Introduction : A lady came to see me and asked me to pray for her because she had severe health problems. She was so worried and anxious, as if she had been sentenced to die. She could not eat right, her body was getting weak, and she suffered from mental anguish. According to the information she had received from TV or a newspaper article, she had diagnosed herself with stomach cancer. After I prayed for her, she had a gastroscopic examination at the hospital. The results clearly showed that she had simple gastritis, not stomach cancer. After she received the correct knowledge about her health, she could speak with faith and confidence. Later, I asked about her health, and she told me that she still feels a little bit of pain with an attack of indigestion, but she does not have any fear and feels very healthy, because she knows she does not have stomach cancer. Like this, we must also have the correct understanding of the Word of God in order to enjoy the grace of God. We cannot have faith without clear knowledge of the Word of God. When our faith grows, we can proclaim our faith with confidence, and miracles will happen that can move mountains.
1. Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ 1) Worldly faith comes from worldly knowledge - our senses, experience, and rational understanding 2) The faith of God comes from the knowledge of God´s Word (Hos 4:6) (1) God cannot be an object of study from human senses, experience, or reason, because God exists above time, space, and substance (Ps 113:5-6, 139:6) (2) The knowledge of God can be received only by the revelation of God - the Bible, compiled from (2Ti 3:16, Heb 1:1-2) 3) The teaching of the Holy Spirit - the knowledge of God can be understood through the teaching of the revelation of God the Holy Spirit (Jn 14:26, 16:13)
2. What should we believe? 1) The experience of Martha and Mary - Jesus came to them when Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days 2) What should we believe about worldly knowledge and the Word of God? (1) Worldly knowledge - Lazarus is dead and he cannot rise again. (Experience and rational understanding) (Jn 11:21) (2) The knowledge of God´s Word - Your brother will rise again (3) The anguish of two women - World or God, sensual faith or revelatory faith? (Jn 11:39) 3) We need to make a decision in order to gain confidence - The encouragement of Jesus, "If you believed, you would see the glory of God."
3. The difference between general faith and confidence 1) The disciples of Jesus (1) They learned the Word of God and saw miracles by living with Jesus for three years (Jn 20:30-31) (2) They followed Jesus, thinking that they believed in Him, but they ran away when they faced a challenge at Gethsemane. That shows their weak faith. (Mk 14:31) 2) What made them have confidence and become martyrs? (1) The clear knowledge about the true image of Jesus - His death, His burial, His resurrection, and His ascension. After that, the fullness of the Holy Spirit gave them clear knowledge and confidence that they could never deny (Jn 15:26-27, Ac 2:22-24) (2) That confidence even made them rise above death (Ac 4:18-20, 20:24, Ro 8:35, 38-39) 3) Head knowledge and heart knowledge-knowledge and understanding. Knowledge without understanding produces faith in the mind, but knowledge with understanding produces faith in the heart (Mt 13:23, Col 2:2)
4. Declare boldly If you believe the knowledge of God and have confidence, boldly confess it with your lips. Say to the mountain, ´Go, throw yourself into the sea´. This is the proclamation of a miracle. (Mk 11:23-24, 9:23, Ro 10:10, Heb 10:38)
Conclusion : We are living in a fog of uncertainty, anxiety, and fear. However, if we know, believe, and comprehend the Word of God with confidence, we can confront our destiny and overcome our circumstances through a bold and creative confession of faith.
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