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How Faith Works

Today, I'm going to compile some of my notes for a sermon delivered by Dr. Gene Lingerfelt. Any mistakes are in my interpretation and note capturing.

Faith is not belief and belief is not Faith. Faith requires Action. Faith is Acting on the Word of God. What we believe does matter. Quite simply, you can't approach God with prejudice.

22"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. 23"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. - Mark 11:22-24
We must renew our mind to the Word of God not what the world says. The world has an agenda of its own for you. Focus and Renewing the Mind go hand in hand. Where you focus determines your thinking and your thinking determines where you focus. You must make a decision, a commitment, to focus on God.

What we think and where we focus determines what we say. What we say, if we have integrity, is what we are expecting. If you listen to the media, or anyone who does not know how to love you, you will lower your expectations. Eventually, you begin to believe what you hear, so you need to hear from people that believe in you. People who believe in you will lift you up not tear you down. You will achieve more if you surround yourself with support, success, etc.

It's a mindset - Since I am transforming my desires to God's desires, I believe that whatever I desire, He is bringing into my hands. Daniel 10 gives us a glimpse of what is happening in the spirit-world. Daniel was a man that was highly esteemed by God, and his results were amazing. He was blessed in a time when Israel was in bondage, yet, he was highly favored and exalted.

Here are few points about expectations:
  • The world has a way of thinking, and the end is death.
  • What you're expecting is synonymous with what you're believing for
  • You can't hold two contradictory believes simultaneously
  • Who are you trying to please?
  • Who has influence in your thinking?
  • Are you going to think Biblically or worldly?
Satan tries to move your mind to accept things that you ought not accept and lower your expectations. We must turn our expecting to what we desire. We need to make up our mind, are we going to put on an act, or are we going to take action to line ourselves up with what God says about us.

4 Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart. - Psalm 37:4

Faith is not optional, 6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. - Hebrews 11:6

Worldly thinking keeps you from the reality of the Word. My mindset is that "this is the Truth" when I read the Bible. Try this for a week, eliminate all entertainment but the Word. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. - John 15:7
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