ROOTED IN HIS VOICE

Faith Rooted in His Voice (Full Sermon)

Watch the full sermon on "Faith Rooted in His Voice" and delve deeper into overcoming humanism and religiosity to embrace a true walk of faith.

The Christian life is a "walk" with Jesus, encountering wonderful things like God’s perfect love, victory in Christ, and His faithfulness. This message explored two conflicts in the human heart that battle against the walk of faith: humanism and religiosity.

The Heart of Faith

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. When faith becomes a mental exercise, it ceases to be trust. It shifts from dependence on God to self-control.

Romans 10:10: “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness…” Not the intellect. The heart. That’s where faith lives.

Recognizing True Faith

True, unwavering faith is rooted in a relationship with God and a lifetime of responding to His voice. It is a "verb of motion" – a response to God, not just a feeling or a set of beliefs.

Isaiah 52:6-7

⁶Therefore My people shall know My name;
Therefore they shall know in that day
That I am He who speaks:
‘Behold, it is I.’ ”

⁷How beautiful upon the mountains
Are the feet of him who brings good news,
Who proclaims peace,
Who brings glad tidings of good things,
Who proclaims salvation,
Who says to Zion,
“Your God reigns!”

What Faith Is

• Not a feeling, hype, or adrenaline.
• Not waiting until you’re sure or safe.
• Not static; it moves.
• Steps when there’s no map.
• Speaks when it feels foolish.
• Obeys before it understands.
• Risks because it trusts the One who called.
• Gives birth to courage.
• Fire-driven, not fear-driven.
• Pursuit, not passive.
• About being ready, not reckless.

Faith is a Matter of Character

In both Hebrew (*emunah*) and Greek (*pistis*), faith primarily means: faithfulness, loyalty, commitment—not pride, performance, or intellect.

Hebrews 11:1: “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

5 Sections of Isaiah 52

1. Therefore… Therefore. (Listen)

Isaiah 52:6: “Therefore My people shall know My name; therefore they shall know in that day that I am He who speaks: ‘Behold, it is I.’”

God emphasizes His promise that His people will know His nature and that He is the one speaking. Our goal should be to be so familiar with God’s voice that we don’t doubt when He speaks.

2. “That I am He who speaks: ‘Behold, it is I.’” (God has the authority)

God points to His authority; the only right response is respect. Our response to His authority reveals what is truly within us. Faith is rooted in awareness of God's authority, not our ability to believe.

• In John 6:20, Jesus walks on the water and says, “It is I; do not be afraid.”
• In Luke 24:39, the resurrected Christ says, “Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself.”
• In Revelation 1:17-18, He says, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.”

3. Faith climbs and holds fast.

“How beautiful upon the mountains…” Mountains are often spiritual battlegrounds requiring endurance. Faith will be tested to be purified and matured, as gold is tried in fire.

In Revelation, Jesus said to the church of Ephesus: “I counsel you to buy of Me gold tried in the fire.”

James says, “Count it all joy…” because the testing of faith builds endurance.

4. Faith speaks what isn’t seen yet.

“… Are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation…” Faith speaks in the middle of the mess, seeing with Heaven’s eyes and declaring God’s reign before it's visible. This is not denial, but living by biblical faith.

5. Faith moves—and it boldly declares: ‘Your God reigns!’

“…who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” This is a bold shout to God’s people, a victorious declaration. By faith in Jesus, we can speak with His authority, “Our God reigns!”

Call to Action

Discern the conflicts within your heart. Tear down the idols of humanism and religiosity, those counterfeit voices of intellectual faith, and replace them with God’s authority. Lay down pride and come under the authority of God—the Author and Perfector of our faith.

• Nursing idols and pacifying conviction while thinking you’re walking in faith is deceptive.
• Embracing doctrines intellectually without being changed is deceptive.
• Admiring others’ faith and miracles without believing it in your heart is deceptive.

When pride is surrendered, the heart softens, thoughts change, and the idols of humanism and religiosity crumble. Faith is about trusting the One who is the answer.

Romans 10:10: “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness…” Not the mind. The heart. That’s where faith lives.

Continue with Jesus, living daily with a personal commitment to a Person. If He’s speaking, you can move. If He’s sending, you can go. If He’s calling, trust that your faithful feet will be beautiful on the mountains, no matter how steep they look.

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The initial step to dismantle unholy mindsets is to surrender the pride and self-reliant willpower that perpetuates cycles of bondage. This occurs through repentance, self-denial, and daily discipleship.

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