When Faith is Working
Notes
Transcript
Everything we do is a matter of Faith. Our relationship to God is by faith. Our connection to Christ is by faith. The hope we have eternal life is also by faith.
What make faith work?
What make faith work?
What is the secret of the power of Faith?
What is the secret of the power of Faith?
In this series we will look at Paul’s writing to the church at Galatia and Thessalonica as we explore the Atmosphere of Faith.
The Atmosphere of Faith
The Atmosphere of Faith
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
The Atmosphere of Faith
The Atmosphere of Faith
Faith is a powerful force
Faith is a powerful force
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Faith is
++Substance
++Evidence
The just live by it
We walk by it
Faith is the place of true liberty
Faith is the place of true liberty
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Paul tell us
++There is a liberty in Christ
++That liberty made us free
++Don’t go back
62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Faith will be tested
++The Faith of a people
++The Faith of a church
++The Faith of an individual
8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Test come
++To strengthen our faith
++That faith may be found
Revealed faith
++Brings honor to God
++Brings glory to God
10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, Thy strength is small.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Faith brings things into the realm of possibilities.
Faith brings things into the realm of possibilities.
Two stories of two blind men
++They addressed Jesus
++They cried out to Him
27 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.
In this verse
++The call him “Son of David”
++They cry for mercy
++Request for human compassion
They saw his humanity
++His humanity as a son
++His royalty “Son of David”
28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
Jesus responded “do you believe?”
Jesus responded “do you believe?”
When we appeal to Jesus humanity
++It is a matter of belief
++It is a matter of trust
++Do we believe He can
Jesus
++Did not question their need
++Question what they believed
++What they believed about Him
30 And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.
In this verse
++The called him “Lord” first
++They recognized his authority
++They cry for mercy
32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?
Jesus’s response was connected how they saw him
Jesus’s response was connected how they saw him
His position as Lord
++Was validated by response
++Was validated by faith
Faith allows us to see differently
Faith allows us to see differently
13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
It was general knowledge
++Jesus was a good man
++Jesus was a good teacher
++Jesus was anointed
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
General knowledge
++was limited
++was incomplete
++was only speculation
God is looking for somebody to see
++Beyond His humanity
++Beyond His activity
++Him
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
This information
++Was not visible
++Came by revelation
++is the foundation of the Church
Most people want to know
++What the future holds
++What tomorrow will bring
I just want to know
++Who holds my future
++The author and finisher of my faith
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
This is our freedom
++Not only do we know Him
++He knows us
19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
This knowledge
++Is a sure foundation
++Is a seal to those that love him
++Tells us that we have been set free
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Hold on to it
Never let it go
Jesus paid it all
Now I have victory in Jesus Christ
This Freedom is made possible
++Because of Christ
++Who the son sets free is free indeed
5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
Faith makes it all possible
Faith makes it all possible
By Faith
++We wait on the the Lord
++We have hope
++Our relationship is restored
Faith is the access point
++To grace
++To undeserved favor
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Our works
++Will never save us
++Will never justify us
++Will never make us deserving
6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Faith works
++When nothing else will
++Overcome the word
++Will bring victory
++In an atmosphere of love
13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
One word
++Is the foundation of our liberty
++fulfills all the law
++Love one another
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
Love is the key to
++What we say
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
Love is the key to
What we say
++What we know
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
Love is the key to
What we say
What we know
++What we do
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Without Love
++No understanding
++No Identity
++No Benefit
Faith works in an atmosphere of love.
Faith works in an atmosphere of love.