Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas
Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas
Encourages believers to actively embrace faith as a transformative power, shaping their lives, relationships, and destinies in alignment with God's will.
Good morning, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ. I am thrilled to be standing before you today, ready to delve into the beautiful and profound depths of God's Word. We are gathered here, not by accident, but by divine appointment. Our loving Father has brought us together to share in the richness of His love, His wisdom, and His truth.
Today, we turn our hearts and minds to the book of Hebrews, chapter 11. A chapter that has often been referred to as the 'Hall of Faith'. This chapter is not just a historical record of men and women who lived extraordinary lives of faith, but it is a mirror held up to each one of us, reflecting our own potential to live a life pleasing to God, to foster unstoppable blessings, and to fulfill our relationship with Him.
Stormie Omartian once said, "There’s only one power in the world great enough to help us rise above the difficult things we face: the power of God." How true this is, dear friends! Our faith in God’s power will save us in so many ways. His power is incredible, that’s what we’re going to be talking about today.
The nature of faith: It is described as the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. This is not a blind faith, a faith without reason or evidence. No, this is a faith that is grounded in the reality of who God is and what He has done. It is a faith that is based on the truth of His Word, the testimony of His works, and the witness of His Spirit.
This faith is active: It is not merely about believing in God, but believing God. It is about taking Him at His word, trusting in His promises, and living in light of His truth. It is about aligning our lives with His will, submitting to His authority, and seeking to glorify Him in all that we do.
This faith is public: It is not something to be hidden away, but something to be lived out. It is not something to be kept to ourselves, but something to be shared with others. It is about being a light in the darkness, a city on a hill, a beacon of hope in a world that is desperately in need of hope.
This faith is dynamic: It is not something that we have once and for all, but something that grows and matures over time. It is not something that we achieve, but something that we receive. It is something that we are given by grace through faith.
The implications of this faith: The writer of Hebrews tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God. This is a sobering thought. It means that no matter how good our intentions, no matter how sincere our efforts, no matter how noble our deeds, without faith they are all in vain. They are like a clanging cymbal, a resounding gong, a noisy nuisance.
Not just any higher power: This faith is not a vague belief in a higher power. It is not a generic faith in God. It is a specific faith in the God who has revealed Himself in the person of Jesus Christ. It is a faith in the God who loved us so much that He sent His only Son to die for our sins, to reconcile us to Himself, to restore us to a right relationship with Him.
This faith is communal experience: It is not something that we do alone, but something that we do together. It is about encouraging one another, supporting one another, praying for one another, bearing one another's burdens, and building one another up in the most holy faith. This faith is not a burden, but a blessing. It is not a duty, but a delight. It is not a chore, but a choice. It is about experiencing the joy of knowing God, the peace of trusting God, the hope of waiting on God, and the love of serving God.
The life of Abraham: He was a man of extraordinary faith ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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