COURAGEOUS FAITH

As I come forward at the end of worship

SLIDE 1 “WELCOME TO CHURCH”

encouragement from worship

reminder to plug into church events

SLIDE 2 “GET CONNECTED”

ladies last week

men’s breakfast

Barbara keeping thing going for the kids

finished “Walking by the Spirit” last week

SLIDE 3 “COURAGEOUS FAITH”

Today we’ll be in the word on how to have “Courageous Faith”

Our faith is a big deal - our anchor to The Lord .....so to speak

Example.......Men’s trout fishing on the river .....anchor

In the Bible our great commandment of faith would probably be in Hebrews 11....in fact it is a whole chapter is on faith

SLIDE 4

Hebrews 11:1 ESV

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

there are two words here that puts this verse in a place all of its own in that its been proven through this whole book

SLIDE 5

Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

The Greek definition for assurance would be -foundation

conviction- is proved or tested

Remember faith is proven through this whole book

SLIDE 6 “NOW FAITH IS THE ASSURANCE..............”

The assurance of things hoped for - the conviction of things not seen

One of the greatest is right at the first of the bible - think about Noah

SLIDE 7 “NOAH BUILDING ARK”

How about Abraham - promised a special place to live....promised a son ........promised father of many nations in which they could be blessed

SLIDE 8 “ABRAHAM PRAYING”

But man what about taking Isaac up Mt Moriah

SLIDE 9 “ABRAHAM AND ISAAC”

5,000 yrs later we are using the picture or foreshadowing from Abraham to our walk today

So these were acts of courageous faith for sure.....amen?

SLIDE 10 “COURAGEOUS FAITH”

So how would my faith today be considered or even needing to be a courageous faith? In my church and for the road ahead?

Believe it or not you and I are faced with many situations every day

Think about your day.........you may have an obstacle or task to get over in that day........you may have a difficult attitude in a person or group that day......you don’t how its gonna turn out.....financial decisions to make.....not sure how it will turn out.......how about a loved one or a friend you care about?

And really this is the layout for most of our day

SLIDE 11 “FAITH OR FEAR”

Oh no not me I’m tuff, I wouldn’t say that, I can stand my ground

Many times by saying that....its because we are really fearing

It can come like this too

SLIDE 12 “WORRY”

So we need our faith to get us through all this......mainly the attitude or grounding that “God will get me through this.....”God is with me”

Now with all this faith application needed for everyday world troubles and issues I can’t even think about if God were to ask me to do something for Him.....Amen on top of all that I already have going on

SLIDE 13 “COURAGEOUS FAITH”

We need courageous faith.....how can I have that or more of that or even maintain that?

SLIDE 14

“COURAGEOUS FAITH for The Road Ahead”

Define Your Source of Confidence for Faith

SLIDE 15

2 Corinthians 3:4–5 ESV

4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,

For us as followers of Christ we mainly build our confidence in God by being in His word......learning and coming to know Him and His character......His abilities.....How He has proved Himself throughout this book.... the bible

This source of confidence for faith can be more deeply rooted by being convinced of God’s love for us

Though our lives ups and downs, our faults and failures, maybe doubt or isolation we first must always know how much God loves us......that He does deeply care for us.....and in that He builds us up in faith in that He is first faithful to us

All throughout the Psalms you find this.....and David is someone we can identify with many times through the walk and circumstances he faced

All throughout the Psalms what you see David depends on or is grounded in God’s faithfulness

Over and over again throughout the Psalms David talks of God;s faithfulness.....but do you know what he always mentions first? ........God’s love.......in fact he always called it God’s steadfast love

SLIDE 16

Psalm 57:10 ESV

10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.

that’s a lot of love and faithfulness there

We talked about this one last week....but look closer in depth to it

SLIDE 17

Psalm 89:14 ESV

14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.

other translations may say lovingkindness

So He rules from heaven with righteousness and justice and the very next two things God uses is what? ....and in that order

okay so 1st step to have courageous faith is to become “confident in our source of faith”

Next step

SLIDE 18

“COURAGEOUS FAITH for The Road Ahead”

Define Your Source of Confidence for Faith

Develop Strength for Faith (over fear)

SLIDE 19

Isaiah 41:10 ESV

10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Notice Who is doing it all in this verse

Sometimes we look back years later and trace His hand on our steps. But, just like a runner doesn’t feel fit after the first month of running, we are getting stronger with each faithful stride.

So past experiences and tracing God’s hand over the years develops strength to endure.....That song we sing a lot here in worship “all my life You have been faithful”

Last point

SLIDE 20

“COURAGEOUS FAITH for The Road Ahead”

Define Your Source of Confidence for Faith

Develop Strength for Faith (over fear)

The Right Relationships Produce Faith and Bravery

SLIDE 21

Psalm 89:5 ESV

5 Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!

WORSHIP TEAM COMING UP

Lean into your church family and community, and trust God has placed people in proximity as extensions of His love.

Jesus was extremely transparent with His friends on earth. He washed their feet, explained everything the Father told Him to them. Jesus wept with His friends, He prayed with intimately with and for them, healed them, forgave them, and ultimately died for them … and us. He calls us friends. He lives in us, yet so often we don’t let Him in. We honor our fears over our God when we consider their strength to be more than the One that conquered death.

SLIDE 22 “COURAGEOUS FAITH”

Toby Keith - faith interview

PRAYER

WORSHIP MARK TO DISMISS