Acts-Unless the Lord Builds it

Faith will get you where you need to go

Acts 23:11 NLT

That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, “Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well.”

The Power of the Word of God-

This very Word is what Gets Paul to his final destination of Rome-

I want you to know that The Word of God will get to to where God has for you

If God speaks it He is faithful to His Word-

Numbers 23:19 NLT

God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?

The Question is will you be faithful to His word

Ever promise in the Word of God is always recieved by faith

Hebrews 11:6 NLT

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

What is Faith?

Faith is confidence in God, His Word, and His Nature

Hebrews 11:11 (NLT) It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise.

The NASB says, “she considered Him Faithful”

How do you considered God as it pertains to His Word?

Head faith versus Heart faith

Head Faith vs. Heart Faith:

John Wesley once said that the devil has given the Church a substitute for faith; one that looks and sounds so much like faith that few people can tell the difference. This substitute he called “mental assent.”

Many People read God’s Word and agree that it is true, but they are agreeing only with their minds. And that is not what gets the job done.

It is heart faith that receives from God

Mark 11:22–25 NLT

Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”

How can you tell whether we have this heart faith or we are just mentally agreeing?

Mental assent says, “I know God’s Word is true. I know God has promised healing, but for some reason I can’t get it; I can’t understand it.”

If God’s Word says it’s so then it’s so.

It’s mine.

I have it now.

I have it even though I can’t see it

It will come to Pass

You have to take a step of believing in order to come to the place of knowing.

too many people want to know it from the standpoint of its coming to pass, and then believe it.

We must believe it because God’s Word says it is ours, Then is materializes!

Look at what Mark 11:24 says that receiving comes after the believing “I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.”

Jesus was simply saying “You’ve got to believe you have it before you can receive it.”

An Example of Head faith versus- Thomas versus Abraham

Too many Christians have a “Thomas faith” when they should have an “Abraham faith.”

Thomas said “I’ll not believe until I can see Him,” whereas “Abraham staggered not at the promise of God… but was strong in faith.” Romans 4:20-25

John 20:24–29 NLT

One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

Why did Thomas find it hard to believe Jesus was alive?

Thomas knew of the nails that pierced Jesus’ hands and the spear that was thrust and pierced His side.

His physical senses told him Jesus was dead.

Thomas was using head knowledge, rather than heart faith.

Compare this to Abraham:

Romans 4:17–21 NLT

That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing. Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb. Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.

the difference in Thomas’ faith and Abraham’s faith

Thomas only had natural, human faith which said, “I’m not going to believe unless I can see and feel.”

Abraham however, believed God’s Word, considering not even his own body- his own natural senses.

If Abraham didn’t consider physical knowledge or feelings, what did he consider- The Word of God

Faith gets Paul to Rome-

Faith carries you through the Storms

Acts 27:13–26 NLT

When a light wind began blowing from the south, the sailors thought they could make it. So they pulled up anchor and sailed close to the shore of Crete. But the weather changed abruptly, and a wind of typhoon strength (called a “northeaster”) burst across the island and blew us out to sea. The sailors couldn’t turn the ship into the wind, so they gave up and let it run before the gale. We sailed along the sheltered side of a small island named Cauda, where with great difficulty we hoisted aboard the lifeboat being towed behind us. Then the sailors bound ropes around the hull of the ship to strengthen it. They were afraid of being driven across to the sandbars of Syrtis off the African coast, so they lowered the sea anchor to slow the ship and were driven before the wind. The next day, as gale-force winds continued to batter the ship, the crew began throwing the cargo overboard. The following day they even took some of the ship’s gear and threw it overboard. The terrible storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone. No one had eaten for a long time. Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, “Men, you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided all this damage and loss. But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. But we will be shipwrecked on an island.”

Acts 28:1–10 NLT

Acts 27:34 NLT

“Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish.”

It went according to the Word of God-

My Life is going to go according to the Word of God!

Faith will keep you protect when the enemy attacks-

Acts 28:1–10 NLT

Once we were safe on shore, we learned that we were on the island of Malta. The people of the island were very kind to us. It was cold and rainy, so they built a fire on the shore to welcome us. As Paul gathered an armful of sticks and was laying them on the fire, a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, bit him on the hand. The people of the island saw it hanging from his hand and said to each other, “A murderer, no doubt! Though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live.” But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed. The people waited for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw that he wasn’t harmed, they changed their minds and decided he was a god. Near the shore where we landed was an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and treated us kindly for three days. As it happened, Publius’s father was ill with fever and dysentery. Paul went in and prayed for him, and laying his hands on him, he healed him. Then all the other sick people on the island came and were healed. As a result we were showered with honors, and when the time came to sail, people supplied us with everything we would need for the trip.

Even the poisonous snake could stop the Word of God from being fulfilled

Ephesians 6:16 NLT

In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.

Faith opens the Door for God’s provision

Acts 28:10 NLT

As a result we were showered with honors, and when the time came to sail, people supplied us with everything we would need for the trip.