Church 10/13/2021
Worship time scripture:
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:31 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%208:31&version=NKJV
Sermon message:
Topic: faith, often misunderstood
Review: it’s ok to have riches, be intellectual, and be religious, but we cannot put any of them in the place of Jesus in our heart. We get into problems if we prioritize these other things. Our priorities need to be right; Jesus first, above all other things.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:8-10 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Ephesians%202:8-10&version=NKJV
You are saved by grace which is a free gift of God. While faith without works is dead, works themselves don’t get you into heaven. Good news, God Himself worked it out. But He does have work for you to do. Still do the work, do what He has called you to do.
Next topic: prayer.
Faith and prayer go together.
We can use some of the written prayers in the Bible to pray over ourselves.
Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 1:15-23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Ephesians%201:15-23&version=NKJV
Saint = believer, in the Bible
The above passage as a way to pray for others, pray over others.
We are all part of the body of Christ; Jesus is the head, and He has given all who are in Him authority over all principalities, since He has put them under His feet.
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 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, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:14-21 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Ephesians%203:14-21&version=NKJV
Even though we are in Christ, we still need to pray, to strengthen us in Him. We still have our earthly bodies and minds and are therefore at risk for falling away from Him, whether in to sin or temptation. But we can pray these prayers to keep us close to God and staying grounded in our faith in Jesus.
God loves you deeply, a depth which surpasses human understanding.
Point #1: Faith sees the answer
Our natural eyes see the problems; our faith sees the solutions beyond what our natural eyes can see.
My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.
Proverbs 4:20-22 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Proverbs%204:20-22&version=NKJV
The Bible is a love letter. The more you read it, the more you know how much God loves you.
Faith is receiving the love God has for you.
Question: how do you see yourself? This is very important: Do you see yourself as blessed or cursed?
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Philippians%204:19&version=NKJV
God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Jesus.
No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord .
Isaiah 54:17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Isaiah%2054:17&version=NKJV
Another way of thinking about this: Faith comes by hearing, and revelation by the word of God.
The word of God as both life and as medicine, because of His love. His love is so palpable as you read His word.
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