Faith That Transforms

Romans 10:16–17 NKJV

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

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

Introduction:

Today we are starting a series on transforming faith - or having the real type of faith that changes your life and the lives of others around you!

Now in our confession of faith we talk about not being moved or affected by the things we see -

things in the world,

the things people do in the world,

the things people believe in the world!

As a believer - there is a purpose for that!

We also talk about not being moved by what we feel!

Because our feelings change by the moment!

You sad and then something or someone comes along and then you laugh or feel less sad

you play a video game and win - you feel different

you listen to some music and it brings to your mind happy or just different thoughts

you go exercise and we know that changes how you feel

So those things are temporary!

What really transforms us is what we believe or what we are committed to

Who we believe and who we are committed to!

So we must work on having the type of Faith in the Word of God,

The Type of Faith in Jesus Christ and the type of Faith in God that transforms who we are,

transforms what we see,

transforms how we see it,

transforms what we feel,

transforms how we feel it and

transforms how we act towards the world and towards people and

transforms why we act a specific way towards the world and towards people

Say I need faith that transforms me

Romans 10:16 The Message

16 But not everybody is ready for this, ready to see and hear and act. Isaiah asked what we all ask at one time or another: “Does anyone care, God? Is anyone listening and believing a word of it?”

There are three steps involved in having transforming faith

There is the step of hearing

I am talking about hearing as it related to the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Romans 10:16 GW

16 But not everyone has believed the Good News. Isaiah asks, “Lord, who has believed our message?”

in order to believe - you must hear the good news of Jesus Christ!

You must be willing to listen to the message of Jesus Christ.

Transforming faith is not having some type of faith that’s head knowledge!

I’m not talking about faith of intellectual assent or mental conviction!

Transforming faith is not just believing that Jesus is the savior of the world!

It is not just believing history like Jesus lived on this earth just like Martin Luther King lived on this earth and fought for equal rights!

It is not just believing the words and the claim of Jesus in the same way that someone would believe the words of a social media influence r or the claims of the president of the United States!

Here me - In the new testament the words Believe and Commit are the very same words

John 2:23 AMP

23 But when He was in Jerusalem during the Passover Feast, many believed in His name [identified themselves with His party] after seeing His signs (wonders, miracles) which He was doing.

John 2:23 NCV

23 When Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Passover Feast, many people believed in him because they saw the miracles he did.

John 2:24 NKJV

24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men,

John 2:24 NCV

24 But Jesus did not believe in them because he knew them all.

Transforming faith is believing in who Jesus is,

Transforming Faith is believing what Jesus is - the Savior and the Lord of true LIFE

Transforming faith is committing your self to Jesus Christ

Transforming faith is committing all of you to who Jesus is

Transforming faith is committing all you have to Jesus Christ

Transforming faith gives Jesus everything

Transforming faith gives Jesus all your problems,

all your concerns

all your affairs

transforming faith trusts that Jesus will take care of all your past sins,

all your past issues,

all your past hurts

Transforming faith is a commitment that Jesus will take care of your current situations

Transforming faith is a commitment to trust Jesus no matter what you see or hear

Transforming faith is a commitment to trust Jesus with your future

with your destiny

Give Jesus your hopes and dreams for yourself

for your family

for your finances

for your career

Transforming faith is committing to Jesus every area and every detail of your life

Seeking his instructions and leaving your welfare up to him

Transforming faith is a commitment of all you are and all you have to Jesus

So you must be willing to listen and see the message of Jesus Christ

Romans 10:16 NLT

16 But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “Lord, who has believed our message?”

Step 2 - The Step Of Agreeing

When you hear the message of Jesus Christ and when you have seen it operate in your life and in the lives of others you must agree that the message of Jesus Christ - the message of salvation - the message of healing- the message of love - the message of restoration - the message of peace - the message of eternal life is true

I am not just talking about mere agreement - I am talking about the the type of agreement that causes change in your life!

for example - I know that if i eat to many sweets, - candy, cakes, cookies, soda’s, pops, etc… that it will effect my health

But just knowing that will not make me change my behavior!

I must agree that doing that is not healthy for my body and then have the transforming faith to make the change

There are a lot of people who believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior, but never commit to Jesus Christ! They know the truth - but will do nothing about it!

Transforming faith requires change and action

James 4:8 (NKJV)

8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you...

James 1:18 NCV

18 God decided to give us life through the word of truth so we might be the most important of all the things he made.

1 Corinthians 10:21 NLT

21 You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too.

The Third step is commitment

When we read in the new testament about faith - it’s talking about commitment!

Transforming Faith requires a personal commitment to the truth!

You hear the truth, you agree that it’s the truth and you do something about it!

You commit and give your life to the truth

The truth becomes a part of your very being

the truth becomes a part of your behavior and your life

John 3:15 NKJV

15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

Transforming faith is believing in the name of Jesus Christ and committing your life to Jesus!

Transforming faith is trusting Jesus completely

Transforming faith is casting your life into his hands - just like a fisherman casts his rod into the water -

transforming faith requires us to cast ourselves into the arms of Jesus

John 5:24 The Message

24 “It’s urgent that you listen carefully to this: Anyone here who believes what I am saying right now and aligns himself with the Father, who has in fact put me in charge, has at this very moment the real, lasting life and is no longer condemned to be an outsider. This person has taken a giant step from the world of the dead to the world of the living.

Transforming Faith commits to a life where Jesus takes care of the past, present and future - delivering us from the death of this world to eternal life

James 2:17 NLT

17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

John 10:10 (NKJV)

10 … I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Operating in Faith that Transforms is a commitment to Jesus that we will have real life and have it in abundance

God bless you and keep you until we meet again