Faith: The Pathway to Healing and Transformation
Summary
Faith is the doorway into the presence and power of God, granting access to His healing, deliverance, and freedom. No matter how many times we have prayed for healing—whether for physical ailments or deep emotional wounds—God invites us to keep coming to Him, never knowing when the breakthrough will come. Healing is not always instant, and sometimes it is a process that unfolds over time, but we are called to persist in faith, trusting in the finished work of Jesus at the cross. The children praying for the sick today remind us that God uses all ages and backgrounds to minister His grace, and that humility and expectancy are key to receiving from Him.
The heart of our walk with God is not about religious performance or meeting the expectations of others, but about living by faith in Christ. Paul’s words in Galatians 2:20—“I am crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me”—call us to a life where self is dethroned and Jesus is enthroned in our hearts. The old self-centered ways are put to death, and a new Christ-centered life emerges, empowered by the Holy Spirit. This is not a life of striving to keep every rule or to please people, but a life of surrender, where God’s will and pleasure become our purpose.
Living by faith in Christ is practical and transformative. First, we are to pray about everything, acknowledging our dependence on God and inviting Him to work in us. Second, we must cultivate a relationship with the living Word—seeking not just the written text, but the quickened, spoken word (rhema) that the Holy Spirit brings alive to our hearts. This living word produces faith and guides us in our daily walk. Third, we must hold out for change, recognizing that transformation is often a process. Old habits and patterns may take years to unlearn, but as we persist in faith, God works in us to will and to act according to His good pleasure.
Authentic Christianity is not about outward conformity or religious control, but about an inward transformation by the Spirit. It is a journey of hearing God, letting Him deal with our “stuff,” and allowing His love to shape us into the likeness of Christ. As we live by faith, we become vessels of His presence, power, and character—both for our own lives and for those around us.
Key Takeaways
- Faith is the continual invitation to God’s presence and power, regardless of past disappointments. Even when healing or breakthrough seems delayed, faith calls us to keep coming to God, trusting that His timing and ways are perfect. Persistence in prayer is not a sign of weak faith, but of a heart that refuses to let go of God’s promises. [12:06]
- True freedom in Christ means letting go of religious control and self-effort. Paul’s struggle with the law shows that no amount of rule-keeping can make us right with God. Only by dying to self and allowing Christ to live in us do we experience genuine transformation and freedom from the burdens of legalism and people-pleasing. [01:09:27]
- Transformation is a process that requires patience and perseverance. Deep-seated habits and attitudes are not changed overnight. The journey from self-centeredness to Christ-centeredness involves ongoing surrender, honest self-examination, and a willingness to let God work in the hidden places of our hearts. [01:31:46]
- Hearing the living word (rhema) is essential for a vibrant faith. It is not enough to know the written word; we must seek the Holy Spirit to quicken specific passages to our hearts, making them alive and personal. This living word produces faith, direction, and sustains us through every season. [01:27:52]
- God is at work in every believer, shaping us for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:13 assures us that God Himself is working in us, both to will and to act according to His purpose. Our role is to cooperate with His work—praying, listening, and holding out for change—so that our lives reflect His character and bring Him glory. [01:22:34]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[12:06] - The Mystery and Process of Healing
[14:17] - Praying for Healing and Miracles
[16:20] - Words of Knowledge and Specific Prayers
[17:51] - Testimonies of Healing
[20:35] - Celebrating God’s Presence
[22:28] - Worship and Surrender
[32:16] - Invitation to Salvation
[35:31] - Prayer of Commitment
[37:38] - Ministry for Disturbance and Fear
[40:53] - Deliverance and Freedom
[43:47] - Breaking Generational Bondage
[46:05] - Atmosphere of the Spirit
[47:07] - Deliverance from Torment
[50:44] - Breaking Insecurity and Trauma
[01:02:41] - Sponges and the Move of God
[01:06:59] - Galatians 2:20 and the Crucified Life
[01:09:27] - Law vs. Faith: Paul’s Argument
[01:19:43] - The New Center: Christ in Us
[01:20:59] - Living by Faith, Not by Works
[01:22:34] - God at Work in You
[01:24:45] - Hearing the Living Word
[01:27:52] - The Power of the Rhema Word
[01:29:09] - The Kingdom: Power, Righteousness, Joy
[01:31:46] - Holding Out for Change
[01:34:52] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: Living by Faith, Not by Performance
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### Bible Reading
- Galatians 2:20
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
- Philippians 2:13
"For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose."
- Romans 10:17
"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ."
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### Observation Questions
1. According to Galatians 2:20, what does it mean for Paul to say, "I have been crucified with Christ"? What changes about who is at the center of his life? [01:06:59]
2. In the sermon, what examples were given about how healing can be a process and not always instant? [12:06]
3. What does Philippians 2:13 say about who is responsible for the change and growth in a believer's life? [01:22:34]
4. How does the sermon describe the difference between living by religious rules and living by faith in Christ? [01:09:27]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. The sermon says, "Faith is the doorway into the presence and power of God." How does this idea challenge the way people often approach God, especially after disappointment or unanswered prayers? [12:06]
2. Paul says, "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me." What does it look like for someone’s life to be Christ-centered instead of self-centered? [01:19:43]
3. The pastor talked about the importance of hearing the "living word" (rhema) from God, not just reading the Bible as information. Why is this distinction important for growing in faith? [01:27:52]
4. The sermon mentions that transformation is a process and not always immediate. Why do you think God often works in us over time instead of changing us instantly? [01:31:46]
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### Application Questions
1. The pastor shared that sometimes we pray for healing or breakthrough many times before anything changes. Is there an area in your life where you have been discouraged by a lack of immediate answers? How can you keep coming to God in faith, even when you feel like giving up? [12:06]
2. The sermon says that true freedom in Christ means letting go of religious control and self-effort. Are there ways you have tried to earn God’s approval or the approval of others by your own performance? What would it look like to surrender those efforts and trust Christ instead? [01:09:27]
3. The pastor encouraged everyone to pray about everything and to invite God into every area of life. Is there something specific you need to start praying about regularly, instead of trying to handle it on your own? [01:22:34]
4. The message talked about the importance of hearing a "living word" from God. When was the last time a Bible verse or passage felt especially alive or personal to you? How can you make space this week to listen for God’s voice through His word? [01:27:52]
5. The sermon said that transformation is a process and that old habits can take years to change. Is there a habit or attitude in your life that you know God wants to change? What is one small step you can take this week to cooperate with God’s work in that area? [01:31:46]
6. The children praying for the sick were highlighted as examples of humility and expectancy. How can you approach God with more childlike faith and openness, especially in areas where you feel weak or unqualified? [12:06]
7. Philippians 2:13 says God is at work in you for His good pleasure. How does it change your perspective to know that God Himself is working in you, not just asking you to work harder? How can you remind yourself of this truth when you feel stuck or discouraged? [01:22:34]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for one another, especially for areas where people are waiting for breakthrough or struggling to let go of self-effort. Ask God to give each person a fresh sense of His presence, a living word from Scripture, and the patience to trust Him in the process of transformation.
Devotional
Day 1: Faith as Persistent Access to God’s Healing Presence
Faith is the continual invitation to God’s presence and power, regardless of past disappointments. It is not a one-time event but a persistent posture of the heart that keeps returning to God, even when healing or breakthrough seems delayed. This ongoing faith trusts in God’s perfect timing and ways, refusing to let go of His promises despite unanswered prayers or prolonged waiting. Persistence in prayer is not a sign of weak faith but a demonstration of a heart anchored in hope and expectancy. The journey of healing—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual—is often a process that unfolds over time, inviting believers to remain steadfast and open to God’s transformative work. The example of children praying for the sick reminds us that God uses humility and expectancy across all ages to minister His grace and power. [12:06]
“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27)
Reflection: When you face delays or unanswered prayers, how can you practically cultivate a heart that keeps returning to God in faith today, rather than giving up or growing discouraged?
Day 2: Freedom Through Dying to Self and Legalism
True freedom in Christ means letting go of religious control and self-effort. No amount of rule-keeping or striving to please others can make us right with God. Genuine transformation comes only when the old self-centered ways are put to death and Christ is enthroned in our hearts. This freedom releases us from the burdens of legalism, performance, and people-pleasing, inviting us into a life of surrender where God’s will becomes our purpose. Paul’s struggle with the law illustrates that righteousness is not achieved by human effort but by faith in the finished work of Jesus. When Christ lives in us, we experience a new identity and empowerment by the Holy Spirit to live a crucified life that reflects God’s grace and truth. [01:09:27]
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)
Reflection: Identify one area where you rely on your own effort or rules to earn God’s favor. What would it look like to surrender that area fully to Christ’s life and freedom today?
Day 3: Transformation as a Patient Journey of Surrender
Transformation is a process that requires patience and perseverance. Deep-seated habits, attitudes, and patterns do not change overnight but unfold through ongoing surrender and honest self-examination. The journey from self-centeredness to Christ-centeredness involves allowing God to work in the hidden places of the heart, often over years. This process calls for a willingness to hold out for change, trusting that God is shaping us according to His good pleasure. It is not about quick fixes or external conformity but about inward renewal by the Spirit. As believers persist in faith, God works both to will and to act in them, producing lasting transformation that reflects His character and glory. [01:31:46]
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10)
Reflection: What is one persistent habit or attitude in your life that you feel God is calling you to surrender and allow Him to transform? How can you cooperate with His work in this area today?
Day 4: Hearing and Living by the Spirit-Quickened Word
Hearing the living word (rhema) is essential for a vibrant faith. It is not enough to know the written Scriptures intellectually; believers must seek the Holy Spirit to quicken specific passages to their hearts, making God’s word alive, personal, and practical. This living word produces faith, provides direction, and sustains believers through every season of life. It is through this intimate encounter with God’s voice that faith is born and strengthened, enabling believers to walk in obedience and confidence. Cultivating a relationship with the living Word invites ongoing dependence on the Spirit’s guidance rather than mere human understanding or tradition. [01:27:52]
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted.” (Isaiah 61:1)
Reflection: Today, how can you intentionally seek the Spirit’s illumination on a specific Scripture passage, asking God to make His word alive and relevant to your current circumstances?
Day 5: Cooperating with God’s Work for His Good Pleasure
God is at work in every believer, shaping them for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:13 reminds us that it is God Himself who works in us both to will and to act according to His purpose. Our role is to cooperate with this divine work through prayer, listening, and holding out for change. This cooperation involves surrendering control, trusting God’s timing, and actively participating in the transformation He is accomplishing. As believers yield to God’s shaping, their lives increasingly reflect His character, becoming vessels of His presence, power, and glory for themselves and those around them. This partnership with God is a dynamic journey of faith, hope, and obedience. [01:22:34]
“For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)
Reflection: What is one way you can actively cooperate with God’s work in your life today—through prayer, obedience, or surrender—that will help you align more closely with His purpose?
Quotes
But does that mean I change my attitude toward healing? Not on your life. Because the Bible says, by His stripes we already established that Jesus, part of what happened at the cross was His blood was shed and somehow healing got activated in a mighty way for us. So I don't care really whether you've been prayed for once or zero times or a hundred times, you just never know the moment that God will come to you. whether it's for your asthma, your eczema, your arthritis, your heart, your high blood pressure, whether it's for some internal emotional stuff like depression or whatever, it doesn't really matter. I say, let's come again to the throne of God's grace that we might find healing and grace in times of need. [00:13:06] (73 seconds)
You know, you might be here this morning and you're not a Christian and you don't know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. My friend, what you feel in the atmosphere is just not emotion. It's actually a genuine sense of God's presence. [00:32:26] (22 seconds)
And He wants to be your friend, your Saviour, the one that would lift your head up like a song that we were singing earlier, that He breaks addictions or controls and demonic strongholds. [00:32:52] (15 seconds)
And you cannot have the character of Christ without the ever -working power of the Holy Spirit. That's what he's saying. He's saying, walking by faith. [01:20:41] (15 seconds)
Now, what does that mean? Well, let's start by just one scripture, Ephesians 2, 8 to 9, where it says, for by grace you've been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it's the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that one may not boast. And so we got this entire argument about are you living a Christianity that's by the demands of people or by the demands of the Holy Spirit? [01:21:44] (27 seconds)
My life when I became a Christian suddenly went from me, myself, my self -centeredness, it's all about me, to my life, it's for his good pleasure. And he's at work in me to bring that about. That's called faith. [01:24:10] (22 seconds)
And the quickened, Holy Spirit -inspired passages in the Bible, they will speak directly to your heart. And every one of you, I should be able to come up to any one of you and say to you, this week, what is the quickened passage that the Lord has spoken to you? [01:29:40] (21 seconds)
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