--PRE-SERVICE PRAYER--

Focus: Stand Firm in Your Faith

Foundation Scripture: James 1:2-4 NLT

Prayer Points:

1.Consider every trial & tribulation an opportunity for GREAT JOY

2. Walk by the Word & not by sight or feelings.

3. Walk in the perfect & complete Grace of God

4. Sunday Service

--MESSAGE--

"How to Pray & Live by Faith"

Introduction:
Today is the last Sunday of our "40 Days of Faith" Campaign. We've been on a spiritual journey designed to strengthen and build our faith, to see God's miraculous power released in and through our lives.

We've been receiving:

a. Fresh Faith to lay hold of all of God's promises.
b. Fresh Faith to overcome life's challenges.

Fresh Faith to walk in:
God's Peace, Joy, Provision, Protection and Healing...

Let's focus our attention on six key points to praying and living by faith:

1. How do you pray the prayer of faith?

a. Find a promise in God's Word that covers your specific need.

b. Take that Scripture to God in prayer, along with your need.

c. Receive the answer/provision to your need when you pray.

d. Then thank God for answering your prayer and meeting your needs.

2. How do you live by faith?

Walk - to live, be occupied with.
Faith - moral conviction, truth, belief, believe, trust, assurance.
Sight - a view, appearance, shape, see.

a. When we become born again, we must learn to walk by faith and not by sight.

b. Why? Because the written Word of God tells us about it.

c. So, the Word of God becomes our way of life instead of the things we can see, feel, and touch.

3. Walking or living by faith means:

a. Walking by the written Word of God.
b. Walking by the leading of the Holy Spirit of God.

c. The Word and the Spirit will confirm and agree with each other.

4. Thomas refused to believe without seeing.

a. Thomas said: I must see physical evidence before I am willing to believe.

b. Jesus said: Thomas, do not be unbelieving, but believing.

c. Refusing to believe without seeing physical evidence is called UNBELIEF.

d. Jesus said: Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

e. Those who have not seen and yet believe are those who "walk by
faith" and not "by sight."

Apostle Peter commends the saints for loving God even though they have never seen God. Instead of demanding visible proof of God's existence, they chose to "walk by faith."

5. What does the Bible say?

a. We walk "by faith."

b. We stand "by faith."

c. We live "by faith.

d. We overcome the world "by faith."

e. We are sanctified "by faith."

f. We are justified "by faith."

g. "By faith," we have access to God's grace.

6. "Our Heroes of Faith" lived by faith in Hebrews 11. (18 times "by faith")

a. The example of Abraham and Sarah, who walked by faith.

In the natural, Sarah couldn't have children. She was barren, and after a particular time she was past the age of childbearing. Furthermore, Abraham was also too old to produce children. And yet, they had a son called Isaac.

Faith Project:

As we conclude "40 Days of Faith," I challenge you to make this your lifestyle by consistently doing these five things:

a. Hear what the Word of God says about your life.
b. Believe in your heart what the Word of God says.
c. Confessing with your mouth what the Word of God says.
d. Do what the Word of God says daily.
e. Overflow with gratitude and thanksgiving.