Living and Understanding the Life of Faith Preached by Dr. Creflo Dollar at 12noon on 18th August, 2009
Father, we thank You for this opportunity to minister to these Your precious sheep... thank you Lord, that revelation knowledge will flow freely, uninterrupted and unhindered by any satanic or demonic force... speak through my vocal cords and think through my mind... none of me, and all of You, as it’s in Jesus’ Name we pray, and everybody said amen...
Now, here’s what I want You to hear... the Bible works! ...it works, and you can get results... from the Word! ...but we have to learn... and understand... our part... and how to cooperate... with God... so things begin to happen... in this physical world... God’s not gonna operate, in this physical world, just like men do... we’ve got to understand... His! ...way of doing things... now there is a way that seems! ...right unto a man... but the end thereof is destruction... why go down the road that seems right, when you can take the road that is! ...right... ok... and so we wanna talk about... living... the life of faith... living... the life of faith, and understanding it... let’s begin in four scriptures, you can jot these down... Habakkuk chapter 2... verse 4... Romans chapter 1... verse 17... Galatians chapter 3:11... and Hebrews chapter 10 verse 38...
Now... I don’t wanna get in such a rush... that I don’t really take time to do this but... I just... as a born again believer... something happened to me... when people begin to show it to me in the scripture... when I turned... and I saw it, I’m like wow, it’s in there... and I turned again, and I saw it, wow, it’s in there... versus me just quoting the scripture... so... I wanna take some time to do this, let’s go to Habakkuk chapter 2 verse 4... or, you’re free to go to your table of contents... so you won’t be flipping around, and you’re in Matthew and I’m in Habakkuk, and you lying about being in Habakkuk ...congregation chuckles... Habakkuk chapter 2... my objective is... when I finish this series this week... you’ll know... how to work your faith... and you’ll see, that faith would now begin to serve you... and things begin to happen, on purpose! ...not by happenstance... but you’ll know exactly what to do, to initiate things... to happen in your life, and then that’s my objective... Habakkuk chapter 2 verse 4...
let’s read verse 4 out loud together, ready read... Behold... his soul, which is lifted up, is not upright in him... but the just shall live ...congregation concludes, by his faith... the just shall live how... ...congregation chips in, by faith...
Ok Romans chapter 1... the book of Romans chapter 1... oh, this is a greedy bunch I’m telling you, I love it... you can really sense people are ready to... to experience God, and eat the Word of God, amen... Romans chapter 1... let’s read verse 17, ready read... for therein is the righteousness of God revealed, from faith to faith, as is written, the just shall live ...congregation concludes, by faith... the just shall live how? ...congregation chips in, by faith... the just shall live how? ...congregation chips in, by faith... who shall live by faith? ...congregation chips in, the just... ok...
Galatians chapter 3... Galatians chapter 3 and verse 11... Galatians chapter 3, and verse 11... let’s read verse 11 out loud together, ready read... But that no man is justified by the law, in the sight of God, it is evident, for the just shall live ...congregation chips in, by faith... who shall live by faith? ...congregation answers, the just... who shall live by faith? ...congregation answers, the just... the just shall live how? ...congregation answers, by faith... and then Hebrews chapter 10... Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 38... Hebrews chapter 10, and verse 38... let’s read verse 38 out loud together, ready read... now the just shall live by faith, but if any man draw back, my Soul, shall have no pleasure in him...
Now, four times we have seen that the just... those who have been declared righteous... those who have come out of darkness into the marvellous light... those who are born again... the just shall live! ...live! ...they live! ...they live a certain way, those who are born again, live... a certain way... born again Christians now, live... a certain way... we don’t live like we used to live... or based on standards that we used to live by... we are now born again... and, for us who have been declared righteous, the just... we live! ...by... faith... ok, that’s the way we live...
Now... the scripture is very clear on this, four times we have seen it declared that we live a certain way, and that certain way, is called faith... now... faith is not a get rich quick scheme... faith is not a denomination... faith... is a way, of life... it’s a way, to live life, while you’re in this physical body, in this physical world, you live by faith... now, in order for us to understand the importance of it, ladies and gentlemen, the just live by faith... that means that, you know, you’re not trying it out... it’s a way to live, which means it’s gonna be a way of talking... it’s gonna be a way of treating people... it’s gonna be a way of handling your finances... it’s gonna be a way of how you live in marriage... it’s... the Bible now, is the Manual... for... the faith prescription! ...so you cannot live, as instructed, by faith, unless you understand what the Manual of faith... has to tell us, and this Bible now, tells us how, to live... this life... called faith, if you understand that say amen... so, we are the just, we live by faith, we’re born again people, we live by faith, we are Christian folks, we live by faith, that’s... how... we... do it!
Now... God has a reason for wanting us to live by faith, let’s go to 1st John chapter 5... 1st John chapter 5... and when you get to 1st John chapter 5, look at verse 4... let’s read verse 4 out loud together, ready read... for whatsoever is born of God, overcometh the world... and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our... faith... now, how many of you are interested... in overcoming the world... overcoming lack... overcoming sickness... overcoming bondage... overcoming , some bad thing you were raised with... the Bible says that, this is the victory that overcometh the world... even our faith, so there it is again... our faith... is going to be the key... first of all, in how we live... it’s also going to be the key, secondly, in the victories that we experience, while we are living this life... of faith! ...however, throughout the years... faith has been so misunderstood... people have done things, that were presumptuous... that were... illegal... that were foolish... all in the name of faith... and lot’s of folks said, hey, I don’t want anything to do with that... and it wasn’t faith at all folks... it wasn’t faith... at all... so, the victory... that overcomes the world... is... our... faith...
Well... there’re a couple of things we need to know... if we’re planning on living by faith... and if we’re planning on obtaining victory, while we’re in the world... well... we need to know, first of all, where faith comes from... and we need to know what it is... we don’t need to think or debate about it, we need to know where it comes from... and we need to know what... it... is... so, let’s deal with where it comes from, let’s go to Romans chapter 10... I mean I’m gonna lay this recipe out, to you... you’re gonna be able to believe a bump off a hog, unto a cow... ...congregation chuckles... Romans chapter 10... verse... 17... Romans 10:17... now, let’s read verse 17 out loud together, ready read... so then, faith cometh by ...congregation chips in, hearing, and hearing by the Word of God... so then faith cometh... by hearing... and hearing by the Word of God, now you notice that word cometh in the King James Bible is italicized... it was added by the privilege of the translator, to try to make clearer once it’s translated from one language to the next... I wanna read it without that... faith... by... hearing... and hearing... by... the Word... I can’t tell you how powerful it is... faith... by hearing... and hearing... by the Word...
Well now, first of all, we understand... that... faith... comes... by... way... of... the Word... of God... no Word... no faith... little Word... little faith... big Word, lot’s
the level of your faith is gonna be based on the level of your Word... of Word, big faith... lot’s of faith... so the degree...
encounters... the Word of God has got to be a part of your life... now, it’s time to say it this morning... there’re lots of people this morning, who just... don’t read the Word anymore... that somehow, we have been convinced that as Christian people... that we can live successful faith life, without reading the Bible... without studying the Bible... without listening to the Bible... that, you know... just get born again... get a Christian tshirt... and go around, and say I’m saved, but not be able to produce any results! ...and I’m telling you, it doesn’t work like that... you’re going to have to not only get in the Word... but make getting in the Word, a lifestyle... that you’re gonna get... in
that Word because... the Word of God... is like a seed... and, faith grows... out of that seed... in fact, the Bible, refers to the Word as incorruptible seed (1 st Peter 1:23)... incorruptible, because, it will always produce... incorruptible, because, it will never fail! ...and so, when you get the Word of God... then, like a seed... it gives birth, to faith... but, without... the Word... you are limited... in your potential, to get faith... faith... comes... from... the Word of God... like I said, last night... faith comes from the Word of God, like... corn... comes from corn-seed... but if you buy... a bag of corn... and put it in... the barn... then you can never have, corn... on a cob... on the table... why? ...because... the corn-seed... is in the bag... and the bag... is in the barn... and it is in a place where it cannot, grow... you’re gonna have to take the corn... out of the bag... put it in the ground... where it can grow... and then, out of that corn-seed... when it is fully grown, you’ll have the corn on a cob, where you can take it... put some butter on it, little seasoning n’ salt... do what you wanna do, and it’ll end up on the table... but, notice where it came from... it came out of that seed! ...well, same thing’s true, where the Word of God’s concerned... you’re trying to get healed... so, you have to go to the scripture, and you have to find a scripture that covers the area that you are believing for... if that area is sickness... then you go to the Bible, and you get the Word that talks about healing... from sickness... you get those scriptures together... and you take those scriptures, and... put it on your mouth... you say it, because your tongue is the mixer... you have to mix that Word with your faith, you say it... you look at it... you think about it... you hear it... why? Why’s that necessary? ...in fact, the Word is so... important... that the Bible, tells us something in Proverbs chapter 4, we need to look at... let’s go look at it, Proverbs chapter 4... verse 20... Proverbs chapter 4, verse 20... if you have verse 20, say amen...
Alright now... verse 20 says, My son, attend... to... My... Words... now, please understand something now, ladies and gentlemen... I’ve heard people say, you know, “I really don’t desire the Word of God like you do”, let me tell you something about desire... desire... shows up... as a result of what you give your attention to... whatever you attend to... is what you are going to desire... if you’re giving your attention, all of your attention... to fishing... then you’re going to desire fishing... if you give all of your attention to... some, perverted pornography, then you’re gonna desire that, whatever you attend to... that is what you are going to desire... He says now to us, attend... to My Word... why? I wanna build a desire up on the inside of you... I heard somebody say one time... “you know, brother Dollar... I’ll tell you what... I’m a little bored... with Christianity” ...well, the only reason you’re bored with Christianity... is because you’re just a hearer... of the Word only... and not a doer... because, when you become a doer... of the Word... believe me, all the devils in the world will make sure... you’ll never get bored... you’ll have plenty to do... ...congregation laughing... ok... attend... to My Word... attend to My Word... give attention to My Words... incline your ear... unto My saying... look at verse 21... let... them Words... not depart... from... thine... eyes... keep them... in the midst... of thine heart...
Now... notice! ...you know, God’s the most purposeful Being around! ...you know, He’s got a purpose... and a reason... why He instructs us, not to allow the Word to depart from before our eyes... to keep it, in the midst of our heart! ...alright,
let’s go through this... alright now... the Word is before my eyes... I’m looking at it, I am seeing it, it is, I am giving attention to that Word... so... if I’m believing God for healing, by His stripes I’m healed, I’m gonna use that scripture... that’s the seed that I’m gonna grow... healing out of... faith is... now gonna grow out of that Word... and I keep it before my eyes... I meditate on it... what does that mean, I think on it, I think on it, I... think on it, I read it, I think on it, I read it, and I think on it, and I read it, and I read it, and I think on it, and I’m thinking on it, and I read it, and I think on it, and I read it, and I think on it, and I’m hearing it, and I’m reading it... so, when you come up to me and say, how you feel... I’m just gonna be saying what I’m thinking on... by His stripes I’m healed... why, why, why? Because, I did not allow the Word to depart from before my eyes... but now watch if I allow the Word to depart from before my eyes... and the only thing I’m thinking about is the bad report... I’m thinking about what the doc say, I’m going die... I’m thinking about all the people who died from this... I’m thinking about all them folks I’ve seen with... this... and then somebody ask me, how’re you doing... oh God, I don’t know, I’m... I think I’m going to be dead... soon... well, you can listen to people, and you’ll know when the Word has departed from before their eyes... you will know, when it’s no longer before their eyes... I need you to listen, as Christians... if you’re wanting to be successful... in your life of faith... then you’re gonna have to understand the basic instructions that God has given us to do... and when acted out on... we’re gonna see results... versus somebody that picks the scripture up for the very first time... goes home... goes to bed... get’s up the next morning, and say well it didn’t work... well, it’s not supposed to work! Hey listen... if I ask you... hey, I would like to have... some corn on the cob... on the dinner table... the next day, and you say well... I just got the corn seed... I don’t expect to have corn on the cob on the dinner table, the next day, why? ...because it takes the law of progression... it takes some time... to put the seed in the ground, to farm... the seed... and to give it time, I go to sleep and I get up, and I go to sleep and I get up, and it grows and I don’t know how... but the law of progression’s got to take place! ...and so likewise, the same thing with the Word of God! ...it’s got to be planted in your heart! ...and you got to give it time, like you do that corn! ...to grow up! ...and
so, if you need something right now... don’t wait till the last minute to try to get it! ...if you know you going to need something down the line, you need to go to planting right now... alright, you understanding what I’m saying? grow out of your heart, and break forth into this physical world...
Say this out loud... faith as a seed... see, the Word of God is so vital, if you’ll just notice, we are already in Proverbs chapter 4... we’re already in Proverbs 4... and I want to show you the progression of farming... He says in verse 21, let them Words not depart from thine eyes, keep them in the midst of thy heart, for they are... life to all those that find them... health to all their flesh... keep thy heart with all diligence... for out of it are the issues of life... put away from thee a froward mouth... perverse lips, put far from thee... let thine eyelids look right on... let thine eyelids look straight before thee... ponder the path... of thy feet... let all thy ways be established... turn not to the right hand nor to the left... remove
thy foot from evil... now... here’s what He said... I’m gonna bring all of that... into a very practical sealable place... where you’ll understand... what needs to be done here... he’s talking about the law of receiving... now, listen to this... let’s just use sickness for an example... you go to the doctor... the doctor diagnoses you with some kind of horrible thing, alright... now, at this point... you have honoured God, you’re gonna honour God’s Word over the word of the doctor... at this point, you’re gonna get your Bible... or your concordance... where you’re gonna find... some healing seed... now,
what you have on your lap... the Bible you have on your lap... you don’t have a Book of rules on your lap, you have a Bag of seed on your lap... say this out loud, I have a Bag of seed... in my possession... alright now... you got a bad report from the doctor... now, here’s the first thing you do as a Christian... whether it’s a bad report... whether it’s lack... whether it’s trouble in the marriage... regardless of what the trouble is, here’s the first thing you do as a Christian, please listen to this, it doesn’t sound real deep, but please listen to this... the first thing you do, the first! ...thing you do at the sign of trouble... is go to the Word... go to the Word! ...this is not working... go to the Word... just had a fight with my husband or wife, go to the Word... somebody said they’re gonna sue me, or I’m in trouble, go to the Word... go... to... the Word, oh I could preach... for 30 minutes on go... to... the... Word... because, do you know the number of people who are in trouble because they had not gone to the Word? ...they went to their emotions... they went to their mummy... they went to everybody else, except the Word... I’m trying to get you to go get some seed... go to the Word, and get and select and find the scripture that covers... your... situation...
Alright, the doctor diagnoses me as sick with some area, and then I say alright, first thing I’m going to do is go to the Word... alright, let me see, I’m going to get everything that covers my... situation, where healing is concerned, alright... bam, I got it! ...I’m going to write it down so I can see it... because I plan on keeping it, before... my eyes... alright... so... I’ve gotta take... this Word, which is seed, and get it in my heart, my spirit... because, that’s the only place it’s gonna grow... just like you take the corn seed, you’ve got to get it out of the bag and get it in the ground... I gotta take... this Word... out of the Bible... and I’ve got to get it... in my heart... now, how do I take this Word, which is Spirit... and stick it in this ground, which is spirit... because, spiritual things... go with spiritual things... and natural things, corn seed, goes with natural things... ground seed, glory to God... so the heart of a man... is his spirit, praise the Lord... it’s not this thing that pumps blood... it’s the spirit, it’s the center of a man, is his spirit...
man... is... a spiritual being...
he
possesses a soul... he lives in a physical body... halleluyah! ...man doesn’t have a spirit, he is! ...a spirit... turn to your neighbour and excuse... my English and say, ...Dr Dollar speaks pidgin English... you be spirit... ...congregation chuckling... ha, ha, ok... alright now, alright now, I gotta get this Word... which is seed... it’s incorruptible seed, it won’t fail, it will produce... but I gotta get it to the right place... you all see what am saying! ...we just kinda step out of church, and say, alright God I have faith... no, you don’t! ...if you don’t have no faith seed, you don’t have faith! ...alright so, I take that Word... and I’ve got to get it... in... the heart...
Now, there are three entrances, into a man’s heart... first entrance, through your eye gate... second entrance, through your ear gate... third entrance, through your mouth... halleluyah... so, when He says to guard your eyes, and to guard your ears, and to guard your mouth, there is a reason why... because in this ground... words... it doesn’t have to be the Word of God, words in general... will grow, if it goes through your eyes, your ears and your mouth... and satan wants to put, his words... through your eyes, your ears and your mouth, so it can get into the ground of your heart... and then, out of your ground... will
the good thing about a Christian is... if you don’t have something, going on in your life... you can grow it! ...congregation cheering... whatever you flow... his issues... to your life... see,
lack, you can grow! ...oh halleluyah, you all sticking with me now... I’m not up here this afternoon to get a `10` on my sermon, I’m up here... to give instructions, I feel like I am giving the combination... to the safe... and I’m giving you the... combination! ...to this life of faith, and ah... the combination! ...to your healing... the combination to your deliverance, the combination, to your success... the combination... to make more money on your business, and in your business, than the guy down the street, I wanna give you the combination!! So if anybody comes to ask you, well, I’m tired of doing it my way, show me how you do it, you can now give them the combination, and let them know that our God is God, and He works... alright now, let’s get back... so... I’ve got to get this seed... in the ground... through my eyes... through my ears... and I also got to make sure I don’t allow satan’s stuff... the oppositions to the Word... those words that oppose God’s Word... you know, in the garden of Eden... Oh Lord, I didn’t plan on going there but... let me just slow down, I got... 2 more days... in the garden of Eden... God made it very clear... don’t eat of this tree... the day you eat of it... you’ll surely die... God said that, He really did... then satan shows up, in the form of a snake and said... you’re not going to die... but God says you will... he says, no you won’t... God says you will, he says no you won’t... that’s the first
whenever you... spend more time with the opposition to God’s Word... the result of it, is going to be fear... fear... is acting out... on the time... we hear... of an opposition to God’s Word...
contradiction to God’s Word... God says, you will... die... satan says, no you won’t... so you got to understand, when you’re hearing the contradictions... when those contradictory words, are trying to get into your ground, so it can grow into your life... so you got to be careful what you’re looking at, what you’re listening to, and what you’re believing in... because, if you’re listening, watching, hearing and saying things that contradict God’s Words... those words... like crab-grass... will have the potential of entering into your eye, ear, and coming out your mouth, getting down into your heart... and then one day you’ll look up and it’s in your life! ...and you’ll try to say, how did it get there... it got there the same way that faith can get there... through your eyes, your ears, and your mouth... you’ve got to understand, you have been given dominion... to grow the Word of God, and out of your heart, grows the issues of life... but satan now wants to dominate!! ...your heart, and put his words in... and through dominating and deceiving... grow his... issues... into your life... and
that’s why Job said, the thing I feared... the most... has come... upon me... are you listening to me... that’s how it works...
Alright, so... you take healing scripture... and you begin to meditate on it... meditate means to mutter... it means to ponder... it means to roll over in your mind, you’re thinking... on this thing... you’re confessing it out loud... see a lot of the scriptures says, I believe it says in Hebrew chapter 4 around verse 2... it says that they... did not profit... because... they did not mix the Word... that was preached... with faith... well, the tongue is your mixer... and unless you say... what, you heard preached, you see I could preach all day long, but if you don’t ever get around to saying what you heard preached, if you don’t get around to saying the Word... you don’t mix it with faith, and it says some... did not profit... when they heard the Word preached... because they failed to mix it with faith... don’t you fail, to mix the Word with faith... in other words, you
what you believe, you got to speak... what you speak, is because you believe... there is a heart, tongue... connection... the Bible says to write... have to take that Word and put it in your mouth...
the Word... on the tables of your heart (Proverbs 3:3 & 7:3)... the Bible also says that the tongue... is the pen... of a ready writer (Psalm 45:1)... and so you can write it on your heart, with the words of your mouth... that’s why you’ve got to be watchful for what you’re saying, with the words of your mouth, because you can end up writing it... on... your heart... whatever you say the most... whatever you watch the most... whatever you hear the most... when acted upon... it will overwhelm... your life, and overtake your life... so what are you talking about the most, what are looking at the most, what are you hearing the most... that has the potential... of growing up out of your heart, into your life... and so we take the word of healing... we’re still on that example... we take the word of healing... and everyday... 3, 4, 5, 10 times a day... you’re reading that Word on healing... you’re confessing it with your mouth... you’re hearing yourself when you say it... if you got a good tape, you could listen to, on that... you’re just flooding your ears, and your mouth, and your eyes... and what’re you doing, you’re getting it in your heart... you’re not going to speak those words that contradict the Words you’re trying to plant... that’s just like putting weeds... on the inside of there, to try to stop your seed from growing! ...let me tell you something, I literally did this ladies and gentlemen, when I went to the doctor and the doctor said... Oh, it looks like you have prostate cancer... and I thought... men, I’m too young to have prostate cancer or any kind of cancer... and I immediately, made sure my emotions... didn’t move... because I knew exactly what to do, thank God I knew what to do... and I went home, and I got all the healing scriptures... I got all my healing tapes, got my Oral Roberts videos... got my Gloria Copeland healing school... I got me a big old thing of water... I cancelled everything... I told my wife and we agreed not to tell nobody else, because sometimes people’ll help you die... ...congregation laughing... so we kept that private... went in the backroom... got me one of those tapes that would just flip over and over again all night long... because, I know that sickness and disease is working 24 hrs to try to kill you... and sometimes, we only work an hour... a week... and no wonder, so many people are losing... and so I decided, I’m gonna bombard it, I’m gonna outwork this thing... and I began to go at
it, I began to read the scriptures out loud, I began to watch these things, I began to listen to teachings... on it... I began to hear the Word, I began to think about it, I began to hear it... and as I slept... the healing scriptures where being... over and over again in my spirit... and I began to look and the healing scriptures kept going... and I turned the television off, I didn’t want to look at nothing that would cause weeds on the inside... I don’t have time to look at `another world`, that’s a soap opera you know... I didn’t have time to look at `the edge of night`, I’m trying to stay off the edge of night... I don’t have time to get `Ryan’s hope`, Creflo... needs some hope... ...congregation laughing... I didn’t have time to be looking at all that stuff... I didn’t want to see what vampires were biting, and who’s going on and laughing at nothing... I’m working on something... now, most people thought, pastor’s getting a little deep on all this, no, it’s not that I’m getting deep, but I’m working on something, you’ve got to understand I’m farming... something... I can’t get no 30fold, no 60fold, I’m working on 100fold... alright, you all listening to what I’m
faith... becomes violent... when the intensity is turned on... it is intensity, that causes faith saying... and this is called violent faith...
to be violent, ladies and gentlemen... it’s not the loudness of your confession that makes it intense... it’s intense because you’re pouring it on... you’re pouring it on... I mean, you won’t let off... oh my goodness, you won’t let off... I mean this is not intense, once a week... and then everything else, has an opportunity to come your way... but when you leave no room... for anything else to get on the inside... and you turn up the intensity... that becomes violent... in fact, that can become damaging... to any opposing force... that’s trying to stop you, from accomplishing what you need to accomplish... oh Jesus... I gotta slow up a little bit, I’m about to preach my own self happy, you know...
Ok, so you’re getting that Word, that’s what you’re doing with that healing, that’s the purpose for the seed... this seed is like your ammo... it’s like the bullet for the gun... this seed is, out of that seed is everything that I’m believing for... out of that scripture... those scriptures contain my faith... and my faith contains my manifestation... now, I got it in my heart... now, I gotta farm it... I don’t just go away, I got to farm it... everyday I’m farming it... everyday... Dodie Osteen... John Osteen’s wife... Joel Osteen’s mother... who is my Texas mother... was diagnosed with cancer... and it was the worst type of cancer, and it was supposed to kill her... she did just what I’m teaching right now... let me tell you something, she is doing today... the same thing she did, when she won over it, back then... now, this is something that’s so important... Christian people want to condemn people... for going to the doctor when they get sick... but let me tell you because if your... you know, if you don’t have God’s best, God’s best is health! ...and I’m gonna tell you right now, go to the doctor... take the medicine... because, you’re believing God to heal you... the medicine won’t heal you, but it won’t stop you from being healed... so take it... take the operation... don’t be sitting around trying to be deep like, you know that’s wrong corresponding action... and we’ll talk about that hopefully before... how you doing the wrong thing... you think that the right corresponding action is not to take medicine, dummy! ...dum, dum, dum, whoever told you that, dum... ...congregation laughing... because, it’s so hard to believe God to be healed, while pain is all on your body... and if you can take something that can ease the pain, not to be so heavy... you can believe God a
lot easier... but medicine won’t stop you from being healed, so you might as well take it, and take the medicine, and use the doctor’s things, wow! ...you’re believing God... take the medicine and say God is my Source... go to the doctor and say God is my Source... get the healing scriptures and say God is my Source... but don’t do some dumb thing... like, don’t take the medicine, or don’t wear your glasses... “well, I believe God my eyes are healed”, and you take your glasses off and go out and drive! ...on the street! ...that is dumb, no wonder nobody wants to ride home with you, because you’re trying to have full corresponding action, without having full manifestation... some of you are looking like, oh really now... yeah... listen to me now, you take that Word... you got that Word on the inside... you’re farming that Word... you’re confessing everyday... you’re looking at it everyday... you keep this process, somebody says, “well, how long do I meditate on the Word”... you meditate on that Word long enough, until you hear that Word speak to you... and when that manifestation comes, watch this... it’s gonna show up now... the symptoms are there... but, you... whatever... the symptoms are there, and they are real... ok, they are real... but the Word is more real... and the more you stay with this process that I’ve just described... you’re developing your faith more, and more, and more, and more, and more, and faith is growing, and faith is growing, and faith is growing, and faith is growing, but it grows... out of that Word... no Word, no faith... no Word, no faith... you have to have that Word... somebody is sitting up in the hospital, they say, oh, I have faith that I’m healed... well, I’m gonna ask you... show me... the seed... that this faith for your healing, comes from... and you’re gonna have to show me a scripture... “oh, I have faith that I’m gonna get a job”... what scripture, are you standing on... “oh, I have faith that I’ll have no lack”, what scripture... are you standing on... “oh, I have faith that I’m delivered”, what scripture are you standing on... if you say you have faith... show me a scripture, where that faith grew out of... because if you say you have faith, but you have no scripture, no base... nothing that you are standing on and squeezing on... then, I’ll tell you, that you don’t have the faith at all... you just got a high expectation off some other information... but that expectation has got to come from God’s Word... you gotta get God’s Word... you say you healed, then you ought to have healing scripture, that says I’m healed based on this... I’m delivered, based on this... I’m free, based on this... I got a job, based on this... my family is going to be alright, based on this... and it’s got to be based... on the Word, because faith... faith is based... in! ...the Word... and it grows up, out of the Word... you hear me...
Now, let me... do you understand all that? ...and thank God for CDs... amen, you, I’m just trying to give you a good CD... ...congregation laughing... alright, my Bible... now, go to Romans 1... and verse 16... Romans 1 and 16... halleluyah... halleluyah... yeah... when the glory shows up, we’ll know how to engage it, because we know how to live by faith... alright now, watch this... very interesting... verse 16... let’s read it out loud, ready read... I am not ashamed... of the gospel of Christ... for it is the power of God unto salvation, to everyone that believeth... to the Jew first... and also to the Greek... alright now, let’s milk this... for I am not ashamed of the gospel... gospel means good news... oh... oh... I’m not ashamed of the gospel... gospel... the good news about THE BLESSING... if I had time, I’d prove that to you... this is the good news about THE BLESSING... the good news about THE BLESSING... halleluyah... Abraham had
the gospel preached to him... it’s the good news, about THE BLESSING... the good news about empowerment, and he shows you a little key right here... I’m not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, well, Christ is not Jesus’ last name... Christ... is translated the Anointed One... Christos, the Anointed One, I am not ashamed of the gospel... of the Anointed One and His Anointing... I’m not ashamed of the good news... of the Anointed One and His Anointing... I am not ashamed of the good news... about burden removing, yoke destroying power! ...I am not ashamed of the good news... of this supernatural divine enablement! ...praise God... I’m not
this gospel, this good news... this Word!!! ...is... the Power!! ...this Word!!! ...is the Power!! ...this Word!!! ...is the Power!! ...this Word!!! ...is the Power!! ...alright now, let me break it down to you... ashamed of the gospel of Christ... why? ...for it...
What is power? ...the ability... to get results... this Word... is ability... to get you healed... this Word... has ability, to get you delivered... this Word, has ability... to take care of issues of lack... this Word, is... the Power... this Word, is the Power... ...Dr. Dollar tapping his Bible, says... this is Powerful... this is Powerful, the Bible says, in Hebrews,
He upholds... all things... by
the Word!! ...of His Power...
this Word... has ability... it has ability...
alright, I’m not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it... this Word, is the Power of God... unto salvation... now, most people in times past... have read this like this; it’s the power of God unto born again... that’s not what it said! ...this is not limited, just to just being born again... this is the Power of God unto salvation, the Greek word I believe is `Sozo`! ...which is more... than just born again, it is deliverance... it’s healing... it’s preservation... it’s soundness... it’s safety... and it’s every issue of prosperity... in other words... this Word... is... the ability... that will get you results... where healing is concerned... soundness is concerned... preservation
your prosperity... your preservation... your... soundness... your... safety... your... deliverance! ...grows... out of this Word, this Word! ...is your ability!! ...to get those things... to manifest in your life... that Word... that Word that so is
concerned...
prosperity
is
concerned...
in
other
words,
many neglect... that Word that so many fail to read... that Word, that so many don’t want to get their hands on... ladies and gentlemen, I’m trying to show you this morning... that without the Word of God... you limit... or even at some point, completely destroy... any potential... of ever... handling... faith! ...to get results... in your life... and that’s why so many people have missed it, somehow or the other, we got this thing in our mind... that alright, I’ll live by faith, and you just kind of like conjure up different things like a magic kind of thing... no... I go to the Word first... I go to the Word first...
You know, brother Copeland and I have been privileged to... fight a lot of different attacks... together... and the first thing we do, is get on the phone... and get the scriptures... alright, let’s use this one... ok dad, how about that one, yeah... ok, let’s use this one... and we get all of them together, and then we go to war... and guess what... we’ve never lost! ...congregation cheering... we’ve never lost! ...why? ...because that Word... is the Power... it is the ability... to get the job done... when you take it and put it in your heart, and confess it, and talk it, and look, it comes up!! ...and I know sometimes, they think something’s wrong with us!! ...and you come up to us... and you know something’s going on and, you say how’re you doing, and we say, whoo!! Blessed and winning, all the time... because we’re not about to... contradict! ...the seed... that we’ve put on the inside of our heart... are you listening to me now... so the Word, the Word, the Word, the Word, the Word, the Word, you ought to thank God for a meeting like this... a place where you can come and get saturated in the Word and come in the morning and get the Word, and come back in the afternoon and get the Word, and get the Word at night time and then do it again the next day, and do it again the next day, I’m telling you, when Saturday gets here, some of you are just going to be like, alright devil, bring it on boy! ...bring it on... ...Dr Dollar simulating boxing... bam!! ...bam!! ...bring it on! ...whoo, halleluyah... halleluyah! ...because that’s what the Word will do, it will make you a champion, it will make you a soldier! ...it will take the wimp out of you, you understand... you won’t be afraid to stand up in the face of any circumstance! ...and say, I live by faith! ...I... I don’t know if you know who you’re dealing with! ...you better ask somebody, before you come and mess with me! ...because, I’m not afraid of you, I know what to do! ...the world may not know what to do... but I know what to do... because, I walk by faith!! ...and not by sight!! ...I aint’ scared! ...of you anymore halleluyah... I already got! ...the victory... it’s my faith... it’s my faith! ...glory to God...
Alright now... we know where it comes from... we know what to do with it... let’s look at what it is... Hebrews 11... because, if we’re going to live this way... we’ve got to know what it is... and I’ve heard some strange things about what it is... halleluyah...
you don’t wait, until you get sick, before you start declaring the Word of healing over your body... God’s best for you is for you to stay healthy, so everyday you get up, you say Father, I thank You that my body is well... according to the stripes of Jesus, I’m healed Father... I walk in divine healing... you don’t wait... I like to prevent halleluyah...
it, I don’t like for a lot of stuff to happen to me, I like to prevent it... you understand what I’m saying... I like to get up in the morning and say, any enemy that contends against me, contends against God... I’m winning... He always causes me to win... God is causing me to win, don’t mess with me because He’ll cause me to win... don’t start a battle, because He’ll cause me to win... don’t get tangled up with me, because He’ll cause me to win... I win every battle I fight... all the time... for as long as I’m alive on this earth, I’ll... never... lose... a... battle... ...congregation says amen, and cheering... “hargh!! ...now you better watch that there Sheflo...” ...congregation laughing... “...you better watch out now, that devil’s busy”, well he’s certainly a lot more busy than some of you are with the Word... but I got confidence in my God... you just
don’t know how He’s delivered me, and how He’s rescued me, and how He’s preserved... me... and how’s He’s healed me, and how He’s taken care of me... and I’m not going to
when you talk about God being your Source, you’ve got to make Him your only Source, halleluyah... the bank is not my source, let go of God, God’s my Source, He’s my only Source... you understand...
halleluyah... the people are not my source, halleluyah... God... is my only... Source... amen... some of you are like, “boy, you sure are excited”, I’m like... yeeah... because I know it works, and I know when you go and put it to work, glory to God, you going to be just like me ... ...congregation laughing... whoo!!
Alright, are you aware of where I told you to go... Hebrews 11 verse 1, let’s see what else we can squeeze in here... now... faith... is... the... substance... underline the word `substance` ...faith... is... the... substance of things hoped for... it is the evidence of things not seen... now the first thing we want to address is the proper tense... for faith activity... faith... always... takes place... in the present... tense... the right now... tense... faith always... takes place... in the now tense... in the present tense... hope... takes place... in the future tense... hope... or an earnest expectation of something, takes place in the future... now, I mentioned this because... I hear a lot of Christians... who intend... to make confessions in line with faith, but they are making their confessions, in line more with hope... they say things like... you know, one day... I believe God, that I’m going to be healed, well that’s not faith at all... that’s your hope, that’s what you’re looking to... achieve in the future!
...faith says, I am healed now...
yeah,
but I still feel something, no, no, no, no... your feeling, and what you feel has nothing to do with it, faith says, I... am healed, right now... if you read somewhere in the scripture that it says... and God will deliver you, what you need to do is take it from the scripture and say, I’m delivered... you’re reading the scripture that says, and the Lord says that He will certainly set you free, you need to take it and put it into faith and say, I’m free... you’re reading the scripture that says, my God shall supply all of my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus, you need to bring it into faith and say, my needs are supplied by God... are you following me... or you’ll find yourself walking in hope... because you are in the wrong tense... “I believe one day I’m going to be out of debt” versus I’m out of debt... “one day I’m coming out brother Dollar, you can believe it, one day I’m coming out!”, versus, I’m out... you have to learn the faith language... and you call those things that be not... as though they were... “well, brother Dollar that don’t make sense”, I know... it makes faith... it makes faith, and that’s what we’re trying to make... now, now faith is... the substance... substance... very interesting word... when studied out in its original language, it means... listen to this... ground... or... confidence...
faith... is... confidence... in other words... the base... and the ground... for, that which we call faith... confidence... faith... is... confidence... you know what confidence is? ...uninterrupted calm... oh... just wanna make me do a ballet dance... faith is un... because you know exactly what it means... when you hear that phrase...
uninterrupted calm... that means nothing around you, appears to shake you... hmm... it’s of course assurance... it’s associated with trust and commitment... we know there is a rest and there is a peace there... but faith is an
it’s the guy... that knows... his God... with such assurance... that he has enough nerve to say, my God! ...shall supply your need... according to His riches in glory... through and by Christ Jesus... why did they get the results that we read about in the Bible? uninterrupted calm... it’s confidence...
...uninterrupted calm... spent so much time with God’s Word... that that Word developed on the inside of them... has become more real than the circumstances and the situations around them... to the point where they were so confident about it... that they were not moved by... the opposing forces... they were not moved by the contradictions... they... just knew... that God... would do exactly what He declared... they knew in their knower until they had such peace... and such calm... until they took such rest! ...faith... is... confidence... confidence... has been the missing... substance... in our faith life... and in our faith teaching... that we need to really get a hold of it...
faith is the confidence... of the thing! ...that we are earnestly expecting... now, if we’re earnestly expecting to be healed... Now...
healing manifested in our lives... faith, is having confidence... in the Word of God on healing... concerning us manifesting that healing state... faith, is having confidence... in that Word on prosperity... faith is having confidence... in that Word on deliverance... faith is having confidence, in that Word on whatever it is that you’re... the Word is... it’s developing confidence in it... now... now I see why it shouldn’t depart from before my eyes... now I see why I keep it in my ears, keep it in my mouth... why? ...I’m spending enough time thinking about this... and meditating on this... developing confidence... confidence, has to be developed... so now I understand why... why I need to be coming to church... why I need to listen to the CDs... why I need to study my notes... why I need to meditate on the scriptures... why I need... because I’m developing confidence... because, this thing is becoming so real on the inside of me, that I’m not moved, my calmness... about what I know that I know, that I know, that I know in my knower that I have... is such sure about this thing, I’m as sure about it... as when you showed up in here today and took a seat in that chair, you had an undisturbed calm... concerning that chair’s ability to support you... you took a seat... imagine what it would be like if you treated the Word, the same way you treated that chair... without almost not even thinking about it, you sit down... you don’t even look at the chair half the time, you just kind of feel to make sure it’s there... and you take a seat, because you know... that chair has an ability to support you, well likewise, if we do the scripture like we do a chair!! ...the gates of hell! ...will not be able to prevail against us... ...congregation applauding... but we’re going... to have to get into some faith training... now... faith is the... confidence... of the thing... hoped for... out of the Word... it’s the assurance... it’s the confirmation... it’s the confirmation... it’s the confirmation... it’s the confirmation... confirmation... I didn’t have to see my room... before I came here... I had a confirmation... so if I
showed up at the desk and I heard... sorry, we don’t have a room... we don’t have your name... I’m like, I got a confirmation number here babe, just hold on a minute, I got the confirmation number right here... here’s the confirmation number, and I read it out to her... my calm, has not been disturbed... because I know I got a room... now, I don’t know if they’ve got to put somebody out of their room... I don’t know if they’ve gotta build me one real quick... but I know I got a room, somewhere!! ...in this hotel... I... am not... nervous... I don’t lose my peace... I have utmost confidence that I got a place to lay my head... now... I’m going to give you... in the last 5 or 6 minutes I have... I’m going to give you... the four... perspective... definitions... that we have gathered throughout the years... of what faith is... so you can begin to understand the four... perspective definitions of what faith is... we got to live it? We need to know what it is... ok...
I’ll give you four of em’, number one... the first one... that I’m familiar with... when I
faith is acting out... on the Word of God, that you believe... faith... is acting out... on the first got saved, this is what I learned about faith...
Word of God, that you believe... faith... is acting out, on the Word of God, that you believe... I tell a story, about a deacon, going to a deacon’s convention... and the convention, is being held, in the middle of the desert... all of the deacons arrived... at this convention... and this happened to be a, black deacons’ convention... from Mississippi, USA... somebody says, what’s the difference... uh huh... there’s a big difference... ...congregation laughing... and so when they, there’s a little hotel right out there, and all of them arrive, except this one guy, and his car broke down and he had to walk in the desert, by the time he got to the lobby, he fell down, a doctor came and got him and examined him... found out the guy was dying of thirst... alright I ask you this question... what is the cure for a man who is dying of thirst... water... so they got the man, they put him in a chair, they took a pitcher of water, a glass there... they put in on a small table, they put the water, in front of the man... the man looked at the water... with all the deacons surrounding him, because they were concerned about him... but you gotta know, black Mississippi deacons, like to talk in church... when the preacher’s talking... when the preacher says something, they say ...Dr Dollar simulates in a melodic tone... “Well”...when the preacher says something, they say “yes sir!” ...when the preacher says something, “you preaching now!” ...when the preacher preaches long, “come on, bring it on home preacher...” ...congregation laughing... so, man they’re sitting up there... and that guy... who’s a deacon sat up and looked at the water... and he said, ...Dr. Dollar simulates in a melodic tone... “I believe... if I drink this water...”, and one deacon said, “yes sir!”, he said ...in a melodic tone ... “I believe if I drink this water...”, he said, “come on, son!”, he said ...in a melodic tone... “...I belieeeeeve... if I drink this waaaater... that I... I... will not die” ...they said, “yes sir! You preaching!” ...while the guy was sitting there, he got a little excited and said, “I belieeeeeve... hah... if I drink this waaater”, “yes sir!”, “...that I, I, I, I.... will not die...”, “you preaching sir!”, and then the man got really excited, “I, I, I, I, hah!”, and he started harking, “hah! I belieeeeve hah! ...if I drink this, hah! ...waaaater, hah! , I, hah! ...I, hah! ...I, hah!”, and he fell dead right there, just right in the middle of that, he fell dead right there, he fell dead right there, in the middle of harking, he just fell right there, bam! ...dead... right there in the middle of it all... alright now, I got a question for you now... what the man was saying, was it true or false... true, if a man who is dying of thirst... you know, drinks
water, he won’t die... well how come the man died... he didn’t drink water, faith... is drinking water... there’re people all over England believing something, but if you don’t believe the Word of God... if you don’t act out, if you don’t take the right corresponding actions... then you can believe, but the devils believed and trembled...
so you got to add some acting, with your
believing...
and it’s gotta be the right corresponding action, and a lot of
times... just confessing the Word! ...can be the right corresponding action... right corresponding action... you don’t take your glasses off, that’s the wrong corresponding action... you can’t take your glasses off, and get full corresponding action, until you have full corresponding manifestation... if your eyes haven’t been fully healed, you can’t fully see... so don’t take your glasses fully off... because, you don’t have full corresponding action... you still blind when you take your glasses off... and if you take your glasses off, and you still blind when you take your glasses off, then when you get in the car, you going to hit some little old lady who’s crossing the street, because you didn’t see them! ...because, you’re trying to have full corresponding action! ...because you didn’t have full... you didn’t have a manifestation... you can’t! ...see...
So while faith... is acting out on the Word of God... you got to make sure you choose the right action... and you can’t choose an action, that will overload... your faith... so, it’s the first definition we’re familiar with... faith is acting out the Word of God that you
faith... is a practical... expression... of your confidence... that you have in God... and in His Word... faith is a practical expression... of your confidence... that you have in God... believe... number two...
and in His Word... faith, is a practical expression of your confidence... that you have in God... and in His Word... I use again for an illustration... you express your confidence in this chair’s ability to support you, by coming in, and taking a seat... you express that you had confidence in this, it was a practical expression... you sat down... faith is the same thing... that you spend time with that Word... you develop confidence... and now you’re ready, to give a practical expression... and sometimes, that is opening your mouth, and confessing what you have, until you get the full manifestation... don’t take it lightly... a confession of faith... that is, a corresponding action... ok...
The third... definition...
real... Bible... faith... is faith... in the love
of God... oh yeah... because, if you don’t believe God loves you, you won’t believe a word He says to you... and if you let the devil start talking to you, and talking about you aint’ no good, you ought to be ashamed of yourself, look at what you did last night, I
if you don’t believe God loves you... you won’t believe what God says... can’t believe you did that, I don’t believe God loves me,
Deuteronomy chapter one, they said, they thought that God hated them... and so they rebelled against Him... and when you listen to this stuff and, preachers tell you that you no good because you went out and got pregnant out of wedlock, and that you no good
because you got an abortion, and you no good... and if you don’t understand the mercy and the grace of God... and the blood of Jesus to forgive you... and you walk around the rest of your life thinking that you have so disappointed God... and that God doesn’t love you anymore, then you won’t believe by His stripes I am healed... you won’t believe my God shall supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory... why? ...because, you don’t believe He loves you... but once you believe that God loves you... halleluyah, that’s the first thing you think about, in the middle of trouble... God loves me, therefore... God heals me... God loves me, therefore... God provides for me... God loves me therefore, I’m not going to die of this disease... God loves me and therefore my faith, worketh by love (Galatians 5:6)... but when your love life is off... your faith life would be off... and real Bible faith, is faith... in... the love... of God... do you believe His love...
“...And
we have known and believed the love that God has to us. God is
love; and he that dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him...” – 1st John 4:16 KJVR
...well if you believe His love, you can believe His Word... and that’s something that, we need to talk about... a whole lot... because, a lot of people’s faith... is at an all time low.. because their love... is at an all-time low... you’ve got to believe the love of God... alright, maybe you have done some terrible things, but the blood of Jesus still cleanses terrible things... ok... you cool... you know, I don’t know what’s wrong with church folks... they look around like... they aint’ never did nothing... “ohh... oh Lord, you did that!”, well mama, when you was 20, let’s talk about what you did, in the booth, in the back, in the corner, in the dark... if it wasn’t for the blood of Jesus, all of us would have some trouble...
...and then this last definition, and we’ll spend more time with this later... this is so
faith, is a practical expression of your confidence... in the act... of obedience... it’s a practical expression of your confidence, in the act... of obedience... to the Voice... behind the Word... an act of obedience to the Voice... behind the Word... an good, I hope I have some time to spend a lot of time with this...
act of obedience to the Voice behind the Word... behind every Word... behind every scripture... there’s a Voice... remember when Saul... had that road of Damascus experience... Saul, who we know as Paul... and ah, he was knocked off that horse... the
the key... to breakthrough ladies and gentlemen... is not the Word of God, but... the Word... from God... but you got to go to scripture says, that everybody saw the Light... but only Paul... heard the Voice...
the Word... of God... in order to get access to the Word... from God... but it’s when God said to you, do this, and you do it... God said to you, go, and you go... God said to you, give, and you give... when you obey the Voice... my God! ...that will cause a breakthrough, that you’ve never seen... in your life... and that is a level of faith that very few... have acted on... and yet, most of everybody in the Bible... that got breakthrough... heard... God... say... something... and when you get access... to His Voice... you access His Power... because the scripture says, His Voice is Powerful... it has ability... to grant... results... amen... my time is up, did you all learn anything... glory be to God... ...congregation clapping... end.
“...You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavour? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. You are the light of the world-like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father...” – Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:13 – 16) New Living Translation