FAITH You Have God-Given Faith and It Cannot Fail Faith You Have God-Given Faith and It Cannot Fail By Emmett Anderson Write to: Visit Online At: Emmett Anderson Ministries www.eandersonmin.org P.O. Box 26 Crystal River, FL 34423 Table of Contents Lesson 1 God’s Gift 2 Lesson 2 Releasing Faith 6 Lesson 3 Faith “Works” 10 Lesson 4 Hear The Word (from Yourself) 14 Lesson 5 Authority and Faith 16 Lesson 6 Profess and Confess 18 Lesson 7 Example Confession 22 Farewell 24 Lesson 1 God’s Gift Faith is not about what you can do, it is about what Jesus has already done. For this chapter, I will be referring back to Ephesians 2:8 which explains how you have been saved: by grace through faith as a gift and not earned through your own works. Ephesians 2:8 King James Version Moffatt, New Translation For by grace are ye saved through faith, and not that of yourselves, it is the gift of God. You are saved by grace, as you had faith. Ask yourself, what is this gift I have been given? Salvation? How was it obtained? If it is by grace and faith, where did it come from? The answer is in Romans 12:3 (KJV) “… but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” God gave you a measure of faith. It was given to you as a gift also. Where did God get that faith that He gave you? He gave it to you from Himself! It’s yours now to use or abuse/neglect. How you believe about the God kind of faith you have been given will affect your life. Jude 1:20 (KJV) “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith…,” God calls your faith holy. II Peter 1:1 has more on what God says about your faith. II Peter 1:1 (KJV) “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained (or received) like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our savior Jesus Christ.” Does that say you have received precious faith? Where do you think it came from? Do you think that the measure of faith dealt to you is not enough? Is it possible that the faith you have is wavering? No way! God gave you faith from Himself. Surely, you must believe God’s faith is perfect. You could say faith is a positive response by you to what God has already done by grace. Faith based on wrong information is nothing more than high expectation. Mark 11:22 (Worrell Translation) “And Jesus, answering, saith to them, "Have the faith of God.” Where in the Bible does God’s faith fail? It does not. Can God’s faith fail? No. Thusly, your faith cannot fail, but you can fail at releasing your faith; you cannot have a faith failure, because you are using God’s faith, but you can have a failure of releasing God’s faith. II Corinthians 4:13 (KJV) “We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;” Who do we have the same spirit of faith as? Who is “we?” Is it the church? Is it Jesus? Is it the Holy Spirit? Paul? Who is “we?” It says it is written, I believe it is talking about all the above. We all have the same spirit of faith when we are born-again. What does a born-again child do with his faith? Believe and speak. When you study the Word and confess the Word over your life, you will believe the Word and all circumstances will obey you. II Corinthians 4:14-18 (summarized): You speak The Word over your life and Jesus has the right to raise you up from all the things. All things are done for your sakes that grace may abound mightily through your thanksgiving. Your outward man may be perishing, but your inward man is renewed day by day. When you focus on the things of the world, you believe in temporal things. However, the things you cannot see (those things which are in Jesus) are eternal in the spirit and you will be well, healthy, and wealthy. Lesson 2 Releasing Faith You now know that you have God’s faith, how do you use it? By releasing your faith. By speaking what the Word says about you. I will repeat that over and over. Speak what The Word says about you! Speaking releases faith! For this lesson, I will be referring back to Mark 11:23 as well as a few other scriptures which explain believing, faith, and speaking. Mark 11:23 King James Version Young’s Literal Translation For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. for verily I say to you, that whoever may say to this mount, Be taken up, and be cast into the sea, and may not doubt in his heart, but may believe that the things that he saith do come to pass, it shall be to him whatever he may say. The church has told most Christians that they must “build” their faith or “obtain” more faith. How can someone build on God’s faith (the perfect faith given to you from Him)? Where can someone find anything that will make God’s faith better? You cannot. There is no way to “earn” faith or “gain” faith. You cannot “gain” more faith by praying. You were dealt a measure of God’s perfect, holy, precious faith. Example: If you go to a gym to work out, do you go to get muscles or to train your muscles? It’s the same with faith. You must exercise this faith. You speak what the Word of God says. “I am healed by Jesus’ stripes.” You need to say it until you believe it. How do you release your (which is God’s) faith? Believe and speak. Speak what the Word says. Speak it until you believe. Speaking releases faith. God spoke the heavens and the Earth into existence in Genesis 1:1-25. You have the same faith of God. God gave you faith and calls it your faith. God gave you salvation and calls you saved. God gave you healing and calls you healed. God shed His love to you and calls you a love child. This is what The Word says about you, speak it and confess that this was done for you. Accept it. Have faith in what God’s done and said, and don’t believe in circumstances or what you hear from others. Believe, trust God, and speak (or confess) that you already have the God kind of faith. Philemon 1:6 (KJV) “That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.” How does your faith become effectual? By acknowledging or speaking. Believe and speak in love and nothing can keep your faith (God’s faith) from working. What does Philemon say to acknowledge? “Every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.” Here is an example of how I acknowledge and confess what is in me: Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world. God is in me. The Greater One is in me. He is greater. He is greater than sickness and disease and He is in me. The Greater One is alive in me. The same spirit that raise Christ Jesus from the dead lives in me. I am anointed with the burden-removing yoke-destroying power of God, I boldly confess that anointing will destroy any disease or sickness that tries to attach itself to my body. I am well, healthy, and wealthy in Jesus’ name. Romans 10:8-13 tells you how you released your faith to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior. You believed, spoke, and confessed with your mouth. Then you were saved and became a child of God. If you are not born-again, confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that what Romans 10:8-13 says is true. It is that simple. You will be a child of God. From then on, accept the guidance and promptings of the Holy Spirit. Lesson 3 Faith “Works” By now, you understand that salvation and faith are gifts of God. In fact, Ephesians 2:8-9 makes it clear that salvation is a gift from God’s grace through faith, not from works, lest any man should boast. In this lesson, you will look at how faith “works” and how to “work” faith by referring to Paul’s epistle to the Galatians, chapter 5 verse 6. Galatians 5:6 King James Version Hayman’s “Epistles in Current Idiom” Wuest Expanded Translation For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. But faith, which puts forth its energy through love But faith coming to effective expression through love The word “work” here implies supernatural activity. It is the power of God at work, not your works. Galatians 5:6 says faith works by love. Reverse the order and love works faith, or love runs on faith. If you keep acknowledging (saying) with your mouth what the Word says in the Epistles about you it will change your believing, thinking, and speaking, and you will release faith by love. Wrong believing, and wrong thinking, and wrong speaking contaminate your faith. Most Christians have not been taught what is contaminating their faith, and they cannot speak in love. Examples of faith contaminants: fear, unforgiveness, bitterness, bad attitudes, unbelief, condemnation, belief in self-effort, feelings of unworthiness, guilt, pride, not believing God loves you, wrong teaching, and not loving yourself. James 2:17-18 says faith is dead without works, and I will show you faith by my works. What is your works? Is it your physical works? Or, rather, is it your believing and speaking? Your only “work” is stirring up faith by speaking, believing, and acting on what is written in The Word. James 1:22 says to be a doer of The Word - not just a hearer only, deceiving your own selves. What is a doer of The Word? It could mean stirring up your faith or it could mean creative thinking. How are you thinking about your faith? Are you creating a positive attitude about your faith, or are you casting doubt? If you do not understand that you have “the God kind of faith” (Mark 11:22) that will not fail, you will doubt if your faith can/will work. Wrong thinking. You will know, understand, and see what the love of God and your believing by faith can do in your life on this Earth. You will be free free free! In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus says you will find rest in Him (on Earth). Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV) “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” When you know it is a fixed fight, and you cannot lose; when you know your faith cannot fail; when you know you can trust Jesus; when you know you can just speak The Word against all darkness and it flees: then all you have to do is rest. That is what it means to take up Jesus’ yoke. You will live well, healthy, and wealthy. Lesson 4 Hear The Word (from Yourself) If you already have God’s faith, and it was a free gift, then why has the church taught you that you need to hear God’s Word to get faith? In this lesson, I will be talking about hearing The Word, as found in Romans 10:17. Romans 10:17 King James Version The New English The Hudson So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. We conclude that faith is awakened by the message, and the message that awakens it comes through the word of Christ. So then faith arises by hearing and hearing. You could speak over yourself, “I believe that as I keep hearing the Word of God, over and over, I will have faith to get healed.” Well let me ask you: how much do you need to hear to get healed? One hour? Two Hours? One week, maybe two? A month or more? A year? How much hearing is necessary for you to have faith? What if you were told you had about two weeks to live and had not been hearing the Word of God? How much do you think you need to hear? Can you see how this kind of believing would leave you with no hope to receive your healing? Look at the other two translations provided (The New English, and The Hudson): The New English: If faith is awakened, that implies, then, you must already have faith. You can’t awaken something that doesn’t exist (in you). The Hudson: If faith arises by hearing, then you must already have faith. The point being made here is: You already have faith. Once you are born again, you have it. You can’t get more. You can activate it, awaken it, cause it to arise, or stir it up. A better way to believe Romans 10:17 is: hearing the Word (best out of your own mouth) gives you the ability to release your faith in the Word of God (not in yourself.) You already have all the faith you need, for anything. Hearing causes you to believe. Lesson 5 Authority and Faith Matthew 8:5-10 tells a story of a centurion speaking to Jesus. The centurion is speaking with authority and Jesus tells him this is the greatest faith I have heard spoke in all of Israel. When you speak with authority, confidence, and determination you are releasing great faith. Your attitude and confidence will make a difference in how you release your faith (God’s faith). In this lesson, I will be dissecting Mark 11:20-26 (the passage about moving the mountain) to explain authority and faith. Mark 11:20-26 Young’s Literal Translation And in the morning, passing by, they saw the fig-tree having been dried up from the roots, and Peter having remembered saith to him, `Rabbi, lo, the fig-tree that thou didst curse is dried up.' And Jesus answering saith to them, `Have faith of God; for verily I say to you, that whoever may say to this mount, Be taken up, and be cast into the sea, and may not doubt in his heart, but may believe that the things that he saith do come to pass, it shall be to him whatever he may say. Because of this I say to you, all whatever -- praying -- ye do ask, believe that ye receive, and it shall be to you. And whenever ye may stand praying, forgive, if ye have anything against any one, that your Father also who is in the heavens may forgive you your trespasses; and, if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in the heavens forgive your trespasses.' Study the passage provided, and you will learn how to release great faith. Jesus was called to live on Earth as the son of man. Everything Jesus did was as a man, not as God on Earth. Jesus cursed the fig tree and it dried up. God’s faith caused the tree to dry up when Jesus released it. Jesus knew He had the faith of God and understood the authority given to man. Verse 22: Jesus says to have faith of God (God’s faith), Jesus knew how to release His faith (using His authority) and He is teaching us how to release our faith (the same faith that God has). Verse 23: “Mountain” in this verse can be an obstacle, but for this book, consider the mountain to be sickness, disease, lack or want, etc.. Jesus said to speak to it (using authority) and it would leave. The Word “shall” is in this verse 5 times. The word “shall” is explained as, in one definition, to express with determination. Jesus Himself proved that speaking was all that was needed as He spoke disease away. Do you believe Jesus? Jesus gave us free-will to make choices. However you choose, whether to believe this or reason this away, you are making a choice. God is saying, “My Words have authority, ability, weight, and power.” Jesus is the Living Word; The Bible is the Written Word. You meditate on The Written Word and fellowship with the Living Word. All circumstances will obey you. Lesson 6 Profess and Confess When I was younger, I had a teacher that taught me two and two is four; four and four is eight; eight and eight is sixteen; so on and so forth. I wrote it hundreds of times, said it hundreds of times, and had to get up in front of the class and say it. Once I did this, I passed on to the next step. To this day, no one can make me believe that two and two is anything other than four. Not five, six, or three. Four. I will not waiver, I know what two and two is. In this lesson, I will refer to Hebrews 10:23 to explain speaking (professing) and confessing. Hebrews 10:23 King James Version Amplified Bible Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised)” Let us seize and hold tightly the confession of our hope [faith] without wavering, for He who promised is reliable and trustworthy and faithful [to His word]; How do you hold fast (or firm) to your faith? The way you think, believe, and speak. If your thinking is right, your believing is right, and your speaking is right, then you will not waiver. God and His word are faithful and you will receive. You train your brain by what you learn to think, believe, and speak. This is why your confession, not about sin, but of what the Word says, is so important for you. You have the faith of God. It cannot fail. Glory to God. Thank you Jesus. God gave you faith, The Word, a tongue, the ability to speak, and more importantly the ability to confess what The Word says over your life so that you can train your brain. You have all these things to live well, healthy, and wealthy on this Earth now. Keep in mind, you already have salvation in the next life, but Jesus didn’t stop there! The church has taught you to confess your sins and has made confession a negative thing. Hebrews 4:14 says Jesus is the high priest of your confession. Jesus said He would be the high priest of your confession – and Jesus is not negative. The Word of God is not negative. The Word of God has life in it, but it must be spoken and heard. Galatians 2:20: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” What does it mean to you to be crucified with Christ? How do you think about what this says? The way you think and believe about what this is saying is going to affect your life in a big way on this Earth; how you believe about Jesus and the finished work on the cross, and how you act on your belief (in your spirit, not in your self-effort) will affect your life in a big way on this Earth. Don’t ask Jesus (The Word) for something He already finished. Rather, believe and speak in what Jesus did. Word-effort, not self-effort will work your faith. If you have been crucified with Christ, then you have died to the natural things on Earth (such as sickness). If Christ is living in you, then the natural things on Earth that would affect you cannot live in you. Darkness cannot be where Christ is. You can live in this flesh (by the faith God gave you), free of sin, sickness, and disease. According to Hebrews 4:12 The Word is quick and powerful, and it is a discerner of your thoughts and the intents of your heart. Put the Word to work by speaking what the Word says by faith. Matthew 12:37 “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” You can declare yourself a condemned person, or you can confess that you are justified (made righteous in the sight of God). What are you confessing over your life? Blessings or curses? You get to choose. The greatest blessing you can speak is Romans 10:8-10. Faith confession is life and freedom forever. Speak Jesus, speak life, speak the Word. Lesson 7 Example Confession To Help Change “Thinking” I believe this with my heart and say it with my mouth. I am victorious, am a conqueror, I am triumph, I have God’s love, God’s faith. I am a love child of a love God. My faith always works, because God’s love works my faith. I am anointed with the burden-removing yoke-destroying power of God. I am always at the right place at the right time. The rest of my life will be the best of my life. I am well, healthy, and wealthy. I have more than enough! Christ has redeemed me from the curse of the law. Therefore I forbid any sickness or disease to come upon my body. Every organ and tissue of this body functions in the perfection to which my father created it. I forbid any malfunction of this body in the might name of my lord, Jesus Christ. This confession is agreeing with what Jesus has said throughout The Gospel. Remember what Matthew 18:19 says, “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on Earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.” You are agreeing with Jesus so it will be done for you by God. Who said this? Jesus! Do you believe it? When you confess what The Word says about you, then you are agreeing with Jesus! If you keep saying it, and you keep saying it, then you are releasing your faith (which is God’s faith). To understand how the law works, read Galatians 3. (My summary: the law doesn’t work.) When you are agreeing with Jesus, and you start believing what you are saying, it shall be done for you from your father who is in Heaven. Farewell Remember, you have been given faith from God which is perfect and precious. You cannot gain more, nor can you get better faith. You only need to recognize that your faith comes from God and is perfect and precious. Work the faith you have been given. Use the authority given to you, speak out loud with confidence and confess The Word over your life. Accept Jesus’ finished works on the cross. Do not rely on self-effort. Release your faith and reap God’s blessings. God loves you and wants you to live well, healthy, and wealthy while you’re on Earth. Your spirit already knows the truth. It is your soulish realm and body that need to learn the truth. Because then you will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free. I have a list of CD’s and articles that may help you receive your healing on my website at www.eandersonmin.org. I have seen hundreds of people healed and set free by JESUS – myself included, and I use what I have learned (and what God tells me) to teach His message of healing to everyone. I appreciate so much you being a partner with us in this ministry. Your prayer and financial support are greatly appreciated. I pray that God will bless and prosper all that you stretch forth your hand to do in JESUS’ name until He comes. You can become a partner on the web by going to www.eandersonmin.org and clicking the DONATE button. You may also sign up for the newsletter by e-mailing me at: eandersonmin@hotmail.com or by sending your address to Emmett Anderson Ministries P.O. Box 26 Crystal River, FL 34423 Grace, peace, joy and love – God bless you, Emmett Anderson Emmett is an ordained minister of the Gospel and has been teaching on divine healing, according to the Bible, for the past 25 years. Emmett travels internationally preaching, teaching and seeing people healed by the power of the Gospel. He also has been sent to establish Healing Centers in local churches and communities. If you would like Emmett to help start a Healing Center or to hold healing meetings in your local church or community, please contact him. It is his heart and passion to do so.