Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas
This sermon explores the power of prayer, encouraging fervency in faith, fortitude in prayer, and fulfillment through belief in God's willingness to answer prayer.
Good morning, beloved family. It is a joy to gather together in the presence of our Lord, to share in the fellowship of the saints, and to find solace in the divine Word that is our anchor and our guide. Today, we are here to engage with God's Word, to find nourishment for our souls, and to learn how to live out our faith more fervently, more faithfully, and more fruitfully.
When we talk about fervency in faith, we're talking about a faith that is passionate, that is zealous, that is on fire for God. We're talking about a faith that is not content to merely exist, but that seeks to grow, to thrive, to flourish. This is the kind of faith that James is talking about in our key Scripture for today. When he says, "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective," he's not talking about a lukewarm, half-hearted faith. He's talking about a faith that is fervent, that is fervently seeking God, fervently praying, fervently believing.
Now, let's take a closer look at what this means.
A. When we talk about fervency in faith, we're talking about a faith that is passionate, that is zealous, that is on fire for God. We're talking about a faith that is not content to merely exist, but that seeks to grow, to thrive, to flourish. This is the kind of faith that James is talking about in our key Scripture for today. When he says, "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective," he's not talking about a lukewarm, half-hearted faith. He's talking about a faith that is fervent, that is fervently seeking God, fervently praying, fervently believing.
B. This fervency in faith is not something that comes naturally to us. It's not something that we can muster up on our own. It's something that comes from a deep, abiding relationship with God. It's something that comes from spending time in His presence, from immersing ourselves in His Word, from seeking His face in prayer. It's something that comes from a heart that is wholly surrendered to Him, a heart that is passionately in love with Him.
C. But this fervency in faith is also about our relationship with others. It's about how we live out our faith in the world. It's about how we love our neighbors, how we serve our communities, how we share the gospel with those around us. It's about how we reflect the love of Christ in our actions, in our words, in our attitudes. It's about how we let our light shine before others, so that they may see our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven.
D. And finally, this fervency in faith is not just about the here and now. It's about eternity. It's about the hope that we have in Christ, the hope of eternal life. It's about the assurance that we have in Him, the assurance of our salvation. It's about the joy that we have in Him, the joy that comes from knowing that we are His, that we are loved by Him, that we are secure in Him. It's about the peace that we have in Him, the peace that surpasses all understanding, the peace that guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
The first aspect of fortitude in prayer that we must consider is patience in affliction ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO