Introduction: Declaration of Faith
- Will I finish this decade in faith?
- The power of the ‘thing’ is always found in the finish. Many of us like to start but don’t finish.
- God is calling us to finish the purpose He called us for in faith.
- Essential Questions:
- Acts 19:13-16: Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.
- Will they (demons, angels, family, friends, etc.) ask “Who are you?” because you didn’t do anything for the Kingdom to be recognized?
- Will it be said that you knew Jesus but when hit with trials, your faith waivered and was unrecognizable?
- Acts 19:13-16: Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.
- Declaration:
- Have Faith that Hell believes in and can’t ignore!
- The reason why the enemy comes after you so hard is because if you ever walked in the faith and authority that you are called to walk in, you would make Hell tremble
- The enemy isn’t omnipresent, so he set traps for you to run to. Traps that keep you blinded and misdirect you from your faith.
- EX.) Building on insecurities, the lack of belief, doubt, etc.
- Have Faith that Hell believes in and can’t ignore!
Hell has Three Types of Faith
- 1.) Hades has Faith in God
- James 2:19: You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
- It’s not enough to just believe in God. Every demon believes and has fear in God.
- James 2:19: You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
- 2.) Hades has Faith in Jesus
- Acts 19:15: One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?”
- The demon possessed man acknowledged Jesus.
- Acts 19:15: One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?”
- 3.) Hades has Faith in a Faith-filled Believer
- Paul has faith even though he had a bad path executing believers. In coming in contact with Jesus, Paul lived out what he believed after accepting Christ and didn’t stay comfortable in being saved.
- Paul served God and became a faith-filled believer who walked in action and authority. He was recognized.
- Every time Paul woke up, Hades trembled. Paul faced obstacles and opposition to prevent what God called him — But the enemy could not stop a faith-filled believer.
- Essential Question: Would anybody recognize that you are a faith-filled believer in the places you are most?
- Your job, your family, your community
- God wants you to have a faith even Hell would recognize
Breakdown and Challenge
- Breakdown: Sceva’s sons, they came with the same faith, but end up getting beat up after standing up in faith. Why, if they stepped out in Crazy Faith, do they still get bruised and beat?
- The Jewish men tried to imitate the faith Paul actually had, and the faith could only be brought on with a real relationship with God. You can’t fake faith! This has to be your own faith.
- Most of us have borrowed belief. Because of this, some of us hide behind religion being in the same position we have been in for the past 30 years.
- Sceva’s sons had borrowed faith. We must grow beyond baby faith.
- Challenge: Believe God for more!
The Progression of a Believer Assessment
- Self-Assessment: The Progression to see where you are at for you to grow in God. The Progression of a Believer Assessment:
- Level One: ACCEPTANCE
- “I receive Jesus Christ, my sins are forgiven, I have eternal life.”
- Here is where most believers spend their entire lives; a life of accepting Christ but no shift and dedicated life for the Kingdom.
- Level Two: ACCESS
- After accepting Jesus, you receive access to the Holy Spirit. The advocate comes alongside to help you. The Holy Spirit guides you and activates within you.
- You don’t have to do anything but allow the Holy Spirit to lead. The Holy Spirit communicates to you.
- John 16:13: But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
- Level Three: ACTION
- Moving in the faith of God after understanding you have access to the Holy Spirit and receiving acceptance. Take your access to the Holy Spirit and turn that to a real action.
- It’s about obedience. When the Holy Spirit says something, it’s the opportunity to obey. God wants us to move into action so we can have authority.
- Level Four: AUTHORITY
- Paul received access to the Holy Spirit in Damascus, then got up, and moved into action and began to work in the kingdom and moved in authority that was given to him through action.
- ***IMPORTANT STATEMENT***
- Your acceptance of Jesus gives you access to the Holy Spirit. But your access to the Holy Spirit is only recognized through your action of crazy faith and your repeated actions of crazy faith establishes your God given authority.
- It’s not just acceptance that God provided but access to the Holy Spirit
- When you repeat actions, you develop authority
- What happens when trials and tribulations arrive?
- God didn’t make this happen but God allowed this to happen because God will use this for His glory.
- Don’t live this Christian life over in acceptance, move in action. God will either show you the mountain top and not the path or vice versa. We are meant to trust.
- Your acceptance of Jesus gives you access to the Holy Spirit. But your access to the Holy Spirit is only recognized through your action of crazy faith and your repeated actions of crazy faith establishes your God given authority.
- Level Five: ABUNDANCE
- Jesus wants us to live in abundance in our health, our relationships, and in our lives.
- John 10:10: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
- Overflow that falls onto anyone around you.
- If the people around you aren’t blessing you by default, you might need a new circle.
- Jesus wants us to live in abundance in our health, our relationships, and in our lives.
- Level One: ACCEPTANCE
Conclusion: Declaration of Faith
- This year will be the year of life! Dry bones will come alive; Lazarus come forth!
- You will always have the choice to move in Fear or in Crazy Faith. The gap between access and action is Crazy Faith. Step out in Crazy Faith and obey the action.
Tinsai Worke
Hi! My name is Tinsai Worke, but you can just call me Tina. I am a young, devoted Christian and a part-time note-taker for different online sermons.
