discipleup podcast

Disciple Up # 266

When Faith & Reality Collide

Part 6th: The Victories of Faith

By Louie Marsh, 7-6-2022

 

1) When I live by faith God’s power is ACTIVATED in my life.

 

33  who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34  quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, Hebrews 11:33-34a (ESV)

 

• Conquered kingdoms – David

 

1  After this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines. 2 Samuel 8:1 (ESV)

 

• Enforced justice – Samuel

 

9  Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.” 1 Samuel 8:9 (ESV)

 

• Obtained promises – Abraham

 

15  And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. Hebrews 6:15 (ESV)

 

• Stopped lions, quenched fire – Daniel (David, Samson, 3 Hebrews)

 

2) When I live by faith I trust in GOD NOT MYSELF.

 

were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35  Women received back their dead by resurrection. Hebrews 11:34b-35 (ESV)

 

“out of weakness”  =   "from weakness." The main reference is probably to Samson. - Word Studies in the New Testament.

 

• This is the

 

8  but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (ESV)

 

18  For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19  For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Romans 7:18-19 (ESV)

 

• Faith comes from and works through

 

4  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5  I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5 (ESV)

 

• Don’t despair about weakness – WALLOW IN IT!

 

8  Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9  But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10  For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (ESV)

 

3) Living by faith is me and God WORKING TOGETHER as partners.

 

9  For we are God's coworkers. You are God's field, God's building. 1 Corinthians 3:9 (CSB)

 

5  because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. Philippians 1:5 (ESV)

 

“9And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;” (Colossians 1:9–11, ESV)

 

“28Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” (Colossians 1:28–29, ESV)

 

• God’s power & mine WORK TOGETHER.

 

11  May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, Colossians 1:11 (ESV)