This week Bro. Leo continues our study of faith with part 2 of “The Faith that Storms the Gates”.   The faith that Jesus built His Church on (Matt. 16:16…Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God) is based on three doctrines: 1) we must be born again, John 3:3  2) we must be indwelt with His Holy Spirit, John 14:17  3)  we must have a personal relationship with Him, Matt. 7:22-24.

This faith is proactive (Matt.16:18…gates of hell shall not prevail against it).  Gates are a defensive mechanism and the gates of hell are used to detain man in the bondage of sin and death.  The faith that Jesus built His Church on has the ability to snatch folks out of the bondage of sin and death and place them into eternal life.

Proactive faith looks like Heb. 11:29-35.  Unfortunately most Christians today don’t operate in the power and energy of faith.  Today we Christians look and sound more like the Israelite’s in  Numbers 13:31-33, Numbers 14:1-4.  We have forgotten that God is with and in us, that He will deliver and give to us,  that He will conquer or enemies and that He does not give us the spirit of fear.

The Israelite’s bondage in Egypt represents the bondage of sin.  The parting of the Red Sea represents faith breaking through the gates of hell.  The forty years of wilderness represents lack of faith and punishment thereof.  Those who entered into the promise land represent the never wavering faithful.  Heb.3

Christians today also need to be operating in the faith proactively, positively, attacking the enemy, forward moving, prevailing and over coming like Joshua and Caleb in Numbers 14:6-8.  by doing so we will enjoy the rest in God, Heb. 3

Scriptures used in today’s message:

Mat 16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
Mat 16:14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
Mat 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God

Heb 11:29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
Heb 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
Heb 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
Heb 11:32 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:
Heb 11:33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
Heb 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection

Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Heb 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;
Heb 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Heb 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Heb 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

Num 13:31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.
Num 13:32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.
Num 13:33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

Num 14:1 And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.
Num 14:2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!
Num 14:3 And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?
Num 14:4 And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.

Num 14:5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.
Num 14:6 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:
Num 14:7 And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.
Num 14:8 If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.
Num 14:9 Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.

Heb 3:8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness
Heb 3:10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
Heb 3:11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Heb 3:17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
Heb 3:18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
Heb 3:19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

This week Bro. Leo continues our study of faith with a look at the first definition of faith that Jesus gives us,  saving faith is proactive (Matt. 16:18).  In vs.18 Jesus tells us that the gates of hell will not prevail against the faith of vs.16, meaning that the faith of Jesus not only has the ability to free souls from the bondage of hell but also is actively doing so.  This is a proactive action while the gates are a defensive mechanism.

Living in the energy of saving faith is being proactive, positive, forward moving and prevailing faith (Rom. 8:38, 37, 31, 32).  Jesus tells us in Matt.11:11-12 that Christians are over powering.  The word violent is translated from the Greek word biastēs which means to over power, press into with energy and strength.

When we are living in the energy of our faith, we will be storming the gates, casting out strongholds and moving mountains.  If we are not operating in the energy of our faith, we will be operating in defense mode, struggling to keep our heads above water and backsliding.

Christian lives living in the energy of faith will look like HEB. 11:29-35.  LIVING IN THE ENERGY OF FAITH ENABLES CHRISTIANS TO NEVER HAVE TO COMPROMISE GOD’S TRUTH FOR ANY REASON!

Scriptures used in today’s message:

Mat 16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
Mat 16:14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
Mat 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Heb 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.

Rom 10:9 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.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Heb 11:29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
Heb 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
Heb 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
Heb 11:32 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:
Heb 11:33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
Heb 11:34 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.
Heb 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again:

Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Mat 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Mat 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

This week Bro. Leo continues last weeks study of the faith that holds on.   This faith has three aspects, 1) it holds on, lasts and perseveres  2)  it prevails to the point of experiencing the power of God  3)  it results in a personal change, righteousness and the bearing of fruit.

In Luke 8:15, the word “keep” is translated from the Greek word “katechō”, which means to take possession of, become part of your life in a permanent way.
This means that “saving faith” doesn’t end at the point of our salvation it begins there and we should be living our life in the power of that faith (Heb. 10:38-39).

Instead of living our lives through the power of “saving faith”, most “Americans are happy living with the faith of a piss ant”(to understand this statement you need to listen to the message).  America is in the shape that it’s in because of the lack of faith of most American “Christians”, which makes the American Church powerless.

This week I watched a movie called “The War Room”.  The main character started out as a typical American “Christian” with “the faith of a piss ant”.   She rarely took time, if at all, to commune with God.  She met a Christian lady who lived by “saving faith”, the kind of faith that actually believes God has the power to accomplish and that He will accomplish (faith with expectancy).  The main character starts to commune with God and her attitude progressively changes and eventually she comes to the point of expecting God to accomplish things in her life and He does.  What this character learned and implemented in her life is called living by faith.  Before America is ever going to change for the good, the American Christian is going to have to learn and implement the same.

Living by faith turns your prayer closet into a meeting with the Holy of Holies.  In which you speak to God expecting Him to hear you and expecting to hear from Him (Heb. 10:19-23).  It is the power of “saving faith” that enables us to overcome any and every adversity in our lives (1John 5:4-5).

Scriptures used in today’s message:

Luk 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
Luk 8:12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
Luk 8:13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
Luk 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
Luk 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Jas 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Rom 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.

Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Heb 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Heb 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
Heb 3:10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
Heb 3:11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Heb 3:19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Heb 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Heb 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Rom 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.

1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1Jn 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

In today’s message Bro. Leo continues our study on the ascension of Jesus Christ by looking further at the gift of faith that comes from above.

In last weeks message we learned that only the faith that expects God to take action is pleasing to God (Heb. 11:6).  In order to please God we must rely totally on God to take some kind of action.  In Heb. 11:17,19 the scriptures show us an example of Abraham having faith that expects action from God.

This week we begin to learn about the faith that holds on or lasts (more on this subject in next weeks message).  This faith has four distinct qualities, 1)it holds on, lasts and perseveres  2) it prevails and experiences the power of God  3) it results in change, righteousness and the bearing of fruit  4) it lets go of self and grabs hold of God in a real and permanent (eternal) way.  It is this faith that we are told to live by (Heb. 10:38) and are told will give us victory in our day to day lives (1John 5:4).

Scriptures used in today’s message:

Heb 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.
Heb 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac:
Heb 11:19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead;

Psa 57:1 To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave. Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.
Psa 57:2 I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.
Psa 57:3 He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.

Heb 11:32 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:
Heb 11:33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
Heb 11:34 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.
Heb 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again:

Luk 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
Luk 8:12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
Luk 8:13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
Luk 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
Luk 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith:
Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Heb 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

In today’s message Bro. Leo continues our study on the ascension of Jesus Christ by looking further at the gift of faith that comes from above.  The scriptures are clear that “saving faith” is the beginning and end of our salvation.  What Bro. Leo is teaching, in this series, is what the scriptures tell us about “faith” after we are saved and before we go home to be with Jesus, the here and now everyday life of a Christian.

Faith is a spiritual faculty or sense given to every one of us (Rom. 12:3) by God which enables us to understand, believe in and experience God.  There are four levels of faith: 1) believe about God, 2) believe in God, 3) entrust our soul to God, 4) commit ourselves to God.  These four levels of faith are not obtained through the physical realm that we exist in via our five senses of sight, touch, smell, taste and hearing, they are obtained only from faith via the spiritual realm (Heb. 11:1-3).  These four levels, when combined, are saving faith or believing to the point of salvation (Heb. 10:38-39).

We are to carry out our day to day lives by “faith” (Heb. 10.38).  This is the “experiencing God” portion of the definition of faith.  “Living by faith” is believing in the ability of God to perform a specific action in and/or for us, such as believing God will take care of a specific circumstance in our life today when we ask Him.    “Living by faith” is also a confident expectation that God can and will perform this action for us (Rom. 4:21, Matt.9:27-30).

The opposite of “Living by faith”(but if any man draw back, Heb. 10:38) is self reliance.  Any time we do anything under our own power, knowledge or guidance, we are not “Living by faith”.  Self reliance, in a Christian, signifies pride, haughtiness of heart and confidence in our own righteousness.  Rom. 14:23 calls this sin.

“Living by faith” is personal and specific with expectation of results (Rom. 4:19-21, Heb. 11:17,19,  Matt. 9:20-22).  In every decision that we make and action that we take, we should be asking ourselves the question that Jesus asked in Luke 18:8 Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Scriptures used in today’s message:

Rom 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.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Rom 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Heb 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

2Co 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Luk 17:5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
Luk 17:6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

Heb 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.

Rom 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Jas 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Luk 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
Luk 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Mat 9:27 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.
Mat 9:28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
Mat 9:29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
Mat 9:30 And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

Rom 4:19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb:
Rom 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
Rom 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

Heb 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
Heb 11:19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

Mat 9:20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:
Mat 9:21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.
Mat 9:22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

Luk 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Luk 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?