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July 16 2016 , Written by jeremiah monday utterrre

TEXT: Hab. 2:1-5 “I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved…Behold, his soul which is lifted is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith…

TITLE: LIVING BY FAITH

What is faith? Faith is hoping for things assured but yet unseen, having that total and implicit belief in that which you have not yet seen but you are sure it will be. Heb. 11:1-3

You may have been promised a job opportunity but there is this belief and conviction that you will surely get the job even as there are other also jostling for the same job vacancy. As a Christian, ours is different, we are expecting and hoping on God’s promises, even when they are yet to come. We have been assured and there is that belief it is ours.

The unjust are puffed up, living their lives by their own self-sufficiency, but the just live their lives by faith. Our confidence is in God Almighty. To us faith is more than a philosophy; it is rather, the very principle by which we live. Heb. 2:4

Living a life of faith in God Almighty is a savior to our very existence. Our families while faithful too shall be saved also. Acts 17:21; 1Pet. 1:5

Our faith will be tested time and again, in many ways but holding unto God, our protector, our provider will surely give us peace. Gal. 2:20

Working and persevering in God’s service, we will be vindicated because our faith in God is more than equal to any occasion. With faith, we know how to wait on God and always come out victorious! 1Pet. 1:7; Isa. 40:31

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” 1John 5:4

Our explicit faith in God gives us that edge above others in many ways; we overcome obstacles which stands in our way like towering mountains. Matt. 17:14-21

Faith does not always face facts, it never gives up either. With our faith, we know God is working out His perfect will and we can wait, suffer and endure. Faith does make things easy but it makes all things possible. Heb. 11:32-39

Now is the set time to build our faith in God, the Lion of The Tribe of Judah, since we know the times are evil. Eph. 6:16; 1Thess. 5:8; Heb. 4:12; Rev. 19:15

We should not be living with little faith; our faith in God should surpass all things. Peter wanted to meet our Lord Christ Jesus on the water, but for his little faith, fear overcame him and he almost drowned! There he was with a man he could have trusted. We should be bold and fearless. Matt. 14:28-33

There are three kinds of Faith we live with:

Limited Fear: this is controlled by circumstances and motivated by fear of failure, a lot is not achieved when we have limited faith. Matt. 13:58
Fundamental faith: This is a faith based on fundamental teachings or creed. We declare fundamental faith in truth, but it is not enough. Jesus told Martha He was the resurrection and life, she knew but she didn’t at that moment in belief nor had trust in Him. He was letting her know that He had all the power over life and death; He had to enquire of her level of faith in what she knew. We must have faith beyond what we are taught, it should be to the now living, all powerful Christ Jesus!
Unlimited Faith: we must not wait for things to happen before we show faith in God but rather believe and then see. We should not be satisfied with limited and fundamental faith only when we can have unlimited faith that pleases God and reveals His glory!

The Holy Bible was written thousands of years ago by men who had undying faith in God Almighty. They worshipped by faith like Abel, they walked by faith like Enoch, they worked by faith like Noah, and they lived by faith like Abraham. They governed by faith like Moses; they fought by faith like Joshua and by faith they conquered like Gideon in all his battles for the sake of Israel.

They subdued nations by faith like David; Daniel shut mouths of lions for sake of his faith in God Almighty. Paul suffered by faith just as Stephen was martyred for his faith in God. Acts 7: 54-60

By faith they were patient in suffering, courageous in battle, made strong out of weakness and were victorious in defeat. These old time men of God were more than conquerors by faith. It is only by faith in the all powerful Christ Jesus that we can be superior to circumstances, victorious over all the evil forces that would want to destroy us. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” Heb. 12:2

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, our title deed to eternal life in Christ. Just as a title deed is evidence of real estate or landed property, so too our faith is evidence of our eternal estate in God almighty. 2Cor. 4:18
Faith is taking God at His word and asking no questions! Heb. 11:6
Faith is the knowing that; “All things work together for good to them that love God.” Rom. 8-28

Faith doesn’t believe that all things are good or that things work well.it does believe that all things good or bad work together to them that love God.

TWO SIDES OF FAITH

Faith has two sides to it. One side has to do with intellect. It is an intellectual conviction that Christ Jesus is God. The other side has to do with will; it is the total surrender to the will of Christ Jesus as our Master. This was evident in the case of Thomas. He believed and confessed in totality, “My Lord and My God!” John 21:28

On the part of Thomas, this was volitional surrender. “My Lord”-this was volitional surrender; “My God”- was intellectual conviction. Together we have saving faith.

Saving faith is an intellectual conviction that Christ Jesus is God while volitional surrender to Him as Lord, Master of our lives. By faith, the mind trust in God, the heart responds to the love of God, the will submits to the commands of God and life obeys in service to God.

Faith goes beyond reason, it believes without understanding “why” it sings while being incarcerated. Acts 16:25

Faith glories while in tribulations- Romans 5:3

Faith chooses to suffer- Hebrews 11:25

Faith accepts all things as part of God’s will- Philippians 1:12

We are not born with faith, it comes as a result of hearing the Glorious Word of God Almighty- Romans 10:17

That is why we are commanded to preach the gospel to everyone that they may hear and believe- Romans 10:13,14

The shield of faith is a very vital part of Christian armor. This we are to put on, the complete armor of God, for the fact that Christian life is a constant battle, one of spiritual conflicts. Each piece of this armor has its specific role in our lives; the most vital is the SHIELD OF FAITH! We are unhurt when we have this, we are more than conquerors. Romans 8:37; Eph. 6:10-18

We cannot be saved without faith- John 3:26

We cannot live victoriously without faith- 1John 5:4

We cannot please God without faith- Heb. 11:6

We cannot pray without faith- James 1:6

We cannot have peace without faith- Romans 5:1

We cannot have joy without faith- 1Pet. 1:8

We must be justified by faith and not works- Gal. 2:16

We must live by faith- Gal. 2:20

We will be made righteous by faith- Romans 10:1-4

So that we can have Christ dwell in our hearts by faith- Eph. 3:17

We can only receive the Holy Spirit by faith- Gal. 3:2

Whatsoever that is bigger than the elements that can drag us down to defeat. We can have big faith by prayer and fasting. Matt. 17:20,21