Sermons from Good News: strong faith, part 1

Church 4/17/2021

Offertory scripture: The honor and joy of giving.

King David--God called him a man after his own heart. David wanted to build God His own place of honor, because of his gratitude for Him and everything He has done. But God decided that He would rather Solomon do it:

Then King David said to the whole assembly: “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the Lord God. With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God—gold for the gold work, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise, stones of various colors, and all kinds of fine stone and marble—all of these in large quantities. Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple: three thousand talents of gold (gold of Ophir) and seven thousand talents of refined silver, for the overlaying of the walls of the buildings, for the gold work and the silver work, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now, who is willing to consecrate themselves to the Lord today?” Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly. They gave toward the work on the temple of God five thousand talents and ten thousand darics of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze and a hundred thousand talents of iron. Anyone who had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the temple of the Lord in the custody of Jehiel the Gershonite. The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.

1 Chronicles 29:1-9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Chronicles%2029:1-9&version=NIV

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=2%20Corinthians%209:6-8&version=NIV

Sermon message:

Pastor: my desire is that you get blessed and that your faith is encouraged. Even more than I, God loves you and requests you and celebrates you. You are valuable to us and to God.

Series: Strong faith

Thesis: Strong faith, part 1

Faith that the God of the Bible is still working out miracles etc.

The purpose of this series is to build faith and even more so is to rebuild faith.

The reality is our faith can take a hit when life's difficulties happen, be weakened or even damaged.

Sometimes we just need to have our faith rebuilt.

Point #1: strong faith protects you.

From Paul's armor of God passage: faith is a shield.

Consider Nehemiah. He is a cupbearer for the king in Babylon but cares for Jerusalem. Read on:

The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah: In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire. ” When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.
Nehemiah 1:1-4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Nehemiah%201:1-4&version=NIV

Nehemiah fasts and prays and senses from God says that he should go back to Jerusalem and rebuild it.

Apostle Paul's take:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Ephesians 6:10 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Ephesians%206:10&version=NIV

Don't rely on your own strength. When you are weak, God is strong.

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Ephesians 6:11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Ephesians%206:11&version=NIV

Paul's is reminding us that we are in a battle. The reality is the devil has plans and schemes for us (against us really), just like God has plans for us.

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Ephesians 6:16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Ephesians%206:16&version=NIV

Faith is a shield. Possibly the most important part of the armor of God. With the shield of faith you can quench ALL the schemes of the devil: health challenges, financial challenges, employment challenges, family challenges, etc.

The truth is a lot of good things are truly happening, especially among Christians. God is moving during this time. Even during the times if restrictions, we at Good News are doing well. God has blessed us. Even before CoViD we've had challenges. But God had been moving the whole time. He is indeed faithful. He is indeed good.

Critical point: The truth is God is really moving, but whether or not we see it depends on our faith.

Nicodemus was one of the wisest Pharisees but Jesus blew his mind.

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
John 3:3-8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%203:3-8&version=NIV

Point #2: Faith allows you to see what others don't see.

When you are born again you receive the Holy Spirit but sometimes people still see things through the natural realm way of looking at things, instead of through the spiritual realm way of of looking at things.

The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:14 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Corinthians%202:14&version=NIV

Sometimes we get sidetracked by worldly news. That's why we need to rebuild the faith wall in our lives.

Point #3: faith is important. Or: "faith is "really really" important. Really; I'm not lying to you."

Not just that faith is very important but also that knowing this truth is very important.

You can't get saved without faith. You can't cancel your reservation to hell and make a reservation in heaven without faith.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
Ephesians 2:8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Ephesians%202:8&version=NIV

By grace (Jesus) we are saved, but faith is required to receive grace, to receive Jesus. Faith is what it takes. Also, without faith it is impossible to please God. Receive Jesus Christ by faith and you will be saved.

Early in His ministry Jesus returned to His hometown of Nazareth in Galileo. Jesus wanted to bless His neighbors and family members. But:

And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
Matthew 13:58 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%2013:58&version=NIV

We are in a spiritual war constantly. Without faith we don't pray or don't pray expectantly.

11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Matthew 7:11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%207:11&version=NIV

23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
Mark 9:23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Mark%209:23&version=NIV

Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”;
Matthew 9:29 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%209:29&version=NIV

According to their faith their eyes were healed.

The point isn't to tear anyone down but rather to encourage each other to build their faith.

for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
1 John 5:4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20John%205:4&version=NIV

Bottom line: faith is a BIG deal. It is critical for us to walk and live by it.

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Timothy%206:12&version=NIV

Sometimes we think Satan is attacking our circumstances (body, finances, family, country, church) but really he is attacking is our faith related to the circumstances.

Faith moves mountains
Faith excites heaven
Faith brings about miracles
Faith rebukes Satan
Faith makes us bold
Faith gives us tenacity
Faith honors God

We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,
1 Thessalonians 3:2 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Thessalonians%203:2&version=NIV

For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.
1 Thessalonians 3:5 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Thessalonians%203:5&version=NIV

But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you.
1 Thessalonians 3:6 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Thessalonians%203:6&version=NIV

Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.
1 Thessalonians 3:7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Thessalonians%203:7&version=NIV

Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
1 Thessalonians 3:10 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Thessalonians%203:10&version=NIV

Goal: Today we start rebuilding the wall of faith in your lives.

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
Romans 10:17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%2010:17&version=NIV