Overcoming Faith

00:00 Amen. Let's do the confessions together. I believe in the almighty God our father and creator. I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ God and my savior. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. He suffered, died, and rose again. He ascended and shall not I believe in God the Holy Spirit who is worshipped and my guide. I believe in holy fellowship, faithful giving, and service to God in this church. I believe the Holy Bible is the perfect word of God. I am what it says I am. I have what it says I have. And I can do what it says I can do. Today as I learn the word of God here in my spiritual family, I am blessed, healed, and anointed for a holy and victorious living. I will never again be the same in Jesus name. The Lord bless us. Please be seated. What a lovely weather this morning.

01:03 And as we look to the Lord for learning on the faith that he has commanded for us to have. And as we look at the scriptures and the importance of walking in faith, I want to carry on from where we started off last Sunday as we looked at how God has called all of us to live by faith and that faith is an important ingredient, a very important uh foundation on which we must build our worship, our prayer, our conversations with God, etc. Now, I want to continue on that line because >> [snorts] >> one of the biggest examples of faith the Holy Bible takes and uh really today's entire sermon uh is going to be from the book of Hebrews chapter 11 verse 8 to 19. It's a description of the life of Abraham and the Bible begins to say by faith Abraham. People call me Pastor Johnson. >> [clears throat] >> Uh

02:03 some of you here called Doctor your full name or Professor your full name. Uh high court judges, they're called Justice so-and-so. Abraham is called by faith Abraham. >> [snorts] >> In other words, he is who he is by faith. It became his personality. It became his identity. By faith became the prefix of his life. By faith Abraham. From verse 18 verse 8 to verse 19 are scriptures devoted to explaining the life of Abraham explained in the New Testament from the understanding of the scriptures from the Old Testament. Abraham's life happened in the Old Testament, but it is explained in the New Testament in that particular passage. And it's really from there I want to I want to sort of summarize what God put in my heart to learn with you today. So, the scripture is telling us that Abraham was called by God, and he became sort of to say father of faith, okay?

03:06 Now, that that's just a lingo is just a language, father of faith. But, who was Abraham? Now, this is mythology. This is sort of history that may be accurate, not sure. But, they say Abraham's father father's name was Terah. Terah. Terah was No, he's not Hindi speaking, but he was Terah. And Terah was a man who was an idol builder, idol maker. He was a craftsman. He had an idol shop. Somebody's building a house, they make a puja room, they contact Terah and ask him to make whatever kind of an idol of of whatever features of whatever material. So, Abraham's father Terah, was a craftsman who used to who devoted his life for that and wouldn't do anything else. And Abraham was growing up in those lines. He He He took that trade, you know, whatever [snorts] his dad did and whatever business they did in the Ur

04:07 of Chaldeans. And today, Iran-Iraq is a very famous region, right? [snorts] Now, Abraham was called from that region. It's called Ur of Chaldeans. Now, they were not Tamilians, but it's called Ur of Chaldeans. But, interestingly, the Bible tells us that God appeared to Abraham. God [clears throat] appeared to Abraham and called him. God appeared to Abraham and set him apart. God appeared to him and said, "I am the almighty God." And he was 75 years of age when God appeared to him. >> [clears throat] >> Hallelujah. I have no idea why God waited so long. But, he was 75 years of age. God appeared to him and said, "Abraham, I am the almighty living God." Now, you can imagine the way he got shocked because his understanding of gods, his understanding of what needs to be worshipped is about what his father had taught him about how they create gods, how they create idols. Now, that's

05:11 his mental framework. And all of a sudden, he hears and sees the almighty God who tells him, "I am the almighty God." And you find that in the book of Genesis chapter 12, 13 onwards, where God is telling you, "I am the almighty God." The guy gets a shock, and he decides to shut the shop, and he says, "All right, I'm going to follow after God. I want to follow after this almighty which I cannot make. The one that I saw, he's bigger than what my mind can handle. He's bigger than what religion can handle. He's That's why he's called the father of faith. He's not called a father of a religion. He's called the father of faith. Why? Because he really didn't start a religion in that sense. He began to catch an understanding of the almighty God that he's bigger than religion, that God is bigger than songs, that God is bigger than an experience, that God is bigger than philosophy, that God is bigger than the idol he used to make. God is almighty. He's beyond what I can

06:14 comprehend, but he's good. I can relate with him. >> [applause] >> I can connect with him. Hallelujah. And God said to this Abraham who who was living by the way Ur Ur the minute you hear Ur, you know, you get your Ur, you know. Every name Ur. So, we we kind of we kind of think of a village, we think of hometown, but Ur of Chaldeans was a place which was a busy city and a happening place. And God tells him, "I am the almighty God. Follow me to a land I will show you." Leave [clears throat] your father's house. Leave everything. Get out of this place to a land I will show you. I mean, God is not even giving the destination. He's only giving the direction. Sometimes we feel that when you walk in faith, you don't know where you don't know the exact place where he's taking you, but you kind of have a direction where he's taking you. Hallelujah. He He kind of knew It's like It's like

07:17 resigning your job without getting another appointment letter. It's like giving up without It's like trying to get off the plane before it's landed. I mean, you you can't be too sure what's going to happen, but the Bible says in the book of Genesis chapter 15, I think in verse number six and in Romans chapter four, I think it's verse number nine, the Bible says, "Abraham believed God, and God counted it as righteousness. >> [laughter] >> He He believed God. Believe Faith is more than just agreement. Faith is more than just mental consent. Faith is more than just some sort of a intellectual uh okay. Okay, I agree. No, no, no, that's not faith. That may be a starting of faith. Faith is a emotional commitment to an intellectual understanding where you say it's not just that I know it. My life will be built on that.

08:20 Abraham [laughter] immediately obeyed. Somebody shout obeyed. The proof of faith is not prayer. The proof of faith is not coming to church. All of those things are good evidences, but the proof of faith is obedience. When you obey, it is proof it's because you love God, you believe God. Amen. Abraham, you can imagine You know, actually the book of Hebrews is written also because during the times of persecution uh the Romans were persecuting the Christians too much and there were a lot of Hebrews or uh Jewish people who had turned to Christ who were going through double torture. One was Jewish people were persecuting them, the other was Romans were persecuting them. And they were sort of becoming finicky, they were sort of becoming frustrated. They were [snorts] getting confused. Shall we go back into safer circumstances? Shall we give up our faith in God and just move

09:22 backward into community bonds? At that time, the Hebrew writer is bringing out the chapters of faith to say, "Don't turn back from where you came. Keep looking forward. Look at our father Abraham. He went through everything that people can go through, but they never turned back because they knew what they are fighting for is worth their life. They knew moving forward is the best thing to do. And that's the context also which is a part of what we are learning today. And last Sunday we we understood that, you know, faith in faith is different from faith in God. Many people just develop faith, it's called self-confidence and that's important. Self-confidence is very important. Please have it. Self-confidence is very important, but some people in Bangalore have too much self-confidence in the wrong direction. The the confidence in which they drive in the wrong direction on the road, I don't know, I mean,

10:26 >> [snorts] >> some people have too much confidence in the wrong direction. Now, that's that's a bad idea, but self-confidence is a good thing. You should never give up your self-confidence. You know, having confidence in God is never a problem for self-confidence. Self-confidence is good. You must develop your self-confidence. But confidence in God is called faith. Faith in faith is different. You know, if you believe you will attract all good things, you know, I'll leave it at that. >> [clears throat] >> So many people believe in good things and nothing happens, right? But but that's just procrastination, that's just daydreaming. But faith in God is more than scientific, it's it's more than logic. It is faith in somebody who can do anything and everything. Hallelujah. Faith in God has a way of waiting for his instructions. Last Sunday I dealt with logos and rhema, and I want to repeat that a little because it's going to be important. Logos is

11:29 the written word of God and we found in Romans chapter 10 that the written word of God is called logos but the spoken the Holy Spirit inspired word is called rhema and it is rhema the spoken word of God that builds faith in us. The written word of God there are over 6,000 promises of God in the Holy Bible. It's general for everybody. But it becomes a specific when God speaks it to you. That's called rhema. Hallelujah. It is specific for you and that builds your faith. Constitution of India is for everybody. It applies to everybody but when the court orders that constitutional law in your favor it becomes a personal authority and power which nobody in this jurisdiction can question. When God speaks it to you personally, it builds your faith.

12:31 Logos is like uh >> [clears throat] >> you go to the shop and you and you find rice grains? Rice grains? Yeah. Rice grain a grain of rice in its uncooked format? You find noodles and noodles in the packet two minute noodles? Okay. Both rice and noodles only this section understood I think. Written word of God is like that rice grain. It's like the uncooked noodles. It's It's It's everybody's but you can't eat it. It'll spoil. It'll create difficulty. I mean you should believe it. It is good. It is important. Have it for yourself. But if it should really nourish you cook it. That's called rhema. When the word of God is cooked the spirit, man, it it builds faith inside you.

13:32 >> [applause] >> It it it it does something inside you. Every example and allegory has limitations, so don't push it beyond that. Logos is the potential of the word of God. Rhema is the applied personal fulfillment of that potential. And now the Bible is saying, "How do you overcome the world?" Go to 1 John chapter 5. Let's read together verse 4. For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our Let's read again. For everyone born You know, when you read born of God, just understand it as born again of God. Okay? Born of God means born again of God. You were born a human first time, and the second time again you are born of God, which means you are born again in Christ. Okay, so the scripture basically says, "For everyone born again in Christ overcomes the world." That's the potential. That's the potential.

14:36 That's the logos. It's available to everybody. And this is the personal victory, which actually overcomes on a personal level the rhema, the faith that is built in you. That's how you actually physically make personal the victory that God has for your personal life. Logos is the awareness. Faith is the rhema that actually makes it personal. Faith This faith is not fighting for victory. It's fighting from the victory you already have. You're already victorious in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah. And you you don't have to be afraid now. You're not fighting for victory. You're fighting from the victory God has already given you. You know you're victorious in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah. You just You're just making sure that you're staying protected. You You don't have to fight fever. Nobody here has to fight fever. You just

15:40 have to fight falling sick. You don't have to fight to be healthy. Nobody has to fight to be healthy. You're already healthy. You just have to fight with disciplines to stay healthy. Amen. God has already given you victory. You're not fighting and crying for some victory that you don't have. No, no, no. It's already given inside you. Now you're fighting to make sure you don't lose that victory. You retain it. You keep it. >> [applause] >> Hallelujah. On the borders of India, you will find the BSF people standing, Border Security Force. They are standing there. They are having guns loaded and they are protecting the Indian territory. But they are not worried because they are not fighting for victory. They're already victorious. It's theirs.

16:43 They're just fighting to make sure they don't lose the victory. When the scripture he's talking about overcoming, that's the picture. You're not a loser. You're already a winner because Christ in you is the hope of glory. >> [applause] >> Now you just have to make sure you don't allow your faith to get depleted. You just have to fight it out in your disciplines, in your prayer, in your worship. You just have to fight it out to make sure you remain victorious, which God has already given to you. Am I helping anybody here? Hallelujah. When sicknesses challenge you, when financial challenges challenge you, when emotional difficulties challenge you, when friends and persecution challenges you, you're you're not fighting for victory. God has already given you the victory. It's inside of you. You have that potential. Now you're fighting to make sure you don't lose the victory God has already given you. Read that scripture again in that perspective which God has given us. For everyone born of God overcomes

17:48 the world. This is the victory that has even our In other words, traditions do not overcome the world. Religion does not overcome the world. But the faith inside you, boy. Hallelujah. Everybody doesn't have the same amount of money. Everybody doesn't have the same amount of time in a certain sense. Everybody does not have the same starting point in life. Everybody does not have the same amount of resources. Everybody does not have the same talents and skills. Everybody doesn't have the same intellectual level and capacity. It's a fact. Everybody doesn't have the same level of discernment. That's the truth. But everybody can have the faith. And God is saying even if you lack intelligence, even if you lack ability, even if you lack other things, your faith will overcome the world. You can build your faith. >> [applause] >> It is limitless. Money may have limitations, friendships

18:50 may have limitations. There may be limitations because of your family, traditions, background, but your faith has no limitations. And God is saying your faith, build on it. Amen. God's children, you have no excuse. You can build in the name of Jesus. If God helped you to pass your 10th standard, he'll help you to pass your competitive exams. If God helped you to get married, he'll help you to stay married. Do the same thing. God is able. God is able. That faith inside you. And Abraham's life teaches just that. Abraham's life is teaching you that the weapons of the world are visible. The weapons of the world that come against you are visible. They are visible weapons. That the report card, the balance sheets, it's the closed doors, it's the enmity. But you don't walk by sight, you walk by faith. The world keeps showing you why it's difficult, but the Bible says, you're

19:53 not walking by those paradigms. You're walking by a higher reality. A God who told you, "Come out from among them and be a separate says the Lord. And I'll be your God and you will be my people." It's that covenant of grace on which you're walking. And therefore, don't seek to doubt. Seek to build your faith. Don't keep keep scratching on things and listening to things and observing things that weaken your faith. It's good to look at reality. And I'll come to that through the life of Abraham, but you must draw your strength from the reality of who God is. Hallelujah. Faith obeys God. Hebrews 11:8 starts about Abraham. Let's read together. "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he would receive as a inheritance. And he went out not knowing Hallelujah. I'm not talking about guys who go in the

20:55 evening to Brigade Road not knowing where they are going, why they are going. Chuma. No, Abraham was not taking a walk like that. He was taking a walk with no return policy. Not coming back. I've given up my trade. I've given up my influences. I've given up my traditions. I've given up my patterns of worship. Back in those days, crossing a river was considered a curse, and such people were called Hebrews. That's how Abraham got the name Hebrew. When God called him, God said, "Cross the river." He crossed. He crossed man- When you walk with God, sometimes you have to cross man-made rules. And they call you cursed. They call you a Hebrew. But soon it becomes a word of blessings. Hallelujah. You know, back 2,000 years ago, the cross was a sign of curse, because it was a way of punishing people by the Romans. The Romans, if they found someone worthy of capital punishment, they would hang that person on a cross. So, the

21:59 cross was considered a sign of curse. If If you saw a cross somewhere, you don't want to look at that. It's the most cursed thing. The moment Jesus went on it, it became the biggest sign of blessings. You know, you know, people may start calling you a Hebrew. They may start calling you a curse, because you're walking by a higher calling, a higher grace. But soon they'll know that's the path of blessing. That's the path of victory. Why? Because this is the faith that has overcome the world. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Faith is not that warm feeling and that inspiration you get inside. Faith is something that makes you obey. Faith is not that nice feeling that you have. Faith may give you a nice feeling, but real faith makes you obey what God said. Mhm. God said, "I'll show you the land. I'm

23:00 giving you a promise. I'm giving you a direction, but I'm not giving you a destination. And Abraham without hesitation, without destination, obeyed God. Many of us, we are seeking God. Actually, what are we seeking? God, are you saying yes to what I like? That is what many are seeking. Lord, speak. Lord, speak. Lord, just say their heart what they're actually saying is say yes to what I'm asking, Lord. And and many times we don't hear God, we hear ourselves, our own echo chambers. Our prayer rooms are basically talking to ourselves. Abraham, when he sought God, he was not seeking to hear a yes for what he liked. He was seeking to really hear what God likes. That's faith. Believing God for what you want may be a part of faith, but believing God for what he wants is greater [clears throat] faith.

24:03 >> [applause] >> Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:3, all talk about Abraham believed God and it was counted for him for Why was his faith counted for righteousness? Because this fellow, many things he did was not righteous. I can't elaborate today, I don't have time. Many things he did are things that you and I cannot do. We'll go to jail. They're crime. It's criminal. So, looking at his life, God can't call him righteous. So, God looked at his faith and said, this is righteousness. I call you righteous. Once God calls righteous, it is righteous. Hallelujah. Amen. What is your name? How do you know that is your name? Once parents give you one name, that is who you are. Then you have to learn to like it. If parents have so much power on us, God

25:09 who created us, once he says something, that is it. >> [applause] >> God looked at this fellow's faith and said, "You are righteous." Sarah would have said, "You are a You are a I don't know." [laughter] God said, "I believe it." Hallelujah. When you believe in what God talks about you, your identity changes, your attitude changes, you begin to live righteous, you begin to think righteous. Why? He called you righteous. >> [applause] >> God looked at his faith and said, "Boy, you are righteous." Okay, Lord, done. But after that also he did lot of things, no, pastor? But God didn't change the name. God maintained him as righteous. He was a righteous Abraham who did unrighteous things occasionally, but he was righteous. Hallelujah. I went into one house I had gone for

26:10 visiting and I heard barking. I I just I knew it was some children barking. They were trying to scare me. Pastor came, let's scare the pastor. The kids were so excited and and they were barking to make me scared. I giggled and the parents called out, "Come, come, come, pastor is calling." They are not dogs. They are not puppies. They were kids who barked. >> [laughter] >> Abraham was righteous who did unrighteous things, but he was righteous. He was righteous. You are righteous because God calls you righteous. Hallelujah. It's not like you want to be unrighteous, but sometimes accidentally you do unrighteous, but suddenly you repent and you come back saying, "No, I won't go back there, God." And you come back to God. God says, "You're righteous. I call you righteous. I call you righteous." >> [applause]

27:12 >> Hallelujah. Seventh standard, eighth standard, new year is going to start. Children buy notebooks, textbooks. They buy classwork book, homework book on 1 to 100 page note. They write classwork. On another they write Hindi homework. On another one they write English classwork. It is their book. Once they call it, that is what it is. You belong to God. You are the workmanship of God. Once God calls you righteous, you are righteous. Hallelujah. Don't keep looking into the mirror. You'll be confused. Look into the word of God. You will be assured. You know you are washed by the blood of Jesus. And God called him righteous. Oh, I want to go on that. So many things on that. God calls you righteous. God calls you righteous. Hallelujah. And because God calls you righteous, you have an obligation to be righteous. Because you don't want to live by the call of the world. You want to live by

28:14 the call of God. The world calls you unrighteous. Satan calls you unrighteous. Don't be obliged to fulfill that. God calls you righteous. Be obliged to fulfill that. Amen. I want to show you four things from one scripture of the life of Abraham. Go to Romans chapter 4, verse 20 and 21. Let's read. No unbelief made him waiver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that what God was able to do Oh, let's read that one more time. Four things from there I want to point out. No unbelief >> [snorts] >> made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith and he gave glory to God fully convinced that God was able to do what God has brought Let's read that one more time. One more

29:16 time. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God fully convinced that God was able to do what he had I want to tell you in the name of Jesus those three verses are going to define our life this month by the power of God. No unbelief is going to make you waver, but you're going to grow strong in your faith as you give glory to God fully convinced that God is able that God is able that God is able that God is able that God is able that God is able. Hallelujah. Number one, it refused to waver. Abraham's faith refused to be waver means shake like you know olden days we used to have a clock with a pendulum. The pendulum used to oscillate.

30:19 As the two arms of the clock would rotate at its own speed this pendulum left right left right left right. That's called waver. Belief unbelief belief unbelief belief unbelief belief unbelief belief unbelief. Some people believe Sunday unbelief Monday through Saturday. Believe Sunday. Unbelief other days. >> [laughter] >> Faith YouTube video, full faith. Unbelief videos, confusion. Abraham's faith, one. He stopped wavering with unbelief. Does it mean that he never had moments of doubt? Of course he had. See, this is the thing. Please don't create a mythology that Abraham was perfect. Name was perfect. Man was not perfect. He had his own doubts. The Bible says one day In fact, last week I read Abraham's life one more time from

31:22 Genesis 11 12 all the way till 25. I wanted to understand it from See, the problem with us Pentecostals, we already know this man more than what he knows about himself. So, you know, I I wanted to get a fresh perspective on the guy. >> [clears throat] >> And I was shocked to find one day God told him, "I'm going to bless you with a child." The Bible says >> [laughter] >> he laughed and fell down before God. God is talking. And the guy is laughing. This is the answer for many who say, "In a church, how can people laugh when you're preaching the word of God?" We follow Abraham. Okay, that was on a lighter note, but on a >> [laughter] >> on a On a serious note, on a serious note, Abraham laughed and the Bible says he laughed and fell down laughing. Now, sometimes you laugh so much you sit down. The guy didn't have a place to sit, so he fell down. I mean, God is saying, "I'm going to

32:25 bless you with a child. You're going to have a child." Abraham says, "God, me?" >> [laughter] >> I'm going to be 100 years old. All dead. The systems are dead. Wife is 90 years old. >> [laughter] >> How she He couldn't He fell down laughing. God picked him up and said, "You will have." "Okay, God. I believe you, God. I believe you, God." It's not that he didn't have moments of confusion. It's there in the scripture. Go and read. It's there. He had moments of doubt, but the pendulum didn't stay there. It came back to faith. Hallelujah. He didn't waver in his faith. He kept going back. He kept Asking God questions is not wrong. >> [snorts] >> But asking God questions on his character is wrong. God, how will this happen? God, how are you going to do it? That's not a problem. But asking God, "Can you do it? Are you able to do?"

33:28 God says, "Look at Abraham." Hallelujah. >> [laughter] >> He believed that I am able. He didn't know how I will do it, but he knew I can do it. There is a difference between asking God, "How?" and asking God, "Can you?" That question needs to be settled. Yes, God can. Yes, God can. Yes, God can. Yes, God can. What is your problem? God can answer it. What is your sickness? God can heal it. What is your bondage? God can deliver. What is your pain? God can heal. What is it? God can. Somebody shout, "God can." Yes, God can. Yes, God can. Yes, God can. This morning some hallelujahs are reaching the throne room of heaven saying, "I know [screaming] you can. Nothing is impossible with you. With a word you created the heavens and the earth. You can. [screaming] Oh God, you can. You can. You can. My marriage, you can. My job, you can. I

34:35 don't know how, but you can. My country, you can. My society, you can. My personal honor, you can. My life, you can. There is nothing you cannot. You are able. You are able. Somebody shout, "Yes, you can." [screaming] Our God can. Our God can. Our God can. But will you do it? Is the question Abraham was asking. He didn't ask the question, "Can you do it?" He knew yes, God can. But will you do it? Do you really plan to do it? How do you plan to do it? He had doubt. Staggered. The actual Greek word that is staggered not. Staggered is Not a nice [snorts] example, but I'll tell you. You know, some people when they get fully drunk, instead of walking along the road, they

35:37 walk across the road. And that's called staggering. Staggered. Abraham didn't stagger in faith. He walked like a army guy. Because he knew God can. I don't know where I'm going. Don't know. Abraham, where are you going? Don't know. Packing your bags, where? Don't know. Who told? God told. Told go there, I'm going there. Where is there? Don't know. But he is greater than the there, so following him is worth it. >> [applause] >> He is greater than every reward I can get on the earth. Man. Number one, he refused to waver. Second, he grew stronger in the delay. At the age of 75, God says, "Leave your father's house. Leave everything. Come to a land I will show you." The guy walks more than 3,000 miles across the Arabian Peninsula, across the Arabian deserts. He walks all the way to Egypt.

36:39 Bah! He's walking. Doesn't know where he's going. And in the time by the time he reached Egypt, no faith. I started as a believer, but now I lost it all after 4 years of engineering and 5 years of medicine. I'm done. Passed the 3 years of government job. I'm finished. Passed the 2 years of waiting for a job. I'm gone. That's not Abraham. Uh by the time he reached Egypt, by the time he reached Canaan, he grew stronger in faith. Made mistakes on the way that I don't have time, but grew stronger. Grew stronger in faith. I'm not saying he grew stronger in discipline. I'm saying he grew stronger in faith. Grew stronger in faith. Somebody shout, "Grew stronger!" Faith is a muscle. If you go to a gym, they'll tell you, "Do like this. Do like that." Hey, for what? Muscle is there. If you don't use it, that muscle will become weak. It will die. And so, they twist you. Take that

37:41 weight. Walk like this. Jump like that. Pull that rope. You need to use that muscle. Faith is a spiritual substance. It's a muscle. It's a muscle of vision. You have to practice and exercise it to grow. Muscle needs to grow. If you don't exercise it, it will become weak. Because in the process, God is looking at who you are becoming. God is more interested in who you are becoming. I was just going through the life of Abraham. You know, the fellow had a child by the age of 100. But by then, because he believed God was going to make him a nation, he had already developed so many things. He had developed an army. He built an army, 300 and some trained militia. He had He had developed foreign relations, Ministry of External Affairs. He had developed economic growth, business models. He had developed community responsibilities. He had developed hospitality industry. All

38:45 this is there in the Bible. Not one word is exaggeration. The guy developed a system because he knew I'm going to be a nation. Hallelujah. He kept building his spiritual muscles. Amen. Third, he gave glory to God. Where's the baby that will come? Hallelujah. Jesus, thank you for the baby. When it'll come, soon it'll come. No, 25 years you're saying, character, it will come. What is your problem? It will come. God can. God will. God can. God will. It will come. Baby will come. >> [applause] >> By the time, let me build what I have to build. Let me do what I have to do. God can. God will. And he gave glory to God. Abraham kept worshipping God while he was in the waiting room. He didn't keep getting frustrated and what nonsense. No, there were times where he laughed, I told you. Where he laughed at God. God is speaking

39:48 and he's laughing at God. I can't imagine that. Pa. Ooh. And this fellow is called father of faith. At least you call him uncle of faith, I understand. Father of faith. God is saying I'm going to bless you with the If the Lord Jesus appears here today and says I'm going to bless you, will anybody doubt? What about the others? Can't even say a no. That's why Jesus is not coming personally. >> [laughter] >> And sending Johnson version. You go, man. You go sit. Huh? God personally came and told Abraham, "I'm going to bless you, boy." >> [laughter] >> Laughed at God. Our God is a compassionate God. Otherwise, he would have become bhasma. Ashes to ashes. Pick up somebody else and start What nonsense I'm talking? He's laughing. I came all the way from heaven to tell

40:51 him I'm going to bless him with a baby. Fellow is laughing. Our God is a compassionate God. God picked him up. Fellow fell down laughing. God picked him up. And says, "It's okay. Sit down. I know it sounds funny, but you're going to have a baby." Really, God? Yeah. Okay, God. I believe you. You said no. It's funny, but I believe you. I don't know how it will happen, but it will happen. You said. That's how Daniel was. They said we're going to throw you in the lion's den. You're going to die. Fellow went down and gave thanks to God. Daniel 6:10. And said, "Lord, thank you. You are able to save me. Thank you." Today night, you are the dinner menu for the lions. I heard so, but thank you, Lord. Daniel gave thanks to God. Faith will thank God irrespective of the result. Faith knows

41:53 God has my future. >> [applause] >> God knows the way forward. I don't know what will happen, but God knows what to do. He's a faithful God. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Faith gave glory to God in advance. And in fact, that was one exercise he did for his faith to grow. Many people say Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. And they're looking because they know it won't happen. But they're saying thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Connect your heart with your lips. Tell God, I can't believe. God, I can't believe. Help me to believe. Get faith. Get the rhema. Then call it. It's going to happen in Jesus' name. Hallelujah. Amen. Rhema makes the difference. I like this passage in Romans chapter 4. You know, what what you just read one verse before that, the Bible says Abraham looked at the deadness of his

42:56 body. Deadness. Somebody say deadness. Abraham looked at the deadness. I don't know what English it is, but it was there. He looked at the deadness of his body and he looked at the deadness of his wife's body. In other words, occasionally Abraham looked at the reality. No hope. No chance. But he didn't stop there. He looked at God. Oh, it's possible. It's possible. Dead. He can. He can. He can. Looks dead. Occasionally he looked at the deadness of his body, but continuously he looked at the ability of his God. God can. God can. He who calls things out of nothing as if they already exist. God can. God can. God This this won't work. It doesn't look like, but but God can. God can. How much airtime do you give God in your life? And how much airtime do you give the devil for his broadcast in your life? Give God more airtime. God, give more broadcast time. Give God more faith time. Hallelujah. And Abraham occasionally

44:00 looked at the deadness of his body, but continuously looked at what God can. What God can. What God can. He kept looking at what God can. And he reached a settled conviction. In other words, oscillation finally stopped in faith. And he said, "God cannot deny himself." Read that again. Romans 4:20 and 21. We'll close today. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced >> [laughter] >> At that point, we will become fully convinced. Fully with no iota of doubt. It might be as small as a mustard seed faith, but it becomes a fully convinced faith. I know God can. I know God can. It doesn't matter how things are around me, but God can. He promised he will do it. The

45:03 rhema takes you into a place of where you know God is going to do it. Hallelujah. One more page is there. Next Sunday I'll preach. Let's pray. Let's say, "God, you can. You can. You can. I believe you can. >> [clears throat] >> I believe you can. Nothing is impossible with you. You can. The father of faith, Abraham, as he walked with you, in our life, we want to walk with you, Lord. We want to walk in fellowship with you, knowing that with God nothing is impossible. The basics of faith. The fundamentals of faith. To convince ourselves that you are a good God. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. [snorts] Thank you, Jesus. Some of us who have become weak in faith, today remind yourself, convince yourself, "No, I'm

46:06 going to get stronger in faith. And I'm going to build what God wants me to build. I'm going to do what God wants me to do. Whenever God will do what he promised, by then I'll build what I have to build from my side. I'm going to work. I'm going to exercise. I'm going to be healthy. I'm going to grow stronger. I'm not going to grow depressed. I'm not going to grow weaker. No, no. I'm going to be stronger." Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Everybody talk to the Lord for a few minutes and say, "God, I'm going to give you glory in advance. >> [music] >> Not as an occasional thing, but as a continuous thing. Building altars at Mamre, building altars at the tabernacle, >> [music] >> building altars to your worship, building commitments to your glory, building up my profile, knowing that I'm created for your glory. Hallelujah. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus." Thank you, Jesus. >> [music] >> Thank you, Jesus. Make that commitment deep in our heart stronger saying, "Yes, Lord.

47:09 Thank you. I've come today to church because I believe you, but that's not enough. >> [music] >> I'm going to build my faith stronger. I want to have higher expectations of who you are and what you can do. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Lord. Areas of compromise. Father, I want to cleanse it out by your word, by your spirit, by your precious blood. >> [music] >> I want to walk in that spiritual healing because you are worthy of it all. Thank you. Thank you for this overcoming faith that overcomes the world. Thank you, Jesus. Yes, persecution is a reality for those who want to live a godly life, but overcoming is a reality, too. Hallelujah. Temptations is a reality for

48:11 those who follow God, but overcoming is a reality, too. Thank you, Jesus. Fear is a reality, but overcoming is a reality, too. Heavenly Father, this beautiful day we want to thank you for speaking to us. Thank you. Thank you for your word is real. Thank you that there is excitement in our soul when we hear your word. Thank you, Lord, when logos turns into rhema. And we really want to give you that time in prayer, in worship, so that you would speak your word into our lives, >> [music] >> and we will hear your Holy Spirit, and build our faith in the direction you're calling us, Lord. >> [music] >> You are the greatest reward we can ever have. But every other destination you provide, we want to receive it with thanks. We love you today. In Jesus' mighty name we pray, and the people said, amen. How many are excited that this month we are

49:14 going to see something grow on the inside? Give God a big hand of praise. Amen. >> [applause] >> Awake, oh Israel, put off thy slumber, and the truth shall set you free. For out of Zion comes thy deliverer in the year of [music] jubilee. Oh, hallelujah. Oh, hallelujah. [music and singing] Hallelujah. Praise the Lord. Oh, hallelujah. Oh, hallelujah. [singing] Hallelujah. >> [music] >> For in the furnace of much affliction, [music] I have chosen thee. Behold, and so forth I am. I'll give thee silver, and for brass,

50:16 >> [music] >> I'll give thee gold. Oh, hallelujah. Oh, hallelujah. [music] >> [singing] >> Praise the Lord. Oh, hallelujah. Oh, hallelujah. Hallelujah. Thou art my chosen, >> [music] >> for I have sought thee. Thou art graven on my hand, >> [music] >> and I will gather all those that gather, they shall come back to [music] their land. >> [singing] >> Oh, hallelujah. Oh, hallelujah. Hallelujah. Praise [music] the Lord. Oh, hallelujah. Oh, hallelujah. Hallelujah. [music] Let's do the next one. He is Jehovah, God of creation. He is Jehovah, Lord God Almighty, the Balm [music] of Gilead,

51:18 the Rock of Ages. He is Jehovah, the God that healeth thee. Sing [music] hallelujah. [singing] Sing hallelujah. Sing hallelujah. Sing. >> [music and singing] >> Lord God Almighty. He is Jehovah, the God that healeth thee. He [music] is the great I Am, the God of Abraham. Jehovah [music] Shalom, the God of peace I am, the God of Israel, the [music] everlasting one. He is Jehovah, the God that healeth me. Sing hallelujah. [music] Sing hallelujah. Sing hallelujah. [singing] Sing hallelujah. He [music] is Jehovah, Lord God almighty. He is Jehovah, the God that healeth [singing] me. He is your provider. Come on, church. Everybody.

52:20 >> [music] >> His son he sent to you [singing] and testified of him. He is Jehovah, [music] the God that healeth me. Sing hallelujah. [music and singing] Sing hallelujah. Sing hallelujah. Sing hallelujah. >> [singing] >> He is Jehovah, Lord God [music] almighty. He is Jehovah, [singing] the God that healeth me. Go ahead, church. Hallelujah. Come on, somebody. Shout out your praises to Jesus. The anointing of faith. The anointing of faith. In the mighty name of Jesus, the anointing of faith. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Oh, the anointing of faith. If you don't know [music] what to do, just open your mouth and keep shouting hallelujahs. If you

53:22 don't know how to praise God, just open your mouth and keep shouting thank you, Jesus. [music] But this is no time to stand quiet. This is no graveyard. This is the presence of the resurrected savior. Open your mouth and thank him. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Oh, and Abraham gave glory to God knowing he is faithful, knowing he is able, knowing he can, knowing there is nothing impossible with him. >> [applause and music] >> Thank you, [music] Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Oh, the fresh fire of the Holy Spirit. Oh my God, flow upon everybody. [music] Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. >> [music] >> Hallelujah. Lord, we thank you for your beautiful presence and the powerful word that we have been hearing this month, oh God Father Lord. And Lord, thank you for each day, Lord, you will help us to grow

54:24 in faith, oh God Father. Not because we are able, but the God whom we believe in is able, oh God Lord, to more than what we to do more than what we can ask or imagine. And thank you once again, oh God Lord, for like Abraham, oh Lord, you would help us, oh God Lord, to Lord walk by faith, oh God, and see, oh God, Lord, your mercies and your miracles upon our lives, oh God Lord. As a church, we pray for everyone who has come here for the very first time. Lord, we pray, Lord, you will touch their lives, bless them, oh God Lord, and help them to experience your presence in a beautiful way, oh God Lord. We also pray for those who are traveling this week that the journey mercy shall go with them. We pray for those who are celebrating their birthdays or their wedding anniversaries this week. >> [music] >> We pray for your favor upon them upon them and upon the years ahead, oh God Lord. And also, we remember if there's anyone amongst us, Lord, who has lost their loved ones, oh God Lord, and even as they're going through their grief, oh God Lord, that Lord, you will be their comforter, oh God Father Lord, and you will stand with them in this difficult moment, oh God Lord. Lord, we also pray over the tithes and the offerings, oh God Lord. Thank you for the privilege, oh God Lord, to Lord sow into your kingdom and from what you have given to

55:26 us, oh God Lord, to Lord bless your kingdom, oh God Father. We pray you'll bless every offering, oh God Lord, and your children will experience your blessing. If anyone is lacking, oh God Lord, that Lord, heavens will open up on them. Lord, you are the Jehovah Jireh. They will not lack. They will see your providence and your abundance, oh God. Lord, thank you once again for your presence with us today. Send us back with your blessings. In Jesus mighty name we pray. Amen. Now, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of our heavenly Father, and the sweet and abiding fellowship of the Holy Spirit, >> [music] >> may it rest and abide with each one of us for now and forevermore. Amen. Amen. Amen. God bless you all. Church, we would like to welcome those who are here for the very very very very first time here with us. Put your hands together and welcome them into the house of God. And even as you walk out, there's a guest lounge out there. Please do visit that place. There's a team waiting to meet with you and pray with you. And if you need prayers, pastors are here in the front as well as in the floor to pray for you. God bless you. Have a blessed week. Thank you. >> Mhm.