Series Title: THE SUPERNATURAL SUBSTANCE OF FAITH Today s Message: Part 2: Faith Works I. REVIEW: GOD S DISPOSITION TOWARDS YOU IS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE & FAVOR (Your Spirit is Already in Perfect Agreement but Your Soul Isn t Always Fully Persuaded & Needs to be Yoked with Jesus) [Jer 29:11 NIV] [11] For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. [3Jo 1:2 NKJV] [2] Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. [Jhn 10:10 ESV] [10] The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. [Heb 8:6 ESV] [6] But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. A. Jesus saved us from the curse. Saved = sózó in the Greek (Strong s Concordance G4982) = delivered, protected, healed, preserved, done well, made whole [Luk 4:18-21 ESV] [18] "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, [19] to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." [20] And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. [21] And he began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." B. We are in a new covenant of grace that is accessed by faith. [Eph 2:6-10 ESV] [6] and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, [7] so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. [8] For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [9] not a result of works, so that no one may boast. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. C. We harness our soul by taking up Jesus yoke upon us which is light and easy and brings rest to our soul. 7-31-16 1
[Mat 11:28-30 ESV] [28] Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." D. Faith in Jesus (active, continual reliance upon Him) harnesses our soul to God s Word and promises II. FAITH IS [Heb 11:1 NKJV] [1] Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Greek word for substance = hupostasis: a support, substance, steadiness, hence assurance Definition: underlying confidence and assurance; underlying substance and reality; underlying guarantee of something HELPS Word-studies 5287 hypóstasis(from 5259 /hypó, "under" and 2476 /hístēmi, "to stand") properly, (to possess)standing under a guaranteed agreement ("title-deed"); (figuratively) "title" to a promise or property, i.e. a legitimate claim (because it literally is, "under a legalstanding") entitling someone to what is guaranteed under the particular agreement. For the believer, 5287 /hypóstasis ("title of possession") is the Lord's guarantee to fulfill the faith He inbirths (cf. Heb 11:1 with Heb 11:6). Indeed we are only entitled to what God grants faith for (Ro 14:23). A. Faith (divine persuasion) COMES to us as a gift from God and is never something we can produce on our own faith COMES to us through hearing the word [Rom 10:17 ESV] 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. HE IS FAITHFUL TO THE FAITHLESS. (2 Tim 2:13) [Rom 12:2-3 KJV] 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3 For 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, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 7-31-16 2
[1Jo 5:4 NKJV] 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. [Jhn 16:33 NKJV] 33 "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (Our faith is in Jesus who has overcome the world) [Heb 10:38 NKJV] 38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if [anyone] draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him." B. Faith WORKS within us to give birth to God s promises 1. The work always begins with us hearing the Word of God. 2. On the outside, the process of faith working may look the same for all believers (even when you hear someone pray), but whether a person is actually fully persuaded by God or in the process of being fully persuaded by God can only be evidenced in their heart, or when we actually SEE the evidence and substance revealed in the seen realm. 3. The Word of God is incorruptible seed and has the same potential power within every believer. God is no respecter or persons. [2 Cor 4:13 KJV] We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; Prayers of faith speak forth the KNOWN will of God in an area, over a person s life or situation (we are no longer praying the word of God out of our mind, but instead out of the fertile womb of our heart, we give birth to the seed that has grown inside of us. 4. Faith is like a mother who is ready to go in labor, you know it s time to give birth. [Mat 21:21-22 NKJV] 21 So 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. 22 "And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." [Mar 11:22-24 NKJV] 22 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. 23 "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive [them], and you will have [them]. 7-31-16 3
[Jas 5:13-16 NKJV] 13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess [your] trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. [Jas 1:6 NKJV] 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. [Mar 16:17-18 NKJV] 17 "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." [1Jo 5:14-16 NKJV] 14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. C. Faith is the substance of what God has fully persuaded you about. Faith is the substance of Jesus, His living Word.. [Col 1:16 NIV] For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. [Jhn 1:14 NKJV] [14] And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. [1Pe 1:8 NLT] [8] You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. [Heb 11:1 KJV] 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. [Heb 11:1 AMP] 11 Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. 1. Faith IS the substance of Jesus (our living hope). Faith IS the seed of healing, IS the child, IS the love, IS the wealth, IS the joy, IS the wisdom, IS the answer, IS the friendship, IS the husband, IS the substance of whatever you are hoping for in Christ (the word). a. Substance defined in dictionary: the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists and which has a tangible, solid presence. 7-31-16 4
b. Supernatural = something that exists beyond the visible; is beyond the laws of nature; direct influence or action from God on earthly affairs. 2. Faith is the supernatural DNA or deed that guarantees something will come to pass. You may not be able to see your DNA, but it is written code that though unseen produces everything seen in your body. 3. If you were hoping for tomatoes, faith is the tomato seed that gets planted in the unseen womb of your heart and produces tomatoes. No different than what we do on the natural earth we plant seeds to make things grow, and God s spoken word (from his heart into ours) is seed He plants into our hearts that is meant to grow and produce an expected result. D. Faith begins with hope (confident expectation) which is based on the finished work of Jesus Christ. 1. If we have no confidence in Jesus, then we cannot be divinely persuaded. 2. Faith is the substance of things hoped for in Jesus; therefore, outside of Jesus, there is no guaranteed substance. [1Pe 1:3 NIV] 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [Heb 6:19-20 KJV] 19 Which [hope] we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, [even] Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 3. Jesus is our living hope. Our faith for salvation for our souls begins with our hope in Jesus and as we believe upon Him, He is our title deed and right to salvation, because the word teaches us so. The Holy Spirit is our deposit and guarantee of salvation. [Eph 1:13-14 NIV] 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory. [2Co 10:5 KJV] 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 7-31-16 5
[Heb 10:38 KJV] 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. [Heb 11:6 KJV] 6 But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. III. TWO DIFFERENT KINDS OF WORKS MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE (unrighteous vs righteous; striving to receive for vs. already received in Christ) [Isa 64:6 NIV] [6] All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. [Eph 2:10 NIV] [10] For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. A. Old Testament = self-righteousness; man s efforts to earn something from God; unrighteous man tries to do good works to become righteous; doesn t look to God or believe upon Him for righteousness, but instead looks to himself and his own works. Man tries to think of something to do. Man works as a covering. B. New Testament = righteousness of Christ works; born again man understands He is ALREADY righteous by faith in Jesus Christ, and now that faith (active reliance upon Christ for salvation) causes works to be done through Him naturally FAITH literally does the work, not man; We don t try to think of something to do as a work to accompany our faith; we think on Jesus and the faith (divine persuasion from God working in us) begins to push something out of us we can t help but get it out and have to give birth to it!) Faith works as an occupation. *****It is necessary for man to believe in his heart that he is ALREADY the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus for divine persuasion from God (faith) to flow freely inside of him. [2Co 5:21 NIV] [21] God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. C. Our eyes should not be on our faith, but instead upon Jesus Christ. When our eyes are on Jesus, faith just works. Our part is not to look at our faith, but to look at Jesus. Our confidence in Him and in in His finished work on our behalf causes God s Word to naturally work through us. [Heb 12:2 NIV] fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith. 7-31-16 6
D. When our eyes are on Christ, our righteousness in Him is revealed to us. [Rom 1:17 KJV] 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. E. When our eyes are on ourselves and what we can do to make something happen or on our own thoughts and ideas of doing something to prove we believe something, we have lost sight of Jesus and our righteousness in Him. This is what it means to fall from grace. To fall from grace means to lose sight of Jesus and to put your eyes back onto your own personal performance. Now you ve put yourself under the operation of the law rather than receiving God s grace provisions. 1. One can t be mixed with the other you either put yourself under the law or under grace. You either put yourself under what you can earn for yourself or what God s favor freely supplies to you in abundance that you did not earn for yourself. [Rom 10:3-6, 10 KJV] 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. 5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down [from above]:)... 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. [2Co 5:17 NIV] [17] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! [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. [1Pe 3:12 NIV] [12] For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." [1Jo 5:14 NIV] [14] This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. [Isa 32:17 NIV] [17] The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever. 7-31-16 7
F. In the new covenant we have received through Christ, God s Word is now written on our hearts in finished form!!! WE too are finished in His sight. He sees us as His people and He sees His word abiding in our heart. Jeremiah 31:33 33"But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the LORD, "I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. [Heb 10:15-17 NKJ] But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, [16] "This [is] the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them," [17] [then He adds], "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." Romans 8:15-16: but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, Abba! Father! 16The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God s children. G. Faith without works is dead the true meaning! James 2:14-26New King James Version (NKJV) Faith Without Works Is Dead 18 But someone will say, You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith without your[a] works, and I will show you my faith by my[b] works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?[c] 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. [d] And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26 or as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. 1. The Power to do is in the seed of God we received in our heart. 2. The seed itself gives birth and brings forth manifestation. 3. We are just a vessel; a seed carrier; the persuasion of God that is first a reality and REAL substance within us is SHOWN or revealed also on the outside. 4. We want to allow the seed of God within us to be born. 7-31-16 8
5. Faith without works is dead is not about us trying to think of something to do to prove that we believe the Word. Faith does the work itself. Mary just carried the seed of God and gave birth to what was growing inside of her. She didn t try to think about, Well hey, I should go do something to prove I have the Word of God growing in me she just let it grow, and when that baby had finished growing inside of her, He had to come out!!! All she did was carry it and deliver it when the baby itself (Jesus the word of God) was ready to come out, Mary s body naturally got into position and let the baby have its way in coming out. even brought 6. Out of our belief upon Jesus, an action is born that comes out of our absolute dependence and reliance on God. 7. Faith works are birthings out of the womb of our heart, not out of the thoughts in our mind. Our mind cannot conceive or give birth to the things of God. It is through our spirit that we give birth to the supernatural substance of faith. [1Co 2:9-10 NIV] [9] However, as it is written: "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived"-- the things God has prepared for those who love him-- [10] these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. BECOME A PART OF OUR ONLINE COMMUNITY: www.prayerschoolcommunity.com *Watch & share weekly videos of teaching *Read mini teaching blogs/words of encouragement *Print scripture confession sheets *Request prayer or share praise report LIKE US ON FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/prayerschoolcommunity Youtube Channel is linked up to our website at www.prayerschoolcommunity.com or you can go directly to youtube and search for Prayer School Community or type in the following address: https://www.youtube.com/channel/uc-68wyv2ajk7b-4eleanygw 7-31-16 9