How to Walk - First Steps
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Intro
pastoral sermon - for anyone but especially for us here at WMBC
I don’t mind if things are not smooth . . . this is an important
yet it is nothing new - better explanation with more urgency
11 minutes, so there is some hope for a short sermon
7 for we walk by faith, not by sight—
for we
Who is we?
us, us Christians
Individuals who say they are Christians
Families who say they are a Christian family
Churches that say there are Christian church - WMBC
anyone with a connection to God, through Jesus Christ . . . this is our way of living: we walk by faith, not by sight
Walk
what is walk?
Walk means how we live, how we operate, lifestyle
the manner in which we do things
by faith
What is faith?
a famous scripture explains it
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Faith is when you have a deep down assurance, a deep down belief, that you will have what you are hoping for !
and that assurance is so strong that there is evidence on the outside on what is believed on the inside
Faith is the PROOF that you believe in something that you cannot see . . . (story of payralyzed man and Jesus SAW their faith)
in the Bible, God told Noah that it was going to rain and flood the whole earth
even though rain had never been seen, you could tell that Noah believed God . . . because of Noah’s actions . . . he built a giant boat in the middle of dry land . . . that was proof that he believed
Faith is evidence/proof that we believe in God
that evidence is seen through our actions
simple way to say it: faith is belief in action
“for ee walk by faith” means that The Christian life is about our beliefs in action
And not by sight
sight is you just go by what you can see, what you can figure out, what you can understand
Why must we walk by faith?
The Bible teaches that it is impossible to pleas God without it . . . enough said!
Yet, God shared with me two reasons why faith pleases Him:
#1 faith weeds out the blessing diggers (gold diggers) of the word
people who would claim God . . . but not really love him
people who would call on God . . . but not really serve him
people who would wear his name . . . . but not really care to know Him
Walking by faith weeds people who are not real out
because whenever you have to put belief into action, it GETS real
and when you have to put belief into action, as a lifestyle, it gets really real
and the blessing diggers fall away
I said walking by faith weeds people out
weeded out a whole generation of unbelievers in Numbers
when they had to put that belief in to action by being willing to fight some powerful enemies . . . they said that’s ok
walking by faith weeds out those who “talk the talk but won’t walk the walk”
walking by faith, and not by sight takes real trust . . . the kind of trust where you have to do it with all your heart and not lean unto your own understanding . . . walking by faith takes that type of trust (and blessing diggers can’t do it)
#2 reason - it is only through faith that you can be everything you were made to be
only through faith can you reach every goal you were meant to reach
only thorugh faith can you accomplish every task you were created to accomplish
it will take faith in a God that is bigger than you to do something big!
God has set it up that it only happens by walking by faith . . . only through a lifestyle of your beliefs in action
That’s why this morning, we are going to learn, “How to Walk - First Steps”
what does it mean to walk by faith?
We will discuss two steps
already doing it, be encouraged
need to do better, do better
need to start, starst
The first way - do everything you can, to come to church: Sunday worship and Bible Study
if you can’t come to Bible Study watch the video
if you miss church, watch the video
already preached a sermon on why you need the church, so have faith that God’s word is true and come to church, be involved at church
and we only meet twice per week in the cold and harsh world . . . you really cannot afford to miss anything
sick - that’s ok
vacation - that’s ok
treat it like the job - important -
give notifications
make up work you missed while you were gone (videos)
God put you here for a reason, and you need everything that WMBC has to offer
let it by your lifestyle - I don’t miss church
that’s the first thing
Look at Daniel for the 2nd thing
Use Daniel - a man who fulfilled his potential in God, the Daniel in the lion’s den Daniel
God used him to do mighty things, respected, succeeded in a cut throat and dangerous world (Game of Thrones - he kept his head and high position through 5 kingly administrations), God would reveal things to him that he wouldn’t reveal to others, wrote a book of the Bible that is admired for its prophetic accuracy, Jesus quoted him
10 But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.
explain the plot and how it would lead to the lion’s den
Daniel had a routine, three times per day, he would pray to God and giving thanks to God . . .
before this event he did this, during this event he did this, after this event, he did this . . . . lifestyle of daily devotion
we know at least for 70 years: pray and give thanks to God
which means that he
Why would this successful man pray and give God thanks three times per day for over 70 years
you take that action because you believe God is listening and answers prayer
you take that action because you believe it is worth your time
you take this action because you believe God will bless you
How to Walk by Faith - First steps: Daily Devotion
I am asking for 3 devotional times per day for WMBC members until you die
you determine the length, the time:
read - Daniel knew the scriptures and prayed according to scripture
pray - asking
give thanks
2 minutes of silence
not a sin if you don’t - but it is what I believe Gold is saying
we kind of started it and let it fall to the wayside, but not this time!
Don’t say I forget!!!! - We know how to not forget important stuff
The problem with daily devotions is that nothing can happen for days, months, years
Your true belief is really tested when you pray 3 times per day, 38 days straight and nothing special has happened - you will be tempted to walk by sight and slack off or quit.
but remember what I said about weeding out
and remember there will be some advantages that you won’t connect with you devotion or you forget
you WILL have a better attitude if you thank God three times per day . . . now you are getting along with your family better because you are in a better mood . . . and they might treat you better
you will know more of his word
andt I believe strongly that I will grow spiritually, be more successful with God and man, have more and clearer revelation - and I will prove it by my action because I walk by faith and not by sight
Notes:
If muslims can do it for a false god, we can do it for a real god
Summary
I didn’t say make a pilgramage to Jerusalem
I didn’t say give extra hundre/month
first steps
come to church like you do your job
personal devotion 3 times per day
have faith enough to carve out more time for church, carve out more time to have devotional time with Godto God
we WALK by faith - change your lifestyle, find a way to do it
every big moment, Daniel was ready
not eat the kings food
tell the king his dream
reveal the handwriting on the wall
danger of lion’s den
revelation about the end time
first steps
Jesus
before you can take first steps, you have to be born again