Overcoming Faith In The End Times

FAITH

( Chapter One).

In the beginning God created the Heavens and the earth. ( Genesis 1 verse 1 ). In the beginning was the Word , and the Word was with God , and the Word was God ( John 1 verse 1 ). “The Ecclesia” , “The Called Out Ones”, “The Elected Ones” have been redeemed by the precious Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and have come out of spiritual Egypt , redeemed and delivered from a life of bondage and slavery to the carnal nature inherited from the “ First Adam” and have journeyed through the wilderness of sin and have overcome by daily denying self and picking up their cross and following in the steps of the Lord Jesus Christ , being crucified with Christ ( Galatians 2 verse 20 ) saved by Grace , live by faith in God's Word living a holy redeemed life. The Apostle Paul in the Book of Ephesians ,writing to the saints says that God has “....made us together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus : ...” ( Ephesians 2 verse 5 ). He is talking about the Divine Ordained Rulership of the Overcomer. He is talking of the overcomer being positionally placed to rule and reign with authority over death , sickness and sin. Faith is the language of the Kingdom of God. Man is created in the image of God. The born again Christian, the redeemed live in an atmosphere of mountain moving faith where all things are possible to the that believe. No demons occupy this sanctified territory. No demon power can rule in this Heavenly Domain. Satan's power is broken because of the anointing of God. This heavenly place has been sanctified for the believers to possess and occupy. The Word of God abides in the believer and the believer abides in the Word of God. There is Divine Sustenance and Divine Life. God manifest His Zoe Life in the life of the believer, the justified and sanctified ones, the overcomer. Faith can be seen. In Mark 2 verse 5 the Lord Jesus “ ...saw their faith....” . Faith cannot be impersonated. Faith rules from heaven. Faith is identified in the believers. Faith is recognised as a badge of Heavenly Authority and Power. Words spoken by a justified sanctified Holy Ghost filled believer baptised in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and living a life worthy of the gospel have to be obeyed. “ ..Death and life are in the power of the tongue : and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof ....” . ( Proverbs 18 verse 21 ) . The Words of God “...are spirit,and they are life...” ( John 6 verse 63 ). The Word of God has Authority and Power and Life. The Centurion was a man of authority with power to give orders and commands that had to be obeyed by those under his authority . He was under a chain of command and in the Roman Army he followed orders from those above him and gave orders and commands to those under him. He had to be a faithful , loyal Roman citizen dressed in Roman Regalia ( uniform) to exercise the delegated Authority of Rome. He said he was “ ...a man set under authority, having under me soldiers ,and I say one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it ......” . ( Luke 7 verse 8 ). The law of faith is alive and it operates in a Heavenly atmosphere . There is a

law governing faith. In Luke 7 verse 1 to 10 : “..... 6 Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: 7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. 8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 9 When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 10 And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick. .....” Faith comes from God and cannot be impersonated. Faith “...cometh by hearing , and hearing by the Word of God....” (Romans 10 verse 17 ) . The believer has put on Christ. ( Romans 13 verse14; Galatians 3 verse 27 ). Faith clothes the believer with Heavenly Regalia. Demons recognise authority when they see it and have to obey Divine Authority. In Acts chapter 19 verse 13 to 20 : “...Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the LORD Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. 14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. 19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.....”. Crowds followed the Lord Jesus Christ. Why did they follow him ? He preached with Divine Authority and Power. “...with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits,and they come out.....” ( Luke 4 verse 36 ). Demons recognize Divine authority and power.

Too many times as young Christians we operate the realm of human ability trusting in reason and the five senses. To operate in the realm of the spirit we have to walk by faith and not be sight. We must not rely on any of the five senses . The Apostle Paul says that “...The believer walks by faith and not by sight...” ( 2 Corinthians 5 verse 7 ). In Luke 5 verses 1 to 11 we read about Simon Peter, “...James and John ,the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon...” . They were fisherman by trade and were experienced in their trade of fishing. They knew all the good fishing spots . Fishing was their livelihood. However, Human effort had failed them. They had fished all night and caught nothing.In Luke 5 verse1 to 3 we read : “....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....”. There was a crowd that followed the Lord Jesus Christ at one time. The Lord had need of Simon's fishing boat. Simon made his boat available. You cannot outgive God ! God had something in store for Simon and his business partners ! The Lord Jesus knew their financial situation. The balance sheet did not look good ! There were debts to pay . Simon had to forget about operating on the human level and operate on the faith level. Simon had to hear the Word of God first inorder to receive faith. Simon had not been to Church. So the Lord Jesus Christ by Divine Providence brought the Word of God to Simon ,James and John. Peter had borrowed the Lord Jesus the boat to preach from whilst Jesus had preached to the crowd and Simon and James and John within hearing distance, heard the Word of God being preached . Their way of thinking had to change from the carnal level to the supernatural level. “...Faith cometh by hearing the Word of God...” ( Romans 1o verse 17 ). “...The Word of God is quick and ,and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword,piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart....” ( Hebrews 4 verse 12 ). The Lord Jesus was fixing to demonstrate faith. But he had to change the atmosphere ! Faith cannot operate in an atmosphere of unbelief and doubt. ( Mark 6 verse 6 ). Simon Peter had to get faith into his heart. Reading on in Luke chapter 5 : “...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.....”. The Lord Jesus had said “...let down your nets for a draught...” . Simon Peter

had little faith but God wanted him to have great faith. Simon Peter had heard the Word of God and now the Lord Jesus wanted to demonstrate the Word of God in action ! Simon Peter had a problem. His reputation. In his carnal mind he saw Jesus as a Carpenter turned prophet ( Mark 6 verse 1 to 6 ). Simon was more concerned with what people thought about him than fully obeying the Word of God. He said “...we have toiled all night...” ( HUMAN EFFORT,HUMAN ABILITY,CARNAL REASONING )and went on to say “....and have taken nothing:nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net....” . In other words, to paraphrase, “...I am a fisherman, you are a carpenter turned preacher....I know these waters and the good and bad fishing spots....we fished here all night...tried everything to catch the fish...and we caught nothing....and just to prove to you that there is no fish...I will let down a net...one net because I do not want towaste my time and your time and everyone's time...we all got things to do....but just too humour you and to proove a point ....I will let down a night and that will be that....you will see...there are no fish here....something strange is happening to the fish...they are not feeding in their noble feeding spots....”. What did Jesus do ? He let Simon make a choice to believe the Word of God “...let down the nets for a draught....” or to believe his own confession “....we have toiled all night, and have taken nothing....”. Simon Peter trusted and believed his own confession. He had to learn to control his tongue and say the right thing ! He had to learn that “ ...death and life are in the power of the tongue...” . ( Proverbs 18 verse 21 ). He had to learn to operate on the supernatural level and speak in faith. Reading on in that same chapter we read : “...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.....”. Wonder of wonders ! Miracle of miracles ! Too many fish for one net ! The net broke ! Simon called James and John to help and they filled both ships. God is not selfish! He pays his debts ! Both ships were filled and the weight of the fish began to sink. Reading on : “...8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: 10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. 11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him....”.