Want to please God? You’ll need this one thing. - Romans 4.19-25

INTRODUCTION:

Question: What’s something that’s optional? Something you could do without?

I’d get rid of

Today’s gonna be a little controversial

First, I love you

Second, I hate when Satan misleads you

Big idea: Faith isn’t optional.

Romans 4:19–23 NKJV

19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him,

6 CHARACTERISTICS OF FAITH:

1. Faith doesn’t consider natural limitations (it only considers God’s ability).

Romans 4:19–20 NKJV

19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief,

Abraham was old - thus dead

Sarah was old - thus barren

Neither mattered - thus faith

I haven’t had much faith that God would grow our church through in-person outreach

It’s been the biggest driver of growth we’ve had

My observations and data of what works in a natural world has nothing to do with what God can do in His creation

2. Faith grows (or dies).

Romans 4:20 NKJV

20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith,

it’s binary

If you’re not growing, you’re dying. You’re like a muscle

Some of you are in the same spiritual condition you were in last year

When’s the last time you read your Bible three days in a row?

Studied it?

Shared it?

Some of you haven’t prayed before your feet hit the floor in the morning

I hate the legalistic version of this, where only SPIRITUAL Christians pray before they get out of bed (thus, judging themselves by themselves)

That’s not what I mean

I mean that some days it’s really hard to get up in the morning, so instead of praying that God gives you the strength to get through the day in a way that honors Him, you just get up and take yourself to work as is, and it shows.

I have to say that the Joy of the Lord is my strength every day as a reminder that I can’t do it alone

Some of you get your entire Bible knowledge from me on Sundays

When’s the last time you took a day off TO WORSHIP?

Some of you don’t even show up on Sunday because the week’s too hard

If you don’t have time to rest enough to obey God’s command to come to church, your schedule is a god

If you don’t have enough time to read your Bible and to keep your home and to serve in your church, you live a lifestyle of sin

THINGS have become a god—a barrier to spiritual growth, a product of faith

I don’t say these things because I’m mad at you, I say them because I love you and I hate sin. And I hate that the devil’s deceived you into thinking this is normal and that you’re okay

Your version of okay is what put Jesus on the cross, so pursue Him

Faith without works is dead

You say you’re a Christian

So grow.

Do the things Christians do

Do the things the Bible commands

That’s called obedience, and it’s what separates sheep from wolves in sheep’s clothing

Did you know I have to stand before God as your pastor and give an account for how you did?

Please don’t make this harder than it already is—because I have to give an account for myself, too, and that’s gonna be rough

If you want to be a growing Christian of faith, you have to be an obedient Christian

Here’s some starting points:

Attend church each week

Serve when our church has organized service opportunities

Give 10% of your income to our church weekly

Pray continually - have an all-day ongoing conversation with your Father. If this is hard to imagine, just picture going fishing or shopping or something else with your dad. You’d talk all day about whatever’s happening. That’s God—He’s your Heavenly Father. Unlike your human father, God has superpowers and can make your life way better. Plus, some of you talk to yourselves, so this is a good excuse when you look weird in public

Read your Bible each day, and as you get more advanced, begin to study it. I’ve put together a short curriculum that we’ll go over 

3. Faith glorifies God (or it’s not Spirit-filled).

Romans 4:20 NKJV

20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,

Obedience over sacrifice

Some of you would rather work really hard all week in the name of “saving” or “preparing for the future” than take a half day off to rest so you can be ready for church on Sunday.

You prefer sacrifice, you justify it, but you’re disobedient

Resting is trusting.

God’s promises over man’s declaration

“Faith” that “believes for” something is a human declaration

I’d rather not make a fool of myself

I’ve seen many things happen because of someone’s declaration that are absolutely satanic powers at work, counterfeiting God’s power to dissuade believers from putting their faith in God’s true word.

Your faith may be spirit-filled, but it’s not Holy Spirit-filled

4. Faith is fully convinced (or it’s not actually faith).

Romans 4:21 NKJV

21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.

If you doubt, it’s because your faith isn’t in the same God I believe

If you claim a promise in Scripture but don’t act like it’s true, I hate to break it to you, but you don’t have faith

Some of you right now are asking in faith that God provides your needs

But you’re not taking a Sabbath rest—meaning, not a day off only, but a day of worship, ENTIRELY set apart for God

5. Faith produces results in God’s eyes (not man’s).

Romans 4:22 NKJV

22 And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

Where do you think it was accounted?

Not with his friends!

He left them!

If the only time you believe in your faith is when others see it too, you don’t have faith

What happens when you’re in the lions den alone

Joseph’s prison

Jesus’ cross

Paul and Silas’ jail cell

Peter’s water park

God’s eyes are the only ones you should please by faith

Doesn’t mean you can go around doing whatever you want “in faith”

What’s pleasing to God is order, submission to authority, a willing and cheerful and sacrificial heart, faithful obedience, and growing fruit of the Spirit

These things will never contradict each other

Personal example, Bible study against dad’s will vs with him

Don’t tell him I said this

6. Faith saves.

Romans 4:23–25 NKJV

23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.

Controversial because people like to think there’s more to it

You don’t need saved again

You don’t need baptized again

You don’t need to prove your salvation by tongues or a spiritual gift

You just need to believe that God’s not a liar and that He saves those who repent

If you believe that, confess you’re a sinner in need of saving to Him through prayer, and ask for His forgiveness through prayer, YOU’RE SAVED—as much as you’ll ever be!

You can’t get re saved, un saved, more saved, or demonically possessed

The reason people struggle with this is because they, like Peter, get their eyes on Jesus to get saved, then they lose focus. Their faith wavers because the object in focus changes. 

Peter sunk because he looked at some water; you sunk because you looked at your past

Peter sunk because he noticed he was in an impossible position; you sunk because you realized there was no exit plan if this doesn’t work

Peter sunk because he started listening to the voice of the wind; you sunk because you started listening to the Prince of the Power of the Air, aka the devil, who’s trying every day to convince you either to outperform Faith by adding works, to disregard Faith by abandoning obedience, or to replace Faith by changing doctrine

And if I’m being a little hard on you today it’s because I am angry at the devil for how he’s manipulated you

I want you to know that I love you entirely. I want the best for you

And the devil’s not gonna quiet down his message, so there’s no point to me being soft in mine

For me today’s a win if just one person walks away knowing that their faith is in the right place

If one more chapter is read this week

If someone actually writes down what you learned from Scripture tomorrow morning

If there’s a dollar more in the offering this week

If there’s a new guest at the Interest Social in two weeks

Or if someone, most importantly, gets saved

Part two: The enemies of faith

The world

Spirit vs. attitude

Unsaved people only have the spirit of the flesh, and…

Romans 8:8 NKJV

8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

The world tries to get you to concede piece by piece in your ideology

The flesh

The flesh tries to get you to concede piece by piece in your desires

Galatians 5:17 NKJV

17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

Solution:

Galatians 5:16 NKJV

16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

The devil

The devil tries to get you to concede piece by piece in your strongholds

Ephesians 6:12 NKJV

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

1 Peter 5:8 NKJV

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Faith isn’t optional for children of the King.