Live In Prosperity - Part 4
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Making Sense Out Of Faith
Making Sense Out Of Faith
Kidz World Today - Children’s Church
13 They will live in prosperity, and their children will inherit the land.
Confession of Faith
I am not moved by what I see or by what I feel. I am moved by what I believe. I believe the WORD of God! The victory is mine! I have it now! I can see it through the eyes of my faith! In Jesus name
Making Sense Out Of Faith
Making Sense Out Of Faith
If we could sum up the Christian life in one phrase, it would be "by faith." We are saved by faith in Jesus Christ as Lord, and we walk by faith in every area of life.
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Heb. 11:
Four times we read in Scripture that the righteous live by faith
4 “Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.
17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”
”17
11 So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”
38 But the just shall live by faith [My righteous servant shall live by his conviction respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, and holy fervor born of faith and conjoined with it]; and if he draws back and shrinks in fear, My soul has no delight or pleasure in him.
God has given everyone a measure of faith
3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.
But it is up to us to "live by faith" instead of by our feelings or our fears
7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
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Preaching Through the Year - – Preaching Through the Year: Volume 2: 52 Impactful Messages.
Why is faith important?
We live in a fallen world governed by the five senses—sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste.
Faith enables us to live in the spiritual reality that transcends the five senses.
There is more to life than what we can touch and see. Faith is the bridge between us and God.
It is our connection with Him and with the spiritual world. By faith, we can see beyond the natural to the spiritual.
8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.
Paul put it this way: "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (). The issue is, how do we really grow and develop faith that is strong and certain to face the doubts, fears, and uncertainties of life? The opening words of , often called the "faith chapter" of the Bible, help us make sense of what true faith is.
Preaching Through the Year - – Preaching Through the Year: Volume 2: 52 Impactful Messages.
18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
2 Cor. 4Paul put it this way: "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (). The issue is, how do we really grow and develop faith that is strong and certain to face the doubts, fears, and uncertainties of life? The opening words of , often called the "faith chapter" of the Bible, help us make sense of what true faith is.
Preaching Through the Year - – Preaching Through the Year: Volume 2: 52 Impactful Messages.
Paul put it this way: "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal"
The issue is, how do we really grow and develop faith that is strong and certain to face the doubts, fears, and uncertainties of life?
I. The Concept of Faith
I. The Concept of Faith
Now Faith Is...
Now Faith Is...
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Faith is more than feeling. Our relationship with God is more than our feelings. Faith is not a force where we manipulate God. Faith is more than a formula (religious ritual).
Faith is more than fact, mere intellectual acknowledgment of Christian truth.
Faith is not fantasy, or living in denial.
Faith is based on reason. Faith is not foolishness, nor presumption of the human will.
So what is faith?
So what is faith?
Faith is being sure of what we hope for.
Faith is being sure of what we hope for.
Christian hope is more than wishful thinking; it is a deep, settled assurance that God is faithful.
Faith is being certain of what we do not see.
Faith is being certain of what we do not see.
Faith is the evidence of the reality of the unseen eternal world.
Just as the human eye can discern the physical world, the eye of faith sees the spiritual world;
Just as the human eye can discern the physical world, the eye of faith sees the spiritual world;
it can see the future as a present reality.
Faith is not blind; it clearly sees beyond the veil of this temporary world.
Faith is trusting God as our heavenly Father.
Faith is trusting God as our heavenly Father.
The Old Testament Hebrew word for faith is emunah, the root word of which means "to roll the weight upon, to lean upon, and to depend upon with absolute confidence."
31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
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The Hebrew word for wait means to tie ourselves to God the way we would tie a tomato vine to a stake in the ground.
The Greek word for faith in the New Testament (pistis) means "confidence, assurance, belief, and obedience."
The Greek word for faith in the New Testament (pistis) means "confidence, assurance, belief, and obedience."
Underlying the concept of faith is faithfulness, which means to be committed to our word.
12 And the Lord said, “That’s right, and it means that I am watching, and I will certainly carry out all my plans.”
We can trust God because He is committed and faithful to His word
We can trust God because He is committed and faithful to His word
2 For indeed we have had the glad tidings [Gospel of God] proclaimed to us just as truly as they [the Israelites of old did when the good news of deliverance from bondage came to them]; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith (with the leaning of the entire personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness) by those who heard it; neither were they united in faith with the ones [Joshua and Caleb] who heard (did believe).
That’s one of the best definitions of faith I have found: "the leaning of the entire personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness" ( Amp.).
Here are the three aspects of trusting God:
Trust God's wisdom. God knows what is best
Trust God's wisdom. God knows what is best
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.
(I).
Trust God's power. God is able to do what we need
Trust God's power. God is able to do what we need
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
Trust God's goodness in a world where bad things happen
Trust God's goodness in a world where bad things happen
11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
II. The Commendation of Faith
II. The Commendation of Faith
After giving us the definition of faith, the writer of Hebrews tells us that God honors faith: "This is what the ancients were commended for" (11:2).
It's not faith in faith but faith in God that has Power. Jesus said, "Have faith in God"
Power. Jesus said, "Have faith in God"
(). Faith opens the way for God's power to be displayed in our lives. Three times we read in the Bible that "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (; ; see also ). Faith is important because it is a mark of humility. The person of faith depends on God, while the person without faith is arrogant, prideful, and self-sufficient. As was said of Daniel, "He had trusted in his God" (). What a commendation to earn from others and from God! If you don't trust God in the "lions' den," you will be devoured—eaten up by fear, stress, anxiety, doubt. A recent study in Canada of people over age seventy showed that people are most likely to have a heart attack on their birthday—a symptom of anxiety due to the fact that they are getting older. Better to live a life of trust and let God worry about tomorrow.
Preaching Through the Year - – Preaching Through the Year: Volume 2: 52 Impactful Messages.
22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.
Faith opens the way for God's power and prosperity to be displayed in our lives.
Faith is important because it is a mark of humility.
The person of faith depends on God, while the person without faith is arrogant, prideful, and self-sufficient.
23 The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God.
DanAs was said of Daniel, "He had trusted in his God" (). What a commendation to earn from others and from God! If you don't trust God in the "lions' den," you will be devoured—eaten up by fear, stress, anxiety, doubt. A recent study in Canada of people over age seventy showed that people are most likely to have a heart attack on their birthday—a symptom of anxiety due to the fact that they are getting older. Better to live a life of trust and let God worry about tomorrow.
Preaching Through the Year - – Preaching Through the Year: Volume 2: 52 Impactful Messages.
It was said of Daniel, "He had trusted in his God" ().
If you don't trust God in the "lions' den," you will be devoured—eaten up by fear, stress, anxiety, doubt.
III. The Comprehension of Faith
III. The Comprehension of Faith
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
"By faith we understand"
"By faith we understand"
You can't understand the Creator without faith.
You can't understand the Creator without faith.
Note the order: "By faith we understand."
You don't have to wait until you understand everything before you believe.
When you believe in God, your mind will be more open to learning and understanding.
7 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
9 For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, And chains about your neck.
10 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.
Jesus came to reveal God to us in a greater way:
Jesus came to reveal God to us in a greater way: "He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God" (). You can't understand the cosmos without faith. Science is a great blessing to our lives, but it can't explain everything. It can only examine a world of infinite possibilities. Science continues to expand because we keep learning more about God's universe. Atheists and agnostics stumble over the most obvious evidence of God that is revealed in creation: "The heavens declare the glory of God" (); "The whole earth is full of his glory" (). You can't understand your circumstances without faith. The longer you live, the more you will see the footprints of God walking beside you—watching over you, keeping you in His will. "In all things God works for the good of those who love him" (). We need to trust God twenty-four/seven, not live with a hit-and-miss kind of faith that believes God today and doubts Him tomorrow. "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways" ( KJV). What we need is an unconditional faith. Job modeled it: "Though He [God] slay me, yet will I trust Him" (13:15 NKJV). We need to say, "Though ________ happens to me, yet will I trust Him."
Preaching Through the Year - – Preaching Through the Year: Volume 2: 52 Impactful Messages.
15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
Jesus came to reveal God to us in a greater way: "He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God" (). You can't understand the cosmos without faith. Science is a great blessing to our lives, but it can't explain everything. It can only examine a world of infinite possibilities. Science continues to expand because we keep learning more about God's universe. Atheists and agnostics stumble over the most obvious evidence of God that is revealed in creation: "The heavens declare the glory of God" (); "The whole earth is full of his glory" (). You can't understand your circumstances without faith. The longer you live, the more you will see the footprints of God walking beside you—watching over you, keeping you in His will. "In all things God works for the good of those who love him" (). We need to trust God twenty-four/seven, not live with a hit-and-miss kind of faith that believes God today and doubts Him tomorrow. "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways" ( KJV). What we need is an unconditional faith. Job modeled it: "Though He [God] slay me, yet will I trust Him" (13:15 NKJV). We need to say, "Though ________ happens to me, yet will I trust Him."
Preaching Through the Year - – Preaching Through the Year: Volume 2: 52 Impactful Messages.
Co’ 1:15
You can't understand your circumstances without faith.
You can't understand your circumstances without faith.
You can't understand the cosmos without faith. Science is a great blessing to our lives, but it can't explain everything. It can only examine a world of infinite possibilities. Science continues to expand because we keep learning more about God's universe. Atheists and agnostics stumble over the most obvious evidence of God that is revealed in creation: "The heavens declare the glory of God" (); "The whole earth is full of his glory" (). You can't understand your circumstances without faith. The longer you live, the more you will see the footprints of God walking beside you—watching over you, keeping you in His will. "In all things God works for the good of those who love him" (). We need to trust God twenty-four/seven, not live with a hit-and-miss kind of faith that believes God today and doubts Him tomorrow. "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways" ( KJV). What we need is an unconditional faith. Job modeled it: "Though He [God] slay me, yet will I trust Him" (13:15 NKJV). We need to say, "Though ________ happens to me, yet will I trust Him."
Preaching Through the Year - – Preaching Through the Year: Volume 2: 52 Impactful Messages.
The longer you live, the more you will see the footprints of God walking beside you—watching over you, keeping you in His will.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
"In all things God works for the good of those who love him" (). We need to trust God twenty-four/seven, not live with a hit-and-miss kind of faith that believes God today and doubts Him tomorrow. "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways" ( KJV). What we need is an unconditional faith. Job modeled it: "Though He [God] slay me, yet will I trust Him" (13:15 NKJV). We need to say, "Though ________ happens to me, yet will I trust Him."
Preaching Through the Year - – Preaching Through the Year: Volume 2: 52 Impactful Messages.
We need to trust God twenty-four/seven, not live with a hit-and-miss kind of faith that believes God today and doubts Him tomorrow.
"A double minded man is unstable in all his ways" ( KJV). What we need is an unconditional faith. Job modeled it: "Though He [God] slay me, yet will I trust Him" (13:15 NKJV). We need to say, "Though ________ happens to me, yet will I trust Him."
Preaching Through the Year - – Preaching Through the Year: Volume 2: 52 Impactful Messages.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
What we need is an unconditional faith.
Job said
"A double minded man is unstable in all his ways" ( KJV). What we need is an unconditional faith. Job modeled it: "Though He [God] slay me, yet will I trust Him" (13:15 NKJV). We need to say, "Though ________ happens to me, yet will I trust Him."
Preaching Through the Year - – Preaching Through the Year: Volume 2: 52 Impactful Messages.
15 Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.
We need to say, "Though whatever happens to me, yet will I trust Him."
Job modeled it: "Though He [God] slay me, yet will I trust Him" (13:15 NKJV). We need to say, "Though ________ happens to me, yet will I trust Him."
Preaching Through the Year - – Preaching Through the Year: Volume 2: 52 Impactful Messages.
To Live In Prosperity Is to Live In Faith
To Live In Prosperity Is to Live In Faith
Next Steps:
Read Joshua - Old Testament
Galatians - New Testament