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Faith In Action

Posted on 14 Dec 2014, Pastor: Tolu Makinde

Text: Heb 11:1,6

Introduction

What faith is

The substance of things hoped for (KJV)
The evidence of things not seen (KJV)
The assurance – the confirmation – the title deed of the things we hope for
The proof of things we do not see
The conviction of their reality – perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses
The belief we have in God
Having a confident attitude towards God
The 100% trust we have in God – blindly
Not doubting –
- Mar 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That 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. Mar 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

What faith is NOT

What action is

What action is NOT

Taking steps without believing
Backup plans – wavering faith – Doubting – Double minded
Jas 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. Jas 1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. Jas 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Main Topic

When faith and action are put together, you get supernatural, extraordinary, miraculous results.

a) Abraham and Sarah

Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. Heb 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Heb 11:11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
Rom 4:19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: Rom 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
They were not weak in faith – they were strong in faith
They did not look upon their physical incapability to lose trust in God
They did not stagger at the promise of God through unbelief (double minded)
They acted upon their faith
They received a miracle in the birth of Isaac
The promise of being the father of many nation was birthed

b) Man sick with palsy

Luk 5:17 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. Luk 5:18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. Luk 5:19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. Luk 5:20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
These men had 100% faith that Jesus could heal their friend
When they could not get through the crowd, they went through the roof
They could have gave up and decide to come back the next time
They had faith and they acted upon their faith
As a result, their friend received a miraculous healing

c) Woman with the issue of blood for 12 years

The trying of your faith – Jam 1:2-4

Jas 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Jas 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. Jas 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Your faith must be tried – like a refiners fire that refines gold
When you face obstacles and oppositions – it is a trying of your faith
- Remember David when he faced Goliath – David had faith in God
- Remember Moses at the Red Sea
- Remember Nehemiah when Sanballat and Tobiah opposed him
Anytime unpleasant or trying situations arise
- Check to make sure it was not self inflicted – through disobedience to God’s Word
- If it was not self inflicted, then it is a trying of your faith
Do you have the action to back up your faith?
Or do you plan to give up?
Giving up is the easy way out – but Abraham and Sarah did not give up, the sick man with palsy did not give up, the woman with the issue of blood did not give up, blind Bartimaeus did not give up, Moses did not give up, Joshua did not give up
They all put up a fight, while believing in God – so must you.
You must put up a fight and trust God in order to win the battle

Conclusion