Building Godly Character: Faith

If we are building Godly Character, Jesus must be the cornerstone.

Ephesians 2:20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,

Faith is the foundation of Godly Character.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

We know that Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the Church. He is the stone that the builder rejected. If we want to build character we have to lay that cornerstone squarely and securely than we can begin to build the pillars of Godly Character they have to sit on something and that something is faith.

Spiritual faith is trust that is the direct result of Spiritual birth.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

We can’t do anything in this world on our own. Have you ever thought about how helpless little humans are and for how long they are helpless. I had horses, They were not born helpless. They could run jump and kick from the first seconds they were born. They could take care of themselves pretty quick. Not people. God had that for a reason. We had to learn about trust. The same way we have to trust our parents and rely on others we need to rely on the LORD Jesus Christ.

Believers live by faith.

Romans 1:17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.

This was the foundation of Luther’s 95 Theses that he posted on the door in Wittenberg. Luther had a real problem with indulgences being sold by the church to grant forgiveness of sin. He believed that salvation was granted freely and graciously by Jesus Christ for genuine faith.

Living by faith is foundational to Godly Character.

Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.

I want people to be believers in Jesus Christ. That is number one in my life. So when I ask someone about their relationship with Jesus. If they say I have faith, I want to know what exactly do you mean. Faith in… Your mom, your football team, the governement, allah, the church, I need context. Hebrews 11 is a great place to learn about those who had faith and the definition of faith.

Biblical Definition: Faith!

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

But in reading Hebrews 11 I get the idea that faith is easy when things are good. I think it is hard to really quantify our faith as Christians living in America. Why? We are spoiled. I am telling you, you may be some of the most spoiled Christians ever. Here we say things are so bad Jesus must be coming back. Really! Have you not read Richard Wormbrand’s tortured for christ or Foxes book of martyrs how about Jim Elliot’s end of the spear. Have you read the Bible. We are spoiled. Let’s look at what it means to LIVE BY FAITH from the source of the just shall live by faith Habakkuk!

God, why don’t you answer my prayers for the nation?

Habakkuk 1:2–4 O Lord, how long shall I cry, And You will not hear? Even cry out to You, “Violence!” And You will not save. Why do You show me iniquity, And cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; There is strife, and contention arises. Therefore the law is powerless, And justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.

Sound familiar. That sounds like a lot of Christians I know talking today. I see trouble around me all the time. Did you see what is happening the terrible violence in New York City, the craziness at our public schools. The government is corrupt and God we are praying but you aren’t answering. Actually we have been praying and we have seen God do some amazing things. The overturning of Roe vs Wade and many other victories when God’s people prayed. I think Habakkuk would have been amazed at what the Holy Spirit is accomplishing in America today. We aren’t sacrificing our children to Molech yet.

I’m not saying that things are great, I am just trying to understand what having faith in God looks like. And I am saying that we are priviledged above other saints who had to have faith in worse circumstances. It is like kid’s at school who try to compete over who has to worse life. Our’s isn’t so bad compared.

God’s answer to Habakkuk: The Chaldeans.

Habakkuk 1:5–7 Look among the nations and watch— Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you. For indeed I am raising up the Chaldeans, A bitter and hasty nation Which marches through the breadth of the earth, To possess dwelling places that are not theirs. They are terrible and dreadful; Their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves.

God’s answer to Habakkuk saying God our nation is so wicked, we are praying please do something God. God says ok I will send the Chaldeans. Babylon as we call them. They were wicked and terrible. Bitter hasty nation. They came from the area of Iraq and they would be terrible self centered dictator that would persecute and enslave God’s people.

Habakkuk’s faith had to acknowledge God.

Habakkuk 1:12 Are You not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O Lord, You have appointed them for judgment; O Rock, You have marked them for correction.

Acknowledge that God is eternal.

Psalm 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

God’s plan for the world is bigger than right here and right now. While we are worried about this little move God is playing for eternal check mate.

Acknowledge that God is sovereign.

Revelation 4:11 You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.

The word Lord in Habakkuk 1 verse 12 is the word adonai which Soveriegn ruler. God is in control of every aspect of our lives. He is working everything together for good even the Babylonians being in control. You have to understand this.

Acknowledge that God is Holy.

1 Samuel 2:2 No one is holy like the Lord, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.

He does what is right always. He does not make mistakes.

Acknowledge that God keeps His promises.

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

Habakkuk did not believe that Babylon would be the end of God’s people even though they were the worst rulers you could imagine they would be brutal and cruel God had a plan just ask Daniel. He was what it means to live by faith. If America is falling apart. I tell you what I am looking to Habakkuk and Daniel for how to live by faith. This is not the end for God’s people. God keeps his promises.

In the hardest of times God’s people live by faith.

Habakkuk 2:4 Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.

Think about it. Israel was quickly going down the tubes the wicked were going to be in control what was Habakkuk’s answer. Ok God now we will test people’s metal, their character and the just will live by faith. not in Ivory towers but in walking through the valley of the shadow death. That is when we will se your faith. I hear a lot of people saying America is going down hill. My heart breaks for the nation I once knew but it will not shake my faith. What about you. If this country falls your character will be tested. The just will live by faith.

Faith clings to God in the hardest of times.

Habakkuk 3:17–19 Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills. To the Chief Musician. With my stringed instruments.

Hard times are coming. I get it, you get spoiled when you are on the top and pride goes before a fall. I get it we have raised a generation of spoiled kids. Pray for the young believers. I often think about it. I hear about the youth revivals back in the day. Thousands of kids. We still have that today but what about those who cling to Christ when they stand alone. When they are the outcast the unpopular the persecuted. That is what Christian Character looks like. That is faith

Do you notice the hinds feet picture a mountain goat even though there is so little to cling to they stand fast. That is what faith looks like. Those of you who are young like me. Our faith is going to be tested in coming days will you stand with me for the name of Jesus Christ.

We don’t know what is coming, walk by faith!

2 Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.

I don’t know what tomorrow holds. It will probably get a lot worse before it gets better. My wife always talks about Tom Stiles wild predictions that seemed so far off. I think things are going down hill faster. What about you will you live by faith.

Will your Godly Character be built on faith?

Galatians 3:11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.

I am looking for people of faith. I believe hard days are coming. Are their people brave enough to say with me That when hard times come I will live by faith!