Church 5/1/2021
Offertory scripture:
God is good bc He's God. All the time He is good. Never a time He isn't good. Goodness is His nature.
"When you obey My Word in faith, I'm obligated to you."
It's not about being perfect, but it's about doing what you can to honor God.
Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
Proverbs 3:9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Proverbs%203:9&version=NIV
then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Proverbs 3:10 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Proverbs%203:10&version=NIV
Sermon message:
Strong faith part 3
Faith is really important.
It will determine what we experience this and what we receive from God this year.
God honors faith because faith honors God.
Of course Satan doesn't want you to have faith or to honor God. He tries to steal our faith.
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10:10 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%2010:10&version=NIV
But we must resist him and stand in our faith.
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
1 Peter 5:8-9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Peter%205:8-9&version=NIV
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
Faith was also important in the Old Testament. (Or old covenant, the way God worked with people then.) and faith is important in the New Testament (or new covenant, the way God worked with people then.)
It's important now too. Faith is important now, today.
God brags about great people of faith in Hebrews 11. Before that, in chapter 10, God outlines what faith is.
In the Old Testament, faith was:
The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
Hebrews 10:1-4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2010:1-4&version=NIV
But the new covenant is an upgrade over the Old covenant:
(New International Version)
Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second.
Hebrews 10:9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2010:9&version=NIV
(King James Version)
Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
Hebrews 10:9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2010:9&version=KJV
(The next verse, New International Version)
And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Hebrews 10:10 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2010:10&version=NIV
(King James Version)
By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Hebrews 10:10 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2010:10&version=KJV
Now let's look at Hebrews 11:
the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.
Hebrews 11:38 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2011:38&version=NIV
Satan wants you to pull back your faith. The author in Hebrews 11 (and by extension, the Holy Spirit, who inspired the text) says not to do that.
Point #1: faith is confidence
(New International Version)
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
(English Standard Version)
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2011:1&version=ESV
Faith for now. Faith worked then and it works now.
Faith is substance. Faith has substance.
Faith takes the unrealities of hope and brings it into the present reality. Where you make your dreams and hopes come true. When you spend time with God, you gain confidence. Your faith increases. Your faith will grow.
Interestingly we tend to put our faith more easily in things we see, even if we don't know how that thing came to be or who made it. But we put less faith in God. Connecting with Him and spending time with Him changes that.
Point #2: Faith is conviction.
Prayer is important. It's a strong bible based conviction. Just like faith. Faith is confidence. Faith is a strong foundation. Faith is saying that I know that I know that I know and others cannot change my mind about it. I have faith!!
The Bible is still in vogue. It will never go out if fashion.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2011:1&version=ESV
Point #3: Faith is important.
For by it the people of old received their commendation.
Hebrews 11:2 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2011:2&version=ESV
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.
Hebrews 11:8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2011:8&version=NIV
By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.
Hebrews 11:24 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2011:24&version=NIV
Faith pleases God.
What does Scripture say?
“Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
Romans 4:3 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%204:3&version=NIV
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
Faith pleases God and it honors Him.
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
Hebrews 11:3 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2011:3&version=NIV
Faith recalls what God has done, reveals what God is doing, and trusts in what God will do in the future.
Point #4: you receive faith from God.
Faith comes to us right now from God.
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
Good news: God tells us how to get faith. The responsibility is ours to get more faith. But God makes a way:
The key verse:
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
The full passage:
But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile —the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
Romans 10:8-17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%2010:8-17&version=NIV
Hope says: "I hope I have enough money."
Faith says: "I will have enough money."