FAITH IS THE VICTORY

                                                 1 JOHN 5:1-5                                                     

Pastor Rick Jackson

Think about what would be the most important thing for you to have? Some would say money, power, food, shelter or clothing. Others might want popularity or good feelings. Maybe health or family. As important as some of these may be they are not the most important thing for you or I to have. The most important thing for you to have is faith in the One True God.

In Mk. 11:22 Jesus said, “Have faith in God!”

In Lk. 17:5 the apostles pleaded, “Lord, Increase our faith!”

Rom. 10:17 declares, “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God!”

Someone may question why faith in the true God is so important. My friends, faith makes prayer successful! It opens the Bible to us! It gives us peace. It can make a drab person radiant and can lift you out of defeat. Faith in the One True God can give you the determination to continue despite all odds. Look at David, at Daniel, at Paul. Faith does that! Faith gives us roses in winter, food in famine, water in drought and victory in conflict!

Some have no faith, others have little faith, but some have great faith. Why is that? Consider,

I. THE BEGINNING OF FAITH [Rm. 10:17]

1. God’s Word is Established! [Psalm 119:89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.]

2. God’s Word IS Effective [1 Th. 2:13]

3. God’s Word is Evangelistic [1 Th. 1:5-10]

Once faith begins it shouldn’t stop there. We must continue with

II. THE BUILDING OF FAITH [Lk. 17:5]

1. Faith Grows When We Believe [Heb. 11:6]

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

2. Faith Grows When We Act on the Word [James 1:22-25]

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

3. Faith Grows When We pray [Mk. 9:23-24] J

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

4. Faith Grows When We memorize the Word [Ps. 119:11]

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

So now what? So now we see the result. In other words,

III. THE BLESSING OF FAITH

Faith will keep us steady. We can express this in 8 simple words, 4 simple phrases concerning how faith in God will help us.

1. Think Straight [Phil. 4:8]

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

2. Pray Right [Jm. 4:3]

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

3. Walk Correctly [Eph. 5:15-16]

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

4. Trust Completely [Prov. 3:5-7]

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.