Have Faith in God – Part 3 from Rick Pina on Vimeo.
RBP Ministries Faith Conference 2012
Faith Outreach Christian Life Center
Rick Pina, November 2, 2012 @ 7pm
Have Faith in God (Part 3)
Introduction: This has been a great Conference. In each Word we have Declared God’s Faithfulness. The focus has been on God and NOT on us. Let’s continue to flow in that vein tonight as we close it on out.
Our two focus scriptures:
(Mark 11:22 KJV) And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
(2 Tim 1:12 KJV) For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Our goals. To:
1. Grow your faith (through the Word).
2. Focus your faith (on God).
The topic: HAVE FAITH IN GOD!
Recap – Illustration:
- Belief Factor
- Faith Factor
- Grace Factor
- God Factor
*** You might:
- Miss the WHAT
- Miss the WHEN
*** But you must never confuse the WHO!
- You must be SURE of WHOM you believe!
Faith is all about Confidence in God:
(1 John 5:14,15 AMP) And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us. And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him.
And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him:
- The Confidence is NOT in us.
- The Confidence we have is IN HIM!
[we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us.
- Faith is about being sure and certain.
- What to ask FOR must be birthed out of our relationship with Him.
- He tells us what to ask for.
- He tells us what He wants to do in our lives.
- He tells us what to pray for.
- He tells us what to stand in faith for.
- When we pray for what He is leading us to pray for, we know He hears us!
And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him.
- We have it NOW!
- Faith is NOW!
- We receive it NOW!
- We take possession in our hearts before we see it in our hands.
Condemnation strips you of your confidence:
1 John 3:20-22 KJV
For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
(1 John 3:21,22 AMP) And, beloved, if our consciences (our hearts) do not accuse us [if they do not make us feel guilty and condemn us], we have confidence (complete assurance and boldness) before God, And we receive from Him whatever we ask, because we [watchfully] obey His orders [observe His suggestions and injunctions, follow His plan for us] and[habitually] practice what is pleasing to Him.
And, beloved, if our consciences (our hearts) do not accuse us [if they do not make us feel guilty and condemn us], we have confidence (complete assurance and boldness) before God
- The enemy wants us to wallow in Condemnation!
- When you feel condemned, you run FROM God.
- When you get convicted of righteousness, you run TO God.
- John says, “If you don’t feel condemned, then you will have confidence.”
- Faith is all about confidence in God!
- Have FAITH IN GOD!
And we receive from Him whatever we ask
- We receive whatever we ask when we stand in confidence in God.
- NOT Confidence in US.
- But Confidence in HIM.
- Have FAITH IN GOD!
You must understand 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.
Illustration:
- 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.
*** That 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.
- When we have confidence we will keep our faith switch in the ON position.
- We have FAITH IN GOD!
- 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)
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
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.
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!
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!
- It is NOT ABOUT YOU.
- But you simply BELIEVE and RECEIVE.
- Then it is 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)
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.
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 was spoken!
- 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!
Your Confidence must be in God and NOT YOU!
- Testimony of Isabella being selected for AECP.
- Testimony of Isabella’s test.
- My confidence was not in Isabella.
- My confidence was in God.
- Have FAITH IN GOD!
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:
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.
- He could have factored IN what God had factored OUT.
- But factoring IN what God has factored OUT leads to a faith-failure.
- But when your faith is in HIM, HE WILL NOT FAIL!
- His stuff was not working.
- Her stuff had never worked.
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) = VICTORY!
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?
