From Faith to Faith – 1. What is Faith?

Please look with me to Romans 1:16-17

Rom. 1.16 (NKJV) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
Rom. 1.17 (NKJV) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

Today I am going to dive into a particular side of life that is vital to your growth in Christ and walking in the very things that are already yours.

Let me repeat, Already yours!

I believe its time for this particular set of messages to be Injected Into our community.

That we begin or continue to learn how to live the new life that has been given to us?

To finally know how to overcome and conquer fear, anxiety & worry once and forever.

To learn how to experience true Joy that is not dictated by our circumstances
To possess a Peace that is not moved by the winds and the waves of life.
And develop a faith and trust that looks at every problem with excitement and wonder.

I know you might be feeling like, “I am so far from that Justin”, But I can assure you that you are not. And today you will be one step closer to living a life that is not governed by circumstances but governed from within.

Imagine life for a moment through the eyes of Jesus. A man who didn’t worry,
who didn’t freak out when negativity hit his life and
one who was not moved by the accusations and hurts of others.

1John 4.17b (NKJV) …because as He is, so are we in this world.

1John 4.4 (NKJV) You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

I know you have heard that passage or read it a few times, but do you BELIEVE those words?

The greater one lives in you! And he is greater than the one who attempts to distract you, torment you and constantly is poking you. To move you out of the realm of faith and into the realm of emotions. That’s where he thrives.

This verse means that he (the enemy) has no power or authority over you. None. He can only do as much as we allow him to operate in our mind. He is powerless. And He knows it.
And He knows that you are a child of God and possess the greater one on the inside of you. He knows all that & is doing everything He can to keep you from BELIEVING it.

And this is why – All throughout the scriptures we, as believers, are exhorted and instructed to walk by faith.
To contend for “the faith”. (Jude 3)
To continue in “the faith”. (Col. 1:23)
To be established in “the faith”. (Col. 2:7)
To keep “the faith”. (2tim. 4:7)
Remain steadfast in “the faith”. (1Peter 5:9)

So, what is “the faith”?

Simply, its who we are and the calling that has been placed upon our life as a believer.

2Tim. 1.9 (NKJV) who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,

We therefore must stand firm in, walking in our true identity and purpose.

Col. 2.6 (NKJV) As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
Col. 2.7 (NKJV) rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
Col. 2.8 (NKJV) Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
Col. 2.9 (NKJV) For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;
Col. 2.10 (NKJV) and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

The very life, our new life, is one that has been fully restored through the blood of Jesus. We now can enjoy and rest in the finished work of Christ

Everything Jesus deserves is now granted to me and everything I deserved was received by Christ.

He paid a debt that I could never repay and fulfilled a law that I could never measure up to. I have access to the same account He has.

He exchanged His life for mine. His righteousness for my sin.

I am now called to receive Him and walk in Him. And this can only be done by faith.

2Cor. 5.7 (NKJV) For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Gal. 2.20 (NKJV) I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Gal. 3.11 (NKJV) But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.”

So what is faith?

Faith is responding. Not initiating. God is always the initiator. Always!

Faith is responding to what God has said to us and to what Jesus did for us

Faith… is a perspective you live from – living from Heaven’s view of why we’re here and where we are going.

When you walk by faith you don’t know how to look any where else. 

Faith is…
embracing Him the author and perfector of our faith,
holding on to & standing firm in our Father’s perspective.
Resting in the stunning realization of how God really sees us – such that what I have “seen” changes the way that I live.

Its a relational response that arises out of our love relationship with God, when God’s heart and His will for a situation is known;

Faith is Knowing that…
God is always good.
God always has our best in mind.
God is always setting us up to succeed.
And responding accordingly.

Faith is the readiness, the preparedness of my heart to receive what Christ has already accomplished, already paid for; a knowing in your heart.

We’re not trying to have faith. Faith is the result of knowing Him. The more I know Him and understand His compassion and His heart and His motive in sending the Son, faith is an automatic thing. It works through love. Faith doesn’t come because I have a pressing need. That’s called fear and desperation. Faith comes because I have been with Him.

Eph. 3.17 (NKJV) that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
Eph. 3.18 (NKJV) may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—
Eph. 3.19 (NKJV) to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Eph. 3.20 (NKJV) Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

Faith rejects anything less than what He proclaims about me

Prodigal son…

2Cor. 10.3 (NKJV) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
2Cor. 10.4 (NKJV) For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
2Cor. 10.5 (NKJV) casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

Satan wants to steal your confidence before God

1john 3:21

Hey 10:19

1Tim. 6.12 (NKJV) Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

This fight is a fight of faith. It’s Not a fight against the devil. He is not the issue. The fight is to BELIEVE what God said and what Jesus did for us and to respond accordingly.

And every time the devil pokes you and pushes you and bullies you He runs a risk –
• of you standing and believing what your Father said
• of pushing you into deeper intimacy with God
• of causing you to have a momentary praise break (instead of a mental break)
• of you coming out with greater revelation

Are you beginning to see how this works?

Let me close with a well known story from the Bible –

Dan. 3.9 (NLT) They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “Long live the king!
Dan. 3.10 (NLT) You issued a decree requiring all the people to bow down and worship the gold statue when they hear the sound of the musical instruments.
Dan. 3.11 (NLT) That decree also states that those who refuse to obey must be thrown into a blazing furnace.
Dan. 3.12 (NLT) But there are some Jews—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—whom you have put in charge of the province of Babylon. They have defied Your Majesty by refusing to serve your gods or to worship the gold statue you have set up.”
Dan. 3.13 (NLT) Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be brought before him. When they were brought in,
Dan. 3.14 (NLT) Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up?
Dan. 3.15 (NLT) I will give you one more chance. If you bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments, all will be well. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. What god will be able to rescue you from my power then?”
Dan. 3.16 (NLT) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you.
Dan. 3.17 (NLT) If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty.
Dan. 3.18 (NLT) But even if he doesn’t, Your Majesty can be sure that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”
Dan. 3.19 (NLT) Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual.
Dan. 3.20 (NLT) Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.
Dan. 3.21 (NLT) So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully clothed.
Dan. 3.22 (NLT) And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames leaped out and killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in!
Dan. 3.23 (NLT) So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell down into the roaring flames.
Dan. 3.24 (NLT) But suddenly, as he was watching, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?” “Yes,” they said, “we did indeed, Your Majesty.”
Dan. 3.25 (NLT) “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire. They aren’t even hurt by the flames! And the fourth looks like a divine being!”
Dan. 3.26 (NLT) Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire.
Dan. 3.27 (NLT) Then the princes, prefects, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!
Dan. 3.28 (NLT)Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.
Dan. 3.29 (NLT) Therefore, I make this decree: If any people, whatever their race or nation or language, speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they will be torn limb from limb, and their houses will be crushed into heaps of rubble. There is no other god who can rescue like this!”
Dan. 3.30 (NLT) Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to even higher positions in the province of Babylon.