Introduction

Good morning, beloved in Christ. It is a joy to be with you today, to share in the fellowship of our faith, and to gather in the warmth of God's abiding love. We are here, not by chance, but by divine appointment. Today, we are going to immerse ourselves in the richness of God's word, drawing from the wellspring of wisdom that is the Holy Scripture. We are going to stand on the solid ground of our faith, look towards the horizon of hope, and find our footing in the firm foundation of our Father's love.

In the words of the great Christian theologian J.I. Packer, "Faithfulness springs from faith; faith is the root, faithfulness the fruit." We are here to nurture that root, to cultivate our faith so that we may bear the fruit of faithfulness. We are here to foster our faith, to find favor in the sight of God, and to face forward towards the future He has prepared for us.

Let us turn our hearts and minds to the Scripture, to the words of our Lord in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 7, verses 7 to 11: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!"

And from the book of Hebrews, chapter 11, the great chapter on faith, and the trials of Job, a man of great faith who found favor in the sight of God, even in the midst of suffering. These passages of Scripture will be our guideposts as we navigate the path of faith, favor, and forward-facing hope.

Let us pray. Dear heavenly Father, we come before You today, humble and eager to learn from Your word. Open our hearts and minds to the truth of Your Scripture. Strengthen our faith, help us to find favor in Your sight, and guide us as we face forward towards the future You have planned for us. May Your word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Transition. Today, dear friends, we are invited to embrace the challenges and opportunities of faith. We are called to seek the favor of God, to strive for His approval and blessings. And we are encouraged to face forward, to look towards the future with hope and confidence, knowing that our God is with us, guiding us every step of the way. Let us step into this invitation with open hearts and minds, ready to receive what God has in store for us.

Fostering Faith

In the heart of every believer, there is a seed of faith. This seed, tiny and seemingly insignificant, has the potential to grow into a mighty tree, its branches reaching towards the heavens, its roots digging deep into the soil of our souls. This growth, however, does not happen by chance. It requires nurturing, care, and a commitment to the process.

When we think about the process of growth, we often think about it in terms of physical growth. We eat nutritious food, we exercise, we get plenty of sleep. These are all important elements of physical growth. But spiritual growth, the growth of our faith, requires a different kind of nurturing.

The first element of this nurturing process is prayer. Prayer is our direct line of communication with God. It is through prayer that we express our deepest desires, our most pressing needs, and our sincerest gratitude. But prayer is not just about talking to God. It is also about listening to Him.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells us to "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." This is not just a promise of answered prayers. It is an invitation to a deeper relationship with God. It is an invitation to engage in a constant dialogue with Him, to seek His wisdom, and to knock on the door of His boundless love.

The second element of nurturing our faith is the study of Scripture. The Bible is not just a book. It is the living word of God. It is a guide to living a life that is pleasing to Him. It is a source of comfort in times of trouble, a source of wisdom in times of confusion, and a source of hope in times of despair.

In the book of Hebrews, we read about the faith of the ancients, men and women who trusted in God's promises even when they could not see the fulfillment of those promises. Their faith was not blind. It was based on a deep understanding of God's character, His love, and His faithfulness. This understanding came from a diligent study of His word.

The third element of nurturing our faith is fellowship with other believers. We were not meant to walk this faith journey alone. We were created to encourage one another, to bear one another's burdens, and to spur one another on towards love and good deeds.

In the trials of Job, we see the importance of community. Job's friends, though they did not always understand his suffering, stood by him in his darkest hours. They offered him comfort, they offered him companionship, and they offered him a listening ear. This is the kind of fellowship that strengthens our faith.

The fourth and final element of nurturing our faith is obedience. Faith is not just about believing in God. It is about living in accordance with His commands. It is about aligning our will with His will, our desires with His desires, our plans with His plans.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells us that if we ask, we will receive; if we seek, we will find; if we knock, the door will be opened. But these promises are not unconditional. They require us to be obedient to God's commands, to seek His will above our own, and to knock on the door of His kingdom with humble hearts and willing spirits.

Transition. Nurturing our faith requires commitment, discipline, and willingness to surrender our lives to God. But the rewards are immeasurable. A strong faith brings us closer to God, it gives us hope in times of despair, and it gives us the strength to face the challenges of life with courage and conviction.

Finding Favor

As we continue to navigate the path of our spiritual journey, we find ourselves standing at the threshold of favor ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO