The Five Requirements Of Faith

TITLE: THE FIVE REQUIREMENTS OF FAITH

SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 12:1-2 / JOSHUA 24:2-3

(The five topical points are from Dr. Charles Stanley with my defining of each)

This morning will be the third installment of our “Faith Walk Series.” Recall with me a few weeks ago we shared the message “Lord, Increase Our Faith” last Sunday Rev. Finley delivered the second installment “Don’t Lose Your Faith In The Fourth Watch.” I present the next message this morning “The Five Requirements Of Faith” This morning I want to begin this message by asking you a couple of questions -

• Are you trusting in the Father in every aspect of your life?

• Do you have confidence that God — the Sovereign Lord of the universe — will do exactly what He says and fulfill every promise He’s made?

Your answers to these questions will greatly affect your life. In fact, if you refuse to trust God, you will undoubtedly miss important blessings He has for you. From the moment you become a Christian, God enrolls you in his classroom of faith because He desires to develop your relationship with Him and show you life at its very best. This is why Jesus said in ST. MATTHEW 7:7 “ASK, AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU; SEEK, AND YOU WILL FIND; KNOCK, AND IT WILL BE OPENED TO YOU.” The Father has awesome blessings for you, but you must know that He cares for you enough to provide them.

Unfortunately, believers will sometimes miss God’s best in life simply because they do not trust Him. We get caught up in our circumstances and wonder why difficulties occur. However, when we realize that ups and downs are a natural part of maturing as Christians, we will continue to grow and progress in our faith.

• ST. MATTHEW 5:45 -- “THAT YE MAY BE THE CHILDREN OF YOUR FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN: FOR HE MAKETH HIS SUN TO RISE ON THE EVIL AND ON THE GOOD, AND SENDETH RAIN ON THE JUST AND ON THE UNJUST”

• ACTS 10:34 -- “THEN PETER OPENED HIS MOUTH, AND SAID, OF A TRUTH I PERCEIVE THAT GOD IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS”

In our text for examination Abraham is known as “The Father of our Faith” because of his inspiring and historic trust in God. Although he grew up in a pagan land and knew nothing about Yahweh, he obeyed when the Lord called him. God said, “GO FORTH FROM YOUR COUNTRY, AND FROM YOUR RELATIVES AND FROM YOUR FATHER’S HOUSE, TO THE LAND WHICH I WILL SHOW YOU; AND I WILL MAKE YOU A GREAT NATION, AND I WILL BLESS YOU.”

• It was an incredibly difficult command

• Abraham was to leave his family and everything he had ever known to go to a place he had never seen

• Has God ever asked you to do something really challenging?

• Has God ever asked you to do something that just did not make good sense to you?

• More importantly, did you obey his call?

• We like to sing that song written by JOHN SAMMIS written in 1887

o When we walk with the Lord

in the light of his word,

what a glory he sheds on our way!

While we do his good will,

he abides with us still,

and with all who will trust and obey.

o Trust and obey, for there's no other way

to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Although Abraham’s faith was severely tried, we know he remained devoted to God even when everything appeared contrary to the Lord’s covenant with him. And the Father blessed him beyond measure — fulfilling every promise. Yes, Abraham failed at times and had doubts like we do. He wasn’t perfect. This is the reason he is an excellent example of what it means to live a vibrant life of faith.

• We all experience faith failures

• But if we pick ourselves up and renew our trust in the Lord, we will see God’s promises to us fulfilled as this patriarch did

• Thankfully, Abraham also demonstrates what is necessary for remaining confident in the Father’s provision

Let’s jump into these ‘Five Requirements of Faith.’ THE FIRST REQUIREMENT OF FAITH – LEARN TO LISTEN TO GOD. The Lord is speaking to each of us individually — just as He did with Abraham. But if we do not learn to listen to Him, how will we ever have a relationship with Him? The first question we should ask is, “how does the Father communicate with us?” He does so primarily through His word and prayer. As we read the Bible daily, He shows us how to handle the issues that concern us. –

• Must develop a Love Relationship with the Bible