Introduction

Good morning, beloved family. How wonderful it is to gather with you all today, in the house of our Lord, to share in the Word and the fellowship of His Spirit. It's a beautiful day to be in His presence, and I am so thankful for each one of you. I am looking forward to sharing with you today a message that I believe God has placed on my heart.

We are going to be talking about belief and its profound impact on our behavior, the biblical basis for our belief, and how our belief can embolden us in our Christian walk. I am reminded of a quote by the great Christian author, J.I. Packer, who once said, "There's a difference between knowing God and knowing about God. When you truly know God, you have energy to serve Him, boldness to share Him, and contentment in Him." Today, we will be seeking that true knowledge of God that leads to service, sharing, and contentment.

Let's turn now to the Scripture. In the book of Luke, chapter 6, verse 45, it reads, "A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of." In Genesis 3:8-11, we find, "Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, 'Where are you?' He answered, 'I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.' And he said, 'Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?'" And in Romans 8:31, the Apostle Paul declares, "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"

Belief's Bearing on Behavior

Our hearts are the storehouses of our beliefs. What we hold within them shapes our actions, our words, and our attitudes. It's like a seed planted in the soil. The type of seed determines the type of plant that will grow. If we plant a seed of faith, trust, and love for God in our hearts, our lives will bear the fruit of these virtues. But if we allow seeds of doubt, fear, and unbelief to take root, our actions will reflect these negative traits.

The words we speak are a clear reflection of what's in our hearts. If our hearts are filled with faith and love for God, our words will be uplifting, encouraging, and full of grace. We will speak life into the lives of others, and our words will be a source of comfort and hope. But if our hearts are filled with doubt and unbelief, our words will be negative, discouraging, and hurtful. We will speak death instead of life, and our words will bring pain and sorrow.

Our actions, too, are a direct result of what we believe in our hearts. If we truly believe that God is good, that He loves us, and that He has a wonderful plan for our lives, our actions will reflect this belief. We will live lives of obedience, service, and love. We will seek to do good, to help others, and to make a difference in the world. But if we harbor doubts about God's goodness, His love, or His plan for our lives, our actions will show it. We will live selfishly, carelessly, and without regard for others.

Our attitudes are also shaped by our beliefs. When we believe that God is in control, that He is working all things together for our good, and that He will never leave us or forsake us, we will have a positive, hopeful attitude. We will face trials with courage, difficulties with perseverance, and uncertainties with faith. But if we doubt God's sovereignty, His goodness, or His faithfulness, we will have a negative, pessimistic attitude. We will be easily discouraged, quickly give up, and live in constant fear and worry.

The Apostle Paul's declaration in Romans 8:31 is a powerful affirmation of belief. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" This belief gave Paul the courage to face persecution, hardship, and even death. It shaped his behavior, his ministry, and his entire life.

Biblical Basis for Belief

As we turn our attention to the Scriptures, we find that the foundation of our belief is firmly established in the Word of God ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO