My Faith in God's Power

Ephesians 2:10  (NLT)

10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

God does not repair us.  He transforms us into something new.   God has the authority and power to change lives.

Matthew 10:1 N(NLT)

10 Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness.  

Acts 1:8 (NLT)

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The Church needs to rise up in our faith in God's power.  

Ephesians 1:17-20 (NLT)

17 asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom[and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. 

18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

You can only know God by His power.  You have the call of God upon your life.  Your inheritance is influence.  

John 14:12-14  (NLT)

12 “I (Jesus) tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 

13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 

14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!

In order to be the Church, we must be like Jesus!

Acts 10:38 (NLT)

38 And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

Don't worry about results.  

Luke 18:35-43  (NLT)

35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road. 

36 When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening. 

37 They told him that Jesus the Nazarene was going by. 

38 So he began shouting, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

39 “Be quiet!” the people in front yelled at him.

But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

40 When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him. As the man came near, Jesus asked him, 

41 “What do you want me to do for you?”

“Lord,” he said, “I want to see!”

42 And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.” 

43 Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too.

Like the beggar.  We must cry out for help.  Jesus is attracted to our cries.   Jesus made him come to the front.   

1.  We must be passionate to receive from God.  

Jeremiah 29:13 (NASB)

13 You will seek Me (God) and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

2.  We must be persistent.  

Luke 18:1-8  (NLT)

18 One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. 

2 “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. 

3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ 

4 The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, 

5 but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”

6 Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. 

7 Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 

8 I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man[Jesus] returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”

3. We must be precise.  We must say what we want.  

James 4:2 (NLT)

...you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.

4. We must be positive.  

Mark 11:24  (ESV)

24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

5.  We must be full of praise.  

Philippians 4:6  (NLT)

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Thank Him in advance for doing it.  If Jesus wants us to wear Him out.  I will wear Him out.  

Chris Hodges, Church of the Highlands
https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/power

When Faith Doesn't Make Sense

Isaiah 56:7 (NKJV) ...For My (God's) house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”

Lord, make our places of worship Houses of Prayer which manifest your presence. 

When our prayers go up, Lord, send your  miracles down.  

Acts 4:30 (TLB)

and send your healing power, and may miracles and wonders be done by the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

Lord, we trust everything you do.  

Here' a story about a man who trusted in God, and refused to doubt Him. 

Mark 5:35-43 The Message (MSG)

35 While he, Jesus, was still talking, some people came from the leader’s house (Jarius) and told him, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher any more?”

36 Jesus overheard what they were talking about and said to the leader, 

“Don’t listen to them; just trust me.”

If we want a miracle, we must tune out doubt and unbelief, and tune in the faithfulness of our God.  

37-40 He (Jesus) permitted no one to go in with him except Peter, James, and John. 

They entered the leader’s house and pushed their way through the gossips looking for a story and neighbors bringing in casseroles. 

Jesus was abrupt: “Why all this busybody grief and gossip? This child isn’t dead; she’s sleeping.” 

Provoked to sarcasm, they told him he didn’t know what he was talking about.

To experience a miracle, we must remove people of doubt and unbelief, and...

surround ourselves with people who will believe with us for a miracle.  

Faith prepares for Jesus to move and for people to see more clearly.  

40-43 But when he (Jesus) had sent them all out, he took the child’s father and mother, along with his companions, and entered the child’s room. 

He clasped the girl’s hand and said, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, get up.” 

At that, she was up and walking around!

This girl was twelve years of age.

 They, of course, were all beside themselves with joy. 

Your manifest presence that's what we need, Lord.  

Your faith in Him that's what God's needs to produce your miracle. 

Your faith in God produces God's miracles.  

Faith doesn't make sense, but it does create miracles.  

Some things that God does and says are so personal.  

You need to keep it between you and God.  

He (Jesus) gave them strict orders that no one was to know what had taken place in that room. 

Brandon Isbell, Church of the Highlands

Faith, Hope, and Love

When everything else walks out, faith, hope, and love walks in.

1 Corinthians 13:13 (NLT)

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

This verse is taken from a chapter on love as well as a chapter on life. 

1 Corinthians 13:12-13 (MSG)

12 We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!

13 But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.

This letter was written to Corinth from Paul.  Corinth was known for polishing metals to make mirrors in the ancient world.   

When Faith, Hope, and Love are used to view our circumstances, it clears everything up like that polish on those ancient mirrors.

Faith, Hope, and Love do not have an expiration date.  They are permanent.  You can build your life upon these three.

Grab hold of these three to help you handle your life because they will last.  Let's talk about Faith today.

Hebrews 11:1 (NET Bible)

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see.

Faith is mentioned 355 times in the Bible.   

1.  Faith is choosing to believe that God will do what He says that He will do.

  

2.  Faith is believing when we do not yet see it. 

2 Corinthians 5:7 (NET Bible)

7 for we live by faith, not by sight.

You can put your life into the hands of a God you cannot see because He is there.  

3. Faith is obeying even when we don't understand it.  

Don't let disobedient people discourage you.  

4.  Faith is worshiping even when you don't feel like it.  We live by revelation and not by reason. 

5.  Faith is giving even when we don't have it yet.

We can give things like time, love, and friendliness. 

Acts 20:35 (NET Bible)

 ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

7. Faith is trusting even when it hurts.  

Hebrews 11:39-40  (NET Bible)

39 And these all were commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised. 

40 For God had provided something better for us, so that they would be made perfect together with us.

God is going to work good in our lives no matter what happens. 

Romans 8:28 (NET Bible)

28 And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

Dino Rizzo, Church of the Highlands
https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/faith-is

Safe Living and Small Thinking?

We need a greater work in us of the Holy Spirit to step into what we can't presently imagine.

Ephesians 3:20-21 Amplified Bible (AMP)

20 Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.

God does not want us to be stuck where we are.  God has called His people to go camping with Him until He gets us to where He promised.  We don't stay in the same place. 

Numbers 9:22 (NKJV)

22 Whether it was two days, a month, or a year that the cloud remained above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would remain encamped and not journey; but when it was taken up, they would journey.

Galatians 6:16 (NKJV)

 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

In Galatians 6:16, those who obey God are referred to the Israel of God.  That's us!  When God's presence, moves we are to move.

We often get stuck between God's promise and the fulfillment of it.  God's timing is not like ours. 

Don't get stuck in a campsite that God has not called you to.  We are for those who are not with us yet.

  

1. Move with God's presence in fellowship with His people. 

When we come together, God is in our midst.  There is protection in His house.  We've got to stay connected. 

Deuteronomy 25:17-18 (NKJV)

17 “Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of Egypt, 18 how he met you on the way and attacked your rear ranks, all the stragglers at your rear, when you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God.

In the Bible, everywhere there was a pouring out of the Holy Spirit there is a crowd. Expect to be attacked as God leads you.

2. Keep moving toward your full potential.  

1 Corinthians 2:9  (NKJV)

9 But as it is written:

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man

The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

When you're facing an enemy that you haven't defeated yet, you must press forward.  

2 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV)

13 We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you.

It is God who sets the boundaries.  Not our past, education, or abilities.  What capacity of your is untapped?

3. Refuse to stay behind.  

What has pinned you down to safe living and small thinking?  Tie a declaration with what is going on inside of you.

Define what God's has called you to be.  See something in your future that pulls you out of your present circumstances and declare it.  

Write down you declarations.  Put words to your substance of faith.  Then, turn them into a declaration.  

Dave Patterson, Father's Hose Church
https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/first-wednesday