Sermon Series: “What’s Love Got To Do With It? Everything!” “Faith Prepares to Receive (Love’s) Promise(s)!”

Praise the Lord and Good Morning Saints. For the past six weeks, I having been preaching on walking in Love and what it accomplishes:

• Love Has Everything to Do with Abolishing Fear.
• Loving God’s Way Brings the Blessing.
• Love Keeps His Promises Past, Present and Future
• Loving God’s Way Brings Covenant Power.
• You Can’t Fail when You Walk in Love.
• Love Fuels Mountain Moving Faith.

From these teachings, we have learned what “Walking in Love” will do but we didn’t study what does “faith” do? Well today, as the sermon topic shows, we will learn that Faith Prepares to Receive (Love’s) Promise(s). 
When you are expecting something to happen or someone to visit, what do you do? You make plans. You prepare. You get ready, in other words, you take action!
Having faith in God—or the faith of God—is the same. When you pray, remember there is a “Heart and Mouth” connection, you believe in your heart and you speak with your mouth, and you release your faith for something to happen.  And then, add to your prayer of faith, what the Word calls “corresponding action.”

James 2:14-18 says: “What doeth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith and have not works? Can faith save him?” 

[This refers to those who say that they have faith and that works are not necessary in Christin living. It does not say they have real and active faith, but they say they have. Can faith alone save? James is not referring to initial justifying faith, but to the demonstration of Christian faith before men. Christianity demands of its followers’ good works to all men. One is not justified by works, but justified ones must do them to prove their Christian consecration.]
“If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food. And one of you say unto them. Depart in peace, go ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”  [Faith without works is dead; works without faith is dead. Neither is complete in itself. It is like fire burning without fuel and fuel burning without fire. One can say that this is possible but it is not so, because such is contrary to the creative makeup and the laws that govern fire and fuel.] 

“Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” 

Here’s the point: When you pray in faith, believing you receive the promise of God in His Word and being expectant for him to answer your prayer, move forward with corresponding action.

Take Abraham for example, his whole life was based on walking in faith with corresponding action from leaving his father’s house until the end of his life. I will use just one example: Abraham had received the promise that through Him, the seed would come. When he was tested, offered up his only begotten son through whom the seed should come. Abraham had faith that if he killed his son in obedience that God would raise him from the dead to fulfill what He had promised.  

Noah is another example: Noah had a promise from God that He was going to destroy all the wicked people in the world and start over with righteous Noah and his family.  Based on God’s promise, Noah spent 120 years working on the Ark and preaching about the coming flood to all the wicked people around him. Noah and the people had never seen rain or had any concept of a flood but Noah believed God and faithfully took corresponding action and built the ark. The end result was saving his family and the animals who fulfilled God’s promise to be fruitful, multiply and replenish the earth. We learned that Noah was not able to fulfill God’s promise to be fruitful as Pastor Darryl taught us in his series.

In 2 Kings 4:1-7 is the story of Elisha and a widow woman whose husband (a prophet) had died leaving a lot of debt which resulted in the possibility of her two sons being sold into slavery to pay off the debt. She goes to the prophet Elisha for a Word from the Lord. Elisha finding out that she had nothing but a little jar of oil in her house, told her to borrow a lot of bottles not a few. Once she had collected the jars, she was to go into her house with her sons, shut the door, and pour the little jar of oil she had into all the jars, setting aside the ones that were filled. 

The poor widow did as Elisha had instructed through the word of the Lord. As she poured the oil, a miraculous event occurred: the small amount of oil she had kept flowing until all the jars were filled. Astonishingly, even though she started with just a small jar of little oil, she was able to fill all the empty containers. 
Elisha, the holy man of God then told her to go and sell enough oil to pay off her debts with the money from the sale of the oil. The widow had enough money to pay off her debt and enough left to provide for herself and her entire house. From this story, there are things that can be gleaned, for example:

“What Does Oil Represent in 2 Kings 4? 

In 2 Kings 4:1-7, the oil jar is a symbol of God’s provision and blessing. It represents the divine intervention and abundance that comes through faith and obedience (corresponding actions). Oil also represents the anointing. The oil in this story symbolizes:

• Gifts and Talents: God uses what we have and multiplies it to bless us and those around us. The widow had some oil and it was through what she had, that God was able to fill all those jars. God has blessed us with spiritual and earthly gifts that He is looking to multiply for us to enjoy and be a blessing to others under the guidance of the Holy Spirit
• God’s Provision: The widow’s initial possession of a small jar of oil represents her limited resources and dire circumstances. However, when she follows Elisha’s instructions in faith and corresponding action, the miraculous multiplication of the oil into many jars symbolizes God’s generous provision in times of need. It demonstrates that God can transform scarcity into abundance.
• Divine Blessing: The overflowing oil serves as a sign of God’s favor and blessing upon those who trust in Him and follow His guidance. It’s a reminder that God can work miracles and provide for His people when they turn to Him in times of crisis.
• Faith and Obedience: The story highlights the importance of faith and obedience (corresponding action) in receiving God’s blessings. The widow’s obedience in collecting many empty jars and pouring the oil demonstrated her trust in Elisha’s instructions and by extension, her trust in God. The oil symbolizes the rewards of faithful obedience.

  Another Lesson Learned from Elisha and the Widow:

• Faith and Obedience (Corresponding Action) Brings Miracles.
  The story of Elisha, the widow and the oil teaches us the profound lesson that faith and obedience (corresponding action) can lead to miracles. The widow’s unwavering faith in God’s ability to provide through Elisha’s guidance, despite her dire circumstances, showcases the power of trust in God’s plan.

  Her obedience to follow Elisha’s specific instructions, no matter how unconventional they seemed, led to the miraculous multiplication of oil. This illustrates that faithful obedience (corresponding action) can open the door to unexpected blessings.

• God Provides in Unexpected Ways
  The narrative emphasizes the idea that God’s provision often comes in unexpected ways. The widow had only a small jar of oil, seemingly insufficient to resolve her financial crisis. However, through God’s intervention her limited resources became abundant.

  This teaches us that God’s solution may not always align with our preconceived notions or conventional wisdom. When we trust in God’s providence, we may find that blessings manifest in ways we never anticipated, reminding us of the limitless nature of divine provision.

• God Cares for the Vulnerable
  The story highlights God’s compassion for the vulnerable and marginalized in society. The widow, facing the imminent loss of her sons due to debt, represents those in desperate situations. God’s intervention not only rescued her from financial ruin but also safeguarded her family.

  This demonstrates God’s concern for those in need, emphasizing the importance of compassion, empathy, and support for the less fortunate. It encourages us to extend a helping hand to those facing difficulties, recognizing that our actions can reflect God’s love and care in the lives of others.
  The multiplication of the widow’s oil from scarcity to abundance conveys a powerful message about God’s transformative power in times of scarcity, whether it’s financial resources, emotional strength, or hope, God can miraculously turn our limitations into abundance.

  This serves as a reminder that our limitations do not limit God. Through faith and trust, we can experience God’s ability to transform our lack into plenty, showcasing His boundless grace and provision.

• Gratitude and Stewardship
  The story highlights the importance of gratitude and responsible stewardship of God’s blessings. After the miraculous multiplication of oil, the widow had a valuable resource in abundance.

  This abundance was not meant for hoarding but for addressing her needs and debts. It teaches us the significance of appreciating God’s blessings, using them wisely and sharing them with others. Gratitude for what we have, coupled with responsible stewardship, aligns us with God’s divine purpose and fosters a spirit of generosity and selflessness in our lives.

  This is what we are to do. We are to spend time with God, in His Word, and in prayer, to build our faith to prepare to receive what it is we are believing for, because Faith Prepares to Receive the Promise(s).

Faith Prepares for What it Believes.
Everything in the Bible was done and received by faith. Every person Jesus healed, delivered and set free was healed, delivered and set free by faith. By faith, the demon possessed man was freed. By faith, the woman with the issue of blood was healed. By faith, Jairus’ daughter was healed.

Faith depends on the Word of God alone to work—and it prepares ahead of time for what it believes will happen. What is it that God has for you? What has He put in your heart to receive?

Romans 10:17 tells us how faith comes? “So, then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. So, as you listen to these sermons, stir up the faith in you, because Faith Prepares to Receive the Promise(s).

Faith Prepares for What it Expects.
The Oxford Dictionary tells us that hope is the “feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.” Hope is the blueprint of faith. It paints a picture inside us of what we need or want, and what we are to be expecting. With that hope before us, we feed our faith and use it like a tool to receive what we are believing for. Then, we release our faith by speaking God’s Word that promises us what we are believing for. Hebrews 11:1 tells us that “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.”

Here are 18 definitions of faith from Heb. 11 Chapter.

• Heb. 11:1a Amp. “Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed)”
• Heb. 11:1b Amp. “and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses]. A good example is: Heb. 11:7 = “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”
  Invisible backing of elders. Heb. 11:2 Amp. = “For by this [kind of] faith the men of old gained [divine] approval.”
• The creative power of divine works. Heb. 11:3 Amp. = “By faith [that is, with an inherent trust and enduring confidence in the power, wisdom and goodness of God] we understand that the worlds (universe, ages) were framed and created [formed, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose] by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.)”
  Divine testimony of right doing. Heb. 11:4 Amp. = By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which it was testified of him that he was righteous (upright, in right standing with God), and God testified by accepting his gifts. And though he died, yet through [this act of] faith he still speaks.”
• Cancellation of natural laws. Heb. 11:5 Amp. = “By faith [that pleased God] Enoch was caught up and taken to heaven so that he would not have a glimpse of death; and he was not found because God had taken him; for even before he was taken [to heaven], he received the testimony [still on record] that he had walked with God and pleased Him.”
  Basis of pleasing God. Heb. 11:6 Amp. = “But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that “God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.”
• Dependence upon God’s Word. Heb. 11:7 Amp. = “By faith [with confidence in God and His Word] Noah, being warned by God about events not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his family. By this [act of obedience] he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness which comes by faith.”
• Trust in an unknown future. Heb. 11:8-10 Amp. = “By faith Abraham, when he was called [by God], obeyed by going to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as a foreigner in the promised land, as in a strange land, living in tents [as nomads] with Isaac and Jacob, who were fellow heirs of the same promise. For he was [waiting expectantly and confidently] looking forward to the city which has foundations, [an eternal, heavenly city] whose architect and builder is God.”
• Counting things that be not as though they were (Heb. 11:11-12) Rom 4:17 Amp. = “(as it is written [in Scripture], ‘I have made you a father of many nations’ in the sight of Him in whom he believed, that is, God who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.”
• Seeing invisible things. Heb. 11:13-16 Amp. = “All these died in faith [guided and sustained by it], without receiving the [tangible fulfillment of ‘God’s] promises, only having seen (anticipated) them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. …. But the truth is that they were longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. For that reason, God is not ashamed [of them or] to be called their God [even to be surnamed their God—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob]; for He has prepared a city for them.”
• Assurance of God’s faithfulness. (Heb. 11:17-19) Heb. 11:23 Amp. = By faith Moses, after his birth, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful and divinely favored child, and they were not afraid of the king’s (Pharaoh’s) decree.”
• Confidence in things to come (Heb. 11:20-31; 10:35; Eph. 3:12; 1 Jn. 3:21) Heb. 3:6 Amp. = “but Christ is faithful as a Son over His [Father’s] house. And we are His house if we hold fast our confidence and sense of triumph in our hope [in Christ].
  Stimulus of Christianity Heb. 11:32-12:2 Amp. = “And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Sampson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith [that is, with an enduring trust in God and His promises] subdued kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promised blessings, closed the mouths of lions, …”
  The life-blood of the just Heb. 10:38 = “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man drawback, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.”
• Shield of Christian armor Eph. 6:16 Amp. = “Above all, lift up the [protective] shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
• Down payment of things desired (Heb. 3:6, 12, 6:11-12; 10:22-23, 35-39). Heb. 3:14 Amp. = “For we [believers] have become partakers of Christ [sharing in all that the Messiah has for us], if only we hold firm our newborn confidence [which originally led us to Him] until the end.”
• Guarantee of answered prayer (Mt. 21:22; Mk. 11:22-24; Jas. 1) Heb. 11:6 Amp. = “But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.”

I have given you a complete list, definitions and examples of faith so when you make your prayer requests be as specific in your faith and your believing as you can be. In this way, God can answer more specifically your prayers.
For example, if you are believing for a financial breakthrough, release your faith to live debt free. You could use the following verse to write a confession: “Owe nothing to anyone – except your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the obligation of God’s law (Rom. 13:8). Your confession could be: Lord, thank You that I owe nothing to anyone but love. Thank You that because You so greatly love me, I can freely love everyone I meet today with Your love.
If you are believing for a relationship to be restored—with your spouse, child, a relative, friend or colleague—find a verse or verses to write, pray, and confess the promise of God so you can release your faith … because Faith Prepares To Receive The Promise(s).

Faith Prepares For The Victory

Part of receiving by faith is thanking God for the answer before you see it in this natural realm. It’s praising God that what you have prayed, hoped and believed Him for is coming to pass. It is worshipping Him for the answer—for your healing, your provision that’s coming, the breakthrough that will happen, for the child who will be set free or the lost who will be saved—before you- see it. Faith counts it already done.

Mark 11:22-25 is a foundational passage of scripture and a fundamental of faith: “Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain “May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,” and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you; you can pray for anything and if you believe that you have received it, it will be yours. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”
When you have your prayer list and God’s promises to stand on for each prayer request, then pray using the promises of God. Release your faith by speaking what He promised—because faith depends on the Word to work. Then start praising God that the Victory is yours, that what you have declared by faith is already done. God is faithful, and He will do what He has promised. He will respond to your faith. He will always respond to His Word. (The Bible says that God places His Word above His Name.) He will honor your keeping “the switch of faith” turned on, because faith pleases Him (Hebrews 11:6). He will honor you when your:

Faith Prepares For What It Believes.
Faith Prepares For What It Expects.
Faith Prepares For The Victory.
Faith Prepares To Receive (Love’s) Promise(s).
Praise God — Walk in Love — Use Your Faith—Use Your Mouth – Heart Connection with Corresponding Action – And Receive Your Promise(s). Amen and Amen, so, let it be done!!