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Foundations pt3—Faith Expects Rewards

[Heb 6:1-3 NASB95]

[Heb 11:6 NASB95] 6 And without faith it is impossible to please [Him,] for he who comes to God must believe that He is and [that] He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

A pastor questioned Kenneth Hagin, “Why do you preach on faith so much?” His answer is, “You can’t get saved without faith. You can’t please God without faith. You can’t get healed without faith. Anything that is not done in faith is sin.”

The faith message is not a generational message. It is a Gospel message. Learning how to use your faith will keep you protected and prospering in every environment.

What does Hebrews 11:6 teach about faith in God?

Here are four teachings about faith from Hebrews 11:6.

Faith is necessary to please God.

It’s a command. Jesus said we are to have faith in God. [Mar 11:22 NASB95]

It’s a lifestyle. The just (born-again believers) shall live by faith. [Heb 10:36-38 NASB95]

Its absence is a sin. Anything not of faith is a sin. [Rom 14:23 NASB95]

Faith has actions. [Jas 2:18 NASB95]

Faith is developed by the Word of God. [Rom 10:17 NASB95]

Faith is more than just worshipping Him.

Many times, the disciples did not have faith even though they were around Him. [Jhn 3:36 NASB95]

Demons believe in God. [Jas 2:19 NASB95]

We need to make a decision to have faith in God.

Faith is in His existence.

[Psa 19:1-2 NASB95]

[Rom 1:19-20 NASB95]

Nature proclaims the existence of God. Note: Eclipse (April 2024) – “Even though the Sun is about 400 times bigger than the Moon, it is also about 400 times farther away. This makes the Sun and the Moon appear almost exactly the same size in our sky.” (https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/geometry)

Stay focused on the existence of God.

Faith is in His nature to reward seekers.

Faith in God will produce powerful results. [Mar 11:22-24 NASB95]

Diligently seek Him:

Prayer life – [Mat 6:6 NASB95]

Bible reading – “When you engage in reading, various brain functions are activated, encompassing visual processing, comprehension, auditory perception, and more. However, when you read your Bible, these functions align with other regions of your brain as God intended, triggering the release of chemicals such as dopamine. This results in a profound emotional response to the content you are absorbing.” (https://www.therapyforchristians.com/blog/benefits-of-reading-the-bible) [Psa 1:2-3 NASB95]

Faithfulness to the church – [Psa 92:12-14 NASB95]

Fasting – [Mat 6:18 NASB95]

Giving – [Mat 6:4 NASB95]

God wants to reward you. It does not please God to not expect His reward.

God wants us to know that He rewards a genuine faith toward Him as we seek Him.

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Foundations pt2—5 Points of Repentance

[Heb 6:1-3 NASB95]

Change is change. Some are sorry they got caught. Some are ready to make a change.

Christianity is not an accessory. It is an abandonment. Change in values. Change in goals. Everything. Not adding to our lives. We burn everything to live for Him.

The nominalism in today’s church is partly due to the lack of understanding of what “repentance from dead works” involves.

Definition: Repentance from dead works is REAL CHANGE.

Repentance means to turn FROM sin/self/Satan TO Jesus/Gospel/Kingdom. FROM and TO. Very important.

Dead works means sin. Dead in sins, transgressions, trespasses. (Eph. 2:1,5 & Col. 2:13)

Christians are just ignorant of it OR have deluded themselves into thinking is not necessary OR (a deeper situation) they do not understand the difference between positional righteousness and personal righteousness.

There are many voices in the church who teach this differently. Armenian vs Calvinism. John Bevere vs Jonathan Shuttlesworth. Let’s let the Word of God settle the issue.

If you do not have a functional understanding of repentance from dead works, you will fall. That is what the writer of Hebrews is saying in the passage.

What does a functional understanding of repentance from dead works involve?

Here are five points of understanding of repentance from dead works (real change.)

Repentance from dead works involves a decision.

Notice the preaching of John the Baptist, Jesus, and Peter.

[Mat 3:2 NASB95]

[Mat 4:17 NASB95]

[Act 2:38 NASB95]

In each case, the preacher is calling on the people to make the decision to respond. The response: repent. Jesus preached repentance (present, active, imperative) as an ongoing action.

It is a change in mind and action from something (sin/self/Satan) to another (Jesus).

Repentance from dead works is a work of God.

V. 3 – if God permits.

[2Ti 2:24-26 NASB95]

Repentance requires a dependency upon the Holy Spirit. Human will is not powerful enough to fully produce genuine repentance.

Repentance from dead works will be accompanied by deeds or actions.

Jesus said it like this. [Mat 5:29-30 NASB95]

Paul preached “performing deeds appropriate to repentance, as did John the Baptist (Luke 3:8). [Act 26:20 NASB95]

Sorrow only is dead. Sorrow that leads to change is salvation. They changed what they were doing. [2Co 7:9-10 NASB95]

From sin. Make whatever changes are necessary. If it causes you to stumble, aggressively deal with it.

To Jesus. Prayer life. Bible reading. Faithful participation in church. Fasting.

Not just from sin, but to God. Not 90 degrees, but 180 degrees.

Repentance from dead works is a regular process.

This is not a one-time occurrence.

Jesus – Lord’s Prayer. [Mat 6:12 NASB95]

John, the Apostle – [1Jo 1:8-9 NASB95]

Paul – [Rom 8:13 NASB95]

Live a life that regularly processes repentance through faith and prayer.

Repentance from dead works is a response to the goodness and severity of God.

The motivation is the goodness and severity of God.

[Rom 2:4 NASB95]

[Rom 11:22 NASB95]

The more we consider how much God loves us, the more we want to serve Him.

Jesus is calling us to live a life of repentance of dead works from a decision empowered by the Holy Spirit, accompanied by action that is part of a regular process motivated by the goodness and severity of God.

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Foundations pt1—A Solid Word Revelation of God

[Heb 6:1-3 NASB95]

Marc Weinberg, WDRB meteorologist, talked about how proper roof attachment can cause a house to withstand an F3 tornado.

The writer of Hebrews (Paul? A woman?) addressed the need to progress in their understanding of God and basic teachings. They were rebuked for still needing “milk and not solid food.” (Heb. 5:12-14)

The writer is setting up the stage for them to endure the falling way by setting up a foundation. Elementary (Gr: beginning or at first) teachings are not left, in the sense of forsaken. They are the starting point for any other teachings.

What do we need to understand about the foundation?

Here are three important aspects of building a foundation.

What is the foundation?

Jesus and His teachings are the foundation.

[1Co 3:11 NASB95]

[Mat 7:24-29 NASB95]

[Eph 2:20 NASB95]

Our foundation is Jesus and His teachings and that of His first apostles and prophets.

What are the components of the foundation?

Revelation:

General

Creation – [Rom 1:18-20 NASB95]

Conscience – [Rom 2:14-16 NASB95]

Specific

The Bible. It is the Word of God.

[2Ti 3:16-17 NASB95]

Inspiration: Verbal plenary: own vocabulary under divine direction. Divine/Human.

Authority: God’s expressed will to us. Divine right to define what we believe and how we conduct ourselves.

Elementary teachings

Repentance from dead works.

Faith toward God.

Instructions about washings/baptisms.

Laying on of hands.

Resurrection of the dead.

Eternal judgment.

Specifically, Jesus is Savior, Healer, Spirit Baptizer, and Soon Coming King.

How is the foundation laid?

V. 3 is interesting. There is an obvious relationship between God, the teacher, and the people. The teacher has to teach with respect to the ability of the people to learn. The people have to be willing to grow. The Holy Spirit is the One who turns the teaching and preaching into revelation.

[2Ti 2:24-26 NASB95]

Three partners of foundation building:

A teachable person.

A qualified teacher.

A dependence upon the Holy Spirit.

Be willing to be teachable. Learn from qualified teachers. Depend upon the Holy Spirit.

God wants a foundation built in our lives that will allow us to be protected and prosper that comes from being founded upon Jesus and His teachings, based upon His solid revelation of God from His Word as we, with a teachable heart, work the Holy Spirit and qualified teachers.

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Immersed in the Blessing pt8

Speak Toward the Blessing

[Gen 17:4-5 NASB95] 4 “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, And you will be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 “No longer shall your name be called Abram, But your name shall be Abraham; For I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.

[Rom 4:17 NASB95] 17 (as it is written, “A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, [even] God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.

Pygmalion Effect – leader often gets what they expect when they communicate it. Communication of expectations is a powerful tool.

Nursing home – patients improve with placebo and positive nurses.

Students selected at random “blooms” when treated as a “bloomer.”

Israeli would select at random soldiers and told they were superior and outperformed though nothing different.

Our speaking must come into line with the new things God is doing.

Abram=no baby. New name (Abraham)=new baby. God changed the way Abraham spoke about himself to experience the blessing God promised.

How does our speaking affect our experience in the blessing?

Here are three truths about how our speaking affects our experience of the blessing.

Our speaking is a birth to our experience of the blessing.

Abraham (Sarah) birthed Isaac by faith speaking.

[Mar 11:22-24 NASB95]

Your speaking sets the stage for your blessing.

Our speaking is the first action for us to experience the blessing.

The effect had to be specific. Not “you do your best” but I believe you can get an “A”.

Be very specific – [Luk 17:6 NASB]

[Mat 9:21 NASB95]

What you say in yourself and about yourself will often be the first action of faith.

Our speaking is vital to experiencing the blessing.

Why was it important for God to change Abram’s name to Abraham?

[Pro 18:20-21 NASB95]

Death and life the most important aspects of life. Your words are vital to obtaining the life of blessing God has for you.

God wants our speaking to get into line with the blessing He wants us to experience.

I am righteous (Tsidkenu), I am healed (Rapha), I have sufficiency and abundance (Jireh), I am victorious (Nissi), I am at peace (Shalom), I am lead by the Spirit and am filled with His the knowledge of His Will (Rohi), God is with (Shammah.)

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Immersed in the Blessing pt7

Sustained and Thriving by the Blessing

[2Co 9:6-11 NASB95]

The world’s system is experiencing and huge economic downturn. Inflation has been horrible. It is harder for people to buy a house. Wages have not kept up with prices. This is not a political statement, just an economic analysis.

Yet, we, Christians, do not have to depend on the financial system of the world.

God will sustain you and cause you to thrive in any environment.

Sustaining:

[Deu 29:5-9 NASB95]

[Luk 22:35 NASB95]

Thriving:

[Psa 105:37 NASB95]

[Luk 6:38 NASB95]

[Mat 6:33 NASB95]

What does God want us to understand about sustaining and thriving in the blessing.

We must understand two important truths about sustaining and thriving in the blessing.

1. Sustaining and thriving in the blessing is unstoppable.

Doesn’t matter where you start.

Abraham – started with nothing, became very rich! [Gen 13:2 NASB95]

Beggar from ash heap… [1Sa 2:8 NASB95]

Doesn’t matter where you are.

Isaac – sowed in the land of famine, reaped 100-Fold. [Gen 26:1-3, 12-14 NASB95]

Works everywhere – [Deu 28:3, 6 NASB95]

Doesn’t matter what is against you.

Jacob – worked for Laban changed his wages 10 times. [Gen 31:7, 9 NASB95]

Paul was blessing while under house arrest. [Phl 4:17-19 NASB95]

2. Sustaining and thriving in the blessing is activated by giving.

Tithes and offerings allow you to tap into the blessing. [Mal 3:8-12 NASB95]

Abraham gave the tithe. [Gen 14:18-20 NASB95]

Jacob gave the tithe.

[Gen 31:11-13 NASB95]

[Gen 28:22 NASB95]

Your giving connects you to God’s provision. [Pro 3:9-10 NASB95]

The blessing of God on you will cause you to be sustained and thrive no matter where you start, where you are, or what is against you and is activated by giving.

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Immersed in the Blessing pt6

Negotiate With God

[Gen 18:22-33 NASB95]

Can a human negotiate with God? Can God relent from doing something He said was going to happen?

Are we just to accept what is going to happen as God’s will?

Part of the blessing on Abraham (and us Gal 3:13-14) is that He had an actual relationship with God. God would tell him something. He would stand in the presence of God and talk to Him about it.

Many people do not understand our position with God. Even when we pray, we don’t ask Him to do things for us. Guzik – our prayers our ineffective because we do not ask God to do anything.

What can we learn about praying with the blessing from Abraham’s negotiation with God?

Here are five powerful truths praying with the blessing of God on us.

God wants us to pray in-line with His nature. V 23

Abraham knew God was just and did not want to destroy Sodom.

Prayers not in line with God will not be answered. [Jas 4:3 NASB95]

Holy Love. The “God is” descriptions.

We pray the names of God because those names reveal His nature (Who He is and what He wants to do.)

God wants us to pray specifically. V 24

Abraham asked God for specific numbers 50, 45, etc.

Jesus asks a blind man what He wants. [Mar 10:49-52 NASB95]

Ask God for things as specifically as your faith will allow.

God wants us to pray with compassion for others. V25

Abraham prayed for the wicked and the righteous. We assume he was asking for his nephew Lot, but we do not know it was limited to Lot.

Abraham was blessed to be a blessing. It was just about him. [Gen 12:1-3 NASB95]

Scripture verses about praying for others.

[Jas 5:16 NASB95]

[Job 42:10 NASB95]

[1Ti 2:1 NASB95]

[Eph 6:18 NASB95]

[Eze 22:30-31 NASB95]

We are called not just to live in the blessing of God, but to be a blessing.

God wants us to pray with a bold humility. V27, 30

Can you imagine standing before God and attempting to get Him to change something He just said?

[Heb 4:16 NASB95]

[Mat 15:22-28 NASB95]

God wants us to pray persistently. V 31, 32

Abraham kept negotiating with God. Why did he stop? No one knows; only guesses. He negotiated the number 6 times.

[Luk 18:1-8 NASB95]

Why do we quit praying? It is not a lack of faith to keep asking. In fact, faith keeps asking!!!

Understanding how to pray with the blessing on us will cause us to pray in-line with His nature, be specific, intercede for others, be bold, and persistent.

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