1. The Reason We Preach Faith Because we want to please God Faith overcomes the world. Never break faith down. Because God inspires us The commandment of God. The writings of Paul. Because of the armour Above all. The girdle of truth – reality. The feet shod – Readiness. The sword of the Spirit – Rhema. The breastplate of righteousness. The helmet of salvation. Praying always. We stand by faith.

2. The Reason We Preach Faith Faith is something basic to Christianity, so it is important that we have a simple understanding of its principles. What is Faith? Faith is TRUST and CONFIDENCE in a person or thing. In our case we are talking about TRUST and CONFIDENCE IN GOD OUR FATHER and the LORD JESUS CHRIST. We are also talking about confidence and trust in what God has said.

3. The Reason We Preach Faith Faith is Substance Hebrews 11:1 “NOW FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR...”. Hebrews 11:1 “NOW FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR...”. Faith is the substance out of which things hoped for and DREAMED ABOUT are produced. The WORD OF GOD is the ONLY THING which has any REAL SUBSTANCE. The Word is the only way this substance is produced in the KERNEL OF OUR HEARTS.

4. The Reason We Preach Faith The Measure of Faith When we are born again through faith every believer is given a measure of faith i.e. the same substance. It then depends on how this seed of faith is watered and nurtured as to how much faith there is. Jesus said that some had LITTLE FAITH while others had GREAT FAITH. Some had SUCH GREAT FAITH. But it all begins with the SAME SUBSTANCE – THE WORD OF GOD.

5. The Reason We Preach Faith Our Faith in God We must understand that the substance that has been put into us is THEFAITH THAT COMES FROM GOD. We need to lay this principle down as a basis for this teaching. The kind of faith we as children of God are to live by is the kind of faith that has been put into us: faith that comes from God, NOT OUR OWN FAITH. We have unwavering faith in an Almighty God.

6. The Reason We Preach Faith God does not Want His Children Ignorant Everything that God has promised is OBTAINED BY FAITH IN Him. If we are IGNORANT of the principles of faith we will RECEIVE NOTHING from God. A generation of Israelites did not enter the PROMISED LAND because they did not have faith.

7. The Reason We Preach Faith The Wrong Kind Confusing Hope with Faith Confusing Hope with Faith Some think that confidence in receiving something from God SOME DAY IN THE FUTURE IS FAITH when IN REALITY THEY ARE OPERATING IN HOPE. Without faith hope never materializes.

8. The Reason We Preach Faith Confusing Mental Assent with Faith Hebrews 4:1, 2 ?Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us FEAR lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not PROFIT THEM NOT BEING MIXED WITH FAITH IN THOSE WHO HEARD IT”. Hebrews 4:1, 2 ?Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us FEAR lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not PROFIT THEM NOT BEING MIXED WITH FAITH IN THOSE WHO HEARD IT”.

9. The Reason We Preach Faith Because we want to please God A generation of Israelites perished in the wilderness because they refused to BELIEVE that GOD WAS WITH THEM and that GOD HAD PROMISED THEM THE LAND OF CANAAN. They had physically witnessed mighty signs, wonders and miracles of DELIVERANCE, PROTECTION, PROVISION, HEALING and GUIDANCE. Unbelief is rebellion against God, angers God, is disobedience to God and closes heaven’s doors.

10. The Reason We Preach Faith Faith Pleases God It pleases God so much that He will declare the faith filled person right with Him, in other words, faith puts us IN RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD. Joshua and Caleb These two men BELIEVED GOD when it was not popular to do so. They took what God said, believed it and acted on it AGAINST THEIR LOGIC and REASON. Of a whole generation of three million people there were only two who PLEASED GOD and obtained what they were promised.

11. The Reason We Preach Faith The Hall of Fame Hebrews 11 is the Bible “Hall of Fame” of the men and women of faith who pleased God, and all produced something to show it. Faith Overcomes the World! Faith overcomes WORLDLINESS Faith overcomes WORLDLINESS Faith overcomes UNHOLINESS Faith overcomes UNHOLINESS Thus we are made pleasing to God and give Him pleasure... when we act with STRENGTH and COURAGE. Our aim is to strengthen and encourage one another: we are going to make it, we will possess the land, God is with us, we are more than conquerors, we are overcomes in THIS LIFE. HALLELUJAH!

12. The Reason We Preach Faith Never Break Faith Down Never preach that people cannot do WHAT GOD SAID THEY CAN DO, because this is exactly what the devil does. Siding with the Serpent Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the WOMAN, “HAS GOD SAID?” Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the WOMAN, “HAS GOD SAID?”

13. The Reason We Preach Faith The Ten Spies Numbers 13:31 “But the men who had gone up with Him said; We are not able to go up against the people...”. Numbers 13:31 “But the men who had gone up with Him said; We are not able to go up against the people...”. Because God Inspires Us The major emphasis of the New Testament is that the just shall live by faith.

14. The Reason We Preach Faith The Commandment of God 1 John 3:23 “And this is His commandment; that you should BELIEVE ON THE NAME of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave commandment”. 1 John 3:23 “And this is His commandment; that you should BELIEVE ON THE NAME of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave commandment”. LOVE AND FAITH are the commandments of God in the New Testament.

15. The Reason We Preach Faith The Writings of Paul God inspired Paul to emphasize that it is not by the deeds of the law but the LAW OF FAITH that we are to live by. Because of the Armour Above All Ephesians 6:16 “ABOVE ALL, taking the SHIELD OF FAITH with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one”. Ephesians 6:16 “ABOVE ALL, taking the SHIELD OF FAITH with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one”.

16. The Reason We Preach Faith Why Above All? This is the most important item in the armoury that God has given His children to use everyday. Faith, here, is called a SHIELD which re-inforces the other items that the soldier already has. The Girdle of Truth – Reality Ephesians 6:14 “Stand therefore having girded your waist with truth”. Ephesians 6:14 “Stand therefore having girded your waist with truth”.

17. The Reason We Preach Faith The Feet Shod – Readiness Ephesians 6:15 “Having your feet shod with the preparation of the GOSPEL OF PEACE”. Ephesians 6:15 “Having your feet shod with the preparation of the GOSPEL OF PEACE”. The Sword of the Spirit – Rhema Ephesians 6:17 “... the sword of the Spirit, which is the WORD OF GOD”. Ephesians 6:17 “... the sword of the Spirit, which is the WORD OF GOD”.

18. The Reason We Preach Faith The Word must be Mixed with Faith Without FAITH the Word is powerless. The Word Mixed with Faith When our faith is based on the Word, the sphere of our existence is affected.

19. The Reason We Preach Faith The Breastplate of Righteousness Ephesians 6:14 “... having put on the breastplate of righteousness”. Ephesians 6:14 “... having put on the breastplate of righteousness”. With Faith the Breastplate is put on Romans 3:22 “Even the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God which is through FAITH in Jesus Christ to all and on all who BELIEVE”. Romans 3:22 “Even the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God which is through FAITH in Jesus Christ to all and on all who BELIEVE”.

20. The Reason We Preach Faith The Helmet of Salvation Ephesians 6:17 “... take the helmet of salvation”. Ephesians 6:17 “... take the helmet of salvation”. Praying Always Ephesians 6:18 “... PRAYING always with all PRAYER and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints”. Ephesians 6:18 “... PRAYING always with all PRAYER and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints”.

21. The Reason We Preach Faith Believe when you Pray Mark 11:24 “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you PRAY, BELIEVE that you receive them, and you will have them”. Mark 11:24 “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you PRAY, BELIEVE that you receive them, and you will have them”. We Stand by Faith Ephesians 6:13, 14 “... having done all to stand. Stand therefore...”. Ephesians 6:13, 14 “... having done all to stand. Stand therefore...”.

22. The Reason We Preach Faith Without Faith we cannot Stand Romans 11:20 “Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you STAND BY FAITH”. Romans 11:20 “Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you STAND BY FAITH”.