Session 8: Fasting
Christ Himself is the author and the finisher of our faith. Some people believe that doubt is the
absence of faith, however, Romans chapter 12 says that everyone has been given a measure of
faith.
Therefore, doubt is not the absence of faith, but the practice of putting your faith in the
wrong source, direction, or information.
The Practice of Faith:
Romans 1:15-17 NKJV - 15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who
are in Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to
salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the
righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
Faith is a daily thing. It is not something you can turn on or turn off.
Whatever is in you as a leader is what comes out of you.
Faith is not a creed or something you do once a week, month, or year. Faith is a lifestyle,
and our lifestyle is shaped by where we place our faith.
There’s only one way to be justified, and that’s by faith, not by works.
1 Corinthians 12:31 NKJV - 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more
excellent way.
There is an excellent way to live.
We’re called to live, not just make it.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NKJV - Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have
not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift
of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that
I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods
to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me
nothing.
Mystery: “outside our natural realm of comprehension”
Faith can be grown. You can have little faith, and you can have great faith. You can have
weak faith, and you can have strong faith.
Faith in God begins with His righteousness, not my righteousness.
Faith is not like a light switch that you can flip on or off. Rather, it’s more like a diamond
that has many different sides.
Saving Faith
Luke 7:50 NKJV - Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
The Spirit of Faith
2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV - For we walk by faith, not by sight.
Where there's an attitude of faith, there’s a spirit of faith.
The Fruit of Faith
Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.
We don’t live by our emotions, but by faith.
It’s faithfulness that Jesus is looking for.
When the Son of Man returns to earth, will He find not just faith but faithfulness?
The Prayer of Faith
James 5:14-15 NKJV - 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church,
and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of
faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be
forgiven.
Many people pray a prayer of “Lord if it’s your will” not because they’re seeking the will
of God, but because they don’t possess faith.
The Gift of Faith
1 Corinthians 12:7-11 NKJV - 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the
profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of
knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of
healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to
another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation
of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one
individually as He wills.
The gift of faith is sovereignly released through us for a circumstance or situation
Tongues, Prophecy, Faith
1 Corinthians 14:1-5 NKJV - Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may
prophesy. 2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one
understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But he who prophesies
speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies
himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even
more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues,
unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.
Romans 8:26-27 NKJV - 26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know
what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with
groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of
the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Tongues, prophecy, and faith are a three-fold chord in living the lifestyle of faith.
When we pray in the Spirit and still ourselves, God gives us an inclination or a word in
seed form, and when we begin to declare that, faith is released.
Mark 11:22-24 NKJV - 22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in
God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into
the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he
will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray,
believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
The problem isn’t that we don’t have faith, but that we either don’t know how to release
our faith or we’ve put our faith in something other than God.