FAITH FOR THE FUTURE

“What is faith?  It is the confident assurance that what we
hope for is going to happen.  It is the evident of things
we cannot yet see.”   Hebrews 11:1

Speaker:  Apostle Dr. Tony Parker

The Scriptures speaks of five levels of faith:

1.    1.  No faith – Mark 4:40 “And he asked them, “Why are you so afraid?  Do you still not have faith in me?

2.    2.  Weak faith – Romans 4:19 “And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though he knew that he was too old to be a father at the age of one  hundred and that Sarah, his wife, had never been able to have children.”

 3. 3.    Little faith – Matthew 6:30 “And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t  he  more surely care for you.  You have little faith.”

4.   4.    Strong faith – Romans 4:20 “Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise.  In fact, his faith grew stronger and in this he brought glory to God.”

5.    5.  Great faith – Luke 7:8-9 “For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me.  And I say to one, ‘Go”and he goes; and to another, ‘Come, and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,” and he does it.:  When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him.  “ I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even  in Israel.”

Here are six categories of faith---saving faith.  Faith is the opposite of fear.

             Saturation of the Word, without consecration leads to misrepresentation.  Faith is not suppose to make sense, it is to make a difference. Faith is released by the Word of God. Act as the Word of God is real because it is real.

 Objectives

1.     1.  Relationship between faith and expectation.

 2.   2.  A major hindrance to the development of next level of faith.  Unforgiveness is a ground where faith cannot operate.   “Take heed of yourselves.  If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.”    (Luke 17:3)

             We can pray to ask God for increase faith.  Forgiveness is on purpose---to release someone their offense against you.  Release your bitterness, resentment, and anger.  Release your right to dwell on the offense.  Release your right to hear “I’m sorry. Release your right to get even.

 3.  3.  How do I develop faith for the future?

  • Confirmation – nothing is to hard for God.
  • Elimination—discard some people that oppose your faith.
  • Saturation—exposes yourself to God’s word, expose yourself, consume yourself to have a transformation.  Involve meditation. (Joshua 1:7-8).   “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”  (Romans 10:17)
  • Your faith needs rehearsal.  (1 John 5:14-15)
  • Consecration
  • Demonstration - "Faith without works is dead."  (James 2:20)
  • Manifested faith - a physical reality of what is prayed for