HOLY SPIRIT (Part 18)
– Fight the good fight (1 Timothy 6:12)
Question:
How can we fight the good fight of faith?
– Ephesians 6:10-18
– (verse 16)
The “shield” of faith.
– Shield (in Hebrew, a “thureon”);
a plank of wood, 4 feet long and 2½ feet wide.
It was overlaid with linen and leather which were usually
treated with a substance that extinguished flaming arrows.
Note:
God planned for faith to be our protector.
– The Greek word for “in addition” is “epi”
(meaning: marks an extension or spreading out upon or over something;
a stretching or spreading out in various directions distribution over).
In verse 16, it implies “over” or “above”.
– (Psalm 3)
God is our shield.
– Fear, one of Satan’s weapons for weakening our faith.
– (Mark 4:35-41)
Jesus equates fear to a lack of faith.
– (Hebrews 11:23, 27)
When faith is present, fear is gone.
– (1 Timothy 1:7)
God did not give us a spirit of fear.
– (Psalm 3:6)
God is our defender of fear.
– (2 Kings 6:8-20)
Although his servant was afraid,
Elisha (a man of God) was not afraid, as a result of his faith.
– Casual familiarity is another weapon against our faith.
– (Mark 6:1-6)
Look at how the faith of those in the hometown of Jesus were affected
(we can assume, as a result of their familiarity with Him).
Question:
What were the results of their lack of faith?
– They could not understand that Jesus was the Messiah.
– Jesus could perform only a few miracles.
– Jesus was amazed by their lack of faith.
Note:
New Christians may have a greater, active faith than those
who have been Christians for a long time
and have become “familiar” with Christ.
– A closer look at faith:
– (Mark 9:14-32)
– (verse 24)
Question:
What was the father’s plea?
– Help me overcome my unbelief.
Question:
Do you ever feel your belief is not strong enough?
– (Luke 17:5)
Even the apostles were concerned about the depth of their faith.
– (verse 29)
Question:
Why couldn’t the disciples drive out the evil spirit?
– They failed to pray?
Question:
How many times do we attempt things
in our own strength, without prayer?
– (Daniel 3:8-18)
Faith can mean ‘knowing God can’, whether or not He does.
– (Revelation 1:5)
“faithful witness” – Christ is the living testimony of God’s believability.
– (Isaiah 41:21-24; Isaiah 44:6-8)
Look at the test of the one true God.
– Fulfilled prophecies:
– (Micah 5:2 / Matthew 2:1-2)
Ruler will come out of Bethlehem (king of the Jews).
– (Psalm 78:1-2 / Matthew 13:34)
Speaking in parables.
– (Zechariah 9:9 / Luke 19:35-38)
The king of the Jews will be riding a colt.
– (Zechariah 11:12 / Matthew 26:15)
Thirty pieces of silver.
– (Psalm 22:16 / John 20:25, 27)
His hands and feet are pierced.
– (Psalm 22:18 / John 19:23-24)
They cast lots for His clothing.
– (Psalm 34:20 / John 19:32-33)
His bones (legs) are not broken.
– (Amos 8:9 / Matthew 27:45)
The earth will be darkened during the day.
Note:
(Amos 8:10) Look at who the mourning is for.
Note:
This is only 8 of the 61 prophecies.
According to a scientist, Peter Stoner, the probability of all 8 being
fulfilled is 1 in 10 to the 17th power.
His illustration:
Take 10 (to the 17th power) silver dollars (100,000,000,000,000,000) and lay
them on the surface of Texas (they would cover all of the state two feet deep);
now, mark one of these silver dollars and stir up the coins;
blindfold a man and send him out to pick up the marked silver dollar;
the chance of him picking the right one is 10 to the 17th power.
Note:
If we added 40 fulfilled prophecies,
the chance would be 1 in 10 to the 157th power;
yet all 61 were perfectly fulfilled, just as God said they would be.
– Some prophecies that remain to be fulfilled
(this should provide assurance for us).
– John 14:1-7
Acts 1:9-11
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
– (Romans 3:3-4; 2 Timothy 2:13)
Question:
“He cannot disown Himself” – what does that mean to you?
– He ‘can’ disown those who are not faithful?
(Matthew 7:23)
Then I will tell them plainly,
‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
God is faithful whether or not we believe Him.
Read these verses about faith and prayer:
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy?
Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them
call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with
oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make
the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned,
they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and
pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a
righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:13-16)
Notice the two comments about prayer:
1. If we want our prayer to be powerful and effective
then we must strive to become righteous.
2. We need to offer our prayers in faith.
BREAD FOR BELIEVERS 
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