Have Faith in God (Part 3)

Yesterday I shared the second part of a three part message entitled, “Have Faith in God.”  Here is the final message.

In Christ we experience THE GREAT EXCHANGE:

(2 Cor 5:21 KJV)  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

• Jesus was perfect (never knew sin)

• We were sinners (unquestionably guilty)

• Jesus took our place and took our sin upon Himself.

• So that we could take His place and take His righteousness upon us.

*** This is the GREAT EXCHANGE ****

• We can have what we pray for, not because we are righteous, but because Jesus made us righteous.

• If our heart does not condemn us, then we have confidence (1 John 3:20).

• When we have confidence we will keep our faith switch in the ON position.

• We have FAITH IN GOD!

We receive the GIFT of Righteousness when we make Jesus our Lord (Rom 5:17):

• We are not righteous because of what we do.

• We are righteous because of what Jesus did.

• We don’t go to heaven because of what we do.

• We go to heaven because of what Jesus did.

• Our righteousness is IN HIM, so our FAITH IS IN HIM!

When you know you are declared righteous you can believe for the Supernatural:  Example:  Abraham

Abraham was righteous because of what He believed:

(Romans 4:2-5 KJV)

(v.2) For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

(v.3) For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

• Abraham was NOT righteous because of what He did (works).

• Abraham was righteous because of what He believed (faith).

• This put the emphasis on God and not Him.

• Abraham’s faith had to be in God.

(v.4) Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

• You can either EARN it by your OWN WORKS.

• Or you can RECEIVE it BY GRACE because of HIS WORKS!

(v.5) But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

• If you know YOU DON’T WORK FOR IT, you know it’s NOT ABOUT YOU!

• Your part is to BELIEVE it, RECEIVE what God has given you by Grace, and PURSUE it by FAITH!

• When you live this way your life becomes all about God and what He wants to do in your life.

• This keeps on the emphasis on God and not you!

(Romans 4:17-21 KJV)

(v.17)  (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

• Abraham’s faith had to be in God, because his time of childbearing had come and gone.

• In the natural, it was too late.

• But WAIT!  Abraham had a promise.

(v.18) Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

• Abraham’s faith was not in Himself.

• Abraham’s faith was in what God had promised!

• Supernatural HOPE exceeds natural hope.

• When all HUMAN HOPE IS GONE, God still can!

• Have FAITH IN GOD!

(Mark 10:27 KJV)  And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

• With men all sorts of things are IMPOSSIBLE.

• With God ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!

• Have FAITH IN GOD!

(v.19) And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb:

(v.20) He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

• He staggered NOT, because he considered NOT.

• He could have considered the impossibility of the situation, but he chose not to!

• He could have factored IN what God had factored OUT.

• But factoring IN what God has factored OUT leads to a faith-failure.

• Keep your faith in God, because God WILL NOT FAIL!

• From the waist down Abraham’s stuff was not working.  He was 100 years old and they did not have Viagra back then.

• Sarah’s stuff had never worked.  She could not have babies at 17, much less at 90.

Faith in MAN equation:  Abraham (too old) + Sarah (barren all her life) = No way in the world!

Faith in GOD equation:  Abraham (too old) + Sarah (barren all her life) + God (who can do all things) = ISAAC!

(v.21) And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

• Abraham was fully convinced of God’s ability, not his own.

• Abraham’s confidence was in God.

• Abraham had FAITH IN GOD!

• Do you?

Before I close I want to share the link to the video of this message.  If you have the time, watch the message, it will bless you.  Here is the link:

Have Faith in God – Part 3 from Rick Pina on Vimeo.

Closing Confession:  Father, the more I learn about Your amazing and undeserved grace, the more I shift the focus of my life and of my faith from me to You.  I look at what You did with the Apostle Paul, a man who was fighting against Your people and who was on the wrong side of Your plan, and I get encouraged.  You loved him in spite of the error of his ways and You used him mightily, in spite of his past.  You did not allow his past to disqualify him from Your purpose and I know You will do the same for me.  I also look at Abraham and his amazing story.  Abraham did nothing for You to visit him, to pronounce a blessing over him, nor for You to bless him with his promised child.  If anything, Abraham made mistakes that would have humanly disqualified him from the promise.  But just like You called him by grace, you chose to bless him by grace, and not because he was perfect.  Abraham did not work for the blessing.  All he did was BELIEVE for it and it was accounted to him for righteousness.  Even when he was about 100 years old, and his physical body was no longer functioning, You blessed him to produce a child.  And even when Sarah was 90 years old and her womb had never worked, You blessed her to conceive.  You did it by grace, they received it by faith, and the rest is history.  They refused to put a NO where You had put a YES by Your grace and I will do the same.  With men many things are impossible, but with You ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE for us who believe.  I am a believer and not a doubter.  I walk by faith and not by fear.  I receive all You want to do in, with and through me.  I live by faith and my faith is rooted and grounded in You!  I have faith in God!  2014 shall be the best year of my life.  I declare this by faith.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

This is Today’s Word!  Apply it and Prosper.