Walking By Faith

[0:00] Hallelujah! We thank God you've tuned into this message by David Entry at Caris Church. No hand can help you with the fulfillment of your destiny but the Word of God. May God's hand align you further into your destiny through this Word.

[0:17] Today I want to just talk about walking by faith. Tell somebody, I walk by faith. Say to another person, I walk by faith.

[0:27] I walk by faith. Now, 2 Corinthians 5, verse 7. That's the main text for this. And we are all going to say to read it out loud together.

[0:40] Alright, shall we all read it out loud together then? For we walk by faith, not by sight. One more time. For we walk by faith, not by sight. Louder!

[0:51] For we walk by faith, not by sight. Now I'm going to quote the scripture and then we all read it out together. Second Corinthians, chapter 5, verse 7. For we walk by faith, not by sight.

[1:04] Second Corinthians, chapter 5, verse 7. for we walk by faith and not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5-7 for we walk by faith and not by sight.

[1:15] So this season is a season of victories. Now, if it's going to be a victory that God gives from the text we read, 1 Corinthians 15-57 thanks be to God who gives us the victory through Christ Jesus.

[1:35] If it's a victory that God is going to give us then it's supposed to be on a certain track. It's supposed to be through a certain path.

[1:47] A pathway to God-given victory. There is a pathway to God-given victory. So, the God-given victory, the pathway of the God-given victory 1 John 5-4 it says that whatever is born of God overcomes the world.

[2:13] And this is the victory that overcomes the world even our faith. Whatever is born of God has the world overcoming element inherent within it.

[2:27] But if it's going to be born of God then it is born into faith. It is born of faith or it's born through faith into faith.

[2:40] So, anything that is born of God always has faith in it. For God to work through anybody for anybody, with anybody on this earth there must of a necessity be resident faith.

[2:54] So, it says that whatsoever is born of God it overcomes. And what actually the victory that overcomes the world is victory. There's this victory that overcomes the world.

[3:07] Faith is the victory. It says that and this is the victory that overcomes the world. This is the victory. Whatever whatsoever is born or whatever is born of God overcomes.

[3:24] The world. What overcomes the world? It says no this is what overcomes the world. Faith is the victory that overcomes. So, if you have faith what do you have?

[3:38] The victory. Do you understand? You don't need faith to have victory. If you have faith you've got the victory. Do you understand that?

[3:49] So, in a season of victories you can't afford not to be found with faith. You can't be found without faith.

[4:02] You have to walk by faith drink by faith eat by faith sleep by faith rest by faith jump by faith bath by faith go by faith come by faith.

[4:15] You've got to do it by faith. Whatsoever is born of God overcomes and this is the victory the victory is the faith our faith.

[4:28] The victory is our faith. Say my faith is the victory.

[4:41] So, how do you know you are going to win? Not by faith your faith. My faith is the victory. Do you understand? How do you know you are going to win?

[4:54] So, when do you have the victory? Okay. When do you have the victory? My faith is the victory. It depends on when you choose to build the faith.

[5:07] Me, I have the victory already. Why? Because I've got faith. I already so it's not like you are waiting for victory to show up. You already it's an aura you walk it's a realm you walk it's an atmosphere you walk it's a territory you operate in.

[5:24] It's an unseen territory you operate in that guarantees it's an unseen territory but it's tangible it's substantial now faith is the substance it's a substance it's a substance when they say someone is on some substance yeah I'm on faith substance let me just add the faith because some people are ready to take it out of context yeah yeah when they ask you my pastor is on a substance called faith the faith substance faith substance faith substance but when it comes to faith faith is the substance faith is not a feeling it's the substance when you have faith you have this assurance you have this confidence that is not generated by natural substances but it's generated by the very breath of God is generated by what created the earth what created the human being what created the pancreas what created the esophagus what created every aspect of your life the thing that created it when you walk by faith you are living by the actual word that is responsible for anything that exists that's what you have connected yourself to and it begins to give you a certain level of confidence in God not in situations so with faith your confidence is in God you see this is how

[7:07] Bible puts it after telling us about Hebrews chapter 11 it's called the chapter of faith the hall of faith the page of faith Hebrews chapter 11 after finishing Hebrews chapter 11 chapter 12 says that therefore be surrounded by such great cloud of witnesses let us lay aside every way that easily beset us and let us run with patience the race that is verse 2 says that looking unto Jesus verse 1 the end of verse 1 says let us run with patience everybody say run with patience please say it again let us run with patience the race that is set before us so how do we run the race that is set before us looking unto Jesus okay so then faith is not so much about what the circumstances around you but faith starts with who you are looking at who your mind is on who your gaze is on who your focus is on the only way

[8:10] Moses could enter into his destiny was because he saw him who was invisible he forsook Egypt Hebrews chapter 11 verse 26 he forsook Egypt not fearing the wrath of the king for he endured as seeing him who is invisible watch this watch this Bible says that by faith Moses forsook Egypt how did he forsake Egypt Egypt please preach with me how did he forsake Egypt I can't hear you how did Moses forsake Egypt so by faith Moses forsook Egypt he wasn't afraid of the king's wrath that was not a problem for he endured so the faith made him so him who is invisible okay so he was oppressing by faith so he could see he who is invisible that is why because of who he has seen he wasn't afraid to forsake any other thing that was his experience because he has seen it faith the chief object of faith is

[9:28] God when you are walking by faith it means that you put your absolute confidence in God two dimensions two aspects of faith number one is you believe God someone say I believe God number two you believe God is able to do one you believe God and two you believe that he's able to do what he has promised to do Romans chapter four verse 19 and 20 Bible says being not weak in faith he considered not his own body let's go to the verse 20 the verse 20 says that he was strong in faith giving glory to God in other words he knew that what God has said he would do he would do so he did not only believe that God is Hebrews chapter 11 verse 6 for without faith it is impossible to please

[10:32] God and for he who comes to him must believe that what must believe that what so number one is believe that God is God is someone say God is and then two he is a rewarder in other words he acts what he said he will do he will do God is and God works God is and God works God is and his word is so whatever he said he will do he will do brothers sisters this faith thing is the only sure way we walk by faith in other words we walk by an absolute confidence in the existence of God and the act of God there is something I've taught before is called theologians call it theodicy theodicy theodicy is about if there is

[11:36] God how come sin entered the world where did he come from how did God allow the sin to go if Adam has not seen all the problems have been happening and then there is also what is called deism now deism is the belief that God created the world and now he sat back so deism is the theory which believe that there is God or God created the heavens and the earth but when he finished creating he handed it over for us to run it so God is no more in charge okay but theology true theology is that God is still in charge he's so much in charge that he's in control of the micro details micro details to the extent that even the cells in your blood he's aware of them he's aware of them he's in control to every micro

[12:44] I taught a message sometime ago about God is in control even the micro details look at the death of Jesus Christ they planned to kill him but God was the one orchestrated he's just fulfilling his word so the point here is that God is very much in control and the God who is in control for him to show up in your life one of the requirements is that this is the victory that overcomes the world even our faith so for you to see God at work you definitely must bring faith to the table you must believe you must say listen okay I'm going to talk about let me show you how do you work by faith how do you work by faith now two aspects of faith which I mentioned you believe that God is and then two you believe that he works okay whatever his promise he will do he works

[13:45] God is and God works now having understood that what does it mean how do you work by faith let me give you one or two points how you work by faith when we talk about walking by faith we are not talking about see when you see the word or the phrase walk by faith or let your walk anytime it makes an appearance in the new King James or King James sometimes even in the NIV NIV usually might use conduct so it says let us not walk as the heathen do another way is let us not conduct ourselves as the heathen do so when you talk about walking you are talking about more behavior behavior than just taking physical steps we say we walk by faith is that particular style not so much about your actual walk but it's your behavior now listen to this very careful brothers and sisters in the

[14:56] Hebrew or generally every time you see these three ways automatically what you should think about is action when someone tells you this guy has a lot of love in his heart what are you thinking about he's not feeling you're thinking about that means he does things a certain way hello so in Hebrew when they say that you have to be a person of love or love somebody it's not about how you feel about somebody it's not how you feel about somebody it's about what you do for word in the second word is serve okay this person like serving what comes to mind the person must be doing some things so love service and faith are all action based you cannot say you you have service without actions you cannot say you have love without corresponding actions in the same way you cannot say you have faith without corresponding action so working by faith has everything to do with certain serious continuous actions actions someone say action the faith that is the victory is the faith that can be seen at work you are struggling to give your offering yet you believe

[16:28] God to prosper you you are living in a cuckoo land don't pray for prosperity faith into prosperity amen Jesus said in Mark chapter 5 verse 36 Jesus said to Jairus said to the ruler of the synagogue do not be afraid what did Jesus say do not be afraid is that what he said you need only one thing the only they believe part sometimes we make the believer afraid do not be afraid that all it requires is just believe what did Jesus say what did Jesus say no no please read the bible what is there okay let me read here when he gets to what

[17:34] Jesus said it's in the exclamation man as soon as he said the word that was spoken he said to the ruler of the synagogue I can't hear you man of God he was talking to someone who has just been told your child is dead no it's you know sudden death is hard to sometimes reconcile with it so maybe you know sometimes when somebody was with somebody and they part company and in two hours time he hears that the person is dead he said no no I don't believe this we were just talking because it's so sudden but Jairus the reason why he went to meet Jesus Jairus is the ruler of the synagogue is because the girl was sick at the point of death it's there in verse 23 he said at the point my little daughter lies at the point of death so he said come lay your hands on her that she may be healed and she will leave so she was sick and she's been sick for a while and it wasn't getting better it was deteriorating at a fast rate it got to a time he could see life was slipping out of the child so he ran he rushed went and she says she's dying come on their way going somebody delays them woman with the issue of blood she delays the whole procession and

[19:10] Jesus finished with her as they were going people came from Jairus said it's okay if this woman if this woman has not delayed us maybe he would have gotten there before they said leave the master alone for your daughter is dead as soon as it's too late it's too late it's too late have you been told something it's too late you are the one I'm talking to nothing is too late when Jesus is in the picture nothing is too late if you come they told him that it's too late Jesus heard what they said he said turn not to those who brought the story the message he turned to the one who came to Jesus and Jesus said don't fear do not be afraid only believe that's what it takes you want to see the glory of God you want to see the power of God you want in your finances in your family life in your health don't be afraid of what the doctors say do you understand that don't be afraid of what the doctors are saying don't be afraid of that be afraid that you don't have faith be worried about your faithlessness that is what

[20:31] Satan needs that's all what he needs to stop you in your tracks not when you have faith how do you walk by faith number one thank you Jesus put your absolute confidence in the word of God in the word of God in the word of God what do I mean by the word of God you see I'm not saying just read your Bible which everyone needs to read your Bible to grow in the knowledge of Jesus but how many of you have read the Bible and you realize this Bible was talking to you the Bible talks it has mouth it talks it talks sometimes oh I like it when situations don't look the best and you read your Bible I like the instructive bits instruction bits sometimes not especially when you are supposed to take a very strong step of obedience you understand that sometimes you are reading your

[21:38] Bible and then you can tell that God is telling you forgive that person who you have vowed you know sometimes you wish you didn't come across that statement because at that material moment you are not in the position to obey that but you hear God talking and you can't deny it and sometimes when you behave like that verse you want to move away from that verse then subsequent ones are even shouting it more and you conclude that no this God is talking to me so that's one of the ways God speaks to us through his word other ways is that when you are going through something and you see a scripture and like the scripture I just read this is the victory that overcomes the world it's like you are going for a very important interview you are not sure how things will turn out and you are it's like everybody is telling this thing doesn't work and you are reading your bible you come across this is the victory that overcomes the world you didn't go and look for it when there's trouble don't be looking for the

[22:40] Bible what can I even see usually you might miss a lot of that's why you must have a Bible reading plan when there's trouble there's no trouble just continue reading and the good thing is when you have your journal and you have your marker sometimes you are reading and you come across something that jumps out to you and that alone can take so much of your time because this is strong I never saw it this is strong and you meditate on it and you write it down your journal two weeks later a situation comes up and that word that you have written down that you have stored in your heart jumps back at you then you can even go and check again and read it again and that is a word you can stand on for instance you are reading a scripture that says I am the Lord that healeth thee suddenly oh God heals you didn't even read it like that but as you read it it really made another impression on you that God heals he said I am the

[23:41] Lord that healeth okay that healing so the healing God is behind healings oh okay alright so you keep that you meditate on that and then later on in your year in the year or sometime later situation crops up and doctors tell you maybe you have to have a surgery on your little toe or something or whatever or you have to be on medication for as long as it takes then the word you read jumps to you that I am the Lord that healeth thee I am the Lord that healeth thee I am the Lord that healeth thee so what do you do now working by faith is you have heard what the doctor said but you keep your focus and your confidence in that word that you saw in God's word that I am the Lord that healeth thee I am not talking about the theological complications of that word but of the text I'm talking about the meaning the way the text jumped to you and you haven't taken it out of context but it says

[24:43] I am the Lord that healeth you oh at that time you are talking to Israel you can take it for yourself that the Bible was not written for Israel it's written for the people of God so when you see God making a statement even though you are not the first person making the statement to the statement seem to jump to you so strong it looks like God is talking to me here hold on to it in whatever situation you are getting through so if you are going through any situation and you want to see God show up in your case you definitely have to have a word you are holding on to you need a word from God how do you walk by faith without a word from God but Romans chapter 10 verse 17 faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God so it takes the word of God for faith to come let's all say that together one more time louder that is why in courage every day of the year we are reading something we are reading it takes the word of

[25:53] God tomorrow you find out in Proverbs chapter 3 that trust in the Lord with all your mind and lean on not on your own understanding but in all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your path trust in the Lord with all your mind trust in the Lord that is what we call faith in God you trust I just trust in God my confidence is in God my confidence is in God you better change that status and put my confidence is in God put on your status or somewhere my confidence is in God when you hear any news my confidence that's how you walk by faith you believe it and you are committed your life to it my confidence is in God my confidence is in God my confidence is in God my confidence is in God my confidence is in God oh

[26:54] I think you can shout it even louder my confidence is in God my confidence is in God say my confidence is in God so number one you have to put your confidence in God. Number two, keep the word alive in your heart.

[27:17] This is very profound. Let me explain it quickly. What does it mean to keep the word alive in your heart? The Lord was communicating some things to me. If you want to walk by faith, be very selective with what you hear.

[27:37] Be intentional. Put a barrier to filter through what is coming. You can easily be distracted. Even when it comes to preaching, this is what the Lord was beginning to teach me. I realize because of the proliferation, mobility of information, if you are not careful, you'll be eating from everywhere. How many of you have been hungry and you went for a buffet and you took everything on your plate and you couldn't eat?

[28:08] When you have more available, when you have more available, right? When you have more available to you, if you are not careful, you will lose focus.

[28:24] You will lose focus. You are listening to everybody. You are listening to everybody. Every preacher you say, the title makes you decide what to listen to. You are making a mistake because some of the titles, the way it's clickbait, it's just to distract you.

[28:39] But you don't have time. You got to walk by faith. Listen to what I didn't say. I didn't say, if you are watching a lot of different clips, you are not walking by faith. No, that's not what I said. I'm talking about how keeping your focus on the Word of God.

[28:56] What was the point I gave? Keep the Word alive in your heart. To keep the Word alive in your heart, you must exclude a lot of things that are really not necessary.

[29:08] Because of that, listen to this, because of that, for those of us who fish around for our information, you must know an authentic source, one or two, where you restrict yourself.

[29:21] I'm not saying be limited, but really, you know that if I go here, if I'm going to listen on faith, I need Kenneth Hagin, I need David H. I need Bishop Oedipo.

[29:33] So if you want to maintain your focus and keep the Word of God alive, and so, to keep the Word of God alive in your heart, you must be intentional and very stubborn, determined that, no, I know this is tempting, but no.

[29:47] I know this feels like, but I know why I'm here. And then, besides going there for information, the particular revelation information you need, this is what you must also do.

[29:58] In the normal times, that's more dangerous. Most serious Christians who are falling to temptation, they didn't fall into temptation, join their prayer times.

[30:11] Not the time we are fasting. Not the 81 days of prayer. No. It's afterwards you are home. You are relaxing. Someone says that you have a free heart. In your normal times, your normal times, see when you have an exam coming, it's likely you'll be very focused.

[30:35] So it's not likely you can easily be distracted when you have a very important exam. But after the exam, after the exam, while men slept, while men were not alert.

[30:48] So what I'm saying is that, listen to it, brothers, to keep the word of God alive in your heart, you must be intentional on not giving your attention to some things.

[30:59] because for the word of God to be alive in your heart, you must actually keep staying focused and keep chaining it, chaining it, by deciding that, I listen to this group of people, this particular person, and this one and this one, I restrict, because of mobility of information, people who follow many men of God hardly become committed to churches, to the local church.

[31:26] I'm telling you, people who follow many men of God hardly become, because as we have service, there's another person who is supposed to also be a man of God.

[31:38] He has come to town and suddenly your God who meets you in your church has moved and followed the man of God. A man of God is in town. You are going there because this man of God carries a special anointing.

[31:53] Why didn't God make him your pastor? No, no, listen. Why, if God is interested in building people in the local church, why will he put your blessing in the mouth of someone who will be coming outside of the local church at the time your local church is meeting?

[32:19] People are not spiritual. One of the things that has hit a lot of believers in our days is this celebrity, celebrity Christian figures, following Christian figures, following celebrities.

[32:34] I'm not saying they are wrong. The celebrities are not wrong. I don't even call them celebrities. Or whoever God, the people God elevates. It's like your school is doing, you have lectures, and then you have heard that this, somebody who is very, amazing speaker has come to the next university.

[32:54] So you are going. Or, you have exam, examination, and you hear that the examiner in that room is a very good person. So you are going there. The invigilator is, is a kind invigilator.

[33:09] And you've got extra babies around you. Don't do that. Don't do that. You know, by God's grace, I celebrate graces.

[33:23] I celebrate graces. However, I stay focused on my mission. Oh yes. Because I've been in church for a while now, and I have seen people who always follow names never make a difference in the church.

[33:44] They don't, they don't, they don't grow. They don't grow. They don't, they don't, they don't get used because they are uses. When you are busy serving, you usually don't have much time.

[34:01] Like nursing, like mothers. If you are a mother of two, or three, or four, depending on how many children you are, you don't have time for a lot of things.

[34:12] Sometimes, even some people, mother of one, she doesn't have time because everything in her life is this child. So, do anything it takes to keep the word of God alive. What does that mean?

[34:24] The word of God does not come naturally. You have to go for it. And so, create systems to bring in the word that will keep you going. To bring in God's word, to bring in God's word.

[34:38] That is why you have to be very restrictive with what you feed on. Restrict your diet. Restrict your diet. Spiritual diet.

[34:48] Restrict it. What do I mean? It's not everybody. You are listening to too many people. You will be confused. And you will not even have fun. No child drinks from different male.

[35:01] Every time. By the time. Oh, auntie. Can I capture that? Auntie is breastfeeding you. Afterwards, the auntie B is also breastfeeding you. Auntie Z is also breastfeeding.

[35:13] No wise mother will ever allow, even they don't even allow other women to breastfeed their child. Yeah, not, not even their mom.

[35:23] Keep the word of God alive. That's how you walk by faith. Faith is not just a feeling.

[35:34] Keep the word of God alive. Do you know why? Because when situations crop up, there's something already living in you. There's a living word in you. The word is alive in you. That's not when you are looking for, what do I say?

[35:46] What do I say? Who can pray for me? No. When something hits, there's already a word alive. And you know, I'm not afraid. Jesus said, fear not. I'm not afraid. So number one, my confidence is in God.

[35:58] Number two, keep the word of God. Number three, keep speaking the word that you believe in. Don't be quiet about it. Speak it. Speak it. Speak it.

[36:10] If you don't have anything to say, say, I believe God. I believe God. You just, you just heard news from your bosses. That is not very encouraging.

[36:22] What do you say? I believe God. Sometimes, people who know you, they'll hear you. They didn't, you are not talking to them, but they're around you, they could hear you in your cubicle.

[36:35] I believe God. I believe God. I believe God. My confidence is in God. My confidence is in God. And one of the things they have to keep hearing from you, one of the things that if you have faith, besides saying my confidence is in God, besides saying I believe God, one of the things you'll be heard saying, praise God.

[36:51] Hallelujah. You'll be saying hallelujah. Bible says that Abraham did not stagger in faith, but was giving glory. Hallelujah. Was giving glory. Was giving glory. Romans chapter 4, verse 20.

[37:02] He was giving glory. He was giving glory to God. He was not, he did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory.

[37:12] People must hear glory to Jesus. When things are bad, glory to Jesus. When you've just heard some news that is not encouraging, glory to Jesus. When you don't know what to do, glory to Jesus.

[37:23] My confidence is in God. Glory to Jesus. Glory to Jesus. I thank God. I believe God. I believe God. Glory to Jesus. I believe God. And then last, start taking steps of faith.

[37:37] Do something that shows you have faith. That shows you have faith. Do something. Take steps. Act. Because faith is an action word. Love is an action word.

[37:50] Service is an action word. Act. If you believe God, why are we not seeing you moving? If you believe in God, why are you sitting down?

[38:01] When Jesus said that you were in Jerusalem, do you think they went and crossed their legs and waited? No. They went, they were doing something. Act. Act. Tell somebody, act.

[38:12] Tell somebody, give faith to your faith. Give faith. Oh, I didn't hear you. Tell another person, give faith to your faith. Give faith to your faith. Lest your faith start working. Peter said to Jesus, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water.

[38:26] Jesus said, come. Ah! Then he started walking. He started walking because Jesus said, jump out of the boat. Start walking. Start taking steps. Be bold. Don't be afraid. If your confidence is in God, talk it.

[38:38] If your confidence is in God, act it when necessary. Act it when necessary. Act it. Don't be afraid. When you hear, sometimes you might not act, but you hear so many things, you have to have this stubborn heart that God is my help.

[38:55] And then, let it come out of your mouth. When they put pressure on you, say what you believe in God. Say what, say God is on my side. God is on our side. Some of you, got to tell mom, mom, don't be afraid.

[39:06] God will help us. Don't be afraid. You got to tell dad, dad, the battle is not over. God is with us. You got to speak out. Tell your husband, my darling, it is not over.

[39:17] God is with us. Tell your wife, my precious darling, God is with us. It is not over. Let them know. Speak it out. When people feel like they are losing confidence, you should be the one they look for to.

[39:31] Tell them something. And you can't say anything if you have not kept the word of God alive in your heart. When you keep the word of God alive in your heart, people will seek to know what you've got to say when they are looking for God.

[39:45] Work by faith. So number one, your confidence in God. Number two, keep the word of God alive. Number three, speak the word. Number four, number four, act.

[40:00] Give action to your faith. And then you can add this, be patient with God. Through faith and patience, they obtain the promise. Thank you for listening to this message by David Entry.

[40:14] We pray you have been strengthened and enlightened. You can connect with David Entry on all relevant social media platforms, including Instagram and LinkedIn. You can also hear more messages from David Entry on all relevant streaming platforms and the Caris Church app.

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