1. We are result oriented — we want to see and feel what God has done for us.
a. God wants us to see and feel results, too.
b. But, we have to do it His way — by faith.
2. Sometimes people say that talking about faith takes away from God and puts too much emphasis on us and our part.
a. Yes, God is God, He is Sovereign and can do what He wants, but it’s clear from the Bible that He interacts with His people on the basis of their faith.
b. Faith is involved in producing visible results. Matt 8:13; 9:22;28,29; Mark 10:52; Luke 7:50; 17:19; 18:42; Acts 14:9
c. Remember what faith is — taking God at His word.
1. Believing what He says even when what we see contradicts it.
2. Believing that God will fulfill His word = bring it to pass = bring it from the invisible to the visible realm.
3. You must accept the fact that you are now part of a kingdom that operates according to faith in God and His word.
a. In England (the United Kingdom), they drive on the left side of the road. If you move there, you get with the program.
b. We have to get with the program in the kingdom of God. God wants you to know what He has said and believe it — so He can do it.
4. We focus more on results than on God’s word which will produce the results.
a. When you focus only on what you see, all you set is more of the same.
b. Here’s what we often do and say: I prayed and I’m not healed (meaning: I don’t feel any better. Nothing has changed.) Why?
c. You’ve answered your own question = basing what you believe on results (what you can see and feel), and that’s not faith, that’s sight. II Cor 5:7
d. You are saying: I know I’m not healed because I don’t feel any better.
1. That is walking by sight = basing what you believe on what you see.
2. You are waiting for physical confirmation or proof of God’s word and that is walking by sight — and that’s not faith.
e. Faith says: I don’t need any physical confirmation from my senses to prove something is so — I only need God’s word.
5. You must understand, in many situations in life, you have evidence (testimony) coming from the two different kingdoms which exist side by side: what you can see/ feel and what God says.
a. God doesn’t ask us to deny what we see, He asks us to recognize that there are more facts involved than what we can see. II Kings 6:13-17
1. God did not expect Elisha to deny what He saw, but to remember God’s word, God’s promises. Ps 34:7; 71:3; 91:11
2. God did not ask Abraham to deny that he and Sarah were too old to have kids, but to realize that physical conditions can’t stop God from doing what He said He’d do. Rom 4:19
b. God has already met our needs, provided for us, through the Cross.
1. It is an accomplished fact in the invisible kingdom — God has already provided (said yes) through Jesus. II Cor 1:20
2. Now, God simply has to bring the provision into the visible realm — which He’ll do if you’ll believe His word without physical evidence.
6. Faith is trust / confidence in God that He will do what He said He would do.
a. In fact, once you have His word on something, it is as good as done, so much so that you can speak of a thing in the past tense even though you can’t yet see it with your eyes.
b. There is a past, present, and future element to faith. Luke 1:45; Rom 4:21
c. Because God has spoken (past) I will see (future) and right now I believe God’s word — that’s my evidence (present).
7. You must also know that there are two aspects to getting results: receiving and having. Mark 11:24
a. Receive = to take as mine, to accept God’s word on the subject as true without physical evidence = believe it has been granted (past and present). b. Have = physical fulfillment which is confirmed by the senses (future tense).
1. I tell you therefore: everything you ask for and pray for, believe that you have it already, and it will be yours. (Jerusalem)
2. All things whatever you are praying and asking for, be believing that you have received them, and they shall be yours. (Wuest)
3. Have faith that it has been granted to you, and you shall have it. (Goodspeed)
8. There is usually a period of time between when we believe we receive (accept God’s word about our situation) and we have (see the results with our eyes). Why is that?
a. That’s just the way it is — we need to accept that fact and deal with it.
b. God tells us His word works like a seed which implies a passage of time. c. God lives in the ever present now, so to Him, a waiting period is not a waiting period.
d. God works on the principle of maximum glory to Himself and maximum good to us — even if that means you have to wait to SEE results.
e. The only time you can demonstrate, exercise faith (walk by faith) is when you can’t see.
f. That’s why we must add patience (endurance) to our faith. Heb 6:12
1. During the period we can’t see results, patience support our faith. 2. Patience says: because God has promised, I will see; therefore I can hang on (endurance).
9. God does not speak in terms of what He is going to do for you, but in terms of what He has already done for you.
a. God has already provided everything for you through the Cross of Christ — it is done (past tense).
b. All that remains is for Him to bring it to pass in the physical realm.
c. Once you have God’s word, it is as good as done because He will fulfill His word where it produces faith.