Pt. 1 Sermon
Pt. 2 Sermon
Faith That Works: Mixing the Word with Belief
Speaker: Bishop Clifford Craft – True Agape Christian Center
1. Understanding What Faith Really Is
Many people ask, “What exactly is faith?” and get confused because of so many different explanations.
Faith is:
Believing what the Word of God says.
Acting on what it says.
Waiting patiently until what you prayed for manifests.
Patience works together with faith—faith is not for a week and then quitting if nothing happens.
If you “had faith” but quit because you didn’t see results, it wasn’t faith—it was hope.
2. The Relationship Between Hope and Faith
Hebrews 11:1 – Faith is the substance of things hoped for.
You must hope for something before you can have faith for it.
Hope alone will not bring results; faith brings what you hoped for into reality.
3. Faith Must Be Mixed with the Word
Hebrews 4:2 – The Word preached did not profit them because it wasn’t mixed with faith.
Hearing or reading the Word without faith results in no profit.
Two-way activation:
Faith needs the Word to activate.
The Word needs faith to activate.
All of God’s words are filled with faith, but they must meet faith in the hearer for manifestation.
4. Why Faith Sometimes Doesn’t Produce Results
Example: God promises healing, yet sometimes people pray and don’t receive it—not because God lied, but because there was no corresponding faith.
Philippians 4:19 – God promises to supply your needs. If you don’t receive, it’s a faith issue, not a God issue.
Faith never fails—if the result doesn’t happen, examine your faith, not God’s integrity.
5. Every Believer Already Has Faith
Ephesians 2:8 – By grace you are saved through faith.
Grace is free, but salvation requires faith.
You cannot be saved without faith in the virgin birth, deity, and sinlessness of Jesus.
Mary received the word from Gabriel, believed it, and said, “Be it unto me according to your word” — this faith caused the Word to manifest.
6. The Principle of Receiving by Faith
Everything in God’s Kingdom works the same way Mary conceived Jesus:
Hear the Word.
Believe the Word.
Speak the Word.
Act on the Word.
What you desire must be conceived in your heart before it can manifest in your life.
Faith causes spiritual conception; meditation and confession are the incubation period.
7. Faith and Favor Work Together
Grace = Favor (Greek: charis).
God’s favor opens doors you can’t open yourself.
Example: Buying a car with less money than required—favor moves on the heart of people to say “I don’t even know why I’m doing this, but here you go.”
Faith positions you to receive favor.
8. Removing Doubt
Mark 9:23 – All things are possible to the one who believes.
Mark 11:23 – Speak to the mountain and do not doubt in your heart.
Doubt is natural in the mind because of constant thoughts (many you didn’t ask for).
Your job: refuse to let those thoughts settle in your heart.
You must renew your mind daily so your heart stays in faith.
9. Spirit vs. Soul
Your spirit is instantly saved when you are born again (Ephesians 2:1).
Your soul (mind, will, intellect, emotions) is being saved daily (Ephesians 4:21–24).
Growth in faith is a process—don’t condemn yourself if you’re not perfect yet.
Example: Like a car on an assembly line—it doesn’t look like the final blueprint until the process is complete.
10. Speaking God’s Word is Essential
Life and death are in the power of the tongue.
Your words create or destroy—speak life and agree with God’s Word.
Writing down what you believe for and thanking God for it daily keeps faith active.
When you put the Word on something, life flows to it and manifestation begins.
Key Takeaways for Part 1
Faith is believing, acting, and patiently waiting on God’s Word.
Hope is necessary, but faith is what manifests the promise.
The Word must be mixed with faith to produce results.
God’s integrity is never the issue—examine your faith.
Faith and favor work hand-in-hand.
Remove doubt from your heart and renew your mind daily.
Your spirit is saved instantly; your soul is being renewed.
Speak the Word over your life consistently.
