Seven Life-Changing Realities - Teacher’s Complete Notes

Introduction to Series:

· Every believer should be established in these seven basic life-changing truths:

Redemption, the New Birth, Righteousness, the Holy Spirit Indwelling, the Integrity of God’s Word, the Believers’ Authority, the God Kind of Faith.

· These need to become realities to us. To become a reality a truth must not simply be in your head, but in your heart. In a crises, what’s in your head will let you down. Your mind shuts down. It’s what’s in your heart that comes out then.

· For something to get from your head to your heart, you must meditate on it, hear it over and over again, and above all: put it into practice, and thereby prove it in your own life. It then becomes a reality.

· We could spend weeks on each one of these basic truths and never reach the bottom of them. What I am rather going to do is simply touch on each one of them, strike your thinking, and hopefully cause you to delve more deeply in your own private study into those that are most needful to you.

I. The Reality of Redemption

What Jesus did at Calvary to make us free.

Colossians 1:9-14; esp v. 13-14.

For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Ephesians 1:7 - In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses.

to redeem = (Webster) to buy back, to get or win back, to free from captivity usually by paying a ransom, to liberate, to free from bondage of sin. to change for the better, to repair, to restore, to change into something of value, to atone for, to offset the bad effect of.

to redeem (exagorazo) = to buy out, especially of purchasing a slave with a view to his freedom, to release on receipt of a ransom.

Four Foundational Truths about Redemption:

A. By Adam’s sin, we were sold into captivity and under Satan’s authority (Romans 5:12,17) . A ransom was paid with the blood of Christ to buy us back.

Man was created in the image of God, and given dominion over the earth (Gen 1). Psalm 8 says we were created a little lower than God. Man committed high treason in the garden of Eden by submitting himself to a fallen angel, Satan, and sold himself out to slavery to sin and Satan’s authority (Romans 5). From that very point God began a plan to redeem us, to buy us back out of Satan’s dominion back into the freedom of children of God. This was accomplished when Jesus shed His blood on the cross.

Mark 10:45 - “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

1 Cor 6:20 - you have been bought (egorasthete) with a price. (note difference between KJV and others).

Why did it cost God to redeem mankind? Why couldn’t he simply declare us OK? Because of divine justice. It would not be just to consign the devil and his angels to perdition and let us off the hook, without an atonement.

Rev 5:9-10 And they *sang a new song, saying, “Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to break its seals; for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. And Thou hast made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”

Hebrews 2:14-15 Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

B. We were under the curse of the Law. Through redemption the curse of the Law has been removed.

Gal 3:13 - Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us [in our place]-- for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”--

Gal 4:4-5 - But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

The Curse of the Law is man’s awareness of right and wrong without the power to do what is right, and the resulting sense of condemnation and failure that comes with that.

C. We were under bondage to sin, but now, we have been released into the freedom of grace.

We are not just forgiven sinners.

We were not only forgiven, but were given power over sin. Grace = supernatural empowerment

1 Peter 1:18-19 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

What is this futile way of life? Trying to be a good enough person to merit God’s love and yet constantly failing.

1 Pet. 2:24 and He Himself bore [away] our sins in His body on the cross, that we might [have the capability to ]die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

Rom. 6:14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace.

Grace = supernatural empowerment, not the ability to sin and get away with it.

Hebrews 9:11-28, esp v28 - so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.

Not only has redemption bought your forgiveness, but it has released you from the bondage of sin in that you have been given the power in the Spirit to fulfill the Law.

Rom. 8:1-4 ... For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

See Also Galatians 3:21 (the Law cannot impart life). The Law is only as able to free you from sin as your flesh is able to obey it. Therefore the Law cannot impart life.

D. Redemption is achieved for us only through the blood of Jesus.

We have seen this already in many of the scriptures we have read.

Hebrews 9:22 - without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin

It Took A Lamb

Verse 1

He could have come in all His splendor

greater than the eye has ever seen.

He could have come in robes of scarlet

and all the world would see that He is King.

He could have ridden on a white horse

as a warrior and conquer ev'ry land.

But He knew that if redemption's price were paid,

it would talk a Lamb.

Verse 2

For many years the temple altars

were stained with sacrifices ev'ry day.

And though the blood appeased the Father,

still the curse of sin was never wiped away.

Until one day the rule of justice was halted

by a touch from Mercy's hand, Mercy's hand.

As the Father in compassion said,

"It's time to send the spotless Lamb.

It took a Lamb to die upon a rugged cross.

It took a Lamb; only blood could pay the cost.

Nothing less could take away my sin.

That is why the great "I AM" didn't come as a King

because He knew it took a Lamb.

II. The Reality of the New Birth

· 2 Cor 5:17 - if any man be in Christ he is a new creature... [new species of being]

· 1 Pet 1:2-4 - has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,...

· 1 Pet 1:23 - for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.

· Ephesians 2:1-10 - ...you were dead ... made us alive together with Christ... For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works...

· Col 1:18 - He [Jesus] is the firstborn from the dead..

· Rom. 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren;

· Ezek. 11:19 “And I shall give them one heart, and shall put a new spirit within them. And I shall take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh,

· Ezek. 36:26 “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

· Jer. 31:31-34 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them, “declares the Lord. “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.

· Jeremiah 17:9 - the heart is desperately sick

· John 6:53

· John 3:3-8

Three Foundational truths about the New Birth:

A. Natural man is in a fallen state, is spiritually dead, and is unable to see and enter the Kingdom of God.

The problem with the world is not a bad economy. Not just a lack of education. Mankind without Christ is spiritually dead. Used to think that if everyone were like me, the world would be a great place. Came to find out the world IS just like me, and that’s what is wrong with it.

The tripartite nature of man:

1. Man is composed of spirit, soul and body. (e.g. 1 Thessalonians 5:23)

2. The spirit part of fallen man is dead through sin and is separated from God, its source of life.

Use the Two Branches Analogy here.

a. In Ephesians 2:1-9 Paul says to the Christians there - You were dead in your trespasses and sins. See also Colossians 2:13.

b. Genesis 3:3 - God said to Adam and Eve that they would die if they ate from the forbidden free. Since they did not die physically, we infer that they died spiritually.

c. John 6:53 - Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life [zoe] in yourselves.

d. Luke 9:60 - Jesus said to let the dead bury their own dead.

e. Jude 1:12 - These men are...doubly dead.

f. Romans 6:13 - Present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead.

Thoroughbred vs mule analogy.

B. A spiritual rebirth is absolutely necessary for seeing and entering the Kingdom of God. Spiritual rebirth, being born again, or born of the Spirit, is a supernatural event of the incoming of the Holy Spirit into the spirit part of a human being.

1. John 3:3 - Truly, truly I say unto you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.

2. John 3:5 - Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

C. It is only through faith in Jesus, and as a free gift of God, that this new birth event can take place.

1. John 1:12-13 - But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

See also Luke 1 - Mary’s consent.

2. John 3:16 - Whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life [zoe].

3. John 4:14 - The water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life [zoe]. John 7:38-39 identifies the living water as the Spirit we were to receive through faith.

4. John 10:10 - I came that they might life [zoe], and might have it abundantly.

5. Romans 10:9-10.

III. The Reality of Righteousness

The man who trusts in Christ becomes the righteousness of God in Him and becomes in Christ all that God requires a man to be, all that he could never be in himself. This faith brings the spirit and soul into vital union with God, and inevitably produces righteousness of life.

Righteousness = uprightness, rightness, straightness, conformity to the will of God. (Webster)

Righteousness is the God given ability and gift to stand before the presence of a holy God as if sin did not exist without any sense of inferiority or condemnation.

James 5:16-18

James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

James 5:17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain; and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.

James 5:18 And he prayed again, and the sky poured rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

This tells us at least three things:

1) it must be possible to be righteous. See also Matthew 5:6 (those who hunger and thirst after righteousness...will be satisfied..)

2) Righteousness must be necessary to pray effectively

3) A man with a nature just like ours was described here as righteous in the sight of God.

Still most of us have been brought up under the notion, and have developed an inner consciousness, that THERE IS NON RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE.

Rom. 3:10-11 as it is written, “ There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God;

But if we keep on reading the context of Romans Chapter 3 we find these words:

Rom. 3:19 ¶ Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may become accountable to God;

Rom. 3:20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

Rom. 3:21 ¶ But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,

Rom. 3:22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;

Rom. 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Rom. 3:24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;

These powerful verses are the central point of Romans and tell us the following things:

1) Attempts at conformity with the Moral Law alone will not bring us to a place of righteousness before God.

2) The Moral Law merely gives us the knowledge of sin and that we are sinners.

3) The righteousness of God is obtained apart from human performance as judged by the moral law.

4) The righteousness of God is obtained through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe.

5) This is available for all who believe, regardless of previous sin, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

6) This righteousness comes from God as a gift.

7) this gift comes to us by His grace, that is, by His supernatural power.

8) This gift of righteousness was made possible by the redemptive work of Christ Jesus.

The word justified is used here.

Justified = a legal term meaning to secure a favorable verdict, to acquit, to vindicate, to declare righteous as a gift without a cause to be found in us.

Justified means to us “just as if I never sinned.”

2 Cor 5:19 and 21 clearly states the case.

2 Cor. 5:19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

2 Cor. 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Here again we find that:

1) The redemptive act of Christ is that we are reconciled with God.

2) That God is not counting our trespasses against us.

3) that this was accomplished through a DIVINE EXCHANGE - Jesus, the sinless Savior, took upon Himself our sins, and transfered to us the righteousness of God.

4) That this is made available to those who are “in Him”, that is, those who trust in Him and identify with His life, death and resurrection and have become part of His body.

Additional scripture:

Rom. 5:1 Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Rom. 5:17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

Phil. 3:9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,

IV. The Reality of the Holy Spirit’s Presence

God if not only for you and with you, but He dwells IN you. Through the New Birth, the believer in Christ has become the temple of the living God, both individually as believers born of the Spirit and collectively as the Body of Christ on earth.

2 Corinthians 6:16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “ I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

The Apostle Paul writes this, who called himself a Hebrew of Hebrews, and was formerly of the very devout Pharisee sect. The enormity of this statement, we are the temple of the living God, is most likely lost on Gentile Christians. The temple was the most holy place in all of Judaism. Every Jew made an annual pilgrimmage to see it, and it was the central focus of all worship. The most inner sanctuary, the Holy of Holies, was so holy that only the high priest could enter, and then only once per year.

That the sanctity of the temple worship had been done away with, and that human beings had replaced the temple as the place of God’s holy presence is staggering.

Matt. 27:50-51 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth shook; and the rocks were split,

The Veil separated the holy place from the holy of holies where God dwellt. This tearing represents:

· the end of temple worship

· the end of the Old Testament priesthood and system of worship

· the beginning of direct access to God for all worshippers

· the indwelling presence of the Spirit of God within every believer

Becoming the temple of the living God is made possible by the pouring forth of the Holy Spirit on believers in Christ.

Acts 2:32 “This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses.

Acts 2:33 “Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.

Thus, the first thing Jesus did upon his ascent into heaven was, having placed His blood on the heavenly altar and thus wiping away our sins, to send forth the Holy Spirit on the new humanity.

Acts 2:38 And Peter said to them, “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:39 “For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself.”

Note that Peter makes the gift of the Holy Spirit a central fact of salvation.

The variety of Christian experiences with the Spirit of God follows a pattern, using such phrases as:

· born of the Spirit, or born of God

· baptized in the Spirit

· filled with the Spirit (as an immediate event)

· filled with the Spirit/full of the Spirit (as a continual state)

These are not necessarily synonymous, and a right understanding of these is necessary for rightly dividing the word of truth.

A. Born of the Spirit

1. John 3:3-6 ... “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”... “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

2. This signifies conversion; being “born again”.

3. The Spirit coming within you to indwell you; He is with your spirit.

4. Every believer has the Spirit of Christ indwelling them, according to Romans 8:9 - ...if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

5. The disciples received this after the Resurrection, and yet prior to their experience on Pentecost. See John 20:22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and *said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

B. Baptized in the Holy Spirit.

1. That Jesus had come to perform this is found in all four gospels and Acts:

Matt. 3:11 “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Mark 1:8 “I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Luke 3:16 John answered and said to them all, “As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

John 1:33 “And I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the one who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’

Acts 1:4 And gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me;

Acts 1:5 for John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. “

Acts 1:8 but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

2. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is often called the “Outpouring of the Spirit” - the Spirit “falls upon you”, “comes upon” you, a Pentecostal experience.

3. Baptizo = to immerse, drench thoroughly, saturate or soak. It is not a religious word, but a common descriptive word.

4. The disciples were Christians before Pentecost, but then they were “baptized with the Spirit”. The Samaritan believers were Christians before Peter and John came and laid hands upon them. (Acts 8:14-17) See also Acts 10:44-48; Acts 19:1-6.

5. Baptism in the Spirit opens the door wide to the manifestation of spiritual gifts. (1 Corinthians 12, 13, 14)

6. Christly ministry power becomes more fully available through baptism and continual fullness in the Holy Spirit. For more effective ministry of God’s grace we need to receive baptism in the Holy Spirit. It is the empowerment given for ministry.

a. Luke 24:46-49 (Jesus’ parting words) - ...I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you, but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.

b. Acts 1:4-8 - ...wait for what the Father had promised...you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now...you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses...even to the remotest part of the earth.

c. Acts 2:1-5 (the consummation) - ...they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit was giving them utterance [ability]... Remember that they were already “Christians” before Pentecost. They had already received the Holy Spirit to indwell them. (see John 20:22) At Pentecost they received empowerment to minister.

7. Acts 8:12-17 - Here in Samaria, already water-baptized believers received empowerment afterwards as the Spirit falling upon them.

8. Acts 10:44-48 - Here in Cornelius’ household, the Spirit fell upon them at the very beginning of their belief.

9. Peter in Acts 11:15-16, describes what happened at Cornelius’ house (the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as He did upon us at the beginning) as being baptized with the Holy Spirit...after believing...

10. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is obviously not only for the apostles alone, since here Cornelius’ entire household and the Samaritans all received just what the 120 received at Pentecost. Peter makes a point of this in Acts 11.

C. “Filled with the Spirit” in the context of:

1. This phrase is used in the context of subsequent outpourings of the Holy Spirit - immediate manifestations of the Spirit to produce immediate results. This happens repeatedly to a believer as the Holy Spirit and the needs of the church dictate. (Acts 4:8; Acts 4:31; Acts 7:55; Acts 11:27; Acts 13:9; Luke 1:41, 67)

Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people,

Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak the word of God with boldness.

Acts 7:55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;

Acts 13:8 But Elymas the magician (for thus his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

Acts 13:9 But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze upon him,

2. Similar to “baptism of the Spirit” which is viewed as the initial event of being filled with the Spirit.

D. “Filled with the Spirit”/”Full of the Spirit” in the context of:

1. This phrase is also used in the context of a continual state of being.

2. This highly desired condition is the sanctified life - associated with spiritual fruit (love, joy, peace, etc. - Galatians 5:22-23) and Christian maturity. For example: Stephen, in Acts 6:5; Barnabas, in Acts 11:24; church administrators, in Acts 6:3.

Acts 6:3 “But select from among you, brethren, seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.

Acts 6:5 And the statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.

Acts 11:22 And the news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch.

Acts 11:23 Then when he had come and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord;

Acts 11:24 for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord.

V. The Reality of the Integrity of God’s Word

The Word of God is eternally existent.

John 1:1f

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:2 He was in the beginning with God.

All things come into being through the Word

John 1:3 All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

The Word of God is unchanging and absolutely reliable.

Is 40:8 - the grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever.

Matthew 24:35 or parallels Mark 13:38 and Luke 21:33 (concerning His sayings re the end times)

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words shall not pass away

Matt 5:17-18 or Luke 16:17

Matt. 5:17 ¶ “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.

Matt. 5:18 “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished.

Luke 16:17 “But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the Law to fail.

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

1 John 2:17 And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.

The Word of God is the life of God.

John 1:4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

John 6:63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.

Hebrews 4:12 The Word of God is alive and active.

The Word of God is the power of God.

Hebrews 1:1-3 -

Heb. 1:1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways,

Heb. 1:2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.

Heb. 1:3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Romans 1:16 - For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

The Word of God is the Will of God.

This is by the very definition of words. Someone’s will = their desire, intention, purpose, combined with their determination to make it so.

A will = a legal declaration of a person stiting how his or her property is to be disposed of after death.

That is also called a testament, which is why we call the Bible the Old and New Testament, meaning Covenant, Contract, or Will.

The Bible is God’s blood-sworn oath and covenant with man.

God has enacted many covenants with men through out the ages (Adam, Noah, Moses and Israel), but it is the covenant with Abraham, fulfilled in the coming of Abraham’s seed Jesus Chris, that is most relevant to us.

Hebrews 6:13-20 -

Heb. 6:13 ¶ For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself,

Heb. 6:14 saying, “ I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply you.”

Heb. 6:15 And thus, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise.

Heb. 6:16 For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute.

Heb. 6:17 In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath,

Heb. 6:18 in order that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have strong encouragement, we who have fled for refuge in laying hold of the hope set before us.

The Word of God is the end of every argument.

Psalm 119:89 My word is forever settled in heaven.

If God said it, that settles it (whether anyone believes it or not)

Some denominations misquote the word, saying “come let us reason together”. That is not reasoning between men, but God speaking, calling man to come reason with God in his word.

Hebrews 6:16 For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute.

In other words, if men are arguing about a certain situation, and someone can produce a signed contract made previously by the two parties, that settles the argument.

The Bible is for us that signed contract of what God has already decreed about every situation.

Titus 1:2-3 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago,

but at the proper time manifested, even His word, in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior;

A. The boss is always right.

B. When the boss is wrong, See A.

In other words, when we come upon a situation that is not working out as God has promised, we are tempted to look on God’s end and ask, God, where did you fail. The Bible must not be true. What we need to do is ask ourselves, where are we missing it?

Num 23:19 God is not a man, that He should lie.

Joshua 21:45 - Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass.

The Word of God is incorruptible seed.

i.e., seed that will not suffer decay.

that means it always stands ready to be planted and produce a result.

Yet it is the resources of God, the agency of God, the provision of God, the power of God, the life of God, the nature of God,.... IN SEED FORMAT.

SEED FORMAT - it is in a form of a possibility, a potentiality.

It is potential energy rather than kinetic energy - it must be released and allowed to act in order to produce.

1 Peter 1:23f 1

Pet. 1:23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable (incorruptible), that is, through the living and abiding word of God.

1 Pet. 1:24 For, “ All flesh is like grass, And all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, And the flower falls off,

1 Pet. 1:25 But the word of the Lord abides forever. “ And this is the word which was preached to you.

The Word of God is the active agent that goes out in advance of everything God accomplishes, and it can accomplish the very same thing when we speak it. (In fact He needs us to speak it).

Heb. 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Is 55:11 - My Word shall not return to Me void, without accomplishing its purpose

Jer 1:12 - I am watching over my Word to perform it.

Ps. 107:20 He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions.

Romans 10:6-8 - But the righteousness based on faith speaks thus, “ Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), or ‘ Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). “ But what does it say? “ The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”-- that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,

Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord God does nothing unless He reveals His secret counsel to His servants the prophets.

The Word of God, acted upon, is the bedrock foundation of human existence and the source of our stability and security.

Matt. 7:24 ¶ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock.

Matt. 7:25 “And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock.

Matt. 7:26 “And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act upon them, will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand.

Matt. 7:27 “And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and it fell, and great was its fall.”

Ps. 61:2 From the end of the earth I call to Thee, when my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

(The Word of God IS the rock that is higher than I).

The Word of God is the sifter, the discerner and judge of all human thoughts and activities.

Heb. 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Heb. 4:13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

Is. 11:4 But with righteousness He will judge the poor, And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked.

Rev. 19:15 And from His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may smite the nations; and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.

Without the Word of God we can have no relationship with God. Spoken and written communications are the means by which we can have a relationship with any person.

Bobby says “You know the Word of God, but do you know the God of the Word.”

The Word of God IS God.

If you know the Word of God, but don’t know the God of the Word, you simply must have a surface knowledge, a head knowledge. You have treated it like a fairy story. Or you went to it to prove your point, without letting it change your thinking.

You cannot get yourself immersed in the Word of God in order to seek God without coming face-to-face with the God who is the Author.

The Bible is a supernatural book, that when you read it, you find that it is reading you.

Want to fellowship with God? Fellowship with Him around His Word.

Want to seek God? Seek Him in His written Word.

The Word of God is what guides us in life, leading us in the paths of righteousness, showing us things to come, giving wise counsel.

Ps. 119:105 Thy word is a lamp to my feet, And a light to my path.

No one should ever say, “I don’t need the Word of God, I have the Holy Spirit.”, or, “I don’t need the Word, I know God.”

The Word of God comes in two ways to us - the written word, the spoken word (Rhema), what God speaks to your heart by the Holy Spirit, and they always agree.

Learning to hear God’s voice in the written Word is the surest way to learn to hear God’s voice speaking the rhema word through the voice of the Holy Spirit.

The Word of God is profitable. It does you good.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 - All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

VI. The Reality of the Believers’ Authority in the Name of Jesus

Mankind was originally given dominion over all the earth. Through man’s submission to Satan he lost his original authority and became subject to a lawless spiritual agent. In the fulness of time, Jesus, the Son of God, and the Last Adam, came to usurp Satan’s wrongful authority and to restore it back to the reborn sons of God, who are the Body of Christ on the earth. In the name of Jesus, and acting in accordance with His will, believers’ have been given the ability to enact the will of God on the earth.

A. Mankind was originally given dominion over all the earth.

Gen. 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Gen. 1:27 And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Gen. 1:28 And God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Ps. 8:3 ¶ When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, The moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained;

Ps. 8:4 What is man, that Thou dost take thought of him? And the son of man, that Thou dost care for him?

Ps. 8:5 Yet Thou hast made him a little lower than God, And dost crown him with glory and majesty!

Ps. 8:6 Thou dost make him to rule over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet,

Ps. 8:7 All sheep and oxen, And also the beasts of the field,

Ps. 8:8 The birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.

B. Through man’s submission to Satan he lost his original authority and became subject to a lawless spiritual agent.

Temptation of Jesus - Luke 4:5 And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

Luke 4:6 And the devil said to Him, “I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.

Luke 4:7 “Therefore if You worship before me, it shall all be Yours.”

Jesus did not contest this claim of Satan. In fact, other scriptures bear out that at least at this point, Satan was truthful. The total message that Satan feeds us is always a lie, but he mixes some bits of truth within it to make it plausible. He thus perverts the truth, quotes scriptures out of context, uses the scripture with a wrong motive.

The Arrest of Jesus - John 14:30 “I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me;

Jesus calls Satan the ruler of this world here.

Paul referred to Satan as the god of this world, in 2 Cor 4:4 and the prince of the power of the air in Ephesians 2:2

Satan is out to steal, kill, and destroy mankind, out of jealousy. Therefore, his kingdom is one of falsehood (because the truth shall make man free), is one of sickness (to destroy the human body), is one of oppression and fear (to destroy the human mind), and is one of sin and alienation from God (to destroy the human spirit).

C. In the fulness of time, Jesus, the Son of God, and the Last Adam, came to usurp Satan’s wrongful authority.

{{{Heb. 2:4 God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.

Heb. 2:5 ¶ For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking.

Heb. 2:6 But one has testified somewhere, saying, “ What is man, that Thou rememberest him? Or the son of man, that Thou art concerned about him?

Heb. 2:7 “ Thou hast made him for a little while lower than the angels; Thou hast crowned him with glory and honor, And hast appointed him over the works of Thy hands;

Heb. 2:8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. “ For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him.

Heb. 2:9 But we do see Him who has been made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.

Heb. 2:10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.

Heb. 2:11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,}}}

*Heb. 2:14 Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil;

John 12:31 “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world shall be cast out.

John 12:32 “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”

John 16:7 “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.

John 16:8 “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment;

John 16:9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me;

John 16:10 and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you no longer behold Me;

John 16:11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

Note that Jesus first said the ruler of this world shall be judged and shall be cast out. Then he simply says the ruler of this world has been judged. We are the agents to do the casting out.

Phil. 2:5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

Phil. 2:6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,

Phil. 2:7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

Phil. 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Phil. 2:9 Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,

Phil. 2:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth,

Phil. 2:11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

D. Immediately upon usurping Satan’s authority over the earth, Jesus restored it back to the reborn sons of God, who are the Body of Christ on the earth.

Matt. 28:18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

Matt. 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

Matt. 28:20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. “

authority = exousia, the delegated right to give commands or to carry out or enforce another’s commands.

power = dunamis, the energy which gets the job done (in God’s case it is the divine supernatural power) When we were given the Holy Spirit, God’s spiritual power or energy was placed within us.

The policeman at the crosswalk has authority to stop your car, but not the power. But if you resist him, the one who has given him authority will step in and enforce the will with power.

Eph. 1:18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

Eph. 1:19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might

Eph. 1:20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,

Eph. 1:21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come.

Eph. 1:22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church,

Eph. 1:23 which is His body, the fulness of Him who fills all in all.

And also..

Eph. 2:6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus,

E. In the name of Jesus, and acting as His agents, and accordance with His will, believers’ have been given the ability to enact the will of God on the earth.

Mark 16:15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

Mark 16:16 “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

Mark 16:17 “And these signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues;

Mark 16:18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it shall not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. “

Peter, explaining how the lame man at the Beautiful Gate was healed by their ministry, says this - Acts 3:16 “And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.

Peter, explaining this event to the Jewish religious rulers - Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people,

Acts 4:9 if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well,

Acts 4:10 let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead-- by this name this man stands here before you in good health.

Acts 4:11 “He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the very corner stone.

Acts 4:12 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.”

Matt. 16:15 He *said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Matt. 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Matt. 16:17 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

Matt. 16:18 “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it.

Matt. 16:19 “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

We have the God-given authority to speak directly to demons, sickness and disease, fear, bind it, and cast it out.

We do not need to, nor should we, ask God to do anything about the devil. It might seem like the humble thing to do, but God expects us to do it in His name.

But now there are many things that we do need to ask God to do in Jesus name. Especially when it involves someone else’s will. You cannot invade the authority of another human being. You cannot order others around. You cannot cast sickness out of another if they want to keep that sickness.

e.g, we are to pray, Lord, send laborers, not, laborers, I send you.

John 16:23 “And in that day you will ask Me no question. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you shall ask the Father for anything, He will give it to you in My name.

John 16:24 “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full.

F. The believers’ authority does not extend to lording over other people, but refers to authority over the real enemy of God, Satan and his spiritual forces of darkness, and all that he controls.

Luke 10:17 ¶ And the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”

Luke 10:18 And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.

Luke 10:19 “Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you.

Luke 10:20 “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”

Eph. 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Eph. 6:13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

1 Pet. 5:8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

1 Pet. 5:9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.

1 John 4:4 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.

G. The believers’ authority is not without accountability, but extended to us insofar as we submit to the lordship of Jesus Christ over our lives. For it is IN CHRIST that we have authority.

James 4:7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

VII. The Reality of the God-Kind-of-Faith

Summary: The same kind of faith by which God spoke the worlds into existence has been made available to reside in the heart of every born again believer. It comes to us through continually hearing the Word of God. It is released by speaking words and by corresponding actions. This faith is believing that the words that you speak shall come to pass, and believing that we come into possession of the things we have asked for when we pray.

We will base our teaching tonight on the verses of scripture in Mark 11:22-24.

22 -And Jesus answering saith unto them, “Have faith in God.

[lit. have the faith of God] or Have the God-kind-of-faith.

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.”

24 - Therefore, I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”

Almost the entire essence of Bible faith teaching is packed into these few verses.

A. What is the God-kind-of-faith? What kind of faith does God have?

This faith is (i) believing that the words that you speak shall come to pass, and (ii) believing that we come into possession of the things we have asked for when we pray.

1. According to Jesus, God’s kind of faith is to believe that those things which you say shall come to pass.

It is to believe that every word that comes out of your mouth has the power to come into effect.

a. Now obviously it is much easier to believer the words of your mouth if the words that are coming out of your mouth are the words of the Master of the Universe.

b. If we are careless with our words and often say things flippantly that we don’t really mean, this demonstrates that we do not believe that our words have power. We then don’t have the God-kind-of-faith working for us.

c. This is not something we can turn on and off. We can’t speak forth careless idle unbelieivng words most of the time, and then decide at certain needy times to switch on our faith and say, Now I am serious and now I believe my words will come to pass.

2. Now the second definition of the God-kind-of faith is also given here by Jesus: What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”

The God kind of faith is believing that we come into possession of the things we have asked for at the time that we pray.

3. A third definition is given in Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Faith is perceiving as real fact what is not yet revealed to the physical senses.

4. Final definition of faith is a simple operational definition -

Faith is believing in and acting on the Word of God. The action part begins with the mouth, and is followed by actions which line up with what is spoken.

B. Where do we get this faith? Where does it come from?

It comes from God Himself and it is transmitted to your through the Word of God. Words are transmitters or carriers or containers of faith. It comes to us through continually hearing the Word of God

1. It comes from God.

a. Mark 11:22 (KJV) - Have the faith of God.

b. Romans 12:3 - ...as God has allotted to each the measure of faith. (We’ll come back to this one momentarily.)

c. Ephesians 2:8 - For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that (faith) not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.

d. Hebrews 12:2 (KJV) - looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith...

e. Galatians 2:20 (KJV) - I live by the faith of the Son of God... In other words, my reborn spirit isn’t just alive because Jesus believes, but because the same faith that He believed with is inside me.

2. How is faith received? How does it come to us?

a. Faith is transferred out of God’s heart into your heart by the Word of God.

b. Words are the transmitters of faith, the vehicles or containers of the faith of God.

c. Primary scripture: Romans 10:17 (KJV) - Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

C. Who can have the God-Kind-of-Faith?

Jesus said “Have it”. We can have it. God doesn’t keep it just for Himself.

Jesus said, Whosoever shall say to this mountain.

The faith of God can come to anyone who will dare to believe and take God at his Word.

D. Where does the God kind of faith reside?

1. True Bible faith is of the heart, or spirit.

a. Mark 11:23 - ...and shall not doubt in his heart but shall believe...

b. Romans 10:10 - ...with the heart man believes...

c. Proverbs 3:5 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. Trust is the Old Testament word for faith. Understanding is mental.

2. Faith is not of the head. It is not a state of mind. It produces a state of mind.

3. The contrast between head “faith” and heart faith.

a. John 20:25-29 - Thomas had to see it in order to believe it. This is head faith, and it is not faith, it is “knowing”, but it is only knowing what it can see, which cannot change anything. Needing to see something before you believe it means that there is no way for believing to change the situation, since you will only believe after things have already changed. It’s really absurd.

b. Romans 4:17-21 - Abraham believed what God had spoken, that he was the father of many nations, apart from seeing any physical evidence. His faith was able to effect change, because it was fully in operation even before the circumstances changed in the seeing realm.

4. Recall the Bible definition of faith. Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Contrast this with the world’s version: “Seeing is believing.” To believe because you have seen is not believing, it is knowing. Knowing is in the head, while believing is in the heart, the spirit of a man. To one who already has faith, the seeing is simply confirmation. You can believe so strongly that knowing comes without having seen.

5. Also faith is not strong desire. Desire is of the will and the emotions, which are in the soul of man, not the heart.

6. Your mind turns off during a crisis. Your spirit, or heart, takes over. God designed it that way. Then you find out who really has faith.

7. Faith must be in two places, in your heart and in your mouth.

a. Romans 10:9-10 - The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart...that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes, ...with the mouth he confesses... Notice that mouth came first two of the three times.

E. How is the God-kind-of-faith released?

1. Faith is released through the words of your mouth and with corresponding actions. Since words are carriers or transmitters of faith, speaking causes a release of the power of faith.

a. Mark 11:23 - ...whosoever shall say unto this mountain, ‘Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea’...

b. Luke 17:6 - ...And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’, and it would obey you.”

3. Note that, according to Jesus, faith is released by speaking the desired result.

a. It is much easier to say the natural thing, “Oh, mountain you’re so big”, “Oh, I’m so sick.” These may be “facts”, but they do not release faith. Speak the desired result, not the problem. Speak to the mountain about your God, don’t speak to God about your mountain.

b. Jesus demonstrated this speaking of the desired result prior to his teaching on faith in Mark 11:14 when He spoke to the fig tree, May no man ever eat fruit from you again! Note that after speaking His faith, Jesus simply went about His business, and His faith did the work.

c. God spoke the desired result when He created the universe. He literally said, “Light, be!”

d. When the twelve spies came back to Moses and the people of Israel after spying out the promised land, Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we shall surely overcome it.” But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us.” (Numbers 13:25-33)

e. These exemplify the principle of the faith of God who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. (Romans 4:17)

4. Faith must also be accompanied by corresponding actions.

a. James 2:14-26 - Faith if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

b. This is a continuation of a prior admonition of James to prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves, and that one should bridle his tongue. (James 1:22, 26)

c. 1 Samuel 17:44-54 - When David slew Goliath, many words were said by both parties. David spoke bold words of faith, speaking the desired outcome, saying the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands, and then ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.

d. Mark 5:24-34 - The woman with the hemorrhage (KJV, was saying) “If I just touch His garments, I shall get well.” Her corresponding actions were to boldly defy the law against public uncleanness and press through the throng and touch Him and receive healing.

e. Luke 17:11-14 - When Jesus healed the ten lepers, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And it came about that as they were going, they were cleansed.

f. Luke 5:18-20 - When the men carried in the paralytic to Jesus by lowering him down through the roof, the Bible tells us - And seeing their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.” Jesus saw their faith in action.