APOSTLE RONALD C. HILL, SR.

July 13, 2011

July 16, 2011

The faith walk

What is Faith?

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.* Verse is not really a formal definition of faith; rather it is a description of what faith does for us.

Faith makes things hoped for as real; as if we already have them. And, it provides unshakeable evidence that the unseen, spiritual blessings of Christianity, are absolutely certain and real.

Faith is confidence in the trustworthiness of God. Faith is the conviction that what God says is true and that what He promises will come to pass.

Faith is not limited to possibilities. Someone has said, Faith begins where possibilities end.

If it’s possible with man, God can’t get any glory out of it.

Faith in God is to be released only when God can do what needs to be done.

We are to step out in faith and attempt to accomplish something that only God can do. This will bring blessings to us and glory to God.

God will never ask you to do anything that does not require faith in Him and His promises to get it done.

There will be difficulties and problems in the walk of faith. God will test our faith in the crucible to see if it is genuine.

1 peter 1:7 •7 That the trial of your faith,

being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

James 1:2-3 •2-3 My brethren, count it all

joy when ye fall into divers temptations; •Knowing this, that the trying

of your faith worketh patience.

The walk of faith will sometimes challenge us to do things that don’t make common sense.

In the book of II Kings chapter 4 one of the sons of a prophet died. His wife, like the wives of most prophets was left penniless. His creditors demanded their money being determined to take her two sons as bondmen.

sons as bondmen. She came to Elisha who was now the head of the school of the prophets and requested help. He gave here some faith instructions.

2 Kings 4:1-7 • 1 Now there cried a certain woman

of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.

2 Kings 4:1-7 •2 And Elisha said unto her,

What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.

2 Kings 4:1-7

•3 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.

2 Kings 4:1-7 •4 And when thou art come in,

thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.

2 Kings 4:1-7

•5 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.

2 Kings 4:1-7 •6 And it came to pass, when the

vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.

2 Kings 4:1-7

•7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.

What a notable miracle! Even multiplying one ounce of oil would be a miracle, but here many vessels were filled and the two sons were saved from slavery.

We are to use our faith in God to overcome the great enemies of this life. They are sickness, poverty, bondage, and premature death. Most people fear one or all of these enemies.

I could have added aloneness in that group but it’s very difficult to walk alone when you are healthy in the body and in the mind; and have plenty money with no hang ups or bondage to any bad habits.

It is the will of God that we overcome all the enemies of this life.

3 John 1:2 •2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

Mark 9:23

•23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

By faith we will have a healthy body, healthy soul, and plenty money.

Faith is also acting on the word of God.

St. Luke 5:4-7•4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

St. Luke 5:4-7•5 And Simon answering

said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

St. Luke 5:4-7

•6 And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

St. Luke 5:4-7•7 And they beckoned unto their

partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

One of the most fearful enemies to the saints today is the fear of losing everything and living in poverty.

We overcome the enemy of poverty by acting on the word in regards to giving and receiving.

First of all nobody in their right mind wants to be poor.

Rich people will rule over poor people.

Proverbs 22:7

•7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

• People hate poor people.

Proverbs 14:20

•20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.

Proverbs 19:7 •7 All the brethren of the

poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.

• People won’t give poor people credit for what they do.

Ecc 9:15-16•15 Now there was found in

it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.

Ecc 9:15-16•16 Then said I, Wisdom is

better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

• God has plans to bring His people out of poverty.

• God gives us power to get wealth.

Deut 8:18 •18 But thou shalt remember

the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

1 Chronicles 29:12 •12 Both riches and honour

come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.

Ecclesiastes 5:19 •19 Every man also to whom

God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.

• Obedience to God’s word is the pathway to prosperity.

Job 36:11-12

•11 If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

Job 36:11-12

•12 But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.

Psalm 84:11 •11 For the LORD God is a

sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

• God has promised to honor His people with wealth.

Proverbs 8:17-21

•17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

Proverbs 8:17-21

•18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.

Proverbs 8:17-21

•19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.

Proverbs 8:17-21

•20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:

Proverbs 8:17-21

•21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

* There are two things that must be done in order to walk in prosperity; that is to live a life where we have more than enough. We must act in faith in our giving. We must expect to receive when we give. We have to trust God’s word when He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35)

• By faith we will be blessed when we give with the right spirit.

2 CORINTHIANS 9:6-7 •6 But this [I say], He which

soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

2 CORINTHIANS 9:6-7 •7 Every man according as

he purposeth in his heart, [so let him give]; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Proverbs 11:25

•25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

• God will always honor what we give.

Luke 6:38 •38 Give, and it shall be given

unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

God has to know what you give in order to know how to bless you. Don’t be under any illusion; you cannot make a fool of God! A man’s harvest in life will depend entirely on what he sows.

Galatians 6:7

•7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

The second thing we must do to receive wealth from God is to pray for it.

Psalm 118:25

•25 Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.

When you pray remind God of how you have paid tithes and have given offerings. Confess over your life that your God shall supply all your needs because you have given in faith.

Available online• Bible Study Notes and

PowerPoint available for download online at www.loveandunity.org. Under the Media tab.