Is faith that important? Is it central in receiving and understanding the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Did Jesus teach on faith? Do we need faith to receive our healing? Do we really need to live by faith?
The answer to these questions is a resounding YES!
If we don’t understand what faith is, the Gospel of Jesus Christ will be degraded to a set of moral values, a philosophical way of living in this earth, with religious tradition and law.
THE IMPORTANCE OF FAITH IN THE BIBLE
As a casual reader of the New Testament, one can begin to see that this topic of faith is an important issue.
Jesus himself taught on this subject in detail, over and over again during his earthly ministry.
Paul even went so far as to say that this is the message which he preached, and if any one taught another gospel, let that person be accursed.
The Lords own Brother James, the Pastor of the Jerusalem Christian Church, dedicated his whole letter to the subject of faith.
In fact as you begin reading the Old Testament in light of this truth; one can begin seeing the importance of faith in the lives of the old patriarchs. In fact their successes and failures, in life, revolved around their ability to operate in and live by faith.
A while back the Lord led me to begin sharing this message of faith for several weeks here at our Healing School. Through this teaching a powerful anointing was realized, and many who faithfully attended these healing services received answers to their prayers, and healing for their bodies.
WHY DO WE NEED FAITH
Let’s take a look at what the Apostle John had to say about it through inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
In I John 5:4 we read;
“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”
The Word of God makes it clear; Faith is the victory that overcomes the world.
What does the scripture mean when it refers to “the world.”? This phrase is referring to a system of thought, belief and behavior. It is a way of living in this earth.
This system is void of a knowledge of God and His promises. It is based on mans experience, natural reasoning, and philosophy.
The worlds system has its limited carnal rewards, and unfortunately it also has its limitations, problems, and consequences. Its system is in a negative downward spiral which ends in death.
Understanding faith and how faith works then, is essential in overcoming this system and its consequences.
WHAT IS FAITH?
To start out with we can define faith from a biblical perspective this way:
“For all the promises of God in him are yes and in him Amen, unto the Glory of God by us." (2 Corinthians 1:20)
Yes, he that believes the gospel shall be saved, but he also; shall be healed, shall be delivered, shall be protected, preserved, and made whole! Glory to God!
But he that does not believe, the opposite will happen to him. He will experience damnation, sickness, and bondage.
In the great commission Jesus also promised that you and I who believe, should lay hands on the sick, and the sick shall recover. (Mark 16:18)
He didn't say that they might recover; He said that they shall recover!
Listen, it was Jesus Who promised this! It wasn't some comfort seeking American preacher who said that.
Healing for your body is a promise in the Great Commission. And we as believers have been commanded by Jesus to preach this Gospel and have been commissioned by Him to lay hands on the sick and expect the sick to recover!
Now notice Jesus said, he that believes, will be saved, healed, delivered and made whole. He that believes will lay hands on the sick and see them healed.
To believe simply means to have faith! Faith receives the promise of healing.
If we don’t understand what faith is, the Gospel of Jesus Christ will be degraded to a set of moral values, a philosophical way of living in this earth, with religious tradition and law.
THE IMPORTANCE OF FAITH IN THE BIBLE
As a casual reader of the New Testament, one can begin to see that this topic of faith is an important issue.
Jesus himself taught on this subject in detail, over and over again during his earthly ministry.
Paul even went so far as to say that this is the message which he preached, and if any one taught another gospel, let that person be accursed.
The Lords own Brother James, the Pastor of the Jerusalem Christian Church, dedicated his whole letter to the subject of faith.
In fact as you begin reading the Old Testament in light of this truth; one can begin seeing the importance of faith in the lives of the old patriarchs. In fact their successes and failures, in life, revolved around their ability to operate in and live by faith.
A while back the Lord led me to begin sharing this message of faith for several weeks here at our Healing School. Through this teaching a powerful anointing was realized, and many who faithfully attended these healing services received answers to their prayers, and healing for their bodies.
WHY DO WE NEED FAITH
Let’s take a look at what the Apostle John had to say about it through inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
In I John 5:4 we read;
“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”
The Word of God makes it clear; Faith is the victory that overcomes the world.
What does the scripture mean when it refers to “the world.”? This phrase is referring to a system of thought, belief and behavior. It is a way of living in this earth.
This system is void of a knowledge of God and His promises. It is based on mans experience, natural reasoning, and philosophy.
The worlds system has its limited carnal rewards, and unfortunately it also has its limitations, problems, and consequences. Its system is in a negative downward spiral which ends in death.
Understanding faith and how faith works then, is essential in overcoming this system and its consequences.
WHAT IS FAITH?
To start out with we can define faith from a biblical perspective this way:
Faith is simply Gods system of thinking, believing and behaving that receives and experiences what He promised.
Living by faith unleashes Gods life to you. God’s life is His creative, supernatural, all-powerful, liberating, overcoming way of living in this earth.
Living by faith unleashes Gods life to you. God’s life is His creative, supernatural, all-powerful, liberating, overcoming way of living in this earth.
Look at what the Holy Spirit communicated in the book of Hebrews concerning faith.
In Hebrews 6:12 we read:
“That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises”
Notice the word inherit here.
Inherit means to receive. It also means; to get, or to take ownership of.
There is no question about it. God very clearly reveals to us here that if we are going to take ownership of the promises of God we are going to have to do through His system of faith and patience.
In Hebrews 6:12 we read:
“That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises”
Notice the word inherit here.
Inherit means to receive. It also means; to get, or to take ownership of.
There is no question about it. God very clearly reveals to us here that if we are going to take ownership of the promises of God we are going to have to do through His system of faith and patience.
Faith and patience receives and experiences the promise of salvation. It secures the promise of deliverance, the promise of healing, the promise of freedom, and every promise of God that we find in His Word.
For example In Exodus 15:26 the Lord gives us a promise. He said; “I will put none of these diseases upon thee.... For I am the Lord that healeth thee.”
And then over in Malachi 3:6 He declares yet another promise; “For I am the Lord, I change not.”
So we can ascertain from these scriptures, that God will never change His mind when it comes to healing your body.
Sadly there are some people that believe deceptive religious lies, which say “God puts sickness on people to teach them something." Or, "God put sickness on them so that another person wouldn’t have to bare it."
No, God doesn’t put sickness and disease on you. That belief is completely contrary to the Word of God. These types of beliefs are part of that ungodly world system of thought that limits you and imprisons you from experiencing the life God ordained you to live in and enjoy.
GOD NEVER CHANGES! That’s a promise! HE IS THE ONE THAT HEALS!
In 1 John 4:18 the Bible declares that God is love, and in 1 Corinthians 13:8 the Bible tells us that love never fails. Therefore we can conclude that God will never fail!
He told Joshua in Joshua 1:5 “As I was with Moses, I will be with thee I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” In Acts 10:34 we see it written, where God is no respecter of persons, meaning what He does for one person, He will do for all.
So these promises are true for you and I as well. God will never fail us! He will be with us, and He will always come through for you and I.
That means God will always heal our bodies! He will always prosper us. He will always love us. He will always be with us. He will always save us.
For example In Exodus 15:26 the Lord gives us a promise. He said; “I will put none of these diseases upon thee.... For I am the Lord that healeth thee.”
And then over in Malachi 3:6 He declares yet another promise; “For I am the Lord, I change not.”
So we can ascertain from these scriptures, that God will never change His mind when it comes to healing your body.
Sadly there are some people that believe deceptive religious lies, which say “God puts sickness on people to teach them something." Or, "God put sickness on them so that another person wouldn’t have to bare it."
No, God doesn’t put sickness and disease on you. That belief is completely contrary to the Word of God. These types of beliefs are part of that ungodly world system of thought that limits you and imprisons you from experiencing the life God ordained you to live in and enjoy.
GOD NEVER CHANGES! That’s a promise! HE IS THE ONE THAT HEALS!
In 1 John 4:18 the Bible declares that God is love, and in 1 Corinthians 13:8 the Bible tells us that love never fails. Therefore we can conclude that God will never fail!
He told Joshua in Joshua 1:5 “As I was with Moses, I will be with thee I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” In Acts 10:34 we see it written, where God is no respecter of persons, meaning what He does for one person, He will do for all.
So these promises are true for you and I as well. God will never fail us! He will be with us, and He will always come through for you and I.
That means God will always heal our bodies! He will always prosper us. He will always love us. He will always be with us. He will always save us.
The answer to every prayer you pray according to His will, the answer to every promise of God, is always yes and Amen.
When you and I find out what God promises in His Word, and then pray according to that Word, God will always respond with a resounding YES!
That means God will never say no to His promise of healing your body!
If we don’t know how to receive that yes, we will never experience Gods answer to our prayer for healing!
FAITH IS SIMPLY BELIEVING WHAT GOD SAID
Look at the promise from Jesus that is found in the Great Commission! In Mark 16:15-18. Jesus said; “Go into all the world and preach this Gospel to every creature. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved.”
The word saved here has been translated from the Greek word sozo. Sozo has a much broader definition than just being spiritually saved. It literally can be translated as saved, healed, delivered, protected, preserved, and made whole.When you and I find out what God promises in His Word, and then pray according to that Word, God will always respond with a resounding YES!
That means God will never say no to His promise of healing your body!
If we don’t know how to receive that yes, we will never experience Gods answer to our prayer for healing!
FAITH IS SIMPLY BELIEVING WHAT GOD SAID
Look at the promise from Jesus that is found in the Great Commission! In Mark 16:15-18. Jesus said; “Go into all the world and preach this Gospel to every creature. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved.”
But he that does not believe, the opposite will happen to him. He will experience damnation, sickness, and bondage.
In the great commission Jesus also promised that you and I who believe, should lay hands on the sick, and the sick shall recover. (Mark 16:18)
He didn't say that they might recover; He said that they shall recover!
Listen, it was Jesus Who promised this! It wasn't some comfort seeking American preacher who said that.
Healing for your body is a promise in the Great Commission. And we as believers have been commanded by Jesus to preach this Gospel and have been commissioned by Him to lay hands on the sick and expect the sick to recover!
Now notice Jesus said, he that believes, will be saved, healed, delivered and made whole. He that believes will lay hands on the sick and see them healed.
To believe simply means to have faith! Faith receives the promise of healing.
WHY DO WE NEED FAITH?
Because Jesus said, he who believes, he who has faith, will receive the promises of God!
Because Jesus said, he who believes, he who has faith, will receive the promises of God!
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