Faith Reset

Joshua 24:14–24 ESV

14 “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” 16 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods, 17 for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed. 18 And the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.” 19 But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. 20 If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.” 21 And the people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the Lord.” 22 Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” 23 He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord, the God of Israel.” 24 And the people said to Joshua, “The Lord our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey.”

1. Faith is an act of commitment to service in the Lord

Commitment is an engagement or obligation that restricts freedom of action

When I was in the Navy, I was restricted to acting like a sailor

I could have gotten in trouble for conduct unbecoming

I signed a commitment to defend the country

When things were tough, I did not have the freedom to quit

Another definition of commitment is an agreement or pledge to do something in the future

We don’t know the future, but we know Who hold the future

Marriage is a commitment regardless of what changes in the future

Serving God is a commitment regardless of what changes

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2. Faith can see beyond the natural eyes

We walk by faith and not by sight

This is not blind faith; it is sure faith

Faith is the spiritual perception that allows us to see the world in a godly way

God’s people are able to see and perceive His Work in the world

We see that all things work together for our good

We see that everything was created by God for us

We see that the enemy has attempted to corrupt God’s creation

We see as God sees

Faith is seeing as God sees

The unbelievers ignore or reject His works

The unbelievers are blinded by the enemy

Seeing, they may see how wonderful our God is

To see properly is a dimension of present faith

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3. Faith is complete obedience to the Lord

Faith must be accompanied by obedience

We can’t have faith and be disobedient

Romans 16:26 ESV

26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—

John 14:21 CSB

21 The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father. I also will love him and will reveal myself to him.”

Our walk with the Lord should produce obedience

Our faith should produce obedience

We don’t have faith if we don’t obey His commands

We don’t have faith unless we show it with our obedience

Many know about the Lord, but those that know the Lord obey Him

You don’t know obedience until there is disagreement

You don’t know submission until there is disagreement

Obedience of Faith causes you to obey and submit even in the midst of disagreement

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4. Faith works through love

Galatians 5:6 ESV

6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

Our faith means nothing if it is not rooted in love

Religious acts don’t mean anything without love

Speaking in tongues don’t mean a thing without love

Service to the Lord means nothing apart from love

Prophecy means nothing without love

God is Love

Love drove Jesus to the Cross

Because of Love God sent His Son Jesus to die for us

Faith works through love

You can’t have faith in God and not love His creation

You can’t have faith in God and not love His children

You can’t have faith in God and not love His Church

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5. Faith is made complete through works

We can’t be incomplete Christians

Our works must match our faith

Our faith must be confirmed by our works

James 2:21–24 ESV

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Abraham was called a friend of God because of his works

Abraham was justified by works

When you believe God, you will work

1 Thessalonians 1:3 CSB

3 We recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work produced by faith, your labor motivated by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Faith will always produce works for the Kingdom

Labor is motivated by love

Endurance is inspired by hope in Jesus

Hebrews 11:1 ESV

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Faith will motivate you to work for the Lord

Time to get off the sidelines

Get in the game

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