Sermon Central
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Christian Faith
Contributed by Pastor Duncan Shabane on May 21, 2020 (message contributor)
Summary: Faith is the expectation of things that are hoped for, the evidence of things not seen but expected or imagined in the heart or the mind
1) how important is faith?
__(Mark 11:22)
__it is faith in God that makes the difference between the christian and the unsaved man
__(John 3:36)
__faith brings eternal life
__faith gives peace when others are filled with fear
__it gives courage
__faith enables us to overcome the world
__unbelief separates men from God and brings fear ( 1 John 4:18)
2) Jesus looked for faith when He was om earth
__(Mark 4:40)
__(Matt 9:22)
__(Matt 8:10)
__(Luke 18:8)
__Jesus always rewarded faith and when He comes back He will still be looking for faith
3) Faith pleases God (Heb 11:5)
a) faith is knowing
__(2 Tim 1:12)
__(psalm 9:10)
__we know God's Word
b) faith is counting om God's faithfulness
__(Heb 11:11)
__(Heb 11:17-19)
__(Rom 4:20-21)
c) faith is appropriating what God has said
__(Heb 11:13)
__(Heb 11:1)
__we receive Him (John 1:12)
d) Faith is acting on what God tells us to do
__(Heb 11:7-8)
__this is the obedience of faith that brings results
5) Faith is a key principle of the christian life
a) we are saved through faith (Rom 3:28)
b) our hearts are purified through faith (Acts 15:9)
c) we overcome the world by faith (1 John 5:4-5)
d) we resist temptation by faith which is likened to a shield (Eph 6:16)
e) we obtain all that God gives us by extending the hand of faith to receive
__Faith says "yes" to all God's promises ( 2 Cor 1:20)
__this is the faith of Jesus operating in us (Gal 2:20)
__ Faith makes all things possible for us (Mark 11:22-24)
__Faith changes a weak christian and makes him into a might conqueror
__It causes him to say "i can do all things through Christ who strengthen me" (Phil 4:13)
6) what are some of the characteristics of faith
a) faith looks to Jesus (Heb 12:2)
__(Eph 1:20-23)
__(Matt 28:18)
__(Heb 11:24-28)
__( 2 Cor 4:16-18)
b) faith is humble
__even to make the place of dogs (Matt 25:27-28)
c) faith is persistent (Luke 11:5-9) (Luke 18:1-8)
d) faith is patient (Heb 6:15)
__it waits for God's time and God's way
e) faith is restful
__the believer depends on God's faithfulness (Heb 4:3; 9-10)
__(2 Cor 5:7)
__(John 14:1)
vv light is in his heart when all is dark around him
vv it makes him one with God
vv it makes heaven real to him
vv it takes the fear of death away from him
vv it makes him more than a conqueror in the face of every hardship (Rom 8:37)
vv He knows God
vv Christ dwells in his heart by faith (Ephesians 3:17)
vv he has the full assurance of salvation and enjoys peace with God
7) how do we get faith?
a) everyone has a measure of faith (Rom 12:3)
__we are all born with a measure of faith
__only later do we acquire unbelief
__when a man is converted he becomes like a child in his faith ( Matt 18:3)
b) faith is founded upon God's Word
__(John 20:31)
__(Rom 10:17)
__(Acts 18:8)
__ God's Word begets faith in our heart
__His Word is true ( John 17:17)
__as we listen to or read the Word of God faith springs up in our hearts
__ our faith grows stronger when we are tested ( 1 peter 1:7)
8) what hinders faith?
a) neglecting to read or listens to God Word
__filling our minds with the concerns and the affairs of this world
__this allows the devil to put doubt into our hearts
b) sin our hearts ( 1 John 3:20-21) (Psalm. 66:18)
c) disobedience to the will of God ( 1 John 3:22)
d) seeking honor for ourselves and glorifying God (John 5:44)
9) what are the possibilities of faith?
__life of faith opens up a new world of possibilities
__to the man of faith nothing is impossible
__he is now united to God who has all power
a) all his sins are forgiven (Acts 10:43)
__he has peace with God (Rom 5:1)
b) by faith he receives the gift of the Holy Spirit (Gal 3:2;14)
c) he receives God's gift of eternal life ( John 3:16) (John 20:31)
d) we find complete satisfactions in Jesus (John 6:35) (1 peter 1:8)
e) we become fountains of living water to bring blessing to others ( John 7:38-39)
f) our prayers are answered ( Mark 11:24) (Matt 21:22)
g) we can follow Jesus, it is even possible for us to do the same works Jesus did, according to (John 14:12)
h) we can receive healing for our bodies
10) how can we increase our faith?
__(Luke 17:5)
a) we must believe in our hearts that God's Word is true
__that every promise in the bible is ours
vv we are sons and daughters of God (1 John 3:2)
