Bluemoon Faith Vs. Now Faith

BLUE MOON FAITH? VS. NOW FAITH? GIVE GOD A CHANCE...

Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

Text:

Matthew 23:37 --- how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

I. THIS ENEMY OR OBSTACLE MIGHT WELL BE GOD’S DOOR OF

OPPORTUNITY.

A. Jeremiah --- what do you see...

1. Rod of the almond ... Hope, awake...

2. Seething pot... Judgment

Jeremiah 1:12 Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen:

for I will hasten my word to perform it.

IT IS ALL ABOUT GOD’S WORD.

B. Often times Christians allow their dreams and goals to be defined by

lack. God’s work can be set back or hindered from progress by lack.

YOU CAN NOT SEPERATE FAITH FROM FAITHFULNESS.

II. FAITH IS NOT ONCE IN A BLUE MOON...

IT IS NOW FAITH... NOT PAST FAITH... ARE WE LIVING WITH NOW FAITH?

A. A BLUE MOON is not seen on a regular bases.

A blue moon is when you have two full moons in one month. Blue moons are rare.

FAITH IS NOT TO BE A RARE THING AROUND GOD’S PEOPLE.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

B. NOW:

The present, immediately, this time...

Today

C. FAITH:

Faith comes from a Latin word: FIDES.

The word faith can not bypass TRUST, dependable, reliable, stable,

firm, to support or uphold.

D. Perhaps the word FAITH in the Bible is much different and deeper than

what the word faith means in society or by terms of philosophy.

The world’s understanding of real faith can never grasp the OBJECT OF

WHAT FAITH REALLY IS...

E. Biblical FAITH must involve knowing God’s word. BIBLICAL FAITH

OPERATES UNDER THE REVELATION OF GOD’S WORDS and God’s actions.

F. Failure to trust God will always lead to worry, fear and sin.

Adam and Eve never trusted God in the Garden of Eden.

The subtle enemy placed doubt in the minds of God’s creation.

G. GOD DESIRES HIS PEOPLE TO TRUST HIM. God wants the church to accept

He is in control and He does what will lead to the best for His people.

God wants the church to know THEY NEED HIM!

H. FAITH CAN NEVER OPERATE IN PEOPLE WITHOUT A KNOWLEDGE OF

GOD’S WORD ON A PERSONAL LEVEL.

II. FAITH MUST BE LIKE A BABY IN THEIR PARENTS ARMS...

2 Chron. 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

A. Place a two year old child in a baby seat in the back of the car.

The child does not know where they are going? The child does not

know when they will get there?

The child does not know if we have enough gas? Or does Daddy

have enough money to buy more gas? The child has never looked

at the tread on the tires? Or when was the last oil change?

Does Dad know how to get where we are going?

B. ALL THE CHILD KNOWS IS HIS DADDY! The child trusts this ride, because

he trusts his Dad enough to know everything will be OK, because my

Dad loves me and will watch over me. My Dad will support me,

my Dad will uphold me by his strong arms.

C. FAITH AND TRUST MUST BE GENERATED AND REGENERATED FROM

WITHIN THE HEART OF THE INDIVIUAL. If we have come to God, we have

to accept God is FAITHFUL TO PERFORM HIS WORD.

D. We must face this truth: IS GOD RELIABLE TO HIS WORD?

III. WHAT IS THE OPPOSITE OF FAITH?

A. DO YOU THINK THIS SITUATION CAUGHT OUR GOD OFF GUARD?

B. Do all things work together for the good? Some of the things?

C. UNDECIDED STATE OF MIND...

SKEPTIC

NOT CERTAIN

NO JOY

ANXIETY

FEAR

WORRY

DOUBT

LACK

HESITATE TO ACCEPT OR BELIEVE

IV. SOME FAITH LEVELS ARE OPTIONAL...

GOD WILL NEVER EVER FORCE FAITH AND TRUST UPON HIS PEOPLE.

A. Remember in the book of Daniel ... the mighty man of God preached

an honest and hard sermon to the King.

Daniel preached to NEBUCHADNEZZAR a lesson regarding ISSUES OF FAITH,

PRIDE AND SIN.

B. NEBUCHADNEZZAR HAD A DREAM ABOUT A BIG TREE...

Daniel 4:14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:

C. GOD SAID: NEVERTHELESS LEAVE THE STUMP...