Dare to Believe God

There is a faith that transforms nations, but it works when simple people like us dare to believe God’s Word.

Summary

God challenges His people, because he wants to do something but he needs a church that dares to believe His word. God’s work always starts in the church. Bishop Ron boldly proclaims the truth of God’s word and tells stories of how obedience and faith in God’s word has led to incredible breakthroughs.

Outline

1. The church was bought with a price, Jesus’ own blood.

   1. Acts 20:27 – Paul did not shrink from declaring the whole counsel of God.
   2. He has given different gifts to people to build up the church.
   3. They are also to protect the flock from error.
      1. Error includes explaining away the truth of God’s word. eg. Denying giving and forgiving as important.
   4. We are called to be alert.
   5. Paul was very concerned with the state of the flock – this is something God’s Spirit put in his heart.

2. Bishop Ron is trying to get people out of the place of unbelief into the place of belief.

   1. A problem in the church is when we try to fit the scriptures into our circumstances rather than the other way around.
   2. Higher criticism (late 1800’s) rationally explained away the trust of God’s word so that they end up talking about Jesus be do not know Him.
   3. We develop as we change our mind (repentance) and we believe more and more of the truth of God’s word.
   4. If God says something in the Word, He means it.
   5. We are called to receive the things of God by faith in God’s word.
   6. God’s grace enables us to carry out the things God called us to.
   7. God gives us divine ability (the Holy Spirit) to do the things we are called to do.
   8. The first generation in the wilderness didn’t inherit the land because of unbelief.
   9. God doesn’t do anything outside of faith – faith is more than intellectual assent. It has to do with explicit trust. – God challenges His people, he wants to do something and he starts out in increments – he always starts in the church. If we do not believe, nothing good happens.
   10. I encourage you to read the bible daily so we renew our minds and trust God – we get into carnal thinking if we do not renew the mind.

3. God is trustworthy

   1. Repent and forgive – times of refreshing will come.
   2. Be a sower and God will give you seed to sow.
      1. God gives to those who believe and obey his word.
   3. When Bishop was talking about money at a pastor’s conference.
      1. Pastors began repenting publicly to each other regarding sinning against each other – one pastor even had a contract out to kill another pastor who built a church right across the street from his church.
      2. One by one people began asking each other for forgiveness – eg. Gossip, hatred, etc.
      3. The man with the largest church in the city (he was a lawyer and his wife an architect – very influential in the city – “when you came into this city I was mad at you – I prayed and cursed you that you would fail – asked for forgiveness. He then began prophesying over the other pastor radically blessing him.
      4. Even the cook in the kitchen came out and prophesied.
      5. A business man happened to be there – he was so moved – he bought the pastor the church.
   4. Do we want to break loose or not?

4. WHERE GOD IS THERE IS LIBERTY

   1. When the church does what God has called us to do – liberty comes.
   2. God wants to unlock cities to know the liberty of Christ!
   3. Why have we settled for mediocrity when God has blessed us liberally?
   4. We need to keep praying, we need to get our lives right with Christ and we need to get free from carnal thinking.

5. Bishop Ron went and ministered in Africa.

   1. In Ghana – after ministering at a large conference – 5 pastors asked to meet with him (all from different countries.) Asked him to teach them on how to have faith and how to have missions.
      1. Bishop “I will teach you nothing…you are going to teach me.”
      2. Instead he stirred faith in them by highlighting the faith that they had.
   2. Went to go to Nigeria – hadn’t gotten a visa before he left. Tried to get it in Ghana.
      1. Madam in charge of the whole embassy – got in his face and told him that he would never get a visa there.
      2. He left and came back the next morning – left again and came back the next day again. She was getting irate.
      3. He called Chris – not going to let him go. He called his friend who officiated the wedding of the president of Nigeria’s daughter.
      4. The next day he was greeted heartily and was taken right in to the ambassador’s office.
      5. They thought he was friends with the President, but really he was the friend of someone greater, Jesus.

6. Ask, Knock and Seek – Do not shrink back – be bold – BELIEVE.

   1. We are called to be people who believe and change history, who change the future of nations.
   2. God chooses the things that are nothing in the eyes of men to bring His kingdom.
   3. God takes meager, insignificant people and changes the destiny of nations.
   4. ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD.
   5. GOD IS SAYING “LIFESPRINGS…WILL YOU BELIEVE.”

7. Romans 13:14 – Put on Jesus Christ – How do you put Him on?

   1. Make no provisions for the flesh – all who were baptized into Christ have put him on – that is the first step.
      1. Not just water – it is a baptism into His whole life.
      2. Water baptism is a command which symbolizes the putting on of the new man and the death of the old.
   2. Show that you are a letter from Christ – a living epistle.
   3. God wants to wake us up to believe.
      1. He wants us to get on our knees and pray.
      2. We need to share what God has done in our lives.
      3. Compel people to come to Christ – just tell them what He has done in your life for starters.
   4. Abraham’s faith is that what God promised, he would perform.
      1. Do you want to be a friend of God? – believe God’s Word

8. Walk in the Spirit

   1. Weapons of our warfare have divine power to destroy strongholds because they are from the Spirit of God.
   2. Job – as he was turning to God during the darkest part of his life – “though you slay me, I am going to serve you.”
   3. If you have a similar attitude you will never be a loser.
   4. We need to build one another up in the faith.
   5. The gifts of the Spirit are given for that purpose – they are an expression of Jesus Christ building up his church.
      1. They are not for me, nor to make me feel good. They are to build up others and glorify God.
      2. No gift is better than any other – all are from Him and all are good and important.

9. Step out and believe.

   1. In Louisiana – a young girl – when he laid hands on her, he had a vision.
      1. The contact is where faith is released.
      2. “I see you with binoculars…goes through whole exercise about them. God says he is going to give you a bird’s eye view of who he is and it is going to change your life.
      3. Parents were weeping.
      4. She had left home and was in a burlesque environment.
      5. Every morning she got her binoculars and looked at neighbors, bird sanctuary and everything Bishop Ron said.
      6. Three years later – in Dallas – young woman “you don’t remember me do you…I’m the bird girl”
      7. GOD TRANSFORMED HER LIFE.

10. God can turn our life around and make it shine

    1. He can make our life a sign and a wonder that makes people wonder what happened in us.