16 Sep Kingdom Faith #8

Kingdom Faith Focus Overview

In Kingdom Faith #8, the pastor explores the essential practice of fixing our eyes on Jesus as the foundation of victorious Christian living. Through personal anecdotes and biblical exposition, he emphasizes that faith is both a gift from God and an action we must take. The message centers on Hebrews 12:1-3, teaching that we must strip away weights that slow us down and run the race of faith by keeping our focus on Jesus rather than our problems. The pastor distinguishes between faith as a noun (what we possess through God’s Word) and believing as a verb (the action we take). Using practical analogies like a flashlight’s circuit and smoking meat, he illustrates how faith and action work together to produce spiritual results. The sermon addresses common struggles with maintaining faith during difficult seasons, comparing spiritual stagnation to the ‘stall’ that occurs when smoking meat – a necessary process that produces tenderness and flavor. Throughout, he emphasizes that Jesus becomes more precious as we exercise faith and experience His faithfulness, encouraging believers to live from a heavenly perspective rather than being overwhelmed by worldly corruption.

Kingdom Faith Focus Outline

• 0:00 – Introduction and Hospital Testimony: Pastor shares encounter with resistant nurse about God’s purpose in a fallen world
• 3:45 – Adam vs. Jesus – Two Representatives: Comparison between first Adam’s failure and Jesus as the victorious second Adam
• 7:20 – Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus: Exposition of Hebrews 12:1-3 about running the race of faith with proper focus
• 12:30 – Faith vs. Believing – Noun vs. Verb: Distinction between possessing faith and acting on faith with practical examples
• 18:15 – Biblical Examples of Faith in Action: Healing, finances, and confession as demonstrations of active faith
• 24:00 – Jesus Becomes Precious Through Faith: How exercising faith increases our appreciation and connection to Jesus
• 28:45 – The Smoking Meat Analogy: Understanding spiritual stagnation as necessary process for growth and maturity

Scripture References

Hebrews 12:1-3, 1 Peter 2:24, James 5:14-15, Psalm 112:3, Luke 6:38, Romans 10:8-10, 1 Peter 2:7, 2 Peter 1:1

Key Takeaways

• Faith requires both receiving God’s promises and taking action based on those promises to see results.
• Keeping our focus on Jesus rather than problems transforms our perspective from shadow to light.
• Jesus becomes more precious to us as we exercise faith and experience His faithfulness through trials.
• Spiritual stagnation periods are often necessary processes that produce greater maturity and blessing.
• Confession and declaration of God’s truth activates the power that already exists through faith.
• Living from a heavenly perspective means seeing beyond current circumstances to God’s eternal purposes.
• Faith in action produces kinetic power that brings God’s potential into practical reality.

Kingdom Faith Focus Notes

This powerful message on Kingdom Faith reveals the dynamic relationship between possessing faith and exercising faith in daily Christian living. The pastor begins with a compelling testimony about witnessing to a resistant hospital nurse, using this encounter to address the age-old question of why God allows suffering in a corrupted world. His explanation that God purposefully placed humanity in a fallen world, just as He created Adam knowing Satan was present, provides profound insight into God’s redemptive plan.The central theme emerges through the contrast between Adam and Jesus as representatives of humanity. While Adam failed to maintain fellowship with God and act on his faith when tempted, Jesus succeeded perfectly by staying focused on the Father’s will. This sets up the crucial teaching from Hebrews 12:1-3 about running the race of faith with our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.The pastor’s distinction between faith as a noun and believing as a verb provides practical clarity for spiritual growth. Faith comes through hearing God’s Word and represents what we possess, while believing involves the actions we take based on that faith. Using the analogy of a flashlight, he illustrates how potential power becomes kinetic power when we make proper connections through obedience.Practical applications include healing (1 Peter 2:24 and James 5:14-15), where faith declares we are already healed while believing involves calling for prayer and anointing. In finances, faith acknowledges that wealth and riches belong in our house (Psalm 112:3) while believing requires giving (Luke 6:38). These examples demonstrate how spiritual principles work through both divine promise and human response.The teaching on Jesus becoming precious through faith provides deep encouragement for believers facing trials. Like a precious gem requiring more prongs for security based on its value, our appreciation for Jesus grows stronger through experiencing His faithfulness during difficult seasons. This process transforms church attendance, prayer, and spiritual disciplines from obligations into treasured opportunities.The smoking meat analogy brilliantly illustrates spiritual maturation during apparent stagnation periods. Just as meat reaches a temperature plateau called ‘the stall’ before becoming tender and flavorful, believers often experience seasons where nothing seems to change despite continued faith. Understanding this process prevents premature abandonment of faith during crucial development phases.

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