Title: A Christian is a Person of Faith
Text: I Tim 1:2 / I Tim 6:10-12 / II Tim 1:5
I Tim 6:10-12
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
II Tim 1:5
4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
Intro:
- Next to Love, the greatest Quality that Christ will look for in all of us, is that of Faith.
- We Human beings can strive for many things while on this earth.
- Riches, Wealth, Popularity, Politics, Business etc.
- However, We must not forget, that we are in this world, but not of this world.
- We Must Strive to be a Spiritual Person. A Person of the Spirit.
- In order to accomplish such a thing, Faith must be activated, ingnited and implemented within your life, and within the church!!!!
Body:
1.In the Faith:
Jude1:3
- 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
- We must be unshakable in our determination to preserve the doctrines, practices, and lifestyle of the Church of the Living God.
- Its not ours to tamper with, for we are his Bride, this is his church.
- When we do this, we wont just save ourselves, but others also!!! I Tim 4:16
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2. Works of Faith:
I Thes 1:3
2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;
3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
- Paul has memories of the Church in Thesolonica. A Church well balanced in Faith, hope, and charity.
- Faith Will produce these works. READ James 2:14-20
- Faith caused people to Follow Christ.
- WORDS of Fiath, produce Walks of Fiath which produces Works of Faith.!.
- We must ask ourselves, Is my life worthy of being an example to somebody else. Would it be safe for someone to use me as an example??
- Our Faith Is Made know to others by our Works
- Our Love is Made know to others by our Giving
- Our Hope is exemplified by our Patience.
- Faith without works, is dead. James 2:18 READ
- Abraham was not content to here a command from God and just believe onit, however as hard as it was for him to do, he gathered the products needed for an alter ….
- James 2:19- Thou Believest that there is one God, thou doest well. The Devils also believe and tremble.
- We work at this thing, because we know that one day our pay day is coming.
3. Walk of Faith
- Talk is Cheap. You can talk the talk all night long.
- But can you walk the walk.!!!!!
- Isreal knew about the past. They knew about a God who saved them many times.
- A Philistine comes out, and calls out for a fight.
- Isrealites sit back in the camp, I know Gods gonna fix this mess we are in.
- I know he is gonna deliver us!!
- They could talk the talk, but it took a young boy to do there walking!!!
- Enoch, walked in Faith, and God took him out of this life, and he did not taste death.
- Keep in the Faith, and you wont taste death.!!
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Section 2- The Character of Faith
- We must be wise as serpants and gentle as doves.
- Evertime someone backslide from the Fiath, they have settle for a substitute.
- They was not able to discern the True faith, from that of the imitation.
- Faith in the ever living God, is your Safeguard from Losing out with God!!
1. Ever-Enduring Faith
- Heb 11:7
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
- 110 yrs, he preaches this message.
- He Hears the call, JUST ONCE!!!!!
- Would you like to be an heir of Righteousness?? All you got to do is be Faithful!!
- The Transfer of Faith from one generation to another, must be Equal.
Paul & Timothy
- It is evident that Timothy possessed the faith that his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois Had.
- In a world that does not want to except any responsibility, we have a major responsibility.
- We must raise our little ones in the fear of God, teach them his ways and what is right and what is wrong.
- Pass onto them the Faith the has kept you!!!!!
2. Responsible Faith
-Heb 4:2
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
- We must be hearers of the word, as well as doers.
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Section 3- Measures of Fiath
1. Measures of Faith-
- No man is poor who puts his Faith In God.
- It Sustained many people through droughts ( Elijah)
- A persons Knowledge and Experience plays a vital role in determining there measure of Fiath.
- It may seem unfair that some individuals are used of God, more so than others.
- However, we can be assured that every Christian will have the necessary faith for the work that they are called to do.
- God will not make unfair requests or demands of you.
No Fiath, Little Faith and Great Faith.
No Faith-
- Faith is a response to the Gospel.
- It is possible for a person to reject the message, and remain without Faith.
- If you continually nurture the natural man, the spiritual man will die of malnutrition.
- Mark 4:40- Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no Fiath?
- The disciples had faced the storm and all of there attention was on the storm, that Faith had no room to operate.
- Satan would like for your mind to visit the storms, feed on doubt and fear. He would love for you to be in a boat with your creater and saviour, and to have you thing he is sleeping!!!!!
Little Faith-
- The only Faith that is useless, is the faith that is not put to good use.
- Even the Faith under the stress of trials is more precious than Gold. I Pet 1:7
- 2 Occasions when Jesus mentioned this item:
- Matthew 25-26
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Matthew 25-26 – He calls out to the disciple in the bout- Oh ye of little fiath
Then in Matt 14:31- O Thou of little fiath, wherefore didst thou doubt?
Fear and Doubt reduce your inventory of Fiath to the lowest.
Great Faith-
Matthew 8:10- 8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
The Syrophonecian Women- Continued to seek the attention of Jesus. Matthew 15:27
- Great Faith is brought out of you, when you are at your lowest.!!!!!
Section 4 Dimensions of Faith
- After much teaching, the followers cry out for more faith in Luke 17:5
- When you want more of God, you need more Faith.
- Our Fiath should always be Growing.
Section 5- Additions to Faith
- Whatever caused faith to thrive in the early days of the church, is still what works in 2001.
- If you want good ground to grow crops on, you must add nutrients to the soil.
- If you want your faith to grow, the following can be used.
- II Pet 1:5-7
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
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Virtue- Active courage and strength
Knowledge- Right understanding
Temperance- the ability to keep your self control
Patience- provides the ability to endure and keep on believing
Godliness- jonour and fear, respect of God
Brotherly Kindness- Loving one another, as your own self.
Charity- Love of God to the Church and sinner.
Jude 20- you build yourself in the most holy faith by praying in the spirit.
The Faith Giver-
The disciples brought there inability to Jesus. Matthew 17:14-21
