Receiving to Give: The Cycle of Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Living by Faith, Not by Sight

Description: True life is found in the spirit, not in the physical realm. Faith is the opposite of what we see; it is rooted in the unseen and the spiritual. Living by faith means worshiping God in spirit and truth, recognizing that everything visible came from the invisible. The enemy's goal is to confine us to our physical senses, but our true life is in the spirit. The Bible teaches that the just shall live by faith, not by sight. This means that our actions and decisions should be guided by our faith in God and His promises, rather than by what we see or feel in the physical world. [02:22]

Hebrews 11:1-3 (ESV): "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are relying more on what you see rather than on faith? How can you begin to trust God more in that area today?

Day 2: The Continuous Cycle of Receiving and Giving

Description: Spiritual vitality is maintained through a continuous cycle of receiving from God and giving to others. Disrupting this flow by only receiving or only giving leads to spiritual dryness. Jesus taught that giving leads to receiving, ensuring that our spiritual storehouse remains full. This principle emphasizes that one cannot give what they have not first received, primarily from God. Our spirit, soul, and body are gifts from God, and no earthly wealth can purchase them. To maintain spiritual health, we must engage in this cycle of receiving and giving continuously. [07:59]

Luke 6:38 (ESV): "Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."

Reflection: Think of a recent blessing you have received from God. How can you share that blessing with someone else today?

Day 3: Overcoming Tribulations by Faith

Description: Tribulations are a constant in life, but we are called to master them through faith. This mastery involves putting on the new man, created in the spirit, and living by the word of God. The word transforms us from within, renewing our minds and producing life and health in our bodies. By living in the spirit and holding fast to our faith, we can overcome the challenges and tribulations that come our way. The process of faith is ongoing, and as we hold fast to our confession of faith, we align ourselves with God's promises and experience His abundant life. [14:39]

James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Reflection: What is a current tribulation you are facing? How can you apply your faith to overcome it and grow spiritually through the experience?

Day 4: The Power of the Word

Description: The word of God is spirit and life. It enters our hearts, transforms us, and produces life and health. Continuous engagement with the word—hearing, studying, and declaring it—leads to spiritual growth and victory over life's challenges. The word is not just a collection of texts but a living and active force that can change our lives. By immersing ourselves in the word, we allow it to renew our minds and align our thoughts with God's will. This engagement with the word is essential for maintaining spiritual vitality and overcoming the enemy's lies. [22:40]

Hebrews 4:12 (ESV): "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

Reflection: How can you incorporate more time for studying and meditating on the word of God in your daily routine? What specific steps will you take to make this a priority?

Day 5: Holding Fast to Our Confession of Faith

Description: The process of faith is ongoing. As we hold fast to our confession of faith, we align ourselves with God's promises and experience His abundant life. This involves continuously speaking and declaring the word, countering the enemy's lies with God's truth. Our confession of faith is a powerful tool that helps us stay grounded in God's promises and resist the enemy's attempts to deceive us. By consistently declaring our faith, we reinforce our trust in God and His word, which in turn strengthens our spiritual foundation and helps us navigate life's challenges with confidence. [35:05]

Hebrews 10:23 (ESV): "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful."

Reflection: What is one promise from God's word that you need to hold fast to today? How can you declare this promise in your daily life to strengthen your faith and trust in God?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Welcome to the House of Excellence Church. Today, we delved into the profound principle of "receiving to give." This principle emphasizes that one cannot give what they have not first received, primarily from God. Our spirit, soul, and body are gifts from God, and no earthly wealth can purchase them. The enemy often tries to limit us to the physical realm, but true life is in the spirit. The Bible teaches that the just shall live by faith, not by sight. Faith is the opposite of what we see; it is rooted in the unseen and the spiritual.

Living by faith means living in the spirit, as God is a spirit, and those who worship Him must do so in spirit and truth. Everything visible came from the invisible, and the enemy's goal is to confine us to the physical senses, which is a lie. Our true life is not in material possessions but in the spirit. The breath of life from God is what animates us, and once it departs, all material things become meaningless.

We discussed the importance of receiving from God to give to others. This cycle of receiving and giving must be continuous to maintain spiritual vitality. If we only receive and do not give, or if we give without receiving, we disrupt the flow and dry up spiritually. Jesus taught that giving leads to receiving, and this principle ensures that our spiritual storehouse remains full.

We also explored the concept of overcoming tribulations by faith. Tribulations are a constant in life, but we are called to master them through faith. This mastery involves putting on the new man, created in the spirit, and living by the word of God. The word is spirit and life, and it transforms us from within, renewing our minds and producing life and health in our bodies.

Finally, we emphasized the importance of continuous engagement with the word of God. This engagement involves hearing, studying, and declaring the word, which leads to spiritual growth and victory over life's challenges. The process of faith is ongoing, and as we hold fast to our confession of faith, we align ourselves with God's promises and experience His abundant life.

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Key Takeaways

1. Living by Faith, Not by Sight: True life is in the spirit, not in the physical realm. Faith is the opposite of what we see; it is rooted in the unseen and the spiritual. Living by faith means worshiping God in spirit and truth, recognizing that everything visible came from the invisible. [02:22]
2. The Continuous Cycle of Receiving and Giving: Spiritual vitality is maintained through a continuous cycle of receiving from God and giving to others. Disrupting this flow by only receiving or only giving leads to spiritual dryness. Jesus taught that giving leads to receiving, ensuring that our spiritual storehouse remains full. [07:59]
3. Overcoming Tribulations by Faith: Tribulations are a constant in life, but we are called to master them through faith. This mastery involves putting on the new man, created in the spirit, and living by the word of God. The word transforms us from within, renewing our minds and producing life and health in our bodies. [14:39]
4. The Power of the Word: The word of God is spirit and life. It enters our hearts, transforms us, and produces life and health. Continuous engagement with the word—hearing, studying, and declaring it—leads to spiritual growth and victory over life's challenges. [22:40]
5. Holding Fast to Our Confession of Faith: The process of faith is ongoing. As we hold fast to our confession of faith, we align ourselves with God's promises and experience His abundant life. This involves continuously speaking and declaring the word, countering the enemy's lies with God's truth. [35:05]
### [35:05]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - The Gift of Spirit, Soul, and Body
[02:22] - Living by Faith, Not by Sight
[03:15] - The Spiritual Nature of Life
[05:04] - Worship in Spirit and Truth
[06:22] - The Principle of Receiving and Giving
[07:59] - The Continuous Cycle of Spiritual Vitality
[09:38] - Multiplying What We Receive
[11:22] - The Principle of Persistence
[13:09] - Overcoming Tribulations by Faith
[14:39] - Mastering Life's Challenges
[15:18] - Putting on the New Man
[17:19] - The Process of Transformation
[19:10] - The Power of the Word
[22:40] - Continuous Engagement with the Word
[24:23] - The Birthing Process of Faith
[26:40] - The Unveiled Face of Understanding
[28:12] - Transformation Through the Word
[29:08] - The Mystery of Faith
[31:18] - The Continuous Process of Faith
[32:22] - Becoming Spiritually Minded
[34:00] - Holding Fast to Our Confession
[35:05] - The Secret Weapon of Confession
[36:18] - The Role of the High Priest
[38:20] - Offering Sacrifices to God
[40:26] - Fighting the Good Fight of Faith
[42:32] - The Witnesses of Our Faith
[43:14] - Looking Unto Jesus
[45:24] - The Joy of Confession
[47:42] - The Secret of Producing Life
[49:54] - Prosperity and Health in the Word

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

According to Romans 1:17, how is the righteousness of God revealed? ([01:10])
What does 2 Corinthians 5:7 say about how we should live our lives? ([02:22])
In John 4:24, what does it mean to worship God in spirit and in truth? ([03:15])
What is the principle of receiving and giving as discussed in the sermon? ([06:22])

Interpretation Questions

How does living by faith, as described in Romans 1:17 and 2 Corinthians 5:7, differ from living by sight? ([02:22])
What are the implications of worshiping God in spirit and in truth for our daily lives? ([03:15])
How does the continuous cycle of receiving from God and giving to others maintain our spiritual vitality? ([07:59])
What does it mean to overcome tribulations by faith, and how does this mastery affect our spiritual growth? ([14:39])

Application Questions

Reflect on a recent situation where you relied more on what you saw rather than on faith. How could you have approached it differently by living by faith? ([02:22])
How can you incorporate worshiping God in spirit and in truth into your daily routine? What specific changes can you make? ([03:15])
Identify an area in your life where you have been receiving but not giving, or giving but not receiving. How can you restore balance in this area? ([07:59])
Think of a recent tribulation you faced. How did you handle it, and how could you have applied faith to master it? ([14:39])
What steps can you take to engage more continuously with the word of God, such as hearing, studying, and declaring it? ([22:40])
How can you hold fast to your confession of faith in your daily life, especially when faced with challenges? ([35:05])
What specific actions can you take this week to ensure that your spiritual storehouse remains full by both receiving from God and giving to others? ([07:59])

Sermon Clips

1. "So faith is the opposite of what you're not talking to. Faith is the opposite of one. Everything you see is the opposite of faith. If you see it is not faith. Your life is not what you see. It's not what you taste. It's not what you hear. It's not what you can touch. That's not your life. Your life is in the spirit. Your life is in the spirit." [02:22] (37 seconds) ( | | )

2. "Receiving and giving is a principle in the earth realm that God brought. Receiving and giving is a principle. And because we've not understood this principle, we have not walked in it in full. So when we receive, we keep it. We don't give. And when we give, we give grudgingly. But if you receive and you don't give, the circle is not complete and you will be drying up." [06:22] (33 seconds) ( | | )

3. "You have to learn how to receive and you have to learn how to give. Because Jesus said, and look, he said, give and it shall be. It's a principle. Give and it shall be given to you. Because if he has given to you and you're not given, you're blocking the flow. Are you hearing me? He's given to you and you've received it but you're not giving it. You block the flow." [07:59] (30 seconds) ( | | )

4. "So, the principle, let me stop there. We will pick that up some other time. So, we ended last week in saying that God has provided a person, let me continue the circle. He has created and he will bless everything for us from creation. He created mankind, was the last that God created. And when he created him, he now gave him charge of everything that he had created before man." [09:38] (23 seconds) ( | | )

5. "You must master the process of getting victory. In the face of death, you must start it. In the face of plenty, you must start it. In the place of emptiness, you must start it. In the place of sickness, you must start it. In the place of poverty, you must start it. In the place of curses, you must start it. In the place of provocation, you must start it. You take dominion. I say you do what? You take dominion." [14:39] (29 seconds) ( | | )

6. "We walk by faith and not by sight. We walk by the spirit and not the happenings. Life will never stop happening. But will you stop because life has stopped happening? Stop. I can't just stop. Will you stop because the tribulations are knocking at your door? Or will you stop? Or will you tie your belts? Or will you put up the adult trousers? Get up and go to war. Get up and go to war." [16:40] (37 seconds) ( | | )

7. "The words that I speak to you. Are spirit and they are life. That's what Jesus was saying in John chapter 6 verse 63. This is what's happening. So. That process of keeping it in the midst of your heart. What do we call it in the house of excellence church? The renewing of the. Everything. That I will ever preach. And ever give you. It's in different scriptures. Different formats. Different ways. But this is it." [22:08] (34 seconds) ( | | )

8. "You never stop. You continue to dig. Until you find the crude oil. You continue to dig. Until you find the gold. You continue to dig. Until the diamonds are out. never stop. Because you might just stop at the point. When it's about to be birth. There is a pregnancy. The heart is there. The word is there. The word is the seed. Are you hearing me? The heart is the womb. The heart is the womb. The word is the seed." [24:52] (33 seconds) ( | | )

9. "The secret of producing life. Is where? Students. The secret of producing life. And producing health. To all your flesh. Is where? In the world. Where do you hide that word? So it is in your heart. The secret is where? In your heart. If your heart is empty. If your heart is full of the word. Your life will be full of. Eternal life." [47:42] (33 seconds) ( | | )

10. "The Bible says. Remain in the vine. He said without me. You can do nothing. Because he is our life. Hallelujah. So the degree you transform the soul. To that degree. You change. Things. In your life. Final scripture. 3 John 2. am reiterating. That the secret. Of producing life. Is where? Students. The secret of producing life. And producing health. To all your flesh. Is where? In the world." [47:07] (49 seconds) ( | | )

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