Sola Fidei - (Faith Alone)

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[0:33] Father, we thank you for the privilege to hear your word because we know that faith comes by hearing and hearing of your word.

[0:47] We pray, reveal yourself to us. Let the seed of your word that provokes faith, that generates faith, be deposited in our spirit.

[1:01] Grant us a revelation in your word. In Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Hallelujah. Amen.

[1:12] Hallelujah. Amen. Praise God. Amen. The theme for this faith seminar is Solafide. Let's all say that together. Solafide.

[1:23] Let's say it again. Solafide. What is the meaning of that? Faith alone. Faith alone. Say faith alone. Faith alone. I explain how the five solas of the Reformation.

[1:38] Sola Fide, Sola Gracia, Sola Scriptura, Sola De Gloria, and Solos Christos.

[1:50] These five, only by faith alone, by grace alone, based on scripture alone, to the glory of God alone.

[2:01] Because of Christ alone. Praise the Lord. So the solas, but faith is so important. All these solas have not so much got to do with what you do.

[2:12] When it comes to heaven marrying earth, heaven doing something on earth, or working on earth, or working for earth, all the other ones, the four, based on scripture alone.

[2:24] Scripture alone, you don't write the scriptures. Grace alone, it's God. Grace is God at work. You don't do anything to move him, to decide to, okay, now his plan is changing his mind.

[2:36] Bible says that no, no, to God are all his works from the foundation of the earth. So no one tells him what to do. It doesn't take all this from anybody. That's grace. So just grace. You don't define what God will do.

[2:49] He defines what he will do by his grace. But Bible talks about how because of his great love, which he loves us, grace operates on the back of mercy.

[2:59] All right? Grace and mercy go together. So the scriptures, you don't write the scriptures. You don't define grace. To the glory of God alone, that's very far from you. You make sure the glory is going to him.

[3:09] You don't write to the glory of God alone. And because of Christ alone, Christ came to do. So you see, all they're for. It's not based on you.

[3:20] The only thing you bring on the table is faith. So for heaven to work on earth, for earth to experience heaven, there must be faith on the part of whoever wants to initiate their move or wants to enjoy it.

[3:33] That is why Christians are called believers. Believers. You believe. Right? That word, believers, is another way to say people who are walking by faith.

[3:49] Believers. Not just believing in your heart. But it said, with the heart, man believes. But with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. So believing and action is what faith is about.

[4:02] Tomorrow, I will go into that. I wanted to do that today. But we found out that some important things about grace is that Jesus Christ, he only deals with us. All he looks for is faith.

[4:14] If you can find faith, that's enough. Faith alone. Someone say faith alone. Faith alone. And then we also said that faith is foundational in Christianity.

[4:27] Faith is foundational. Anything that you can't enjoy your Christian walk outside of faith. Jesus looks for faith. Faith is actually a realm or a realm changer or a level changer.

[4:38] As soon as you begin to operate by faith, your status changes. Before people can notice that, it's already changed. And some of you, your status has changed already. Amen.

[4:49] Amen. Amen. Amen. From a childless couple to a couple with as many children as you want. Amen. Amen. You're already there. Yes, that people haven't seen it. Amen.

[4:59] Yeah. Faith is the evidence of things not yet seen. Yeah. Oh. Do you understand that? So you are not waiting for someone to encourage you.

[5:10] That it will be well. You are... Okay, let's say I'm coming to Graceland. okay if you are trying to be in grisland to meet somebody or be in the service and suddenly there's so much traffic and you are worried because you don't know how you're going to get here and someone tells you don't worry it'll be okay maybe you can understand but if you're already here here why is there someone could tell you don't worry you'll be there you you are here you don't need encouragement do you understand when you already have it see when hope tells you to be okay so it's all right it's all right so many people read the scriptures and all they have is their hope it's good we have hope through scriptures romans chapter 15 verse 4 he said all these things that were written were written for our learning that we through the scriptures might have hope romans chapter 15 verse 4 hallelujah am i right let's already allow we through the patience and comfort of scriptures how many of you have read a scripture sometimes you feel suddenly you feel comforted so through the patience that we through the patience and comfort of scriptures might have what all the things that were written is so that you and i will have hope when we go to the scriptures all right but we know that faith is the substance of things hoped for hmm hebrews chapter 11 verse 1 said now faith is the substance of things hoped for all right so watch this the scriptures tells i read the scriptures and the scriptures tell me that i will i will have my children i i cannot remain childless suddenly i'm comforted and i have hope that one day now once i go that's the hope i get the scripture says it's possible i see it's possible it's possible it's possible but faith faith once you activate faith and work in faith you are not waiting for that day you are already living in the reality so faith is the substance of the thing so others are waiting for it to happen you already have it if you do it so before it shows up you had it you were talking about it you were did bible says that pastor it says that abraham believed god romans chapter 4 verse 17 and 18 abraham believed god who calls the things that be not as though they were people say he gives life to the dead and he collects the things that be not as though they were so when you're walking with god all you'll be hearing is you'll be talking about your your husband your millionaire godly husband your millionaire godly wife you know responsible and decent wife and yet you've been you are not married but god is talking to you about those children who will be doing so well that every school wants to give them any scholarship and yet you are not married you don't have a child and god is talking to you about those things now you can't work with god if you don't have faith so that's why faith is a level changer when you have faith your level changes because people who are walking around you sometimes will be confused at your terminologies and other things you say because they don't see what you see but you are living in a certain reality no it's not a mental projection no it's different it is not a positive confession no it's different i'm talking about reality it's a faith it's a faith is the alcohol shut down it's substance someone show substance

[9:12] substance the greek word is substance the faith when you have faith you got substance it's no idea faith is not an idea faith is not an ideology mental projection fire in the same thing name maybe one day faith no faith is a substance Home but there is hope for, and evidence every day evidence evidence evidence evidence na manufactis one evidence ist God so what are we going to be able to pay by my card house capture the hoch Nut Sher45 God preguntruor서 I don't have any money on me.

[9:56] Oh, yes. Don't worry. I have the card. I can pay with the card. If you don't have faith, people will talk you out of your blessings. They will talk you out of your blessings because they are sure that God shall fill the Holy Ghost here.

[10:10] They are walking by sight. So what all their worldview is the fact that this A plus B is C. So when they saw A plus B, they are expecting that C.

[10:23] The doctor's diagnosis, it does a diagnosis. See, A plus B knows that this, what it means. The fact that you are passing blood in your urine means this. It means this.

[10:34] But you can see the A plus B, but it doesn't necessarily mean that. That's it. Oh, thank you. Thank you, Jesus. One of our sisters, she said that she did the test. She did the pregnancy test.

[10:45] It was proving negative. But she believed that there has been a word. So she held on to the word. She did it again. It looks, it was showing negative. The next time she said, no, I am going to the hospital.

[10:56] She went to the hospital, said, please, can you do a test on me because I believe I am pregnant. They said, you need to do it. Oh, it doesn't matter. Do it for me because she knew if I tell my husband, my husband might have said, you know, let's wait.

[11:08] But she said, she went in faith and they checked it and it was positive. And last Sunday, you saw her standing here with the baby who the doctor said it would be difficult for her to have. Shout hallelujah.

[11:20] Hallelujah. Faith is a substance. Faith is a substance. I give because I give in faith.

[11:33] I know. It's not that I'm trying. Today, when I was praying, it's just, just, no, I wasn't, but I was meditating actually today. And it just turned on my spirit. I believe the Lord told me.

[11:43] Many poor try too much. Faith is not a try. Don't try. When you are trying, then you are not in faith. You can't walk in faith trying.

[11:57] We are trying for each other. Stop using that language. Trying for what? We are not trying.

[12:10] So some of us, okay. They said, let me try and see. Maybe. That's why you miss it. There's a gentleman. This is a story.

[12:21] I don't know if I remember it clearly, but let me attend to try and remember it. There's a gentleman who, I think, fell off a certain cliff. And he managed to, he saw a root of a tree on the side of the cliff.

[12:35] So when he was falling, that's all he saw. So he held on to it. And now he couldn't climb because there was no way he could go up. So he started screaming. And he wanted, and then he said, Lord, help me.

[12:48] Go. Lord, where are you? Lord, if you are there, help me. And he had a voice. He said, Lord. He said, yes, my son. Are you there? He said, yes, I'm there. Help me.

[12:59] He said, do you believe? He said, yes, I believe you can help me. He said, okay, then let's go. Over to it. He said, is there any other person who can help? Is there anyone else?

[13:15] Anyone else? There is no way I'm going to let go. This last thing I'm holding on to. God, cook, Abraham believed God, who calls the things that be not, as though they were.

[13:39] He said, he gives life to the dead, and oh, so he's talking to you about, and he's calling things that, in the physical mind and eye, they are not there.

[13:51] And he calls them as though they were. Not that they will be. He said, as though they were. So, let's say, I'm talking to Pastor Charles, and let's say, Pastor Charles has not got a son who is 25 years old.

[14:03] And I'm saying that, now that your son is 25, what are you talking about? It calls them as though they were. Because faith is dead.

[14:16] Evidence of things not seen. So, if you stay in the sin, you'll miss God. If you only, that's why he said, we walk by, gosh, we walk by faith, and not by sight.

[14:36] Did you see the report the doctors gave you? That's sight. Did you see the report, your bosses told you about, the problem, the crisis that is coming?

[14:50] Did you see? Can you feel the pain in your body? Yeah, that's sight. Sight, that means sensory perception. What, the natural senses can pick up.

[15:02] Your, your, what you see, what you taste, what you feel, what you hear, and, smell, what you smell. You know, these are the natural, the natural senses.

[15:13] But it says that, we don't walk, we don't make life decisions, based on that. If you want to walk with God, you, those ones, you don't ignore them, they are there, that's fine.

[15:24] The basic decisions, like, it's cold. You don't say by faith, I don't feel it's cold. I know it's cold, but by that, no. It's to tell you, you are faith, but when it comes to, life decisions, so long as God's word is saying, if God's word say is warm, and you feel it's cold, so drop the feeling, go on, God's word.

[15:42] Now, you don't just say, okay, I'm going to stay on God's word, but watch this, this is faith. Faith, then now, I believe that what God has said, is so, in spite of what I see, in spite of what I feel, in spite of what I hear, or in spite of what I know, or not, don't know.

[15:57] That's faith. And that's why we are called, believers. Right, so, faith is, is a realm changer.

[16:12] As soon as you begin to walk by faith, you have changed your address long time. Do you know what's happening? Somebody's address is changing right now.

[16:27] Somebody's address, is changing right now. He didn't get what I mean. I don't, I don't mean it to change. As you are listening, the thing is happening right now.

[16:38] It's happening right now. It's happening right now. You understand? Someone's wedding is being paid for right now. Yes. You see, for your information, it doesn't happen when he shows up.

[16:59] It happens at the time of believing. Yeah. Yeah. That's when it happens. And then you walk, knowing that, for instance, a woman who is pregnant, you may not know, because maybe it's just one month pregnant, pregnant, or six weeks pregnant.

[17:14] You may not know. But she's working, being away. She's eight weeks pregnant, or ten weeks pregnant. She knows. But you may not know. And so, she begins to be careful about where she goes, what she eats or drinks, and all that, because she knows.

[17:31] But you may not know. In the same way, when you are working by faith, because you believe what God has said, and you have taken it to be final, and you are convinced, you've convinced yourself, working by it, what others say, it doesn't matter.

[17:47] He who works by faith, doesn't need an encouragement. Because, you know, it's that to us, so that we, through the comfort, the patience, and the comfort of scriptures.

[18:00] So the scriptures you have read, has already given you the comfort, and the patience you need. So hope, that comes from scriptures, comes based on the comfort, and patience, the scripture gives you.

[18:13] Now, when faith, faith has gone, faith goes into the future, tomorrow, I'll go a little bit more about that. Pastor, listen, Abraham, many people don't know, the reason why he's our father.

[18:28] Abraham, was a man of faith. He's actually called, the father of faith. Abraham. Why? He was saved, before Jesus came to die. Can you imagine?

[18:43] Abraham was saved, before Jesus, he was saved by faith. You see, faith is a game changer, it's no respect of time. Abraham. He said, the evidence of things, not yet seen, things hoped for.

[18:59] If I put it on the screen, Hebrews chapter 11, verse 1, he said, now, let's read it out loud, let's read it. Abraham. Now, now, let's read it, the service of things, not for, the evidence of things, not for.

[19:11] Abraham, before Jesus showed up, he has seen him. He saw Jesus, before Jesus came. He saw, he received his salvation, before Jesus came to die for us, to have salvation.

[19:26] And the Bible says that, and it was accounted to him, for righteousness. His faith. We are, we are saved by grace. We became righteous, by faith.

[19:38] And Abraham, by, by grace, through faith. It takes faith to be righteous. And Abraham was righteous, before Jesus even died. Read your Bible, it's there.

[19:50] Romans chapter, I didn't want to go into that. Because, Romans chapter 4, let's see, verse 1. This is not part of my text, but, someone must get it. He said, what shall we say, that Abraham, our father, as pertaining, as pertaining to the flesh, has found?

[20:04] Can we say, he's got anything from, based on the flesh? Go to the next verse. What shall we say? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has, where of, he has, where of to glory, but not before God.

[20:15] If it was, through his physical things, physically, if it got through, his obedience, and works, then he has something, to boast about. But even though, he can't come before God, but not before God.

[20:27] You can boast before men, but not before God. But look at verse 3. He says that, so, verse 3 says, for what says the scriptures? Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him, for righteousness. So, he was justified, way back, before Jesus came, to die for our justification.

[20:44] Right. I'm about to say something, this is too good, I'm about to say something, I feel like laughing for Jesus, before I say hallelujah. Guess what?

[20:57] Guess what? Guess what? The cross of Jesus, is timeless. It's just that, for historical purposes, anything on earth, must have a historical reference.

[21:08] It must have, timeline, thank you. It must be on the timeline. So, God pitched it at a certain time. But it has happened already, because he was, he was slain at the foundation of the earth. So, when Abraham believed, he had believed before time.

[21:25] He told Jesus to them, Abraham desired to see my day, and he saw it, and was glad. Far before, and they said, who do you think you are? Abraham, he said, how old are you?

[21:37] You are not even yet 50. And he said, Abraham saw your days. And he said, don't you know? John chapter 8, verse 56, 57, 58. He said, don't you know, before Abraham was, I am. He said, your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it, and was glad.

[21:52] Then the Jews said, then the Jews said to him, you are not even yet 50 years old. How then do you see, you have seen Abraham? You have seen Abraham. And then verse 58, he said that, Jesus said, most assuredly I said, before Abraham was, I am.

[22:05] Ego imi. Before Abraham was, I am. He's always been around. His blood has always been speaking from the foundation. So faith is timeless.

[22:19] Now, Abraham believed, and he, time didn't matter. Can I tell you something else? Where am I going in this area? Abraham, Romans chapter 4.

[22:29] Me. Thank you, Jesus. Now I lift up your right and say, thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. You know, Romans chapter 4 opens up with Abraham. Starts talking about Abraham.

[22:42] What then shall we say, our father Abraham has attained, according to the flesh. For if he was justified by works, he has something to boast, but not before God.

[22:53] Then verse 3 talks about, for the scripture, what does the scripture say? The scripture tells us clearly. The document tells us, that Abraham believed God. Look at verse 4. It talks about wages and grace.

[23:04] To him that works. The wages are not counted as grace, but as dead. So what you have done, you get what you have done. You don't go to work, and they pay you at the end of a month, and say, oh, these people have tried for me.

[23:14] No. If they don't pay, you can take them to court. But grace, you can't take anyone who doesn't show you grace to court. Grace is not what you deserve. You don't deserve it.

[23:25] So I give it to you, based on my will. Okay. So grace and mercy is the prerogative of the one who gives. Do you understand what I'm saying? You don't choose whether I should show mercy on you or not.

[23:36] You don't choose whether I should give you, I will be gracious to you. I choose. But if I owe you, and I'm paying you, it's not grace. It's debt. All right. So look at verse 5.

[23:47] Verse 5 then goes on to say that, now, to him who works, verse 5, but to him who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted to him for righteousness.

[23:59] Right. So this Abraham was walking in a realm where his contemporaries were far from. That's why he enjoyed one, to the extent that, you know, I read earlier on about when Abraham, he believed God, verse 17, who calls the things that be not as though they were.

[24:15] Gives life to the dead and calls the things that be not. Now go to the verse 18. This is not part of it. Who contracts you who believe in hope that he may become the father of many sins. According to what was said, so what was spoken, so shall I, go to verse 19, look at verse 19.

[24:29] And not be with faith. He did not consider his own body already dead since he was about how old? 100 years old. 100 years old men don't give birth. Time was not for him.

[24:42] But when you believe, when you are in faith, time is not a problem. He didn't get it. He didn't get it. Faith is a realm changer. So before Jesus came to die, some people were getting saved by faith.

[24:56] And after he came to die, we are still getting saved by faith. So why don't you just keep the faith? Because the faith, when it comes to faith, the time is not necessary. Hallelujah.

[25:12] To the extent that old lady Sarah gives birth. And read your Bible. The Bible says that by faith, Sarah herself received strength to conceive when he was past age.

[25:24] Age has to do with time. Hebrews 11, 11. Hebrews 11, he said that by faith, Sarah herself received strength to conceive when he was past age.

[25:37] By faith, Sarah herself also received strength to conceive. and she brought a child when she was past age because she judged him faithful who had promised.

[25:50] So the word came. Tomorrow is going to be interesting. The word came and Sarah grabbed the word and and and and he grabbed the word as though even though she was past age, God told her you're going to have a child and she believed, received it and God started getting ready for for child for childbirth.

[26:08] and so the thing didn't have a choice it must manifest. She started living in the reality before the reality showed up. My faith says that it's the evidence of this not yet seen. This hope for hope is away.

[26:20] Hope is not now. Bible says that what what anything you have you don't hope for. So hope is something that has not yet happened. And so when God told her that you're going to have a child she believed and received it.

[26:35] So she was walking in the reality. suddenly it neutralized the negativity of time. Time didn't matter. Somebody's blessed.

[26:48] You are not permitted to say I'm too old to get married. I'm too old to have a child. If you want the child I'm telling you what God's word is saying. Are you are you older than Sarah?

[27:00] But in those days that was a the living conditions that is when you see you think it was those days that gave her the child it was a believing God. It was a faith in God.

[27:13] So once you have faith in God wait you see a time is coming if Christ there is maybe 2000 years from now if Christ there is you realize maybe people will even be living longer.

[27:24] Will be living longer and to the standard when they are 100 year 120 they may be giving birth. I'm just I'm just I'm just I'm just trying to paint a picture for you and you later on they will be saying that oh in your days you because you are not too old 120 years God has promised someone the person 120 is about to believe God to to have a child and you today at this age you are saying that our Sarah's age was you know their days are different from our days.

[27:51] I'm trying to tell you that faith delivers in any generation because guess what as soon as you are in faith you move up from the realm of man into the realm of God so then you enter into the realm of possibilities because he said with God nothing shall be impossible all things are possible he said all things are possible for him who believes I see it happening for you I see it happening for you by faith Sarah herself received strength to conceive and she bought a child in her old when she was past age because she judged him faithful who has promised so faith is a realm changer Abraham had it Sarah had it in spite of their age they are telling you now nowadays things don't happen like that drop it last two months faith seminar did God say has God said if God has said drop them nowadays

[29:02] Bible said she judged she judged him faithful who has promised she judged him faithful who had promised so God have you said that then that's enough for me I'm going to walk in the reality of it and then the reality showed up so why are you not judging faithful and you are looking at the condition more than the promiser sometimes when God gives a promise most of us our problem is we look at the promise more than the character of the promiser yes yes yes yes so you are considering God said I'm going to do this for you I'm wondering but this is not possible you are considering the promise look at the character of the promiser the one who if if if if someone comes here okay right now if Pastor Charles meets Richard Branson and Richard Branson said you know what I there is a contract I want to start a project

[30:03] I want to start is about 500 million pounds I want you to handle it and the profit you get is about 10 million pounds would it be difficult for him to believe Richard it would not be difficult for him but if that gentleman in you know who is living in the flat 13th floor 13th floor without a lift and and they clamped his car he was even asking you to help him pay it off now suddenly he is coming to tell you that I you know I want to give you a contract you are wondering so so so you look at the the one who is promising to determine how much you can believe the promise so when God promises you stop looking at the nature of the promise consider the character of the promiser that's what

[31:12] Sarah did Sarah judged him Hebrews 11 it's nice text not to forget Hebrews starts with H H and then 11 11 it's like very nice kind of stuff Hebrews 11 by faith Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed and bore a child when she was past age why because she judged him faithful who had promise see who had promised so her status was changed before she gave birth her status was long changed before you buy that house you bought it now why did you buy that car I bought it before I bought it this this this one is not because you are wishing how do you buy it you just believe and connect your faith to what God is saying to you right so I spoke about how faith is a game changer it's foundational in

[32:15] Christianity and actually one of the things I really want to know is that Christianity is all about faith to the extent that it is called the faith look at 1 Timothy chapter 1 verse 4 and 5 thank you Holy Spirit someone say thank you Jesus say it again say thank you Jesus 1 Timothy chapter 1 verse 4 and 5 let's start from verse 3 so it can make sense as I urge you when I went to Macedonia remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith alright godly edification takes place in faith so it doesn't matter how much we try and preach to you you will be edified if your faith is not in place edify means to build up alright godly edification takes place where in faith alright which godly edification which is in faith verse 5 look at verse 5 verse 5 says that now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart from a good conscience and from a sincere faith so this whole thing is a faith thing

[33:47] Christianity is a faith thing that's why it's called the faith look at chapter 4 first chapter 4 verse 1 now the spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will depart from where from what so faith is not just a verb it's a noun depart from something it's a thing the faith and that's talking about depart from Christianity see some people may call themselves Christians but they are not in the faith they are not in the faith so some people may depart from the faith giving it to the spirit and doctrine you see that I don't want to digress but doctrine taught by demons demons also teach and can you imagine if you don't know doctrine godly doctrine demons will teach you and you may think those people who say it doesn't matter it's all teaching and teaching teaching that is what the time how far you can go your doctrine defines your destiny very interesting so taught by demons god people followed deceiving they followed they gave him to deceiving spirits and doctrine taught by demons they yeah one of the doctrine of demons tells you to chop people's head if they don't believe in your god clear demon and they take joy they are happy chopping the head and they are chanting they are chanting doctrines taught by demons there are some there are places even in certain churches and certain doctrines that bring people towards god but doctrines that drive people away from god these are all demonic doctrines but let's leave that it says that when you give if people depart from the faith so bible calls christianity the faith that tells you how faith is central in our walk with god all right now in first timon chapter 6 verse 21 when you look at verse 21 it says something very interesting the same thing about by okay verse 20 oh timothy god was avoid the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge hmm someone say hmm they call it knowledge

[36:40] I know so much now I'm very enlightened I have understanding I'm well educated so they say they call these things all knowledge but it destroys it is abo says that avoid the profane and idle babblings and contradictions what they call falsely called knowledge now go to go to the next verse by professing it these things that I told you to get away from some have strayed concerning the faith you mean some of this kind of tongue tongue things have a better understanding now all this kind of it's not for me anymore it's not my thing they have strayed from the faith they have strayed from the faith they have left their wife now they are processing divorce before they are living with someone else and these are tongue talkers and he said what's wrong he said oh me now this church thing is not for me

[37:40] I play golf with some guys and every now and we do reflexology so thank you Holy Spirit thank you Holy now watch this that's why we have to continue teaching and you have to be on your guard because you can be speaking in tongues today sitting in church today and tomorrow depending on what kind of doctrine you expose yourself to what kind of things you begin to give your mind to you may I mean there are people who were in church and now they are not there are people who were screaming louder than us by God's grace I had the privilege to be born again a bit early in my teenage in secondary school and I had friends who were all born again I have seen people who are straight from their faith straight from their faith because they give heed to all kinds of things be careful who has been advising you be careful some of them they don't have faith but they will be telling you this just thing is not too much don't you ask me

[38:47] I'm just advising you are not but you are trying to kill me you are killing me leave you alone you are killing me this thing is too much but you don't tell me this work thing that you have been doing and it is draining all your life out this work thing is too much me I'm working and I'm now pursuing God you are telling me this church you want me to be going to night clubs and you are telling me to parties upon parties we all used to do that and now I've found what is giving me joy in my soul I've found what is giving me security for tomorrow and you have the guess to tell me this thing is too much that is too much it's too much I'm going to church too much we will sit home and we watch all kinds of movies and watch and watch and eat and eat and watch and watch and afterwards go and sleep just go to bed wake up late and we are frustrated we are not happy and don't you see the joy of my face can you realize it's even affecting the texture of my skin and you are telling me that

[40:09] I'm going to tear too much look at how stressed I you can you take you can take away my joy you can take away my joy study this that's the song we used to sing he said this joy that I've got the world didn't give it to me and the world can't take it away from me don't let someone who doesn't know the person may be well meaning don't you have friends or relatives who are well meaning and have destroyed something important they smash your TV or they spoil your computer they were well meaning they are downloading something and they crashed it they deleted all the documents they deleted it because they thought the battery was just running so they were turning it off for you so well meaning is not good enough

[41:29] I saw on Twitter today which was kind of cool but Mike Medoc put it on Twitter he said that Jesus Christ even Jesus Christ was not accepted by his family didn't support him what makes you think that as for you you can be doing what you said and your family will certainly support you Mike said that go and if you follow him Twitter you see that he made another statement which was kind interesting he said that I can't trust anybody who doesn't have enemies that was a very strong one if you want to please everybody everybody wants to be your friend then I can't trust you because you can betray me easily just to be the friends of others how many of you know David Cameron has got enemies Obama has got so many enemies you know what

[42:35] I'm talking about so why is it that you are trying to be the friend of everybody you won't achieve anything in life and sometimes you don't have to do anything for some people not to like you the sight of you offends them they are watching you they are checking all your pictures but they are angry but they are watching every time every time that's a digression but it's important to understand that faith is foundational and that some people make you stray how many of you have tried to walk by faith and some people try to look down marginalize you and make you feel so sorry make you feel so stupid even having to husbands and wife a husband is pursuing God by faith or a wife is pursuing God by faith last Sunday you heard the testimony he said my wife sometimes

[43:36] I was thinking she is going to church too much now I have seen what her faith has brought sometimes you know some people don't deserve to be your friends where you are and where you are going they may say all kinds of things about you don't worry let them keep talking very soon they will come asking you for help very soon they will be they will be fighting doing anything to be in your circles they will go I just wanted to check if there's anything I can do for you hey the same person who said you are rubbish there's nothing good look at you I don't want to see you get out of here my biggest regret is knowing you get out of here they behave like they forgotten everything is there anything

[44:37] I can do to help you I just I was passing I was driving by I should call you I can't help you give him water give him something let him go is is someone following me listen you can't walk in faith and be a victim in life you can't walk in faith and be a victim in life hallelujah hallelujah romans chapter 14 verse 23 that's how foundational fundamental cardinal faith is in christianity he says to the standard anything you do that is not in faith it's a sin he said but he who doubts is condemned if he eats because he does not eat from faith for whatever is not from faith is worth sin whatever let's read that from the for the last statement there let's go let's go let's go one more time for whatever is not from faith is so is possible that you can be clapping and singing praises and you are singing in sin is it possible you be giving your tithe and offering and you are doing it in sin is it possible you are fasting you be fasting and fasting in sin you see how serious this faith thing is because without it he said don't bother coming to me

[46:35] God said he said without faith don't bother don't bother coming hallelujah what would my faith do for me okay if we faith is so important he is looking for faith faith is foundational why the necessity of faith why because number one we are saved or we are justified by faith so to be a Christian it starts on faith that's why you cannot be born a Christian when you meet someone tells you that me I was I was Christian since I was born it's clearly that it's not a Christian it's not a Christian the Christian Bible is talking Bible talks about because you have to come by faith you have to accept it by faith there must be a time in your life where you let

[47:36] Jesus take over by faith we are saved by faith Bible talks in Romans chapter 3 verse 21 talks about how but now the righteousness let's look at verse 24 Romans chapter 3 verse 24 25 27 28 quickly and then let me show you something being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus so usually we are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is Christ Jesus who God has said for verse 24 25 who God has said for as appreciation by his blood through faith so this whole thing starts through faith to demonstrate his righteousness because in his forbearance God has passed over the sins that were previously committed verse 27 so through faith where is boasting then is excluded by what law of works no but by the law of faith faith excludes boasting so

[48:39] I know I can go to the next verse therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law so it's not so much what you are doing or what you have done by so much how much faith you are putting in Christ once your faith is in Christ you are considered in Ephesians chapter 2 verse 8 says for by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourself right for it says it is the gift of God how are we saved by grace are we saved through faith so we get saved by faith that's why faith is important now the second point about faith quickly is because they just shall live by faith we are justified by faith so you come in by faith all right watch this Ephesians chapter 2 verse 9 said not of works just let backtrack a little bit not of works not lest any man should boast so you realize that it just opposes works to faith it puts them side by side either works or faith so you either come in by works which cannot actually

[49:55] Bible because Bible says that by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified all right Romans chapter 3 verse 19 and 20 and 21 or so so by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified all right for we know that whatever every man by the storm verse 21 somewhere by the flesh of the world shall no flesh be justified all right but that's not the way so we know so if you go by works you won't arrive you can't be justified the destination is justification if you go by works you can't be justified you have to go by faith to be justified now watch this so when it comes to being saved it takes faith either the option is faith or works what does works mean the good things you have done the number of heads you have chopped the number of people you have blown out apart then you can go to heaven all those rubbish you can't you see that's the difference between Christianity and other religions other religions tell you that do good and you go to heaven

[50:58] God says you have to do it just believe in what Christ has done and you will make it so good works can't take you to heaven good works and your previous bad works can't stop you from going because as soon as you put your faith in Christ all his work and his blood cleanses all the bad stuff you appear in heaven but you can do all the good works on earth and still appear very dirty Bible says that for your good works are as filthy rags before God most of us we normally it's human to attempt by works that's religion religion is man's way of trying to get to God Christianity is God's means to get to us so now you can Bible says that for God so loved the world that he did something that whosoever believes then it can become a reality so it's your faith that makes it work now so when it comes to salvation faith verse works now after you are saved you have escaped the works after you are saved the just shall live by faith all right we walk by faith and not by sight so that is no works it's faith or sight to enjoy your

[52:23] Christian walk what is sight the things you see how things look the things you feel the things you can be a Christian and yet suffer the way ordinary people suffer in spite of all the inheritance that God has for us you can be a Christian and suffer like everybody suffers but you have access you have the opportunity to live the godly life the resurrection life but how do you do that you have to live by faith they just shall live by faith Galatians chapter 3 verse 11 Romans chapter 1 verse 17 Hebrews chapter 10 verse 38 chapter 4 chapter 4 verse 2 so the just shall live by faith we live by faith I like this one Galatians chapter 2 verse 20 it says that I am crucified with Christ nevertheless

[53:28] I live yet not I yet not I but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by you see that I am crucified there are two eyes over there the first eye has been crucified but I said nevertheless I live oh no this I live which you see I live by faith I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me so actually he said I have been crucified with Christ it's no longer I who live but who that's very interesting I'm living but Christ is actually living his life through me that's what it means to be born again

[54:30] Christ is living his life through me so it's not me if you try to impress me I'm sorry I can't try to impress your country because I've been taken over I'm under new management someone has taken over the rains the life and the life that I am crucified with Christ never delayed yet I live say oh don't be mistaken yet not I I live but it's not I I live but it's not I someone say I live but it's not I if you are not born again know what I say in it say I live but it's not I so two I's I live but it's not the I this second I is Christ who is living in me and so you yourself have you lost you I've not lost myself and for Christ to find his expression for me to let him feel that life that I now live I live by faith of Christ I live by by faith in the son of God that's how I live someone say I live by faith say I live by faith that's why that's where the whole thing the game changes can we live by faith when you are born again don't continue living the way ah thank you oh wow wow thank you

[55:52] Holy Spirit no you're not a problem people get born again and they they focus on that's religion religion has entered us so much we human beings we focus on now I'm born again so I don't do this I don't do that I don't do that I don't do that now I go to church a bit more I don't do that I don't do that so then we we get we enter by faith but then we continue just purely by works so all your focus is how you are taking the boxes not how Christ is expressing himself through you you are living for Christ clap for Jesus clap for so this whole thing is that just shall live by it's a Christian walk it's a the Christian walk is a faith walk if you try to explain to people they will laugh at you they will understand you praise the

[56:54] Lord you live by faith so we the just shall live by faith let's all say that together say it again so we live by faith I'm crucified in Christ nevertheless I live yet not I by Christ and the life I now live I live by faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me someone say Amen and then it's very similar to living by faith 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 verse 7 we walk by faith and not by sight be careful what is getting your attention what did I say be careful what is getting your attention if it's not word based you are in trouble it doesn't matter how good how popular how nice most of us live our lives based on popular opinion that's a very cheap way of living a cheap way of living not easy cheap a cheap way of you can't live based on popular opinion you understand that so sometimes politicians try to win votes by trying to make people think that they are living based on their popular opinion but most of them don't believe a lot of the things they are trying to break you and then now when they are empowered they do what they feel they have to do so you can't live your life by popular opinion even if you have one child you can't do what the child is popular with the child so where did all these things come from you have to live your life by faith so if you live your life based on what you see you are going to be in trouble be careful what you are listening to be careful what you are beginning to accept many marriages have collapsed because of somebody got the wrong advisor people have people have people have left places of destiny

[58:53] God placed them because someone advised them people have left certain churches they shouldn't have left others too might have stayed where they shouldn't have stayed you know your spirit where you supposed to be if you are walking you know your spirit don't live your life by popular opinion or you don't want to offend somebody you don't want to you know what I'm telling you he said in Galatians if I want to please men I will not be the servant of God I think Galatians chapter 2 verse 10 so it's important don't live walk by faith and not by sight careful what you are looking at what is getting your focus it can destroy you it can be the beginning of your misery some people see a certain man or a certain woman and they chose to go and go and hang out with a guy and start a relation with them and it began their misery and after that they have not recovered some have ended up in mental hospital because of the guy they went out with everyone advised them but they didn't listen to it base your decisions on that's why you can't afford not to read your own bible you can't afford not to read your own bible

[60:22] I don't see why you should be a christian without having a bible how christian are you then how are you living your christian life is someone getting what i'm saying am i talking to anybody at all i want someone's faith to rise up rise above the levels of your peers rise above them live above the times walk in faith number four we are kept by faith kept by faith first first peter chapter one so number one we are saved by faith or we are justified by faith number two we live by faith the just shall live by faith number three we walk by faith number four we are kept by faith as long as you are in faith you'll be kept you're okay as long as you are in faith sister you're okay as long as you are in faith bro you're okay as long as you are in faith that's why the enemy will do anything possible to keep you out of faith once you stay out of the sphere of faith you're in trouble the devil gets the opportunity remember the scripture where in

[61:40] Matthew chapter 14 verse 28 Peter started to walk on water isn't it amazing lovely Peter walking on water human beings walking on the water nice isn't it he started walking by sight started walking by sight and what happened to him he began to sink I remember pastor who's message faith seminar we walk by faith and sink by sight yeah walking don't depend basically on your feelings our feelings are very unreliable your feelings are unreliable I mean at that time you wake up you feel very down and someone I don't even know why so if you are going to base the movement of your life on your feelings you won't go to work most of the time you won't go to school most of the time you won't do anything you feel like sleepy so sleep you can't do that so if you don't if you don't walk by faith you will have yourself to be blamed believe

[62:59] God tell someone believe God Jesus said let not your heart be troubled believe in only believe in God and believe in me instead of worrying believe God God will take care of you and this year you say amen we are kept by faith and then finally I like this one it gets done by faith we can do it by faith anything that you need to do it can be done by faith anything that you need to do it can only be done by faith so long as God is concerned all you need is God and all it takes is faith all you need is God and all it takes is faith so if you want God to be able to do what you require actually it takes faith to get God on board you want God on board you want God as a team member just apply faith apply faith someone shout faith it says that this is the victory to overcome the world 1st

[64:11] John chapter 5 verse 4 it says that whatsoever is born of God overcams the world am I talking to an over comer 1st John chapter 5 verse 4 said for whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory that has overcome the world our faith he said for whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world and this the victory that overcomes the world even our faith so the faith you bring on board is what determines your victories.

[64:50] So is it possible that if you don't walk in faith you are likely to be losing? That's why if you were the devil, say God forbid, if you were the devil and your opponent is winning what would you do?

[65:08] Would you want to fight him directly with the weapons he's using or you just try and deactivate the faith? Why should you disengage his faith? It doesn't have to do too much to defeat you.

[65:20] He has to find a way it's like Achilles heel. That's all. The faith is like Achilles. You can throw javelins and swords. The guy can die. You can kill him.

[65:31] But if you can get the heel you don't have to do anything. Just get the heel and then it becomes anything. Something said if they cut off my hair I'll become like any ordinary man.

[65:44] Now in our day if they get your faith you'll become as cheap as anybody else. Stop complaining that this thing is not working. I've tried everything and God stop saying those things.

[65:56] Faith has already seen the answer. Stop saying that is not working. You have the answer and no walk in it. The devil will show you some wrong things. He's just trying to set the trial of your faith.

[66:07] But he said this is the victory that will become the word our faith. Even our faith. Raise your children by faith. Raise them by faith.

[66:17] Listen don't keep them out of church. You'll pay for it later. Raise them by faith. Don't be gossiping and doing negative things about church and church people to your children.

[66:33] Call it down they will think you're a hypocrite. They are not interested. And they'll play it back to you. Someone say shout this is it. This is it.

[66:45] What is it? This is it. Faith. What is it? Faith. What is it? Faith. What is it? Faith. Clap for Jesus. If you are not saved you are not saved because life is dangerous.

[67:01] life is not under your command. I don't see why I should end this service without giving you an opportunity to say yes Lord. Pastor pray with me because I want to have this bread.

[67:12] It means I want to put all my confidence in him all my hope in him I want to give my life to Jesus. If that is your genuine desire just lift up your hand and say this after me. Say it genuinely from your heart.

[67:22] Say Lord Jesus I know I'm a sinner. I've sinned against you. I ask you to forgive my sins. Wash me with your blood. Thank you Lord for dying on the cross to save me from today I will serve you.

[67:38] I believe in you. I put all my hope in you. I put my faith in you as my Lord and personal savior. I receive you into my life. I make a vow with you that I will serve you all the days of my life.

[67:54] Satan get behind me. I don't belong to you. I belong to Jesus. Thank you Lord for saving me in Jesus name. Father I thank you your word says that you know your sheep and your sheep know your voice.

[68:08] No one can come to you except your father brings him. I pray that let your grace be upon them. Help them to be strong. I pray that the grace of God will come upon you. The power of the Holy Spirit will come upon you and help you to be a strong Christian.

[68:20] in Jesus mighty name. Amen. Thank you for listening. For more resources please visit caries.org and call us on 0207 740 9960 God bless you.