The Victory of Faith
Pastor Mark Stephens
Over the past several lessons we have looked at what it means to overcome limits in our lives. In one of the earliest lessons we discovered that that the word for victory in the Greek is "NIKE."
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory (nike) that overcometh the world, even our faith" (1st John 5:4).
By faith we have victory in Jesus. By faith we are made more than conquerors through Christ who loved us. There are no circumstances in which we can be defeated when we serve God in faith. We will have trials of our faith, but if we endure with patience, we will have victory (James 1:2-4).
Victory over limits is accomplished by faith. In the last part of the scripture from 1st John it says, "the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." Your victory over the evil in the world is obtained by faith. Faith is necessary to remove all the limits that grieve God in our lives.
You cannot remove limits in your life without faith. If you are going to remove limits in your personal life, your spiritual life, your physical life, your mental life or your emotional life, you must do so by faith.
Mark chapter 11 describes how Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey. This was triumphant procession. Jesus was hailed as King of the Jews. People put palm branches in the road and cried out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord!" (Mark 11:9). This was a time of great rejoicing. After He entered Jerusalem that day, He left the city to spend the night in Bethany, just outside the gates.
The next morning Jesus was hungry. On His way into the city He passed a fig tree and hoped to find some figs for breakfast. The tree had no fruit. Jesus said to the tree, "No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever" (Mark 11:14). The disciples that were with Him heard Him speak to the tree. Jesus went on to clear the temple of money changers and rebuke them for robbing the people. He finished His work for the day and went back to Bethany for the evening.
The next day as they passed the fig tree it had withered at its roots. Peter remembered what Jesus said to that tree and pointed it out to the Master. Jesus then used this as an example to teach His disciples about faith and prayer.
He went on to discuss how important it was to have faith in God. He told them they could not only speak to fig trees, but that they could even speak to mountains and have them cast into the sea if they had faith.
"And Jesus answering saith unto them, have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and hsall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them" (Mark 11:22-24).
Jesus taught His disciples the importance of faith. One day a man brought his son, who was having seizures and suffering greatly. The disciples could do nothing to help the young fellow. The father took his son to Jesus. Jesus rebuked His disciples for their lack of faith. He then cured the young man. Afterward, the disciples asked him why they could not help the man.
"And Jesus said unto them, because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you" (Matthew 17:20).
Jesus explained to them the reason they failed to heal the young man was because of their unbelief. It was a hard thing for them to accept. Everyone likes to think they have great faith. Jesus said it was their lack of faith that limited them from helping the young man.
Faith makes all things possible. Faith is a supernatural force that allowed Jesus to do the impossible. Jesus compared mountain moving faith to a mustard seed. A mustard seed is a tiny seed. He went on to teach on the parable of the sower. (Mark 4:3-33).
The farmer represents the person that is speaking the Word of God. We call it sowing seed. The Word is the seed for faith. Some folk hear the Word and live a life of overcoming faith while others hear the same Word and live a life of defeat.
The seed that was sown on the path represents the Word of God that is heard, but goes in one ear and out the other. Those on the path hear the Word, and Satan comes right away to steal the Word. When he steals the Word before it has time to grow, no fruit can be produced.
Others hear the Word and begin to act upon it, but because they do not develop good roots, they fait to produce fruit. When you are not rooted and grounded in the Word of God, your faith will fail when the heat is turned up. That is what happened to those on rocky soil. Jesus said they were easily offended when affliction or persecution attacked them. These trials come to steal the Word, and if they are not rooted in faith and love, their faith will fail.
The people represented by thorny soil are those who hear the Word, but because they are filled with cares of the world, fail to produce fruit. People can become distracted by the need to acquire riches and things. The desire to acquire riches is deceitful and causes the loss of the seed of faith. Faith that overcomes the world is not a faith that is distracted by the things of the world. A person who has overcoming faith will not allow themselves to be sidetracked by the cares of living. They know God is their source for all good things, and they have faith that God will meet their needs.
In this parable people with successful faith are those who take the Word of God into their hearts and let it produce fruit. The Word of God is the seed of faith that overcomes the limits in your life. Faith is the victory that overcomes the world. Jesus has won the victory, but you must live a life of faith to produces fruit for God.
Paul listed faith as part of the fruit of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit lives on the inside of each believer. As a believer begins to act in faith on the word of God the fruit of the Holy Spirit is produces.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" (Galatians 5:22, 23).
Faith is part of the fruit of the Spirit of God. Fruit is a natural produce of trees that are healthy. Healthy trees do not have to struggle to produce. Trees produce fruit when the season is right. The branches cannot produce fruit by themselves. The branches must depend upon the tree for everything. The tree produces fruit through the branches. Faith is produces in the life of a believer because the believer is part of the tree.
Faith is like a seed. The seed has the power to grow and develop when given the proper conditions. Seeds grow into plants or trees and eventually produce fruit containing more seeds. Faith will grow and be fruitful when given the proper conditions.
Jesus compared Himself to a grapevine and called His followers the branches:
"I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples" (John 15:5-8).
Jesus illustrated how important the main part of the vine is to the branches. If we live attached to the vine we will be fruitful and productive. If the branch is not alive, it will become withered. Branches that are attached to the vine are alive, strong and fruitful. The branches have no power in themselves. The branches exist so that the fruit has a place to grow.
God has given each of us a measure of faith. Faith is not something that only a few people are entitled to have. Faith is given to all..
"For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith" (Romans 12:3).
The Greek word for "word" used in the following verse is "rhema."
"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word (rhema) of God" (Romans 10:17).
There are two Greek words that are translated into the English as "word" in the New Testament. They are "rhema" and "logos." Rhema is a declaration or a command. Logos is used more often and implies an idea or concept.
Take a look at a few verses where these words are used and discover the nuances of meaning that are lost in the translation.
The word "rhema" is used for "word" in the following verses:
"But he answered and said, it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word (rhema) that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).
"If ye abide in me, and my words (rhema) abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (John 15:7).
Another time a Greek phrase containing the word "rhema" is translated as nothing. That's in Luke where the angel is speaking to Mary: "For with God nothing (no rhema thing) shall be impossible" (Luke 1:37).
When God declares something personally to someone, when God gives a "rhema" word to someone, if they receive it by faith, it will come to pass. Mary did not doubt the word that came to her. She received and became the mother of Jesus.
The devil tried to tempt Jesus to turn rocks into bread.He was hungry because he had been fasting 40 days. He could have done so, but did not fall for the devil's tricks. He would act only on the "rhema" word from God. If Jesus did not hear God tell Him to turn the rocks into bread, He would not do it.
Jesus said His "rhema" provides life itself. "Rhema" is the Word that God speaks to our hearts for particular situations. He gives us His "rhema" to direct and guide our lives.
"Logos" is the most common Greek word translated as "word" in the New Testament. It occurs hundreds of times. "Rhema" only occurs about 70. "Logos" is most often found in the phrase word of the Lord or word of God. The following verses use the Greek word "logos" for "word."
"In the beginning was the Word (logos), and the Word (logos) was with God, and the Word (logos) was God" (John 1:1).
"The sower soweth the word (logos)" (Mark 4:14).
The Word of God is both " rhema" and "logos." You should desire to study the "logos" of the bible and to renew your mind with the "logos" of God. However, faith comes by hearing the "rhema" from God. The "rhema of God is necessary to live in victory over your limits. Faith begins when you hear the "rhema" of God in your heart.
Unbelief causes many to not receive from God. The Israelites were all eligible to receive blessings from God, but because of their unbelief they did not receive from God (Hebrews 3:17-19). Just because you are eligible does not mean you have faith to receive your blessings.
Doubt is an enemy of faith and robs faith from its effectiveness. Doubt is different from unbelief. Unbelief is denying the Word of God is true. Doubt acknowledges the Word of God is true, but fails to believe the Word is true now for a particular situation.
Faith is always in the present tense. Faith is being convinced God's words are truer than the negative circumstances. When the light of faith is in your heart, the darkness of fear disappears.
Fear and doubt go hand in hand. Fear is expecting the worst will happen. Fear is a wrong way of thinking and is also a strong emotion. Fear and doubt limit you from receiving from God. We are so programmed to think about the worst things happening that we miss out on many miracles. God wants us to learn to overcome our fears and doubts. He wants us to be people of great faith. Fear and doubt keep our faith small. God wants us to have unlimited faith. If we have faith instead of doubt and fear, we can move mountains. Victorious. Faith overcomes the limits of unbelief, fear and doubt.
Faith requires corresponding actions. Faith is more than just talking. Faith is talking and doing.
"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" (James 2:26).
God has pleasure in those who have faith and act on His promises. God is not pleased when you do not have faith.
"Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have not pleasure in him" (Hebrews 10:38).
God is pleased when you use your faith to break limits in your life God reward you for seeking Him and doing His will.
"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" (Hebrews 11:6).
The writer of Hebrews goes on in the next few verses to talk about faith, obedience and actions of many of the bible people we have read about. All of those "Hall of Famers" overcame the limits of the world. Noah by faith built an ark and saved the human race from extinction. Abraham left his home country by faith and received many blessings from God. Sarah, Abraham's wife, conceived and had a child, which was a direct ancestor to Jesus. All these triumphs resulted from having faith in God. Their faith helps us to understand whatever is born of God overcomes the limits of the world, and "this is the victory, even our faith!" (1st John 5:4)..
