By Faith Pt.4 Faith Overcomes

Transcription

1 By Faith Pt.4 Faith Overcomes Story General Lewis Chesty Puller- They can t get away from us now, they won t escape this time 1John 5:4(NIV) for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Key Idea: Living by Faith is a Fight, but it s a good fight because faith gives us the ability to overcome things that have overcome so many in this world and driven them into darkness. Things like Lies, Lust & Lack. ENCC You are Fighters There is more fight in you than you realize. ENCC you are stronger than you think This life is full of battles. We will always have to fight something in this life. Lies, Lust, and financial lack Faith is what gains the victory in these battles. We have to learn how to live by faith and then choose to live that way everyday. Remember our faith is not in the fact that we have faith but in the source of our faith. The greater one who lives in you. (Explain what it is to have the greater one living on the inside)

2 1 John 4:4 (NASB) You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. You are stronger than you think 1) Faith to Overcome Lies of the Enemy The enemy is always trying to talk you out of our Faith by lying to us about who we are (not smart enough, pretty enough, not thin enough), what we have done or have not done. He lies to us about God trying to create mistrust. Faith is an Understanding/revelation and it s an Attitude. An Attitude that says God is not only for me and on my side but He and His power reside in me. That makes you a force to recon with. There is a new measure of Gods strength and power in you that you have yet to tap into. Speak like your prayers and your words have power. * Your Faith will not work above the Level of your confession You can be desperate but that s not faith. It s a good place to start but don t end there.

3 Faith is not doubtful desperation You have to believe * It s difficult for your believing to rise above the level of your thinking It s hard for your faith to rise above the level of your attitude and thinking. Chesty Puller Had an Attitude that enables him to gain victory in impossible situations time and time again. No matter what the challenge he believed he and his men where stronger and tougher than their enemy and could always find a way to win. Do we think that way about our circumstance and the God who empowers us? There is more fight in you than you think! Story - Learning how to dunk You are more powerful in God than you could imagine. You are stronger than you think Only Believe 2) Faith to Overcome LUST of the enemy

4 Lusts are the empty pursuits of this life for things that do not have the ability to satisfy. Distracts to keep us interested in everything but the Father. The lies of desire convincing us need what we don t and must have what we can t have. Faith in God is the only thing that truly delivers what it promises. Lust creates a thirst that it can never quench. Faith creates a bond through relationship with the Father that enables you to walk into what the Father has already prepared for you. 3) Faith to overcome Financial LACK This is an ongoing fight with most Christians. From Peter to Paul to John to the early church fathers to Martin Luther to John Wesley. Many of us struggle with this and need to learn how to overcome by Faith! Philippians 4:19 (NIV) And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Financial lack often causes us to question God s love for us.

5 Our Father loves and has great things for us but for some we aren t ready to walk into what He has already prepared for us. READ - 1 Cor. 2:9 (NIV) However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"-- Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. A loving Father does not give a Ferrari to a five year old. He is not ready. Faith is a process that is developed over time. Our faith must be strengthened little by little over time. We have all heard No Pain, No Gain. That is a universal principle that is true like it or not. Faith comes at a cost! Pain, humiliation, sacrifice My point is many of you have had the Pain but have not collected the Gain.

6 Some of you are still paying the cost. Keep going there is a spiritual order to things. You can t get Rachel and all that she represents until you first have Leah and all that she represents. Gen 29:14-26 But in your paying the price you are still stronger than you think. Use the Faith you have right now to walk in the fullness of what is available to you in God at this time. For those that have walked with God for years and know what I m talking about. Elevate your thinking, elevate your believing, elevate your confession, and elevate your Faith by once again doing what you know to keep your faith strong And by Faith grab ahold of your Gain. * Your Victory awaits you. PRAYER - Pray for people to rise up and declare war on things that have overcome them in the past. Remind them that they need to be like General Chesty Puller, when we see the enemy attacking on every side, we need to think This time the devil won t escape we re going to overcome him this time.