AUDACITY OF FAITH AUDACITY OF FAITH AND AND INTELLECTUAL SAGACITY INTELLECTUAL SAGACITY

Presented By

Dr David O. Oyedepo Chancellor, Landmark University

Landmark University Executive Advance

20th November, 2014

What is Audacity?• A willingness to take bold risks - braveryWhat is Sagacity?• The quality of being discerning, sound in judg

ment, and farsighted.• It is also defined as:

Foresight, discernment, or keen perception; ability to make good judgments

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Preamble

Redeemed to take the LeadWe were born to reign originally,

but we lost it to sin; redemption brought about the restoration of that leadership seed

(Revelation 5:9-10)

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Now to be born again actually implies to reign again.

But every seed will need to be cultivated and nurtured before it can produce fruit.

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There is a leadership seed in us in the Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 22:12-18)

There is a leadership seed in us in redemption (Revelation 5:5-10)

There is a leadership seed in us in the prophetic (Isaiah 2 :1-3,Micah 4: 1-2)

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But leadership is not occupying a position,it is making outstanding contribution.

It is not occupying a seat but accomplishing a feat.

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Leadership is not an appointment but an accomplishment.

Leadership is not wearing a title but accomplishing a unique task.

Leadership is setting the pace and blazing the trail in ones field.

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It is time to let the leadership virtue in us find expression

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AUDACITY OF FAITHWHAT IS FAITH IN OUR CONTEXT?

• Faith the master key to a world of unlimited possibilities – Jn. 14:12

• Faith is the most potent force in the whole universe Faith is the force behind creation – Heb. 11:3 By Faith, all things are possible – Mk. 9:23/ Mk. 10:27 Faith has capacity to subdue nations – Heb. 11:32-35 Faith provokes the Supernatural – Heb. 11:11

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• Faith is not a belief system, it is a spiritual weapon – Eph 6:16

• Faith is not a principle, nor a strategy, it is a spiritual force – 1Cor. 2:4-5

• Faith is not a religious philosophy; it is a spiritual mystery – 1Tim. 3:9/ 1Cor. 2:4-5

• Faith is not a dormant force, it is a dominant force – Matt. 14:22-33/ 2Kgs. 1:10-15

• Faith is being fully persuaded of the truth, the prevailing circumstances notwithstanding, until the truth triumphs – Rom. 4:17-21

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• Faith is an unstoppable force in the world of the spirit – and whatever cannot stop the way against God cannot stop the way against faith from accomplishing its mission – Is. 43:13

• Faith is a spiritual force within that determines the triumphs without – Mk. 2:1-12/ Acts 14:9-10

• Faith is a spiritual force which provokes the healing power of God that makes whole – Lk. 8:40-48/ Matt. 14:36

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• Faith is a spiritual engraftment of humanity into divinity thereby commanding supernatural feats (Rom. 11:19-23)

• Faith is a spiritual medium through which active partnership is established with the invisible God thereby empowering man to do the impossible – Heb. 11:5-6/

• Heb. 11:24-27• Faith is not waiting for God; faith is putting

God’s word to work so as to commit His integrity to perform.

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• Faith is the master Key to every door in life – Mk 9:23

• Faith is a law of the Spirit with the capacity to suspend all the laws of nature

• The law of flotation suspended – Matt. 14:26-30

• The wind and the sea obeyed the command of faith – Matt. 8:26-27

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• Absolute faith in the unlimited God will always guarantee unlimited breakthrough – Ps. 62:5/Ps. 34:5/ Jam. 1:6-8/ Jer. 17:5-8/ Jam. 2:14-24

• Absolute faith in the infinite God is the master key to a world of exploits-Mk. 10:27

• Faith is a spiritual treasure of inestimable value – Matt. 9:23

• Faith is not a religious theory but a mystery of the Kingdom – 1Tim. 3:9

• Faith is not a religious logic, it is a spiritual weapon (Eph 6:16) 14

What is Unique about Bible Faith?

• It is of the heart, not of the head – Rom. 10:10/ Mk. 11:23

• It taps into the power of God – Lk. 8:40-46/ Rom. 1:16/ Jn. 1:12

• It dominates the world of the spirit by quenching all the fiery darts of the devil – Eph. 6:16

• Bible Faith is not a Dormant force, but a Dominant force

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TOWARDS BUILDING OUR FAITH

• Faith is a spiritual virtue with unlimited capacity for growth – 2Thes. 2:3/ Eph. 4:8-11Our faith can be built through the

following:A diligent study of the word – Lk. 15:7-8/

Dan. 9:2Quality meditation on the word – 1Tim.

4:13/15 16

A lifestyle of Word practice – Jam. 2:18/ Heb. 6:12-15/ 1Tim. 4:15

Coveting the gift of faith – 1Cor. 12:8/31

Craving for a baptism of the spirit of faith – 2Cor. 4:13/ Jude 3

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But what is unique about the Spirit of Faith?The Spirit of faith empowers us to believe all

things - Acts 24:14 The Spirit of faith is a force of the Spirit that

speaks through us – Matt. 10:20 The Spirit of Faith supernaturally propels us

into action – Mk. 1:12/ Heb. 11:10-12/17-19/ Heb. 11:7

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UNDERSTANDING THE FAITH THAT WORKS

The Faith that Works:1.Must be Personal -The Just shall live by faith – Hab. 2:4 (Rom.

1:17/ Gal. 3:11/ Heb. 10:38) 2. Must be Heart-Borne

- With the heart man believes – Rom. 10:10/ Heb. 4:2

3. Must be Revelation-Built – Rom. 10:17

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4. Bold-Speaking – Acts 14:3/ Ps. 81:10-14/ Lk. 21:15

5. Action-Driven – Gen. 12:1-3/ Gen. 17:6-9/ Gen. 22:1-18

6. Love-Driven – Gal. 5:6/ 1Cor. 13:137. Good Conscience-based faith - 1Tim. 1:19/3:9

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RHEMA-POWERED FAITH

• Faith comes by hearing and hearing from God – Rom 10:17

• The ever winning, ever victorious, ever triumphant and ever conquering faith comes by hearing from God – 2Pet. 1:18-21/ Lk. 9:28-35/ Acts 4:20

• We must recognize the voice of God is behind every verse of scripture – Is. 34:16

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Examples of Rhema-provoked Faith

• Abraham – Rom. 4:17-21

• Isaac – Gen. 26: 17-18

• Jacob – Gen. 32:24-28

• Paul – Acts 26:14-19/ Acts 27:22-25

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THE POWER OF ABSOLUTE FAITH

• Faith is fake except it is absolute – James 1:6-8Examples of Men of Absolute Faith 1. Abraham ‘The blessed’• Absolutely departed from his father’s house

– Gen. 12:1-4 • Unreservedly went ahead to offer Isaac

– Gen. 22:1-18 • Ended up a generational symbol of blessing

– Gen. 24:1 23

2. Moses confronted Pharaoh, the gods of Egypt and the Red Sea by absolute faith in God – Exo. 4-14

3. David, the God-confident lad brought down Goliath by his absolute faith in God – 1Sam. 16 & 17

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4. Elijah ‘The Dominant Prophet’ withstood and conquered all the priests of Baal as one man – 1Kgs. 18&19/ 2Kgs. 2:9-12

5. Shedrach, Meshach and Abednego dominated Babylon with their faith – Dan. 3:14-28

6. Daniel subdued Babylon by his Faith – Dan. 6:1-28

7. Paul, the Apostle dominated the Kingdoms of the Gentiles by the spirit of faith – Acts 13: 8-12/ Acts 14:8-11

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Characteristics of Absolute Faith

• Spiritually resolute, that is, unbending, unyielding, assertive and never giving up on any revealed truth – Heb. 10:38

• Confidently Restful – Gen. 49:8-9/ Mk. 4:37-41

• Supernaturally Brave – Prov. 30:30/ Acts 14:3/ Acts 2:1-46/ Exo. 7-14

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GOD SPEAKS ACCORDING TO HIS SIZE – Is. 14:24/27God speaks according to His:

1. Power & Might – 1Kgs. 8:17-18/ Jer. 32:17/27 - July 1979 – Far Above/ Jan. 96 – Canaanland 2. Authority – Is. 14:24-27/ 43:13/ 46:9-10 - Oct 21, 2002 / CU hand over 3. Creative Wisdom – Ps. 104:24/ Jn. 1:1-5/

Rom. 11:33/ Dan 2:20-23

-Sept. 17, 1998 – Faith Tabernacle Miracle

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• Therefore, the difference between the winning and the losing believer, the victorious and the defeated, the strong and the weak, the blessed and the beggarly, the triumphant and the downtrodden is FAITH.

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• “And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

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• And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.” (Num. 13:30-33)

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• “And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.

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• Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not. But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.” (Num. 14:6-10)

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How Audacious is Faith?How Audacious is Faith?• Faith unveils the incredible power of One• One Abraham, through faith, became a

symbol of generational blessing – Gen 12:1-3/ Rom 4:16-21

• One man, was instrumental in bringing an end to over 400 years of bondage of Israelites in Egypt - Ex 3:10/ 12:42

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• One man, Nehemiah took the task of rebuilding the broken walls of Jerusalem and got it accomplished in only 52 days – Neh 6:1-4/15

• Daniel, was ‘one man’ in the kingdom of Babylon that held a sway over the nation for 65 years – Dan 5:10-11

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• One man, Martin Luther, in the 15th century, with 98 thesis, shook the Catholic empire to its foundation, it was that reformation that led to technological revolution in the New York

• One man, Martin Luther king (Jnr), in the 1950s rose to confront the segregation in the USA – He won the war and today, a coloured man is the President of America.

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In conclusionIn conclusion

• Faith is all about manifesting the God-confidence in us – Rom 4:17-21

• Faith is a spiritual virtue that empowers our God-confidence in the pursuit of life

• Through faith a man becomes absolutely confident in God – Dan 3:17-18

• But confidence is the conquerors’ backbone – Is 36:4

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• It is God confidence that makes a man more

than a conqueror – Phil 4:13/ Rom 8:38

• Faith is a spiritual virtue that extends our

possibility mentality – Num 13:30-33/ 14:6-10

• Self confidence can be destructive – Dan 4:40

• It destroys Sennacherib – 2 Kg 19:36-37

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DanielDaniel – A biblical example of Audacious faith and intellectual sagacity

- Give me time and I will show you your dream - Dan 2:15-16

- Keep your gift and yet I will read the writing and make known the interpretation - Dan 5:11/17

• He was the master of the Chaldeans, astrologers, etc. - Dan 5:12-16

• He had an excellent Spirit – Dan 6:3• A man of unusual faith – Dan 6:23

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Thank youand

God bless

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