How to Walk - First Steps, part 2

Intro

Continuation

It is this important

I want to make sure we are on one accord in understanding

2 Corinthians 5:7 NASB95

7 for we walk by faith, not by sight—

Reminder of Faith

Faith is the PROOF that you believe, the actions on the outside reveal what you believe on the inside

This scripture teaches that we walk, or in today’s language, we live by faith

The Christian life is about putting our beliefs into action . . . a lifestyle of putting our beliefs into action

James 2:18c (NASB95)

18c I will show you my faith by my works.”

You can see I have faith by my works, by what I do

James 2:26b (NASB95)

26b faith without works is dead.

without works your faith is dead

without works, your faith ain’t real

if there is nothing you can point to and say, “that’s proof I have faith” . . . then you are fooling yourself

How to Walk - First Steps

God has put it on my heart to call us to focus two of the simplest acts of faith

two simple, but important actions, that demonstrate that the beliefs we say are on the inside, are really there

two actions that we are doing as a church that you can and should take anywhere

two actions that are just the FIRST STEPS of faith, yet many Christians never take

1. Make Church a main priority in your life: mainly talking about Sunday Worship and Discipleship School

2. Make your personal devotions a priority in your life: set aside three times a day to pray (like Daniel)

I will break both down more in a little bit, but I want us to understand the motive behind it all

These lifestyle changes are a faith thing.

not a good luck thing, where you think or say “every time life gets rough:

I just pray three times a day and everything gets better

I just go to church and things get better

If I was the devil, I would encourage people to use prayer and going to church as a good luck charm . . . . anything to keep them from real connection with God

This is not a spiritual cheat sheet, cheat codes thing,

one year everyone was doing the prayer of Jabez . . . it turned into a say the magic words things, “Lord, increase my territory”

people were saying it over everything

trying to buy a new house - Lord increase my territory

trying to start a business - Lord increase my territory

applying for a promotion - Lord increase my territory

I heard of people using it casinos

some one, and a lot more lost (just like always)

nothing wrong with asking for material blessings in prayer, but the prayer of Jabez became more “spell like” than “prayer like”

How do I know it, because people didn’t even really take the time to make it fit their lives . . . Jabez was praying about actual territory

a better prayer for us would have been - Lord help me qualify for a new house

Lord help me develop a good business plan

Lord give me favor with the decision makers for this promotion

but people thought if I say, “increase my territory” that’s gonna get to heaven faster . . . or God would say, “well since you said the magic words . . . . “

God is not a genie! He is God

and these lifestyle changes are a FAITH thing

not a “go through the motions thing”

though some days you may have to push through, and may not feel it as much

hopefully it is habit forming, but each prayer, each service should be meaningful on its own

these lifestyle changes are a FAITH thing

not a seasonal thing

take this with you wherever you go . . . and all the way to the grave

buy groceries is not seasonal

putting gas in your car is not seasonal

this is a LIFETIME faith thing

We are talking about sincere acts that demonstrate your belief

Faith in a true and living God thing

Let’s break it down . . . the first one:

Make church a priority in your life.

I did a whole sermon on how we need the church, it is on YouTube, and I showed how being an active member of the local church is important/biblical

So, I won’t do the whole sermon again. . . but Christ built the church . . .the whole church thing is Jesus’ idea, Jesus’ plan for his followers . . . so Jesus wants you to be an active part of the church, you need the church

For WMBC members, God has put you here for a reason

Word preached/taught here is for you

The prayers said are for you

The fellowship is for you

The bond and connections built here, are for you

You have a role to play - You are a member of the body

we were put here for you, to bless you, to help you, to pray for you, to use our gifts for you

and you were put here for us, to bless us, to help us, pray for us, use your gifts for us

You can’t be all you are supposed to be when you are separated from or barely connected to the body . . . the members of your body are to be jointed together and working together so that the whole body benefits

So if you believe that , you put that belief in to action:

Sundays - do everything you can to be here

Wednesdays - do everything you can to get online for Discipleship

If you can’t be there Sunday or Wednesday, watch the video

I said, “do everything you can” . . . What does “do everything you can” mean?

Treat Sunday/Wednesdays like you would a great job that you really need

you’re going to be there, don’t sit on the side of the bed wondering

don’t wake up Sundays and decide . . . . let it already be decided

you don’t have to feel 100% to go (If I asked how many people in here feel 100%, 90%, 80% . . . . )

adverse situations don’t stop you - weather, traffic, argument with family

people are not surprised when you show up

when you can’t come, you let people know

Ex. if I can’t come home, I let sherry know (Sherry didn’t come home last night . . . but she let me know where she was . . . or at least she told me where she was, lol)

because we are in relationship, we are a team, God has joined us together, we are two members of one body . . . . and the church is the body of Christ

What if I go on vacation? no problem, just notify

What if I am sick? no problem, just notify

What if I want to visit another church of a friend or relative?

time to time for special reasons (baptized, speech)? no problem

What if it’s like Mother’s Day and I want to be with my mom at her church . . . no problem, that’s fine . . . . honor your mother!

What if I just want to fellowship? no problem if you do it rarely . . . good to fellowship with other Christians sometimes . . .but if you are alternating Sundays, you need to pick a church

imagine if my thumb works every other day!

What if my friend comes to my church and then I go to their church, we support each other throughout the year

so they have a church, you got a church

and you all are reaching out to each other . . . you should be reaching out to the un-churched

you all are having friendhsip building time during church time

What if I have to work?

understood, no problem

if that is the case - you need to watch the video of the sermon ASAP, you cannot afford to miss the Word at YOUR CHURCH (only here once a week)

if possible, you try to get out of that schedule

get Sundays off or Sunday mornings off

You can go to church and go to work on the Same day

You can go to work and go to church on the Same day

just like you can go to work and to son’s basketball game on the same day

I understand, I have walked it, just one example of many

kids in high school band

Work all week long

Run to the high school to take their dinner

Friday night football game 6 - 11pm

Saturday band competition

8am at the school (load up, travel, competition in Midlothian, unload)

leave Midlothian at 9pm, leave bandhall at 10/11 (band director talk to band)

but we made it work (sleep in car during breaks, sermons in the car)

exhausted, and it was frustrating knowing that the other families woulb enjoying some good sleep on Sunday morning, but I believed Christ built the church, and my actions proved it when I showed up at church

guess what has come and gone - band

guess what is still here - church

This is not an easy thing to do, but it is not impossible either . . . a lot of people have enough faith to work it out

Real life application - if you can’t come both garage sale and church worship, skip the garage sale.

Yes, it is good to be at church events, but prioritize Sunday higher

Sadly, a wise pastor knows that even on Saturday means a miss on Sunday

Maker Personal Devotions a priority in your life.

My definition - Spending focused time with God: scripture, praying, thanking

This is nothing ground breaking - people did in in the bible

even muslims copied it from Jews

But The Bible teaches that it is important

Isaiah 26:3 NLT

3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

Devotions fix your mind on God, gives you peace

Psalm 1:2–3 NLT

2 But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. 3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.

meditating on God’s word day an night will make you strong and productive like a tree planted by a river . . . close to the supply

leaves never wither - winter time, stay strong

prosper in all you do - you will be learning to do what God has called you to

Joshua 1:8 NLT

8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

study, meditate, obey the word . . . day and night

for people like Joshua who have big things to do

Acts 10:9 NLT

9 The next day as Cornelius’s messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon,

noontime, he was hungry, but it was time to pray

God used that hunger and showed him a vision that led to Gentiles (us) being saved

Acts 3:1 NLT

1 Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service.

afternoon prayer time (not asking you to meet at church)

Matthew 6:6 NASB95

6 “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

inner room, close your door - focused time, personal time, not for show for for real

Matthew 6:33 NASB95

33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

you have a lot of responsibilities

you have a lot of things that are pressing

you don’t have a lot of time in the day

but put God first: God will make it worth your time (he will help you with those responsibilities, and those things that are pressing)

Devotionals - What to do

How to do it?

again, my definition - Spending focused time with God:

3 X 3 = scripture, praying, thanking

Still pray without ceasing as things come up during the day, but we are talking about focused times.

Time

pick the times, set alarms, reminders

if something comes up, adjust the time

5-15 minutes

some may be longer (my morning is about 30, others about 10) and believe they will grow longer

Ideas for Scripture

Bible Plan on Bible app to keep up with progress

Famous pick any page, God give me a scripture

Pick a book to go through

Study Scriptures for Wednesday Discipleship School

Play video of a sermon

do some meditating on it

Ideas for Prayer

list of people to pray for

list of things you need and want

Lord’s prayer

quiet time - “speak Lord for your servant is listening”

Journal

play music - YouTube Playlist (search devotional music or morning worship)

Other

devotionals you can buy and some given free

journal (notebook or computer or phone)

I have an encourage myself time: If God for me . . . I can do all things . . . .

The Proper Attitude

This is not a chore, duty, religious slot machine

need

opportunity to get closer to God

you belief in action - a faith thing

Let your faith cause you to be faithful

even if you see know changes or improvements

even if something gets worse

if you forget from time to time . . . we’re human . . .but don’t stop all together (sign of a lack of belief)

coming to church faithfully and a praying faithfully three times a day will weed out the blessing diggers - just in it for the blessing and don’t really care about knowing God or pleasing God

Walk by Faith

Benefits

you will be ready for big moments

you will be ready for ministry opportunities

be ready for tough times

Understand God and his word more

revelation about your life, people in your life, path forward, wisdom

faith grow

less stress and more centered

get the most out of your life

Jesus - before you can take first steps, you have to be born again

Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel