FAITH

Hebrews 11:1-6  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  (2)  For by it the elders obtained a good report.  (3)  Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.  (4)  By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.  (5)  By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.  (6)  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

INTRODUCTION:           Within our Holy King James Bible, we find many stories of patriarchs whose lives show us the faith they lived with.  These stories of both men and women have shown us the detail of their faithful lives.  They have shown us our Father in Heaven through their lives.

              Yet, in all the stories, and all the words, the chapters, the books that make up our King James Bible, we have only one verse which spells out to us FAITH.  

Hebrews 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

              There are a few words within this verse we probably need to define.  The first word is Substance = the essence of assurance, confidence, confident.  The second word is evidence = proof, conviction.

              Now we can see what Paul was teaching us, essentially that our faith is our confidence in the proofs we see in life.       

              Faith is many things we see and know in our life.  Faith is, trusting, believing, having the confidence, and hoping to have all that God is, all because we confidently know He exists.

              Faith isn’t “I think so”   “I hope so” ‘It maybe so” “He might exist.”  Faith is I know so; period.

              Our faith is more of an experience with God.  The more you experience Him, the stronger your Faith grows.  The more we use the knowledge of the Holy Spirit the stronger our faith is.

              We know when we see the result of the wind, yet we cannot see where it really is, or where it came from, or where it is going, but we know it is there.  Just as we know when God blesses us, and answer a specific prayer, we know who did it we just cannot see or touch Him.  My God is real and my experience with Him is greater today than last month.  Experience Him in faith.

I.            THE REWARD OF FAITH                                                      (v 2) 

              A.           The Patriarchs Believed

              1.           They pleased God

                                           i.            Through their Faith

Ephesians 1:6-7  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.  (7)  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

2.               His Grace was extended to us

i.                Through Jesus on the Cross

              a.           God’s only begotten Son

B.              The Patriarch Turned From The World

1.               They followed God

Romans 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2.               Their reasonable service

                                           i.            We are to follow as they did

                             3.           They received a good report

                                           i.            If we follow, we will also

2 Corinthians 5:10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

                                           ii.           Good or bad; a report before Jesus

II.           GOD IS THE CREATOR                                                         (v 3)

              A.           He formed it all

John 1:1-5  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  (2)  The same was in the beginning with God.  (3)  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.  (4)  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  (5)  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

John 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

                             1.           He is the Word

                                           i.            ALL things were made by Him

              B.           Only Because Of Him Is There Life

                             1.           Life is His light

John 1:4  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

i.                He is the Christ, Jesus

C.              The World [Darkness] Cannot Comprehend The Light

1.               The World Will Accept Any God; except

              i.            They will not tolerate Jesus

              ii.           When God, the Father of Jesus is mentioned, we have violated                    

                            the darkness

                             a.           A crack of light is not acceptable

Matthew Henry, Bible Commentator of the past, stated “By faith we understand much more of the formation of the world than ever could be understood by the naked eye of natural reason.  Faith is not a force upon understanding, but a friend and a help to it…”

Genesis 1:1  In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

2.               “In the beginning”

              i.            Our universal “beginning”

              ii.           Not God’s “beginning”

                             a.           God has always been eternally

III.         THE POWER OF FAITH                                                    (vv 4-5)  

              A.           A Twofold Power

                             1.           To be counted righteous

Genesis 15:6  And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

                                           i.            Abraham was saved because he believed

                                           ii.           Abraham wasn’t

a.               Baptized

b.               A faithful church goer

c.               A faithful reader of his Bible

d.               A follower of Mosaic law

iii.          He was a believer

a.               Now in Heaven

2.           To be delivered fro death

              i.            A glorious death

                             a.           Eternal life in Heaven

              ii.           Enoch believed

                             a.           He was translated

IV.         WITHOUT FAITH                                                                  (v  6) 

              A.           It Is Impossible To Please God

                             1.           To please God

                                           i.            Our Faith must be an active Faith

                                                          a.           It is not an occasional prayer

                                                          b.           It is not being in church intermittently

                                                                        (A CEO Baptist / Christmas and Easter Only)

                                                          c.            It is not tithing on some occasion

              B.           A Person Who Accepts Jesus

                             1.           Must believe a few things

                                           i.            That Jesus is the Only Begotten Son of God

                                           ii.           That we believe in the Father, in Heaven

                                           iii.          That God is a rewarder

                                                          a.           To those who seek Him

Romans 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

CONCLUSION:               Where is your faith?  Spend time in church, in your King James Bible, in prayer, to increase your faith.  If you have great faithfulness, it still isn’t great enough, it can be greater.  If you seem to lack faith, listen to the preacher, read your Bible, Pray.  It is the only way.

The Great World Crises

2 Timothy 3:1-7  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  (2)  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  (3)  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  (4)  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;  (5)  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.  (6)  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,  (7)  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

 Introduction:  We all hear on radio, and TV and we read in our newspapers and on TV about all the crisis’ going on all over the world, some of which I am sure are made up. 

              It never stops, the more people are killed the longer it stays in the headlines, and if a conspiracy can be tagged onto it well it even stays longer.  Before they got that last cap on the broken pipe in the Gulf, all we heard about was the tragedy in the Gulf States.  Have you noticed it isn’t being talked about much any more.  It is no longer some mole hill they can make a mountain out of.

              We hear of war, persecutions, famine, and all kinds of crisis that can be created out of the figment of our news media’s mind.  It is never ending, but that isn’t the Great crisis we face, the greatest crisis is

It is a book

I.               THE UNREAD BOOK    

2 Timothy 3:16-17   All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  ¹⁷ That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

It is a book

A.              With God’s Plan For Man

1.           We must know what God’s plan for us is for us to carry on, we need to know

2.           Only one place.

It is a book

B.              With God’s Promises To Man

1.           We need to know what God has promised us

2.               So we can keep going,

i.                Looking for those promises

It is a book

C.              With God’s Purpose For Man

1.           Knowing what God is planning for us is necessary. 

2.           With out His word what are we?

It is a book

D.              Of God’s Power Over Man

1.           We must have the fear of knowing what he can do if we don’t obey.

II.           OUR UNCONCERNED ATTITUDE 

2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;   ⁴And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

A people unconcerned

A.              About Christ

1.               The truth about Christ

2.               Seldom will they listen

A people unconcerned

B.              About The Church

1.           It is their lifestyle that is important

A people unconcerned

C.              About The Cross

1.           They, our church member seldom want to know what really happened on that cross,

2.           Just let this one or two hours pass, and I get to eat.

A people unconcerned

D.              About Christian Values

1.           They still do in front of their children things that are contrary to God's law,

2.           Yet they tell there kids do as they tell you at church and

              i.            Not what I do,

                             a.           Unless I tell you different.

II.              OUR UNTRAINED Children 

Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Our children are untrained in

A.              Living For Christ

1.           What is the example we are setting?

Our children are untrained in

B.              Laboring For Christ

1.           Are you setting the example for your children, grandchildren?

Our children are untrained in

C.              Learning About Christ

1.           Are you studying your scripture before hand,

i.                with an open mind,

ii.               ready to receive the Word about Christ,

iii.             setting an example of studying for your children?

Our children are untrained in

D.              Loving The Christ

1.           Are you showing your children; grandchildren that you are in love with Jesus the Christ, or

i.            Is it the TV they see you love

III.            THE CRISIS OF THE UNBOWED KNEE

1 Thessalonians 5:17  Pray without ceasing.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-2  Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,   ² That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

We have failed to

A.              Pray For Our Children

1.               When do we pray for them,

i.                When they are sick,

ii.               In trouble,

iii.             In dire need. 

2.               Pray for them now before need.

We have failed to

B.              Pray For our Church

1.           Our collective body

              i.            This Church needs our prayers,

2.           Not necessarily the building,

              i.            For each other.

We have failed to

C.              Pray For Our Country

1.               We need prayer for our country,

2.               We need God in our government,

3.               Pray that he will intercede, and

i.                That His will, will be done.

2 Chronicles 7:14  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

We have failed to

D.              Pray For Our Christian Walk

1.               Pray for ourselves and

i.                For our family. 

2.               My most neglected prayer is for Sharil and I. 

3.               Pray that you will walk in the LORDS will,

i.                Not the worlds. 

              a.           His will

IV.            THE CRISIS OF THE UNCOMMITTED LIFE

                                               

Matthew 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

We are uncommitted

A.              In Serving

1.           Look about you at the next church service

              i.            Look how many uncommitted souls              aren’t sitting around you.

2.           The problem with this,

              i.            The problem is in order to know who           is not committed,

              ii.           You must become committed.

We are uncommitted

B.              In Sharing           

1.           We are uncommitted in sharing the Gospel,

ii.               That is somebody else's job, not mine. 

iii.             Show me in the scripture where it states that being committed is your job as a Christian.  

CONCLUSION:               We have heard of several crises’ that affect our Christian walk.  These are things that will affect the family, the church and our individual walk. 

              This message is about our failures as a Christian.  I am not pointing this entirely to this specific congregation, but we each have failed in one or more of these categories.

              We Christians seem unconcerned.  We know we are going to Heaven, and as for me and my family, I have it covered.  In this unconcern we fail to pray for our Church, our Family and our Nation.  This has caused a diminishing of them all.

              Our Churches are suffering because the Family is failing.  The Christian Family has a divorce rate equal to the worlds.

              Our Families are failing because the Father is either absent or has never included God as his focus.  The television and now the broadband computer have replaced God as the Head of the home.  The Father is just a bumbling idiot, an inconsequential necessity for the creation of the family.  Women are now the head more households than men. 

              Our Nation is failing because the Churches and the Families are failing.  We have raised a generation, maybe two, whom we never passed the love of God onto.  We were to wrapped up in me, myself, and I, to take our children to Church, get them under the Word of God.  We spent no time in the Bible, very little time in Church.  We became a CEO, (Christmas and Easter Only.)

              So, what can we do about it?  The first step as a Christian is to get to your knees in a repentant attitude, with a broken heart, realizing what you have, or have not done.   Get yourself right with God.

              Now start reading that King James Bible your Mother gave you.  (Do you know where it is?) Get faithful in Church, become the Man and the Woman God expects you to be.

              Now start praying for your children, and your Grand-children, pray for their salvation.  Then start praying for your Church and your Pastor.

              By this time I hope you have realized your nation needs your prayers.  Pray for our President, our sorry Congress, and all our governments. 

              We as Christians have failed mightily, but our Lord our God is a God of great mercy.  He is a God who looks for repentance.

2 Chronicles 7:14  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

              Look to Him, realize the condition of your heart, humble yourself before God and pray that God will turn the Family, The Church and our Nation around.

              Seek Him in your presence in Church, in your Family life, in our Nation.  We as a people, as a Church and as a Nation must turn from our evil ways.

              Our failure to be concerned, to pray, to read our Bible, to train our children in the ways of God, and our lack of Commitment to God, these are sins, and these sins are what is destroying our Family, our Church, and our Nation.

              Rededicate your life Christian; get yourself back to God, and His Son Jesus.  Repent and become committed to Jesus, commit yourself to your Family, your Church Family and the Christianity our Nation was founded upon.

The Defence of The Gospel

Galatians 2:1-10  Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.  (2)  And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.  (3)  But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:  (4)  And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:  (5)  To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.  (6)  But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:  (7)  But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;  (8)  (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)  (9)  And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.  (10)  Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

INTRODUCTION:           In these verses we see Paul came and was defending the Gospel he preached.  There we those within the congregation who were requiring additional works, before Jesus’ Salvation could happen.

              These Judaizers still exist, within the world and within our Churches.  Unfortunately we know that some Churches and some Baptist Churches require things other than Jesus to obtain Salvation.

              We are told in:

Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  (9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

I.            THE GOSPEL WAS DEFENDED                                      (vv 3-5)

              A.           Paul Preached A Gospel of

1.               Grace of God

              i.            Grace alone

John 3:16-17  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  (17)  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

2.               Jesus, God’s Amazing Grace

              i.            Jesus alone

                            a.           Plus nothing

                             b.           Minus nothing

B.              Some Messianic Christians (Messianic Jews)

1.               Would not give up their

i.            Old Jewish customs

ii.           As a requirement for Salvation

Acts 15:1  And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

                                           iii.          They preached the law

              a.           In addition Jesus

              b.           Required circumcision

              c.            Required commitment to the Mosaic law

              d.           Required to observe Jewish ceremony

2.           First you must become a Jew

i.            Then you could now accept Jesus

C.              Paul Taught Against These Beliefs

1.               We are not justified by law

Galatians 2:16  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

2.               Not through works of the law

              i.            No flesh can be saved

           a.           By the law

II.           GOD ACCEPTS NO MAN’S PERSON                                   (v 6)

              A.           God Shows No Partiality

Romans 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

                        1.           If we confess (Acknowledge) Jesus Christ

                             2.           If we believe

i.            Regardless of who we are

ii.           With all our heart

3.               You will be saved

John 15:16  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

                                           i.            He chose you

                                                          a.           From your willing heart

                                                          b.           To bring forth fruit

                       

B.           Repentance, is a conscious change of direction,

              1.           All things are of God

              2.           He has given us a Ministry of reconciliation

                             i.            To reconcile our selves with God

                             ii.           To help others do as we have done

a.               All for God

Acts 10:34-35  Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:  (35)  But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

                             3.           It is all about our heart

D.              Some Add to Requirements to Salvation?

Galatians 6:12-15  As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.  (13)  For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.  (14)  But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.  (15)  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

              1.           They require

              i.            Circumcision

              ii            Baptism

              iii.          Tongues

              iv.          Wearing Specific type of clothing

              v.           Special Hairdos

III.         THE APOSTLES STOOD AGAINST

              A.           The Judaizers

                             1.           Paul and Barnabus

                                           i.            Given the right hand of fellowship

a.                             To go to the uncircumcised

2.           Peter and the remaining Apostles

a.               To the circumcised

Mark 12:30  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

CONCLUSION: Are we as Christians preaching the same Gospel that Jesus taught Paul?  Does our walk out there in the world reflect a heart that is truly sold out for Jesus?   The scripture teaches us that, this is the first commandment.  We are to not only walk in the love of Christ, but we are also to bear fruit.  We are to tell of the simple Salvation Jesus has given us.