Sermon Central
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A Question Of Faith.
Contributed by Eugene Morell on Jan 15, 2012 (message contributor)
Summary: This whole chapter makes us look at our faith as to whether our action based on our faith is enough evidence to convict us that we are a Christian.
A QUESTION OF FAITH?
Faith is a common denominator that everyone has.
There is Natural & Spiritual faith.
Spiritual faith comes from the Living God.
Ephesians 2:8. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourself, it is the gift of God.
Our spiritual faith is based upon who the Lord Jesus is.
1. A lot of people believe that faith is the ability to manipulate God.
2. A lot of people believe that faith is the adherence to a certain set of beliefs.
3. A lot of people believe that faith is a blind leap into the dark.
4. A lot of people believe that faith is the simply devotion to whatever god you happens to chose to follow.
1. Joshua faith in the lord does not stop him from fulfilling his responsibilities.
A. The Lord expect that you and I would make decision that we would normally make as long as those decision don’t go against the game plan of the Lord.
B. The second thing for us to learn is that the Lord expect for us to begin the process of moving forward.
C. There are two dangers here. First is that we would do nothing. The second is that we would run ahead of the Lord or that we wouldn’t seek the Lord guidance.
Luke 14:28. For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?
2. Rahab faith was based upon what she had heard.
Joshua 2:9b-11. "I know that the LORD has given you the land. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea. What you did to the two kings. When we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained. For the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.
Rehab’s faith is based on the reports of others.
3. The two spies placed their faith in Rahab.
A. The actions of the two spies declare that they had faith to believe.
A QUESTION OF FAITH?
A high school teen came home from school to find his mother in the kitchen making supper. She asked what was new in school today. He said that a lot of the teens in his class were saying that the world was going to end that night and I was wondering what you though about it. I doubt it said his mother, but I suppose that it could happen. Her son asked, what would you do if you though it was true? I’d keep on making supper. I believe that the Lord want to find that his children are doing what they are suppose to be doing when he come for them. She stopped and looked at her son and said. Right now my task is to make supper, and you task is to be doing your home work.
Faith is a common denominator. Every one who is alive expresses their natural faith in something. Natural faith is the faith that you are born with. No one can live a single day without exercising their natural faith in the physical world. When you awoke and went into the bathroom this morning you flipped a light switch and your natural faith said that it would work. When you get in your car your natural faith tell you that it will start. Every time you walk into this church you are expressing your natural faith. Natural faith comes from what we have learned from life experiences and education.
Faith is also expressed in the spiritual realm.
Spiritual faith comes from the Living God.
Ephesians 2:8. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourself, it is the gift of God.
The difference between our natural faith that we use everyday and our spiritual faith is the foundation of our faith.
Our natural faith is developed as we grow and as we teach our mind that the chair won’t break or the lights will come on. The thing about our natural faith is that most of us probably never question it because our faith is based on what we have learned, what we see and feel. How many of us would feel the chair to make sure that it is there before we sat on it?
Our spiritual faith is based upon who the Lord Jesus is. As I have read for you from Ephesians the Lord gives you and I the spiritual faith we need to believe in and accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour.
The Moslem puts his faith Allah and in Mohammed. The humanist put his faith in himself. The follower of religion are people who have put their faith in a system of doing something a certain way or by saying certain words of phrases over and over. Those who follow cults usually place their faith in a certain humanist person or a concept. None of these concepts can save, because in each case the object of faith is wrong. The Bible insists that we personally put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. One of the major difference between Christians and everyone else is that Christianity isn’t a religion; rather Christianity is about having a personal relationship experience with the Living Lord Jesus Christ.
