them and provoked God to jealousy and anger. 

 

God said  I will hide my face from them and see how they turn out. Israel became unappreciative, rebellious and disrespectful so God declared them children of no faith. The whole story is in Duet 32.

When you walk away from the God that has done everything for you to a god that can do nothing, your actions are clear you have no faith in the true God or you would never have left for another.

 

Let us remember as we walk by faith our words and actions can work against us if we continue to say and do the wrong things. Is:63,9-10
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Prov 6-2 Thou are snared with the words of thy mouth, thou are taken with the words of thy mouth.

 

Israel was snared and taken by the words of their mouth along with their actions which made the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob disregarded them as children of no faith.

Remember Jesus has given us the authority to use his name and speak his word to keep the victory everyday in life, because we have an enemy, Satan the devil who is going about seeking whom he may devour.

 

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

In 1Jn:4-4 Ye are of God little children and have overcome them, because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. When Satan speak to our mind we must respond by speaking the word.

11 Cor 10-4: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exaltheth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

If you haven’t repented  and received Jesus as Lord, now is a good time to do it. Acts 2-38  Repent!!!

 

Matthew 11:28  Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

 

God Bless You,

Brother James Stearns