EXPLOIT OF FAITH SERIES

PASTOR ACHA FRIDAY

Table of content
i. Introduction
ii. What is Faith? Faith definition simplified
iii. Exploits by Faith (An exposition of Hebrew 11)
iv. Building Faith for life’s journey (how faith comes: practical way to build a
faith life)
v. Faith and confession
vi. Faith and works
vii. Faith and Patience
viii. Faith that worketh by Love (How faith works)
ix. Prayer of Faith
x. Spirit of faith
xi. Only Believe
xii. Holding the shield of faith (using your Faith in adversity)
xiii. The two parts of faith (the heart part and the mouth part: with the heart we
believe, with the mouth we confess or speak)
xiv. Faith Speaks: the speaking of faith
xv. Faith for healing
xvi. Faith for your finances
xvii. Faith for increase
xviii. Standing in faith for your loved ones

INTRODUCTION
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not
seen.
Heb 11:2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
Heb 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of
God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Faith is an essential part of the believers survival on the earth. The creation of the
world was an act of faith. Scripture plainly puts it that by faith the world were
framed by the word of God.

In this month’s series we will be doing a deep study in this critical subject: the
subject of faith. We will be looking at the importance of faith to the believer, how
to get faith, how to walk by faith and the place of faith in our everyday life.

Four places in the entire bible we find the phrase: the just shall live by faith:

Hab_2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall
live by his faith.
Rom_1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it
is written, The just shall live by faith.
Gal_3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident:
for, The just shall live by faith.
Heb_10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall
have no pleasure in him.

So, we find from these scriptures that the faith life is a must life for the believer on
the earth.

Note:
➢ Faith life is a MUST for the believer on the earth
➢ The believer without faith can not truly enter the promises of God for his life
➢ God designed the believer to life by faith
➢ The way man can relate with the supernatural or the spirit world is by faith.
➢ When the just stops living by faith, the just really stops living.

Heb 11:2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

❖ We begin to see that it was through faith the elders obtained result.
 ❖ Every exploit the men of old had, was produced by faith or through faith.
❖ None of the men God used walked outside faith, they all walked the walk of
faith and God rewarded them because of their faith.
❖ So, as we continue in this series, open your heart and let’s journey the
journey of faith.

WHAT IS FAITH? FAITH DEFINITION SIMPLIFIED

In our attempt to define what Faith is, we will want to keep this simple enough for
anyone who reads this to grasp understanding. Faith isn’t something out of this
world. FAITH IS SIMPLE. And God made Faith simple so that everyone can walk by
faith easily.

God knows the importance of the faith walk of the believer, and so, He in his
wisdom and love, kept the definition simple enough. Yes, just for you and I. that
even anyone and everyone can have faith.

So, what is Faith?

i. Faith is acting on God’s word

ii. Faith is seeing things from the standpoint of God and calling things the way
God calls things.
iii. In Hebrews 11: 1, It reads that Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the
evidence of things not seen.

Kindly note therefore that faith:

➢ Faith acts on the word of God
➢ Faith is ACTION… It is in the DOING a thing based on the word of God.

EXPLOITS OF FAITH (AN EXPOSITION OF HEBREW 11)

➢ You discovered everyone in the scriptures who walked with God and did
exploit, did them through Faith.
➢ Let’s critically look at these actors of Faith or heroes of faith one by one…
Heb 11:2 For by it (Faith) the elders obtained a good report.

❖ We want to study the men and women who did mighty things through faith
in the scriptures
1. Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice unto God by faith
2. Enoch was translated by faith
3. Noah built the ark and saved a generation by faith
4. Abrahan moved when God called him to leave his father’s house by faith
5. Sarah who was weak and passed the age of bear children by faith
received strength to conceive and gave birth to a son.
6. Isaac blessed Jacob by faith

We find a lot of others who obtained result through faith.

BUILDING FAITH FOR LIFE’S JOURNEY (HOW FAITH COMES: PRACTICAL WAY TO
BUILD A FAITH LIFE)

❖ So, the question now is how do we build faith for the journey?
❖ We have seen that faith is a vital part of our journey here on this other side
of eternity. If faith is critical then we must concern ourselves with how we
can build a faith life.
❖ Please understand that the believer has the sole responsibility to build a faith
life.

Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of
God.

Jud 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith,
praying in the Holy Ghost,

❖ So, basically there are two ways to the faith life

1. The word
2. Prayer
 ❖ It will take constant hearing of the word of God and praying the word and
majorly in the Holy Ghost to build our faith life.
❖ We must spend time to meditate on the word on particular subjects to be
able to build faith in that area of your life and then spend time praying in
tongues.

FAITH AND CONFESSION

Mat_17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say
unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this
mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall
be impossible unto you.

Mat_21:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have
faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also
if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea;
it shall be done.

Mar_11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain,
Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart,
but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have
whatsoever he saith.

Rom 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy
heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be
saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the
mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Heb_10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is
faithful that promised;)

❖ The word faith in this version is the word elpis and it means expectation of
good, hope and it is gotten from a the word elpo (which means to anticipate,
usually with pleasure)
❖ So, what the writer was saying was hold fast your expectation of good and
hope that carries with it pleasure.

POINTS
➢ You must understand that faith goes along with confession: you must say
➢ Faith says to the mountain.
➢ Faith is expressed by speaking to the mountain.

So, understand the Progression of Faith

1. You recognize that there is a mountain (Mountain is anything standing as an
obstacle to your progress, testimonies etc.)
2. You speak to the mountain
3. You do not doubt in your heart

Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the
mouth confession is made unto salvation.

➢ Paul clearly teaches how faith works in this verse..

➢ With the HEART man Believes…… and with the MOUTH, Confession is made
➢ So, we find 2 vital parts for Faith
1. The heart
2. The Mouth.

Now understand that Faith

 ➢ Begins from the HEART
➢ And finds expression through the MOUTH

So, when we study or hear the word of God, FAITH comes to the HEART,
When we pray in tongues, FAITH IS BUILT OR STRENGTHENED in the HEART
(i.e Faith grows stronger)
But to release Faith, we must speak forth with our MOUTH, in prayer or
declarations

Another way to release Faith is TAKE ACTION on the word. ACT ON THE
WORD

❖ So, from all we have said, the 2 ways to RELEASE OUR FAITH are:
1. Speak The word
2. Act on the word

FAITH AND WORKS

1Th 1:3KJV Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love,
and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

1Th 1:3GNB For we remember before our God and Father how you put your faith
into practice, how your love made you work so hard, and how your hope in our
Lord Jesus Christ is firm.

2Th_1:11KJV Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count
you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the
work of faith with power:
2Th 1:11 ERV That is why we always pray for you. We ask our God to help you live
the good way he wanted when he chose you. The goodness you have makes you
want to do good. And the faith you have makes you work. We pray that with his
power God will help you do these things more and more.

Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the
faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be
justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of
the law shall no flesh be justified.
Gal_3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the
law, or by the hearing of faith?
Gal_3:5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles
among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Jas_2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and
have not works? can faith save him?
Jas_2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jas_2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith
without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Jas_2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Jas_2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith
made perfect?
Jas_2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Jas_2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead
also.
 ❖ There are a lot of confusion when we begin to consider the subject of faith
and works. A lot will quickly quote some of Pauline’s writing that Faith is
without work and that a man of faith doesn’t necessarily need faith.
❖ This they stand upon not having understanding of Paul’s position when it
comes to Faith and Works
❖ A lot believe that Paul and James where contradicting themselves, and truly
they are not.
❖ They both have same position but from different angle.
❖ Both Paul and James were talking about the power and potency of faith for
the believer.
❖ Paul was teaching on how faith should not be applied, while James was
teaching on how faith should be applied to get the power of faith released
for our good.

PAUL’S POSITION OF FAITH & WORKS

❖ From Paul’s position, he was saying that faith can not go with dependance on
human effort. So, when you see Paul talk about the works of the law, he was
referring to the situation where the church tried to attain right standing with
God by keeping the law.
❖ The law was actually man’s effort of getting right with God or getting things
from God.
❖ The work of the law was without grace.
❖ The work of the law focused on man’s merit and not grace or unmerited
favour.
❖ So, to Paul, you don’t get miracle from God by your human effort, but by
faith
❖ Kindly note that whenever you talk about faith, you must know it is always
tied to GRACE

I will explain:
➢ Grace is what God has given us freely in Christ. This can be seen in 3 lights
i. Who we have become in Christ is a work of Grace
 ii. What we now have or possess in Christ is also another work of Grace
iii. What we can now do in Christ is the 3rd work of Grace

NOTE
➢ With the Jews they were to attain these 3 statuses in God but by the
workings of the law and not grace. They were to become all these by their
human effort, and the bible says it was impossible
➢ Jesus came, died, was buried and resurrected so as to make grace available
and make all 3 possibilities available for the man who dears to believe in him

LESSONES FROM PAUL

o You can’t have the work of the law and still live by faith.
o Your work of the law will cancel your faith in God

JAMES’ POSITION OF FAITH & WORK

➢ James was speaking from the place of corresponding action. That is if you
have faith, you will not just fold your hands and do nothing, but you will act
on your faith.
➢ Because faith is taking action on the word of God (either by speaking or
doing)
➢ James was saying in essence; you need works to validate your faith.

Examples
- The woman with the issue of blood said it in her heart, and then she acted it
out. (Mark 5: 25 – 34)
- The four friends of the leper, Jesus saw their faith in the works (action) -
Mark 2:5
- The wedding at Cana (John 2:1-10)
So, faith and works means Faith and action and not trust in your human effort
outside God

Faith and Patience

2Th_1:4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience
and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

Heb_6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and
patience inherit the promises.

Jas_1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

NOTE:
➢ A lot of believers always see faith as that always quick answer to all they ask
of from the Lord and this position has affected a lot of believers who ask and
expect to see a sharp answer and didn’t get to see it. They quicky give up
thinking God could be a scam.
➢ Please kind note that it isn’t all the time the answers may come fast like we
will always want it.
➢ Let me say this hear, that the first goal of your FAITH IN GOD is to PLEASE
THE LORD and not to get answers
➢ Failure to get this truth into your heart, will make you give up so soon and
even end up looking for an alternative outside God, which a lot of believers
have done and are doing.

❖ Please, as we build faith, there in need to also build patience

Heb_6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and
patience inherit the promises.
❖ In Heb 6:12 we find 3 key words for our study
1. Faith
2. Patience
3. Promise

NOTE from this verse

❖ Promise is the end point, the goal, what we want to get, place we want to
get to etc
❖ Faith is the how to get the promise
❖ But patience is what needs to accompany our faith.

Kindly note
❖ Patience gives faith strength to persevere
❖ Patience and faith are the right combination that leads to the promise
❖ Faith may easily give up without patience
❖ So. Patience is the foundation on which faith should stand and transact
❖ Please as we grow in Faith, do all things to grow in Patience too.

FAITH THAT WORKETH BY LOVE (HOW FAITH WORKS)

Gal_5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor
uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love
❖ Note that Paul clearly states that availeth for the believer is faith which
worketh by love
❖ Faith that will please the Father and produce for the saints must work by
love
 ❖ Now the opposite of working by love is working for selfish reason. For if it is
not by love, then it is self.
❖ So therefore, we gauge our faith by our love. You come to know the intensity
of your faith by the intensity if your love.

Eph_1:15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love
unto all the saints,
❖ Now you find Paul stating this 2 factors as that common factor that every
saint must have; Faith & Love

Col_1:4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have
to all the saints,

Phm 1:4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

Phm 1:5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and
toward all saints;

1Th_1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and
patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
❖ Here we have faith, love and patience all together.
❖ They all connect with each other.

1Ti_1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love
which is in Christ Jesus.

2Ti_1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith
and love which is in Christ Jesus.
❖ We are to hold fast the sound word we have heard with faith and love which
is in Christ Jesus.
PRAYER OF FAITH
James 5: 13 - 18
Jas 5:13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing
psalms.
Jas 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let
them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
Jas 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up;
and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Jas 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may
be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Jas 5:17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed
earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three
years and six months.
Jas 5:18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought
forth her fruit.

Jas 5:15ERV If such a prayer is offered in faith, it will heal anyone who is sick. The
Lord will heal them. And if they have sinned, he will forgive them.

Jas 5:15GNB This prayer made in faith will heal the sick; the Lord will restore them
to health, and the sins they have committed will be forgiven.

❖ Simply put, the prayer of faith is the prayer offered by faith.

❖ James describes how potent the prayer of faith can be… When you pray the
prayer of faith for the sick, they will get healed.
❖ Not only do we pray the prayer of faith for the sick, we were given Elijah as
an example of one who prayed the prayer of faith, and with this he was able
to stop the rain in their entire earth for three and half years and when he
prayed again, the rain came down.

LESSON:
 ➢ Like Elijah, we can pray the prayer of faith for any situation we need God to
act on our behalf.

We find the same in Mark 11: 22 – 24 (williams)

Mar 11:22 Then Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God!

Mar 11:23 I solemnly say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Get up and throw
yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt at all in his heart, but has faith that what
he says will take place, shall have it.
Mar 11:24 So then I tell you, whenever you pray and ask for anything, have faith
that it has been granted you, and you will get it.

ERV
Mar 11:22 Jesus answered, "Have faith in God.
Mar 11:23 The truth is, you can say to this mountain, 'Go, mountain, fall into the
sea.' And if you have no doubts in your mind and believe that what you say will
happen, then God will do it for you.
Mar 11:24 So I tell you to ask for what you want in prayer. And if you believe that
you have received those things, then they will be yours.

TPT
Mar 11:22 Jesus replied, “Let the faith of God be in you!
Mar 11:23 Listen to the truth I speak to you: If someone says to this mountain with
great faith and having no doubt, ‘Mountain, be lifted up and thrown into the midst
of the sea,’ and believes that what he says will happen, it will be done.
Mar 11:24 This is the reason I urge you to boldly believe for whatever you ask for in
prayer—believe that you have received it and it will be yours.

SPIRIT OF FAITH
2Co_4:13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed,
and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
 o What is the Spirit of faith?
o The way Paul taught on the spirit of faith is simple the attitude of faith for
the believer and that is WE BELIEVE AND THEN WE SPEAK

TOPIC: ONLY BELIEVE

Today we will be looking at a very critical side of faith….

Scriptures

MARK 9: 14 – 27
Mar 9:14 And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about
them, and the scribes questioning with them.
Mar 9:15 And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly
amazed, and running to him saluted him.
Mar 9:16 And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?
Mar 9:17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought
unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
Mar 9:18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and
gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they
should cast him out; and they could not.
Mar 9:19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be
with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.
Mar 9:20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the
spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
Mar 9:21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And
he said, Of a child.
Mar 9:22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy
him: but if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.
Mar 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him
that believeth.
Mar 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears,
Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Mar 9:25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the
foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of
him, and enter no more into him.
Mar 9:26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was
as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.
Mar 9:27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.

❖ You notice the father of the child had come pleading that Jesus should have
compassion on them and heal the child. Now one would think this statement
would move Jesus to heal the child.
❖ Some people around would think the man asking Jesus to show compassion,
was because Jesus lost compassion or does not have compassion. But see
Jesus’ response to the man…
❖ If you can believe….

NOTE
i. Yes, God is a compassionate God
ii. Yes, God want to heal
iii. But it is not just on God alone. You have your part to play… If you canst
believe.

Mar 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him
that believeth

John 4: 46 – 52
Joh 4:46 So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine.
And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.
Joh 4:47 When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went
unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he
was at the point of death.
Joh 4:48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not
believe.
Joh 4:49 The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.
Joh 4:50 Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the
word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.
Joh 4:51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him,
saying, Thy son liveth.
Joh 4:52 Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they
said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.
Joh 4:53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said
unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.

NOTE
❖ Jesus saith and the man believed
❖ The noble man believed the words of Jesus
❖ You will always notice that Jesus would work on getting the people to the
place they believe the word spoken

Luke 8: 49 – 50
Luk 8:49 While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's
house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.
Luk 8:50 But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only,
and she shall be made whole.

Mark 5: 35 - 36
Mar 5:35 While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house
certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any
further?
Mar 5:36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler
of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
 ➢ We must understand words are powerful. Words spoken can affect what
happens to us.
➢ Jesus heard the words to spoken to the ruler and he knew that words can
either build faith or breed fears.

Let me say this here:

❖ There are fear building words and there are Faith building words
❖ When you expose yourself to FEAR building words, you feed fear.
❖ When you expose yourself to FAITH building words, you feed faith.

Matt 9: 27 – 29
Mat 9:27 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying,
and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.
Mat 9:28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and
Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea,
Lord.
Mat 9:29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

❖ Jesus asked a critical question, BELIEVE YE THAT I AM ABLE TO DO THIS.

❖ Jesus was asking them in essence, do you believe I CAN DO THIS
❖ Do you believe I can heal you; do you believe I can change that situation for
good?

Heb_11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to
God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek
him.

Notice it reads, he (or she) that comes to God must believe that he is…. That
he exist, that he is God, that he is who he says he is, that can do what he says
he can do, that he is true
We must believe that he is;
 i. A healer
ii. Our provider
iii. Our protector
iv. A miracle working God

You can put any qualification you find in the scriptures of God. The list is endless.
And you can add as you so chooses but from the bible.

He says no matter how you see God from scriptures, you must BELIEVE HE IS
And then, he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Example
So, it is that first, you see God as the healer, and then you seek him diligently
to heal you.
God is a provider, and then seek God to provide your needs knowing he is a
provider.

Mark 11:22 - 24
Mar 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
Mar 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain,
Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart,
but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have
whatsoever he saith.
Mar 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray,
believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Let’s consider the following steps and personalize them:

❖ Firstly, I say or speak to the mountain

❖ I believe that whatsoever I say shall come to pass and not doubt in my heart
 ❖ I shall have whatsoever I say.

This can happen to whosoever can take this steps.

Let us consider some other scriptures too:

Luke 8: 11 – 41
Luk 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
Luk 8:12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and
taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
Luk 8:13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with
joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation
fall away.
Luk 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard,
go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring
no fruit to perfection.

NOTE:
From this scripture, you find out that the devil’s goal is to ensure you don’t
believe in the word.
The enemy thrives, where unbelief persist.
Why will the enemy not want you as a believer, to believe the word of God?
The bible says the gospel is the power of God unto salvation.
The word of God is the power we need for our change. And so the enemy
who wants to keep us from getting the best of God for us, wants us to live,
doubting God’s very word which is meant for our salvation.

Luke 24: 24 – 25
Luk 24:24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and
found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
Luk 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the
prophets have spoken:
 ➢ The disciples, like many of the believers today, even after resurrection of
Jesus, did not believe and Jesus called them fools, because they were slow of
heart to believe
➢ A lot in the church are slow of heart to believe, and that is why we are not
seeing the miracles and answers to prayers as we ought to see in our time.
We are not believing the word of God for us.
➢ We pray and not believe. We seek him from the place of doubt and
unbelieve and the bible says let not that man think he shall receive anything
from the Lord.

WHAT IT MEANS WHEN YOU BELIEVE

To believe which is pisteuo in the Greek means: to think to be true, to be persuaded

of, to credit, place confidence in

1. You agree that the word is true

2. You partner with the word
3. You place your confidence in God’s word.
4. To judge the word to be true: when the bible says you are healed, beyond all
reasonable doubt, you count the word of God true.

HOW DOES THIS APPLIES TO THE BELIEVERS

Only believe means therefore as believers, in all that we are faced with
1. We take God’s word as ultimate
2. We place our confidence upon the word and nothing else
3. We decide to act by the word in all situation
4. We see all things from the place of the word