Offertory scripture:
20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.
Mark 16:20 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Mark%2016:20&version=NIV
Sermon message:
Continuation in series of the importance of strong faith. The purpose to encourage those already in the faith, but also to rebuild the faith of those who have suffered setbacks or pain.
Last week we heard about Nehemiah learning about the bad shape Jerusalem was in. He then prayed and felt like God wanted him to go back to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls of the city.
Similar here: goal is to rebuild the walls of faith. Not just for protection but also allow blessings within the city walls. It allows blessings in our lives.
Apostle Paul talks about putting on the full armor of God so we can stand against the wiles of the devil. Specifically to put on the shield of faith to protect us from the enemy's arrows but also to allow blessings in our lives.
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Hebrews 11:6 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2011:6&version=NIV
It's not just about aiming to please God, escape hell, and get in to heaven. It's also about believing God is a rewarder of faith. God rewards us because He loves us and wants to bless us.
The people God bragged on, they had great faith. But not only so but when they had trials and challenges they stood in faith but also on faith. They didn't let their trials and circumstances dictate their faith or responses or actions.
Throughout the Bible, both Old Testament and New Testament, faith was needed, faith was available, and faith was important. Some received faith and some didn't. And that made the difference.
Even now, in 2021, faith is still important in the same exact way. God even today honors faith.
Important to know: faith comes from God. It doesn't come from things or from people. It comes from God and more importantly it comes from His Word. Faith comes from God's promises too. Grab hold of the Bible, of God, and from His promises. And also from a relationship from God. A personal relationship from God. Faith comes from all these things. And to get faith we first need to talk about God.
Point #1: God's character does not change.
“I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.
Malachi 3:6 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Malachi%203:6&version=NIV
God never changes. Even when our circumstances change, He doesn't.
"I won't get bad. And I can't get any better."
(He is already perfect. He is the author of perfection. He can't get better than perfect.)
Part of the character of God is that He is good.
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
Psalm 34:8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Psalm%2034:8&version=NIV
It's easier to really trust God when we see that He is good.
God also is love. He is the essence of love. God loves you and He loves me.
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1 John 4:8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20John%204:8&version=NIV
But what does that mean? The fruit of the spirit is love, and all these things are attributes of that love.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Galatians%205:22-23&version=NIV
Also, God doesn't lie; he tells the truth. He never changes. His truth never changes.
God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?
Numbers 23:19 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Numbers%2023:19&version=NIV
God is honest. He is full of integrity. He never lies. He never wavers back and forth.
Point #2. As you spend time with God your faith will get stronger.
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
Spending more time with God means our faith gets stronger. The converse also is true. What you spend your time doing, what you spend your time reading, makes all the difference.
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.
Psalm 1:1-3 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Psalm%201:1-3&version=NIV
Who you spend time with, who you water, etc., will determine which connections stay strong. Especially with God.
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Galatians 6:7-8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Galatians%206:7-8&version=NIV
What you spend your time doing influences what you think, what you do, etc. you're going to reap the time you sow.
Point #3: faith sees evidence of things that our natural eyes do not see
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2011:1&version=NIV
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2011:1&version=KJV
Our natural eyes give us evidence of material things. Faith eyes allow us to see what God says is present or will happen.
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
John 3:3 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%203:3&version=NIV
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:18 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=2%20Corinthians%204:18&version=NIV
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:18 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=2%20Corinthians%204:18&version=KJV
Faith is seeing what your natural eyes do not see. Consider Elisha and his servant:
When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked. “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Continuation in series of the importance of strong faith. The purpose to encourage those already in the faith, but also to rebuild the faith of those who have suffered setbacks or pain.
Last week we heard about Nehemiah learning about the bad shape Jerusalem was in. He then prayed and felt like God wanted him to go back to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls of the city.
Similar here: goal is to rebuild the walls of faith. Not just for protection but also allow blessings within the city walls. It allows blessings in our lives.
Apostle Paul talks about putting on the full armor of God so we can stand against the wiles of the devil. Specifically to put on the shield of faith to protect us from the enemy's arrows but also to allow blessings in our lives.
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Hebrews 11:6 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2011:6&version=NIV
It's not just about aiming to please God, escape hell, and get in to heaven. It's also about believing God is a rewarder of faith. God rewards us because He loves us and wants to bless us.
The people God bragged on, they had great faith. But not only so but when they had trials and challenges they stood in faith but also on faith. They didn't let their trials and circumstances dictate their faith or responses or actions.
Throughout the Bible, both Old Testament and New Testament, faith was needed, faith was available, and faith was important. Some received faith and some didn't. And that made the difference.
Even now, in 2021, faith is still important in the same exact way. God even today honors faith.
Important to know: faith comes from God. It doesn't come from things or from people. It comes from God and more importantly it comes from His Word. Faith comes from God's promises too. Grab hold of the Bible, of God, and from His promises. And also from a relationship from God. A personal relationship from God. Faith comes from all these things. And to get faith we first need to talk about God.
Point #1: God's character does not change.
“I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.
Malachi 3:6 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Malachi%203:6&version=NIV
God never changes. Even when our circumstances change, He doesn't.
"I won't get bad. And I can't get any better."
(He is already perfect. He is the author of perfection. He can't get better than perfect.)
Part of the character of God is that He is good.
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
Psalm 34:8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Psalm%2034:8&version=NIV
It's easier to really trust God when we see that He is good.
God also is love. He is the essence of love. God loves you and He loves me.
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1 John 4:8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20John%204:8&version=NIV
But what does that mean? The fruit of the spirit is love, and all these things are attributes of that love.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Galatians%205:22-23&version=NIV
Also, God doesn't lie; he tells the truth. He never changes. His truth never changes.
God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?
Numbers 23:19 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Numbers%2023:19&version=NIV
God is honest. He is full of integrity. He never lies. He never wavers back and forth.
Point #2. As you spend time with God your faith will get stronger.
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
Spending more time with God means our faith gets stronger. The converse also is true. What you spend your time doing, what you spend your time reading, makes all the difference.
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.
Psalm 1:1-3 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Psalm%201:1-3&version=NIV
Who you spend time with, who you water, etc., will determine which connections stay strong. Especially with God.
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Galatians 6:7-8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Galatians%206:7-8&version=NIV
What you spend your time doing influences what you think, what you do, etc. you're going to reap the time you sow.
Point #3: faith sees evidence of things that our natural eyes do not see
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2011:1&version=NIV
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2011:1&version=KJV
Our natural eyes give us evidence of material things. Faith eyes allow us to see what God says is present or will happen.
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
John 3:3 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%203:3&version=NIV
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:18 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=2%20Corinthians%204:18&version=NIV
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:18 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=2%20Corinthians%204:18&version=KJV
Faith is seeing what your natural eyes do not see. Consider Elisha and his servant:
When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked. “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
2 Kings 6:15-17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=2%20Kings%206:15-17&version=NIV
He prayed for the servant's eyes to be opened. But then:
As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked. Elisha told them, “This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to Samaria. After they entered the city, Elisha said, “ Lord, open the eyes of these men so they can see.” Then the Lord opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria.
2 Kings 6:18-20 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=2%20Kings%206:18-20&version=NIV
The point of this lesson is to remind us: God is good, He never changes, He loves us, He never lies, and for our faith eyes to see what is actually true around us. This is true today even in 2021.
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2011:1&version=NIV
He prayed for the servant's eyes to be opened. But then:
As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked. Elisha told them, “This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to Samaria. After they entered the city, Elisha said, “ Lord, open the eyes of these men so they can see.” Then the Lord opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria.
2 Kings 6:18-20 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=2%20Kings%206:18-20&version=NIV
The point of this lesson is to remind us: God is good, He never changes, He loves us, He never lies, and for our faith eyes to see what is actually true around us. This is true today even in 2021.
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2011:1&version=NIV