Takes A Licking And Comes Out Kicking

Takes a licking, and comes out kicking

The bible is one big beautiful portrait of the Love and mercy of God Almighty. The entire Old Testament, is a pre-cursor, of Jesus Christ the son of God who was to come. There is nothing in the bible that is there for no reason, everything has a purpose, and every story a deeper meaning, and spiritual life application.

The bible tells us, that ”all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction. For instruction in righteousness. “

It is not just a good book, as some would say, it is the eternal, everlasting, full truth, Holy living word of God.

Isaiah said, “the flower may fade, and the grass will wither, but the word of the Lord shall stand forever.”

What an awesome God we serve! He left us with an inspired collection of 66 books, that when put together, form the greatest culmination of writings ever assembled. Every word has meaning. Every conversation that is written has divine importance. Every trial, and tribulation that is talked about, has a deeper meaning that what we read in black and white.

The entire O.T. is a picture of the soon coming king, and the N.t. gives us hope and direction in life.

Hebrews 10:35Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

We spoke last night on the importance of praising during your waiting process, how when we praise God, we are showing our humility, and humbleness towards him.

When you can praise God in spite of your circumstances, it moves God, and creates an atmosphere where he can dwell. The Lion of the tribe of Judah is released, when we begin to give God the glory.

Throughout all of scripture, we find one thing that truly moves God. Its not doing things in the proper liturgical order. Its not the religious rituals, Its not how we dress when we come into the church, Its not sticking to a program or running the aisles when a good song comes on. God is moved by one thing ”FAITH”.

God is not a respector of people, but he is a respecter of your faith.

When we look through the scriptures at the lives of key leaders, we tend to see a lot of things that they have in common. One thing for sure is Faith.

In the 11th ch. Of Hebrews, we see a list of people, who have been come to be known as the hall of faith. These people listed here are not any different than you and I. The only difference is that they lived in a different era.

God does not respect man for who or what he is, but he is moved by our faith.

Heb. 11:1 Gives the simplest definition of what Faith is. Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report.

NIV-Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.

Faith is simple taking God at his word, and acting upon it. Living like the bible is true.

Its not enough to say that you have faith, if you are not going to act upon it.

Pastor-I’m just crazy enough to believe it.

James 2: 19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Heb. 11:6 But without faith, it is impossible to please him, for he that comes to God, must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Faith is to be followed by actions. That’s why v.6 says he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Not the ones who half-way seek him, but diligently seek him. It was James who said, a double-minded man is unstable in all of his ways, let not that man think that he should receive anything from God.

Your faith is to be followed by actions. In Heb. 11 take a look sometime at the men and women of faith who are listed. They are not there just because they believed God, but because they believed him, and acted upon it.