MESSAGE

ENGAGING THE POWER OF FAITH
TEXT: HEBREWS 11:1-3, 29-39

Hebrews 11:1-3, 29-39 (KJV)
1.Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2.For by it the elders obtained a good report.
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.

29. By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
30. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
31. By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
32. And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
    33.Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
33. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
34. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
35. And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
36. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
37. (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
38. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

WHAT IS POWER?
Power is the Ability to act, regarded as latent or inherent; the faculty of doing or performing something; capacity for action or performance; capability of producing an effect, whether physical or moral: potency or what we call potential.

WHAT IS FAITH?
Faith [n.]: 1. Belief (that prompts to action), credence, credit, trust, assurance, confidence, dependence, reliance.

2. Creed, persuasion, tenets, dogmas, doctrines, religion, system of religion.
3. Fidelity, ~fulness, truthfulness, truth constancy, loyalty.
4. Engagement, promise, word of honor.

According to the scriptures:
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen
THINGS YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT FAITH

1. Faith is God’s attribute and instrument of creation. It is by it that God created the heavens and the earth. Heb. 11:3
   Hebrews: 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.
   Heb.11.3 By faith we understand that the worlds [during the successive ages] were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible. (AMP)
   Heb.11.3 By faith, we see the world called into existence by God’s word, what we see created by what we don’t see. (MSB)
   Heb.11.3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. (NLT)
2. Faith when engaged by every believer is what thrills and pleases God. Heb. 11:6.
   Hebrews: 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.
3. When you give your life to Christ, there is a measure of faith that was deposited inside you. So as a believer, you are not faithless. ROM. 12:3
   Romans: 12. 3. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
4. Faith grows and increases by the reason of use. The little faith deposited inside you has the ability and power to move mountains tomorrow if you will activate and use it. Matt. 17:20; Luke 17:5
   Matthew: 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.
   Luke: 17. 5. And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
5. Faith sees, faith says. Whatever faith says, it eventually sees it in physical manifestation. Gen. 1:1-4.
   Genesis: 1. 1. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
6. Faith many a time does not make sense to an intelligent mind. Faith is beyond human sense and reasoning, it is a spiritual thing. 1 Cor. 2:14; John 2:1-10; Luke 5:1-7.

1 Corinthians: 2. 14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
John: 2. 1. And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 2. And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. 3. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. 4. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. 5. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. 6. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. 7. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. 8. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. 9. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, 10. And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
Luke: 5. 1. And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, 2. And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3. And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. 4. Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. 6. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 7. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

7. Hearing of the word of God is the source by which faith comes. ROM. 10:17.
   Romans: 10. 17. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
8. Your mouth is an agent through which faith downloads what is in the spirit realm to physical reality. Mark 11:22-23; ROM. 10:6-10.
   Mark: 11. 22. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 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.
   Romans: 10. 6. But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 7. Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 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; 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. 10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
9. Faith always win. It never fails. Faith always have fruits or evidences to show.

THE EFFECTS OR RESULTS OF FAITH

1. Faith causes the barren to receive to conceive and deliver babies irrespective of age or any medical explanation. Heb. 11:11.
2. Faith will cause you to receive miracles, signs and wonders. It will deliver to you healing from every terminal or non terminal sicknesses and diseases. Age long issues and challenges are silenced on the alter of faith. Mark 5:25-34.
3. Faith will enable you to have ceaseless supplies and provisions for all your needs. You will not lack. Psa. 23:1; 1 Kings 17:8-16.
4. Through faith you will cross every barrier and you will arrive at your promised land. Heb. 11:29-30.
5. By faith every stigma around you today will be replaced with beauty and glory. Also, through faith, you will escape calamity that is befalling others. What is killing others will not kill you. Heb. 11:31
6. Faith will enable you to subdue kingdoms and obtain God’s promises concerning your life. Heb. 11:33.
7. Faith will make you to escape the edge of swords. You will not be a victim of evil circumstances. Heb. 11:34.
8. Through your faith, you can move mountains. Mark 11:22-24.