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New Life Ministry teaching

THE RIGHT MINDSET FOR REAL FAITH

August 11, 2025

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Teaching summary

This message by Pastors Leonard and Lori Rola teaches that real faith begins with hearing about Jesus and is perfected by fixing our eyes on Him. The sermon emphasizes that faith is not generated by our efforts but is born when we hear and see Jesus for who He truly is—full of compassion, mercy, and love. It corrects the mindset that healing or miracles depend on what we do, pointing instead to Christ’s finished work. The right mindset for real faith is to shift focus away from ourselves and onto Jesus alone.

Bible verses referenced

Romans 10:14 – "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?"

Romans 10:17 – "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

Mark 5:19-20– "Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel."

Matthew 4:24-25 – "And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and Jerusalem, and Judaea, and from beyond Jordan."

Luke 4:37 – "And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about."

Luke 5:15 – "But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities."

Acts 10:37-38 – "That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."

Hebrews 12:1-3 – "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."

Philippians 4:8 – "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

Hebrews 10:2– "For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins."

Mark 5:22– "And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet."

Mark 5:34 – "And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague."

Matthew 8:10 – "When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel."

Matthew 9:10 – "And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples."

Mark 9:23– "Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth."

Mark 3:5 – "And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other."

Luke 13:1 – "And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity."

Luke 7:13 – "And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not."

John 11:43 – "And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth."

Teaching notes

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction and Recap of Session One: Faith Hears
  2. The Role of the Herald in Spreading Faith
  3. Scriptural Examples of Hearing Before Believing
  4. From Hearing to Seeing: Faith Perfected
  5. Understanding “The Sin Which So Easily Besets Us”
  6. Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus, Not Ourselves
  7. Testimonies and Misplaced Focus in Healing
  8. Five Healings Where the Person Didn’t Ask or Believe First
  9. The Grace of Jesus in Action
  10. Closing Prayer and Encouragement

Introduction and Recap of Session One: Faith Hears

Pastor Leonard begins by recalling the previous teaching that faith cannot be self-generated or manufactured. Romans 10:14 says, "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" The believing comes after hearing, and faith comes after hearing. He explains that we are all given the measure of faith—the faith of Jesus Christ—but it is awakened through hearing about Him.

The Role of the Herald in Spreading Faith

The message stresses the biblical pattern that someone must speak about Christ for others to believe. Faith comes when people hear about Jesus, the anointed one, and His anointing. Just as John the Baptist prepared the way, modern believers are called to herald the good news about Christ’s goodness and compassion.

Scriptural Examples of Hearing Before Believing

Several scriptures are shared to illustrate the power of hearing about Jesus, including the story of the delivered demoniac in Mark 5:19-20, whose testimony caused entire regions to later seek Jesus in Matthew 4:24-25. Luke 4:37, Luke 5:15, and Acts 10:37-38 show that when Christ’s works were broadcast, multitudes came to hear and be healed.

From Hearing to Seeing: Faith Perfected

Faith is born through hearing,  but is perfected when we fix our eyes on Jesus. The people who heard about Him then came to see Him. Hebrews 12:1-3 tells us to lay aside every weight and sin and look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Seeing Jesus—envisioning Him as compassionate and merciful—completes faith, making it ready for use.

Understanding “The Sin Which So Easily Besets Us

Pastor Leonard explains that the Greek origin of "sin" here refers to a faulty mindset or error in judgment, not just moral failings. This wrong thinking must be set aside so we can think and believe rightly. The key is fixing our eyes on Jesus, which aligns our mindset with truth.

Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus, Not Ourselves

He contrasts biblical instruction with common teaching that focuses on our actions—speaking, standing, commanding—rather than on Christ. Healing testimonies often emphasize what the person did, but faith is perfected when our eyes are on Jesus, not ourselves.

Testimonies and Misplaced Focus in Healing

Pastor Leonard shares his own cancer testimony, saying he “did nothing” but keep his eyes on Jesus and hear about Him daily. All healing was the result of Christ’s compassion and finished work, not his own efforts.

Five Healings Where the Person Didn’t Ask or Believe First

He lists five New Testament accounts—Mark 3:5, Luke 13:12, Luke 7:13, and John 11:43—where Jesus healed or raised the dead without the person first asking, seeking, or even believing. These demonstrate grace: Jesus acted from compassion, not in response to human effort.

The Grace of Jesus in Action

Five such miracles symbolize grace. True grace teaching keeps the emphasis on what Jesus has done and His finished work, not on what we must do. Faith rises naturally when we hear and see Him.

Closing Prayer and Encouragement

The message closes with a prayer of thanks for God’s grace, acknowledging His will to heal and His desire for us to keep our focus on Jesus alone. The encouragement is to rest in Him, be led by the Spirit, and allow faith to be birthed and perfected through hearing and seeing Christ.

We hope this article blessed you. Share this teaching with others so they too can learn the right mindset for real faith—keeping eyes and ears fixed on Jesus and His goodness.