The Words of Faith (Part 1)

Welcome to NECF sermons. Each message here is

designed to uplift and strengthen you in your

walk with God. Don't miss out. Stay with us until

the end for a rewarding experience. Let's dive

right in. Let's have a seat. You know, the scripture

pastor was reading and leading us in prayer,

Romans. Romans 15 verse 31. It says that I may

Romans 15:31

be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe

and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable

to the saints. Hallelujah. So the Apostle Paul

here is praying, is requesting for prayer. That

he might be delivered from men who do not believe.

I think there's another part that he says that

he may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked

men. And what makes them unreasonable and wicked

is because they do not have faith. Hallelujah.

And sometimes our deliverance is not necessary

from wicked and ungodly men who do not have faith.

Sometimes the deliverance we require or we need

is the deliverance from ourselves. We that have

faith. Because with our faith, we don't give

expression to the life of faith. And without

giving expression to the life of faith that God

has given us. We do not benefit from what Christ

has done for us. We do not enjoy the benefit

of what God has done in Christ for us. So the

ignorance of the things that God has done, the

ignorance of what God is doing in this moment,

will limit us from experiencing the goodness

of God. And when I mean the goodness of God,

I mean from practically seeing the power of God

at work in our lives. Yes, we are safe. We know

by virtue of what the word has said. We believe

in Jesus Christ and we are born again and we

are safe. But yet, it seems as though the life

and the promises and all the good things that

are in Christ are not seen manifested in our

lives. And this is not because of some people

somewhere. Of course, we know that there is a

resistance that can come from the outside. But

one of the greatest resistance we can have that

will limit us from making progress in life is

us, is from us. And one of the prayers that we

need to always pray always is that God will open

our eyes because a man that is ignorant is a

man that requires light. To function. So the

solution to. Deliverance from ignorance is light.

And one of the things that. I'll be sharing with

us in this season. That will help us to live.

And enjoy the life of faith. That we have in

God. Is actually how we can. Give expression

to this faith that we have. Because the faith

that we have. It's not an inactive faith. Amen?

The faith we have is not an inactive faith. The

faith we have is a faith that is powerful. It's

a powerful faith. When we read through scriptures

and we see the stories of men that have done

great and mighty things, we begin to wonder whether

the quality of message or the quality of faith

they have. And their time is different from that

which we have in our time today. Or sometimes

when you look around a brother or a sister, you

begin to question whether you have the same faith

as this person. But when we go through scriptures,

we will discover that the same quality of faith

has been given to all men. And the reason that

our results are different I'm very intentional

about using the word result. It's because of

how we put to practice or how we give expression

to that which God has worked in us. And one of

the ways by which we give expression to the life

of faith that we have is through our words. Hallelujah.

It's through our words. One of the ways by which

we give expression to the life of faith we have

is our words. So in this season, we'll be talking

about the words of faith. And I want to take

us back to the background of where we started

in this year in John chapter 14. John chapter

John 14 · chapter mention John 14 · chapter mention

14 from verse 12 to give us a kind of a reminder.

The theme for the year that we've been considering

in the church is greater works. John chapter

John 14:12

14 verse 12, it says, Most assuredly, I say to

you, he who believes in me, the works that I

do, he will do also. And greater works than this,

he will do because I go to my father. And whatever

you ask in my name, that I will do. This is not

a suggestion. It's an emphatic word. It's not

a counsel. It's an emphatic word that Jesus is

speaking. He says, whatever you ask in my name.

So the question is, have we been asking in his

name? Have we been receiving? Is this scripture

a lie or is truth? When we pray and we ask, why

don't we receive? What is the reason for not

receiving? And whatever you ask in my name, that

I will do. That a father may be glorified in

a son. If you ask anything in my name, I will

do. He's repeating it. If you ask anything in

my name, I will do. So it is God's pleasure.

To do what? To answer our prayers. It is God's

pleasure to act on our requests. It is God's

pleasure to act on our requests. But oftentimes

it seems as though when we pray or when we speak,

we pray, we don't see the result of those things

we pray for. So we've learned over the past months

that God's plan for his people is to do greater

works. That is, we who are in Christ, we who

are in Christ, what it means for us to be in

Christ is that we are born again. Hallelujah.

That we who are in Christ are divinely appointed

for greater works. And these greater works are

works that God has planned for us from the foundation

of the world to do. As a result of our identity

comes the idea of doing greater works. In Ephesians

Ephesians 2 · chapter mention

chapter 2, give me Ephesians chapter 2 verse

Ephesians 2:8

8 and 10. Ephesians chapter 2 verse 8 and 10.

Ephesians 2:8

It says, for by grace you have been saved. True

faith and that not of yourselves. So God saved

us. It is a gift of God. So God saved us. The

salvation we receive is a gift, not of works.

Now we've been singing a song, thank you for

saving me. The salvation we receive is a gift.

And our response, what shall we render? It stands

given. Hallelujah. Because there's nothing we

can give to God as... As a prize or as, you know,

enough to equate to what he has done. So not

of works, lest anyone should boast. So the idea

is that we lose sight of boasting. What we are

is because God has done something. And what has

he done? He has given us freely. He has given

us his life. He has given us his son who came

into this world to die for our sins. He died

in our place, forgiving our sins, and we believe

in what he has done. He says, for we are his

workmanship. This workmanship has to do with

God's own creation. We are God's own masterpiece,

just like a work of art. God sat down and designed

and crafted us. It is all about what God has

desired to see. It is God's idea. Your salvation

is God's idea. Give me this verse 10 in the Amplified.

If you have the Amplified there. It says, for

we are his workmanship. This workmanship is his

own masterwork. And whatever God does is perfect.

Hallelujah. Whatever God does is good. So we

who are in Christ are his workmanship. We are

his masterwork. We are a work of art. Why did

it create us in Christ? Created in Christ Jesus.

Reborn from where? From above. This above means

spiritually. So he recreated us in Christ. A

spiritual experience. Spiritually transformed.

Renewed. Ready to be used. So being the masterpiece

of God is for a function. Alright? It's for a

function. And this function is what we call for

good works. So we are recreated in Christ. We

are His handiwork created for good works. And

these good works has been prepared for us beforehand.

Taking path which He set so that we will walk

in them that is living good life which He prearranged.

And made ready for us. Hallelujah. So here we

see that, you know, we have been recreated in

Christ. And divinely appointed for good works.

These good works is what we can also refer to

as the greater works that he has called us to

do. Because the works that God has called us

to do are greater works. They are good works.

Hallelujah. So these greater works. It's what

we can call the good works. And these good works

are actually the works of faith. Okay? They are

of faith. They can only be done in faith. Outside

faith, we cannot express these good works. They

can only be carried out by the expression of

faith. Give you that John chapter 14 verse 12.

John 14:12

You see that Jesus here is speaking to the disciples.

He says, I say to you, he who believes in me,

believing in Jesus Christ is having faith in

Jesus Christ. So those who believe in Jesus Christ

are those who do the works that Jesus did. And

these works are actually good works. They are

the greater works. He says, and greater works.

Then this he will do because I go to my father.

So we can establish here that the greater works

that we are called to do are the works of faith.

Romans chapter 14 verse 23 speaks about our life

Romans 14:23

in Christ. Romans chapter 14 verse 23. Give me

Romans 14:23

Hebrews 11 verse 6. Hebrews 11 verse 6. It says,

Hebrews 11:6 Hebrews 11:6

but without faith, it is impossible to please

him. For he who comes to God must believe that

he is and he is a rewarder of those who diligently

seek him. So the means by which we can do these

great works. We can please God. We can do that

which God has planned from the beginning. It's

by faith. Without faith, it is impossible for

us to do what? To please Him and to do His will.

So as a reminder, the believer has the faith

necessary for the greater works. Now, the believer

does not have a faith problem. That is what we're

establishing. That the man in Christ is a man

of faith. God has walked in him. Faith. So the

man that is born again. Is a man of faith. From

that John chapter 14 verse 12. To believe Jesus.

John 14:12

Means a person is born again. Not only that.

But also the person is alive. And lives his life

by that faith that has been given to him in Christ

Jesus. Hallelujah. So let's look at some scriptures

that speaks about that believer. Romans chapter

Romans 1:16

1 verse 16. Romans chapter 1 verse 16. Paul is

Romans 1:16

saying here, for I am not ashamed of the gospel

of Christ. Because this is the gospel of our

salvation. He says, I am not ashamed of the gospel

of Christ. For it is the power of God to salvation.

For everyone who believes. So the man who believes

in the gospel message. And what is the gospel

message? The gospel message is that Jesus Christ

has come to die for the forgiveness of sin. So

if a man believes in the fact that Jesus Christ

has died for the forgiveness of his sins, he

has received salvation. So this gospel, which

is the good news about the forgiveness of sins,

Paul here is saying, it is the power of God unto

salvation for everyone who puts his trust in

that gospel. For the Jew first, and for the Greek.

Verse 17. For in it, in what? In that gospel,

the righteousness of God is revealed from faith

to faith. And it's written, the just shall live

by faith. So the man that is the just is a man

that has been forgiven. He's a man that has put

his trust in the gospel. And the Bible here is

saying that that man will come to life by faith.

Hallelujah. That just man come to life. He come

alive by faith. Galatians chapter 2 verse 20.

Galatians 2:20

Galatians 2 verse 20. The apostle here also said

Galatians 2:20

that I have been crucified with Christ. It is

no longer I who live. But Christ lives in me.

And the life which I now live in the flesh. I

live by the faith in the Son of God who loved

me and gave himself for me. So here is a believer.

And he's saying that he has been crucified with

Christ. The life he lived in the flesh is a life

of faith. It's a life of faith. 2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 5:6

5 verse 6. 2 Corinthians 5 verse 6. We're trying

2 Corinthians 5:6

to establish that the believer has faith in him.

Alright? 2 Corinthians 5, verse 6 and 7, it says,

2 Corinthians 5:6

So we are always confident knowing that while

we are at home, in the body we are absent from

the Lord. Verse 7, For we walk by faith, alright,

and not by sight. So here he's talking about

the believer walking by faith and not by what?

By sight. Romans chapter 12 verse 3. Romans chapter

Romans 12:3 Romans 12:3

12 verse 3. For I say, through the grace given

to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think

of himself more highly than he ought to think,

but to think soberly. As God has dealt to each

one a measure of faith. Hallelujah. Meaning that

everyone who is in Christ has been given a measure

of faith. Now we are not saying that this faith

is in different quantities. You have 50%, he

has 20%. No. A measure of faith means that we

all have faith. Hallelujah. Every believer has

what? Has faith. Every believer has faith. The

differences we have is in how we give expression

to that faith that is in us. That is what makes

a difference. But every believer has faith. We

are equally, you know, having the faith of God.

2 Peter 1 verse 1. 2 Peter 1 verse 1 in NLT.

2 Peter 1:1 2 Peter 1:1

I prefer to read this in NLT. 2 Peter 1 verse

2 Peter 1:1

1. It says, this letter is from Simon Peter.

A slave and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I'm writing

to you who share the same precious faith with

us. So Peter here is saying to this church that

they share what? What do they share? They share

the same, the same quality. The same precious

faith. With what? With him. Same precious faith

we have. This faith was given to you because

of what? Because of the justice and the fairness

of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior. And this

justice and the fairness of God is seen in what?

In his gift to us. It's a gift to us. Hallelujah.

So the believer has faith. 1 Thessalonians chapter

1 Thessalonians 1:1–3

1, verse 1 to 3. 1 Thessalonians 1, verse 1 to

1 Thessalonians 1:1–3

3. Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the church

of the Thessalonians in God. The Father and the

Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace from

God. Our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes,

verse 2. We give thanks to God always for you.

All making mention of you in our prayers. Remembering

without ceasing your walk of faith. So he's speaking

to believers. And it's establishing that these

believers have a walk of faith, labor of love

and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ,

in the sight of our God and Father. Hallelujah.

So oftentimes we see the apostles in their epistles

reminding believers that they have something

that has been given to them. Something precious.

Something much precious than gold. Something

much precious than silver. And that is a gift

of faith that God has worked in the believer.

Hallelujah. So we don't have a faith problem.

That is, we don't lack faith because we are in

Christ. Hallelujah. So how does this faith operate

in the life of the believer? How do we see this

faith expressed in the believer's life? Because

understanding the expression, All the works of

faith in the believer will help us. It will help

us in what? In appropriating that which God has

done in us. In our previous meetings and teachings,

we said that the operation of faith or the activity

of faith, first and foremost, is seen in the

heart of the believer. Alright? We see faith.

operating or the activity of faith is first and

foremost established in the heart of the believer.

Romans chapter 10 verse 8. In Romans chapter

Romans 10:8 Romans 10:8–10

10 verse 8 to 10. But what does it say? The word

is near you. This word is talking about the gospel,

the message of salvation. The word is near you.

In your mouth and in your heart. That is the

word of faith which we preach. That if you confess

with your mouth. The Lord Jesus. And believe

in your heart. That God has raised him from the

dead. You will be saved. Verse 10. For with the

heart. One believes unto righteousness. So first

of all we see. The activity or the operation

of faith were in the heart of the believer. For

with the heart, one believes unto righteousness.

And with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.

So from this verse alone, we will see faith in

the heart of the believer operating. And we will

also see faith in the mouth of the believer.

Hallelujah. So when the gospel is preached, a

man believes where he believes in his heart.

And as for us that are Christians, as many as

have received the gospel, if you are here today,

it's expected that you have believed the message

of the gospel. So when this message is preached

in the heart, the man becomes born again. And

this experience is from the heart. Hallelujah.

The experience of the new life is from the heart.

The change that occurs first and foremost in

the life of the believer is invisible. That is

to say, when we preach the gospel and you believe

and you are born again, suddenly we don't see

born again written on your forehead because it's

not something physical. It is an invisible experience,

but real. Hallelujah. Being invisible does not

mean that it is not real. And sometimes, you

know, our circumstances, the things we pass through,

our conduct seems to question the invisible experience

that we've experienced, we've had. Sometimes

the devil brings issues and circumstances to

question that invisible experience that we've

had. That spiritual experience that we've had.

Because it's not physical, sometimes we think

that it's not real. That is why we need to be

reassuring and assuring ourselves daily of the

reality of what God has done in Christ. That

you, the man that is in Christ, is born again.

And what God has done in you is eternal. So the

change occurs first in the invisible part of

the man. The spiritual part of the man. Because

the man, first of all, is a spiritual being.

Man, first of all, is a spiritual being. So we

see that the change, the transformation, the

birth occurred first and foremost where? In the

spirit of man. It is a heavenly experience. John

John 3:1

chapter 3 verse 1. We see a man coming to Jesus

Christ in John chapter 3 verse 1. There was a

John 3:1

man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler

of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night

and said to him, Rabbi, we know that you are

a teacher come from God. For no one can do these

signs that you do. Unless God is with him. Jesus

answered and said to him. Most assuredly I say

to you. Or verily verily I say to you. Unless

one is born again. Alright. Born again. Unless

a man is born again. What does it mean to be

born again? That word again. Is a word anothen.

In the Greek. Unless one is born again. He cannot

see the kingdom of God. Verse 4. Nicodemus said

to him, how can a man be born when he is old?

Nicodemus was looking at it from a physical perspective.

What he was thinking is something natural. What

he was thinking is something that happens in

the physical. An old man like me, you're saying

I must be born again. How can an old man be born

again? Can he enter a second time into his mother's

womb and be born again? So Nicodemus here did

not understand the concept that Jesus was speaking.

Jesus answered most actually I said to you unless

one is born of water and the spirit he cannot

enter the kingdom of God. So what he's saying

is here is that this is not something physical.

It is a spiritual experience. Water and the spirit

speaks of a spiritual experience. Water speaks

of the spirit. He cannot enter into the kingdom

of God. Verse 6. That which is born of the flesh

is flesh. And that which is born of spirit, spirit.

So in context, Jesus is saying this is not a

natural birth. So this experience. That you will

have to experience the kingdom of God. To experience

the spirit of God. To experience the power of

God. Is a spiritual experience. And for every

man that has believed in Jesus Christ. That experience

has happened. Amen. That experience has happened.

Colossians chapter 3 verse 1 and 2. If you were

Colossians 3:1

raised with Christ, this is the experience of

the believer. Here, Paul is using the idea of

raised with Christ to speak of what happened

in the spirit. If you were raised with Christ,

that is, if you are born again, because born

again, the word anothem means to be born from

above. All right, that word anothem, N -A -N

-O -T -H -E -N. It means from above. Above simply

means a realm that is not earthly. Okay? To be

born from above, to be born from a higher place.

To be born from a higher place which is not natural.

So here in Colossians, it says, if then you were

raised, that is if then you are born from above.

Seek those things which are what? Which are spiritual.

Those things that are from above. Where Christ

is. Where is Christ? Christ is what? Is in the

invisible. Are we together? Christ is in the

spirit. So you seek such things that are yours

in Christ. Sitting at the right hand of God.

Set your mind on things that are above. Above

the same word. This above here is the word A

-N -O. Ano. Alright. It's an adverb. Talking

about something as we see in John chapter 3 verse

John 3:1

1. To be born again. Not only things on the earth.

So there's a difference between things that are

on the earth. And there are things that are above

the earth. Above does not mean sky. Above simply

means a different civilization. A different reality.

A reality that is not seen with the physical

eyes. A reality that is spiritual. Hallelujah.

So how do we bring about the manifestation of

the things that has happened in the spirit to

the physical? How do we do that? We'll see that

in due course. Romans chapter 10 verse 8. Again,

Romans 10:8

the text we read. We'll see that this experience

happened where? In the heart. Now the heart is

not speaking of the physical heart of man. Because

when you're born again, and you have a new heart

transplant, right? For example, now, I'm not

saying anybody is going to be sick, but if there's

a heart transplant, a physical heart in the hospital,

and you were born again and you had a heart transplant,

it does not mean that the heart you receive makes

you not born again. Because we say that this

happens in the heart. The scripture uses the

word heart figuratively. All right? The word

cardiac, K -A -R -D -I -A. It's used figuratively

to refer to the inner core of a person. The center

of thoughts of a person. Where emotions and feelings

are felt. For example now, you were in love with

a young man or with a young lady. And suddenly

the lady or the young man says, I'm not doing

it again. You say, oh my heart is broken. Right?

We're not talking about your physical heart.

Even though, in a way, such experience can have

effect in the physical. We've seen people that,

you know, because of what happened emotionally,

they become sick in the physical. Which also

tells us there's a relationship between what

happened in the invisible and the physical. Are

we together? So, here, the heart is not referring

to what? It's not referring to the physical organ

that pumps blood. But he's speaking to the invisible

part of a man that we cannot see with our eyes.

Hallelujah. The center of thoughts. Where thoughts,

where moral preferences are seen. Where intentions

are made. Where decisions are taken. The very

core of a man that is invisible. Because it is

invisible does not mean that it is not real.

Hallelujah. So. When a man received the message,

he received the message in this aspect of his

being. Of course, we receive the message from

our ears. Then, from the ears goes to our core,

our being, our way, our real man is, the inner

man. And when we go through the scriptures, we

see that the heart... It's described as the inner

person from which motives, beliefs, and actions

flows. Rather than just the mere physical organ

that pumps blood. The word heart or cardia is

used in scriptures about 800 times. And almost

every time it is used, in those 800 times, it

is used figuratively. Not in a literal sense,

referring to men and the believer. Hallelujah.

1 Samuel chapter 16 verse 7 is an example of

1 Samuel 16:7

how the word had is used. 1 Samuel 16 verse 7.

1 Samuel 16:7

But the Lord said to Samuel when he came to anoint

the king of Israel in the house of Jesse. Do

not look at his appearance or at his physical

stature. Because I have refused him. For the

Lord does not see as a man sees. Hallelujah.

How does a man see? We cannot see your heart.

Amen. We cannot see. We know you have a heart.

Alright. Your core, your being, where your emotions

are. Where your belief system is established.

Where the renewal is made your mind. Alright.

But we cannot see it. For the Lord does not see

as man sees. For man looks at the outward appearance.

But the Lord looks at what? The Lord is able

to discern what is in the heart of a man. Hallelujah.

So the good news or the news flash is this. Is

the Lord knows our heart. He is in the invisible

and is able to see what is invisible to the physical

eyes. So this describes what? It shows that although

we as men might look physically, but God has

the ability to look inside the heart. 1 Peter

1 Peter 3:3

3 verse 3 also describes the hidden person of

the heart. 1 Peter 3 verse 3 to 5. And it's linking

1 Peter 3:3–5

it to the outward, the inward spiritual life

of man. It says, do not let your adornment be

merely outward arranging the hair, wearing gold,

or putting on fine apparel. Rather, let it be

the hidden person of where? The hidden person

of the heart. So your focus is not about what

is in the physical, but rather the man, the real

you that is inside. With incorruptible beauty.

Of a gentle and quiet spirit. Which is very precious

in the sight of God. Hallelujah. So. Because

the heart is very important. And is the foundation.

Or is the first place we see faith in operation

in the life of a man. Primarily in the heart.

The Bible will teach us that we must guard the

heart with what? With all diligence. Because

out of it flows what? Flows the issues of life.

Proverbs chapter 4 verse 23. Proverbs chapter

Proverbs 4:23 Proverbs 4:23

4 verse 23. Says keep your heart with all diligence.

For out of it springs what? The issues of life.

From what is in your heart. There's a central

unit that influences your actions is found in

your heart. Whoever controls your heart will

control your action. Hallelujah. Whoever controls

what happens in your heart will control your

outcome. The outcome of your life. Whoever controls

what happens in your heart will control your

destiny. He will control where your eternity

will be. So not only that we allowed God into

our hearts, receiving the message of salvation

that causes a transformation. In our hearts.

Giving us a new birth and a new identity from

the heart. We also have to guard our hearts from

external influence. Because the devil also wants

to influence us in the heart. Hallelujah. So

secondly, we saw that the operation or the activity

of faith can be seen in the conduct of the believer.

We say that, we taught that in this church. So

since salvation is not invisible, since salvation

is from the invisible, since a new birth is from

the invisible, since faith operates in the heart

of man where we don't see with our physical eyes,

our conduct also must be reflected from what

has happened in the invisible. James will teach

that faith cannot remain merely an inward profession.

Okay? The way a believer believes should also

demonstrate what? The faith that has happened

in his heart. The experience we have in the invisible

must be seen in our conduct. So, the activity

of faith Is not only in the heart alone. The

operation of faith. First of all we say it starts

from the heart. But it doesn't end there. It

moves from what has happened in the inside. To

the conduct of a man. James chapter 2 verse 17

James 2:17

and 18. Give me the amplified version of this

text. James chapter 2 verse 17. The argument

James 2:17

here. Is that. If you are born again, we must

see it in your conduct. So too, faith, if it

does not have works, he says to back it up, to

show it, to prove, it is by itself ineffective

or inoperative. If your faith cannot be seen

in your conduct, it means that your faith is

what? It's not active. It's inoperative. So you

can make faith inoperative in your life by not

allowing the Spirit of God to bring about the

manifestation of what God has done in the inside

of you. Let the man that has been renewed from

the inside controls what you do in the physical.

So too, faith... If it does not have works to

back it up, he says it is by itself dead, inoperative

and ineffective. Verse 18. But someone may say,

he's not saying that this is a statement of fact,

but someone may say or claim to have faith and

have good works. Show me your alleged faith.

All right? Without the works, if you can. And

I will show you my faith by my works. That is

by what I do. Amen. So it's not an argument of

salvation is by works or salvation is by faith.

That's not the argument here. The conversation

is here is that if something has happened in

you, we should be able to see it in your conduct.

Hallelujah. So Jesus also will go on to teach

that what is inside a man. eventually becomes

visible through his conduct. What is in the heart

of man is eventually seen in his conduct. A genuine

relationship with Christ should produce a corresponding

fruit. Matthew chapter 7 verse 16 to 20. Matthew

Matthew 7:16–20 Matthew 7:16–20

chapter 7 verse 16 to 20. By their fruits. New

King James. You will know them by their fruits.

Do men gather grapes from corn bushes or figs

from tissues? Just imagine you went to a mango

tree and then suddenly you see orange on it.

No, it's impossible. Alright? The identity of

the tree will produce the fruits that is expected

of the tree. Even so, every good tree bears what?

Bears good fruit. But a bad tree bears bad fruit.

A good tree cannot bear bad fruit. Nor can a

bad tree bears what? Bears a good fruit. Everything

that does not bear good fruit is cut down and

thrown into the fire. Therefore, by their fruits,

what will happen? You will know them. Hallelujah.

So say to your neighbor, my conduct is important.

My conduct is important. Because my life in the

inside must be manifested in the physical. Faith

is operational in our hearts. And faith is also

seen in its activity in our conduct. Because

what happened in our hearts must be demonstrated

in our actions. Hallelujah. But remember we read

in Romans chapter 10. Romans chapter 10 verse

Romans 10 · chapter mention Romans 10:9

9. About confession. Alright. Romans chapter

Romans 10 · chapter mention

10. Give me Romans chapter 10 verse 9 and 10

Romans 10:9

again. If you confess with your mouth the Lord

Jesus and believe in your heart, God has raised

him from the dead, you will be saved. So there's

a confession. For with the heart one believes

unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession

is made unto salvation. Confession is made unto

salvation. So here we see in operation or in

activity, Faith in the words, in speech of the

believer. Alright? In the mouth of the believer.

Faith must be operational in the heart as well

as in the mouth for salvation. Alright? What

is in your lips and in your heart must be the

same. Okay? What is in your lips and what is

in your heart must be the same. Oftentimes, it's

very easy to see people say things that is not

actually what is in their heart. Or to say things,

to believe something and not say it. Or to say

something that they don't believe. In verse 17

of that same text, Romans 10 verse 17. Romans

Romans 10:17

10, he says, so then faith comes by hearing and

hearing by the word of God. Faith comes by hearing

and receiving the gospel, which we've seen earlier

on, in the heart. And it's given expression through

words of the mouth. A man believes in his heart

and confesses with his mouth. This is how we

are born again. Hallelujah. Now, not only for

salvation, okay? The confession of faith in the

lips of the man is not only in salvation. But

the believer must speak the words of faith to

see the power of God at work in his life daily.

This is an aspect of our lives that we need to

be coached, we need to be taught, and we need

to be mentored in order to see The power of God

at work daily in our lives. Hallelujah. Mark

Mark 11:22

chapter 11 verse 22 was a text that we are familiar

with. Mark 11 verse 22 verse 23. Jesus said something

Mark 11:22

when he was teaching about faith to his disciples.

Jesus answered and said to them, Have faith in

God. For as surely I say to you, whoever says,

That is, whoever will speak. Okay? Whoever will

speak. So the issue of faith is fundamental in

the heart. Alright? And the kind of faith you

are speaking about is fundamentally established.

The faith that is from the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Alright? So, surely I say to you, whoever will

say to this mountain, be removed and cast into

the sea. And does not doubt where? In his heart.

So we see the activity of what is in the heart.

And what is where? In the lips. In the mouth.

Be removed and cast into the sea. And does not

doubt in his heart. But believes that those things

which he wore. Which he think. Is it what he

think? What he wore? Those things which he wore.

He says. will be done. He will have whatever

he says. Now this statement is emphatic. It's

not a probability. Alright? It's not a probability.

He will have whatever he says. Conditional to

the previous statements that have been made in

the verse. He will have whatever he says. Hallelujah.

So the power of God finds expression through

the believer by his speaking. By his speaking.

So is it possible that the reason for the powerlessness

you see is because of what you've been speaking?

What you've been saying is not in collaboration

with what you believe in your heart. The realities

that you've been speaking are not things that

are in... In connection to your identity, to

what God has done in your heart. Our words and

what is in our heart must align for us to experience

the power of God in the physical, in the material.

And now we're talking about the believer here.

So the power of God finds expression through...

The believer, by his speaking. First of all,

do you know that even in preaching, we preach

for people to be saved. So the power of God that

is unto salvation is expressed through words.

Not only that, in our personal life, we must

always speak in order to see the expression of

God's power in our life. The believers are called

to examine themselves to see if they are in the

faith. In 2 Corinthians 13, verse 5 to 7, we

2 Corinthians 13:5–7

know the historical context of the Corinthian

church from 1 Corinthians to 2 Corinthians. These

men are Christians, right? But in their conduct,

there's no alignment. Okay? What they are doing

is contrary to their identity. What they are

saying... is contrary to their identity. So what

does it mean? In 2 Corinthians, you can write

that down and read it later. 2 Corinthians 13

2 Corinthians 13:5–7

verse 5 to 7. What does it mean to examine whether

they are in the faith contextually imposed later

to the Christians at Corinth? The believers are

to evaluate themselves to see if... Their profession

of faith, their confession of faith, and their

work, that is their conduct, align with the faith

that they have in Jesus Christ. What comes out

of the believer's mouth, their speech must proceed

from what fills their heart. Hallelujah. What

fills our heart must be given expression by our

words and in our words. Matthew chapter 12 verse

Matthew 12:34

34 and Luke chapter 6 verse 45. Give me these

Luke 6:45

two texts. Matthew 12 verse 34. Jesus Christ

Matthew 12:34

here is speaking to unbelievers here. He says,

How can you, being evil, speak good things? It

is impossible for a man that is evil to speak

good things. Now, good things is not nice things.

What is good is defined by God. Hallelujah. What

is good is defined in Christ. Not by the physical,

not by the standard of the world. Good is what

God has done in Christ. So how can you who are

evil speak good things? For out of the abundance

of the heart, what will happen with the mouth?

The mouth will speak. Luke chapter 6 verse 45.

Luke 6:45

Luke chapter 6 verse 45. A good man. Who is a

Luke 6:45

good man? A good man is a man that is born again.

Hallelujah. A good man is a man in Christ. And

your goodness is not because he did something

good. Your goodness is an imputed goodness. Your

goodness is a gift. So such a good man, out of

the good treasures of where? Of his heart, brings

forward good. Good works. Good works, right?

Good. And an evil man, who is an evil man? An

evil man is a man that has not believed the gospel.

No matter how handsome and beautiful she is,

no matter how educated the man is, as far as

God is concerned, he is an evil man if he has

not believed in Jesus. So an evil man out of

the evil treasures of his heart brings forth

what? Evil. For out of the abundance of the heart,

his mouth will speak. Hallelujah. That is to

say, from what God has done in our hearts, our

words should carry power. Amen? So also, conduct

and profession must align. What have we established?

First of all, the heart must align with what

is in our conduct. Alright? Also, our conduct

and what we say must align. Titus chapter 1 verse

Titus 1:10–16

10 to 16. The conduct and the profession must

align. You can't say one thing and then you are

doing a different thing and then you expect to

see the result. You can't believe in something

different and say something different and expect

to see the power of God at work. So what you

speak what is in your heart, what you believe

in your heart and what you speak and what you

do must align in order to see the fullness manifestation

of the power of God. When there's a disconnect

from any of these three, it limits the expression

of God's power in our lives. Titus chapter 1

Titus 1:10–16

verse 10 to 16. They profess to know God. Who

are those people? They are unbelievers. They

profess to know God. But in works, in their conduct,

they deny him being abominable, disobedient,

and disqualified for every good work. Great work

are good works. So a man that what he professes

is in denial to his what? To his conduct is a

man that is not good. He's not ready for every

good work. That man cannot do these greater works

we are talking about. Verse 17. Verse 17. Not

17. 10 to 16. But thank you. You've concluded

my reading of that text. Faith is not only...

Faith is not invisible in its activity or operations.

The manifestation of faith becomes evident in

the life of a Christian. Therefore, a believer's

life should display the evidence of faith through

his conduct, through his character, through his

obedience and the life of ministry. So we've

established, first of all, that faith may begin

in the heart. All right, that is where faith

starts. We believe the renewal, the new life,

the born again experience in the invisible, in

the spiritual realm of a man. Because man is

a spiritual being. So it begins in the heart

of man, but becomes visible in his speech and

in his conduct. Hallelujah. So do you know that

by your words we know whether you have faith

or not? Whether you are a man of faith or not.

By your words we know the content of your heart.

What your meditation is. Someone is regarded

as wise until when he speaks. Then we will know

the content of his heart. That this man has no

wisdom. Someone may look unwise until when he

speaks. Then we will understand the content of

what is inside him. So faith may begin in the

heart. Always. But then our speech and our conduct

must reflect what has happened in our heart.

It is important to emphasize that faith speaks.

Faith speaks. Faith operates in the heart and

also in the mouth. It's not only what I believe.

It's also what you are speaking. If you don't

speak it, you may not see it in existence. Hallelujah.

So quickly, as we draw a curtain to this foundation

we are laying today. Five practical applications.

This one is Pastor Ima that has told us to be

giving practical applications. Practical applications

for the words of faith. First of all, we must

guard our heart. Being intentional about what

you allow into your heart. Remember, we've said

in our previous teachings that the devil is interested

in the activity that happens in your heart. Even

though you are born again, even though you are

renewed, it does not stop the enemy. From bringing

doubt inside your heart. Hallelujah. So from

that, you know, your speech can express doubt.

You know, your speech. We'll see that maybe hopefully

on Wednesday. So we must guard our hearts. Being

intentional about what comes into our hearts.

Because your beliefs, your words and actions

flows from what? From your heart. Therefore,

you have a duty. It's not everything you hear.

Hallelujah. It's not every music you listen to.

It's not every news you read. Every time you

read about these rumors about how fake men of

God, how fake this person, this, this, this,

this, this. The only negativity upon negativity,

it will control. In fact, the reason for the

things you see, even sometimes you dream, is

because of the things you have allowed inside

your heart. Why will you not dream that people

are pursuing you? Why will you not be thinking

of your village people? You've watched so much

of nolly, what do they call it? Nollywood. And

you have developed your belief from what you've

allowed into your heart. As against what God

has done and what God has said in his word. So

we have a responsibility of guarding. See, your

ear is a doorway into your heart. It's not your

mouth. You know, they say that a door into a

man's heart is his stomach, is a lie, is your

ear. What you hear, what you hear have impact

on your heart. It have impact on your spiritual

life. It formulates your ideology and your perspective

about life. And that is why the Bible will tell

us to renew our hearts daily by the word of God

so that those toxics we've received will be discarded

and then the word of God will become supreme

in our hearts. So not only do we guard our hearts,

secondly, we must fill our hearts with God's

word. Spend time daily reading and meditating

on and receiving God's word until it shapes your

thinking. Until it shapes your thinking. See,

if your mind has not been renewed, you cannot

heal the sick. If you cannot renew your mind

to the point that you believe that this text

speaks about you, that I will lay hand on the

sick and the sick will be healed, you cannot

administer healing. So your mind must be renewed

by what God has said concerning you. It must

become a realistic thing in your mind. You're

thinking, must be strengthened by the words of

faith. Number three, you must speak words that

agree with faith. Now, we are not saying that

you are denying things that happens in the natural.

We are not saying that you are denying somebody

died, then you say, no, the person have not died.

No, that's not what we are saying. Or you are

feeling some symptom of sicknesses, then you

say, no, you are not sick. That's not what we

are saying. What we are saying is that your profession

is what God has said. Your profession must be

what God is saying concerning that situation.

Your conviction must be established on the report

of God. So you must speak words that agree with

faith. Make a conscious decision to let your

speech reflect God's promises rather than fear,

doubt, or negativity. You must be intentional

about what? Your words. See, you must change

your dictionary. Your dictions must change. Sometimes

when some brothers and some sisters come around

and begin to speak, I wonder whether you are

born again. An unbeliever is experiencing doubt

in his word. So also you, the believer. So there

must be a change. This change does not happen

automatic. By what you hear and what you meditate

upon proceeds the words that come out of your

mouth. So you must be conscious enough to change

your vocabulary. You must be intentional enough

to change the things you say daily. Because your

words shapes your reality. The word of God is

powerful. The word of God is effective. The word

of God in the mouth of the believer is powerful.

But then you must believe in your heart. You

must agree with what God has said. And number

four, let your conduct demonstrate your faith.

Ask yourself, can people see my faith in the

way I live? Can people see my faith in my words?

When they look at me and the things I'm passing

through, oh, am I always saying, oh, I'm dying,

this thing is killing me, it will kill you. Because

that is your reality. That's the reality you

are enforcing by your words. So your words must

be the words that God has said concerning that

situation. For every situation in your life,

look for what God is saying concerning that situation.

Hallelujah. What is God saying about this? Pray.

That means you have to be a man of prayer, a

woman of prayer. You have to be a woman of the

word to know what God is saying. A time per season.

Concerning this situation, Lord, what is your

word? And when you receive the word of God, you

stay with the word of God until the word of God

comes to manifestation. Regardless of what people

may say and the circumstances may be saying,

the word of God is your truth and must always

be what you believe in. Hallelujah. We must examine

ourselves regularly. Sometimes, you know, they

say on the average, men speak so many words in

a day. I mean, women speak more words than men.

I mean, the scientists have calculated. It's

on the average, women speak more words, about

even 10 ,000 more words than men. A day. Of all

those words you speak, please, evaluate the things

you say. Sometimes, before you speak, think of

the things you say. Sometimes, we say things

without even thinking about their implication.

Even some jokes we make, we don't think, we say

things carelessly. What you say affects people.

Hallelujah. First and foremost, what you say

affects people. But you are the first beneficiary

of the things you say. Hallelujah. So if you

are dishing out hurtful words to people, you

are the first person that is a bitter person.

Because what you are enforcing is the abundance

of what is in your heart. And it has repercussions.

It has impact on you. So examine yourself regularly.

Periodically evaluate whether your heart, your

confession and your conduct are in alignment

to your faith in Christ. Don't merely profess

faith and come here every day on Sunday morning

and sing and dance. And sometimes we shed tears.

We fast. But what is in our heart and what we

are saying, we just pray for you. That your faith

will be renewed. But you use your words and counter

what we've prayed. You are making our work of

ministry difficult. He says, hold on your brother.

And let your brother pray with you and agree

with you. You finish agreeing with the person

and the person will go and do contrary. He will

say contrary to what God has said in his word.

Hallelujah. Our words must be faithful words.

We're going to see from Wednesday that God created

this earth to operate by words. Hallelujah. The

activity on the earth are activities by words.

Do you know that even the kingdom of darkness,

somebody in Africa, in one village, in Nigeria,

in one village, will enter a shrine with your

picture. And they will say some things. And you

are in America, suddenly you remove your clothes

and you begin to walk naked. You think those

things are movies? You think they don't know

the power of words? The things that operate on

the earth, right? The things that, operations

on the earth, activities on the earth, are activities

that are established and enforced by words. And

you, the man that have the spirit and the power

of God, must leverage from that and change the

course of your life. The power of what? Of the

tongue, right? We'll see it subsequently in the

next teaching. We'll see the power of words.

How words can shape our realities. And you can

have it turned around in your life by the things

you say. Hallelujah. Let us thank God for showing

us this truth. That we are determined, we are

intentional, we are committed to seeing the power

of God manifested through our lives. We appreciate

you being here today. We hope you carry this

word with you throughout your week. Don't forget

to check the show notes for additional insights.

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Until next time, stay blessed.