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?