Faith in Action - Look

At the beginning of the new year, we began to consider and be challenged to consider our lives, our spiritual walk, and the opportunity to take stock, evaluate, set some new goals, and look to what God wants of us.

On New Year’s Eve, we began to consider OUR FAITH IN ACTION.

Let’s review, for those who were there, and introduce, for those who were not, what this means.

What does FAITH IN ACTION mean?

How do we possess a faith in action?

How do we grow in an active faith?

I want to suggest four ways that we can grow in a faith that is active.

Not exhaustive by any means, but maybe a starting point for us to consider.

Big Idea: Faith in action requires us to listen, look, get uncomfortable, and follow.

Review

That night, we covered ONE of the four ways we introduced.

What was the first way we show Faith in Action?

Listen - Psalm 46:10.

Psalm 46:10 ESV

10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

We need to take time to stop and listen to the Word, to listen for the Spirit’s leading in our life.

We must be students of the word, taking deliberate, careful, and intentional time in the word to hear from God.

We discussed at great length, the need to be HEARERS and DOERS of the word.

We have continually spoke since then, in our morning gatherings here AND in our small groups that followed, and in other areas, that we NEED to be passionately in the word. Regularly.

Church, it is one of my biggest passions that WE, each of us, BE PASSIONATE and EXCITED about the word. That we be LOVERS of it.

That we be DOERS of it because we are FIRST LOVERS of it.

Psalm 119.

I don’t want to spend a ton of time here because we have already considered this need to hear and love the word of God..

BUT…

For those who were unable to be there on New Year’s Eve…

and for those of who were and still need a reminder, refresher…

CONSIDER This.

(Read from print bible. Emphasizing highlighted passages within Psalm 119.)

Do you and I have this same passion and zeal for the word as this Psalm expresses?

OH that we would!

Body

Today, we will consider number 2.

In three months, we will consider number 3 and three months after that number 4.

Throughout this year, I want to keep this challenge of FAITH IN ACTION before us.

Let’s consider then, number 2, LOOK.

Look

Video - Little Things (Skit Guys - Onetimeblind)

Part of the challenge of this life, perhaps a great part of the challenge, is learning to see with eyes that acknowledge God and His work everywhere.

This is why I have continually challenged us for ten years now to take note of the God Sightings in our lives.

It is the reason I STILL attempt to write down at least one sighting per day of how I noted God at work that.

Church, we need to see the various ways that God IS present and at work in our lives.

We NEED to see the little and the big ways that God is engaged.

Let’s consider a few passages that begin to show us insight into how He is at work.

Have volunteers read the following…

Psalm 84:3.

Psalm 84:3 ESV

3 Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.

How is God seen to be working in this passage?

God cares for even the little sparrows.

Luke 12:7.

Luke 12:7 ESV

7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

How is God seen to be working in this passage?

God is concerned and cares for the hairs upon our heads…the small things.

God is involved in even the small and “insignificant” things.

What other “insignificant” and small things does God pay attention to? Be specific.

Matthew 5:44-45.

Matthew 5:44–45 ESV

44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

How is God seen to be working in this passage?

God is the one who sends the rain…

And the sun

and the night.

And everything we need for life.

He sends it for BOTH the good and the evil.

He provides for the most basic needs of life.

When we see the rain storm come, that is God at work

When the sun rises, that is God at work.

When the plants and crops grow, that is God at work.

James 2:14-17.

James 2:14–17 ESV

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

How is God seen to be working in this passage?

God uses OTHERS to meet our needs.

We see GOD through the work of others.

God prompts one to call you and just check in.

God prompts another to pray and let you know they prayed.

God prompts another to send a financial gift when needed most.

And the list can go on and on.

How have you seen God work THROUGH someone else in your life recently?

Psalm 71:14-16.

Psalm 71:14–16 ESV

14 But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more. 15 My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge. 16 With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.

How is God seen to be working in this passage?

Saving of sinners

Convicting of sin - Drawing someone to authentic repentance

Someone responding humbly to correct

Teaching and instructing in truth

Freeing someone from addiction

Saving a marriage

Seeing someone come to justice through the law

The truth suddenly being exposed

The list could be many

God is FULL of righteous deeds

His acts are MANY and VARIED

Praise for them ought to be continually on our lips.

Psalm 77:12.

Psalm 77:12 ESV

12 I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.

How does this passage tell us we should be responding to His deeds?

Pay attention for them

Mediate upon them AND what they reveal to us about who God is.

Give thanks for them

Worship God for them.

Consider one more…

Psalm 150.

Psalm 150 ESV

1 Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! 2 Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! 3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! 4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! 5 Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! 6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

How should we respond according to this passage?

We should be continually praising His mighty works. WHICH MEANS he is actively coming out with new ones.

We should be the most humble and thankful people.

We should be the most patient and gracious people towards others, in light of seeing the generous and gracious works of God.

We should be the most public and private expressers of worship and praise.

We should so regularly noticed and voicing thanks and praises for who God is that people either join us or get tired of us expressing it!

We are repeatedly told to praise the mighty works of God.

We are repeatedly admonished to pay attention for His “small” works too.

We are surrounded and inundated with God’s good and mighty works.

The question is, are we LOOKING for them?

Actively?

Intentionally?

Are we logging them?

Those God Sightings?

Faith in action is actively and intentionally building an ongoing and lengthy log of God’s works AND praising them continually.

What acts of God have you seen Him do recently? (Big or small)

Faith in ACTION will

LISTEN for the word of God to speak in our hearts

It will LOOK for the works of God, actively and regularly, AND will engage in worship and thanksgiving!

Conclusion

Big Idea: Faith in action requires us to listen, look, get uncomfortable, and follow.

Listen

Look

Get Uncomfortable

Pray.

Application

What are some specific ways you can actively 'listen' for God's voice in your daily life?

How can you incorporate regular time in the Word to strengthen your faith?

In what areas of your life do you feel challenged to 'look' for God's presence and actions?

Share a recent 'God Sightings' moment. How did it impact your faith?

How does understanding God's care for the 'small things' in life help you trust Him more fully?

What is one action step you can take this week to show your faith in action?

What does being a 'doer of the Word' look like in your daily life?

How can reflecting on Psalm 119 inspire a deeper love for God's Word in your life?

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