Archive for Faith
FIVE FAITH BUILDERS FOR LIFE’S PROBLEMS – sermon outline
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FIVE FAITH BUILDERS FOR LIFE'S PROBLEMS
By Eddie Lawrence
Recently Bible Gateway which is one of the largest Bible access sites online asked their Facebook fans to share with them the Bible verses they go to when they are struggling with doubt. The five verses that follow were the winners. I have taken those five verses and made a little outline out of them, developed it a bit, and given it a title.
I pray you find comfort, reassurance and encouragement as you read the scriptures and respond in faith to the Lord's invitation to you through His Word. Actually, each of these could make an entire sermon.
1. THE LORD HAS A GOOD PLAN FOR YOUR FUTURE
Jeremiah 29:11-13: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’”
A. Plans to Prosper
B. Plans to Keep You Safe
C. Plans that Give You Hope
E. Plans that Give You a Future
F. You Should Call on Him and Pray
G. You Should Seek Him with All Your Heart
2. THE LORD DESIRES TO BE YOUR FORTRESS
Psalm 91: “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust….’” (read the rest)
A. He Invites You to Come to Him for Shelter
B. He Invites You to Rest in His Shadow
C. He Invites You to Flee to Him for Refuge
D. He invites You to Find Your Fortress in Him
E. You are to Dwell
F. You are to Rest
H. You are to Testify
I. You are to Trust
3. THE LORD COMES THROUGH FOR THOSE WHO WAIT ON HIM
Psalm 27:13-14: “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”
A. Root Your Confidence in God's Goodness
B. Trust God to Keep You Alive
C. Wait for the Lord to Act
D. Be Strong and Refuse to Act Independently of Him
4. THE LORD WILL ENABLE YOU TO COME OUT ON TOP
Isaiah 54:16-17: “‘See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to wreak havoc; no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,’ declares the LORD.”
A. The Lord is Creator
B. The Lord is Sovereign Over All Creation
C. The Lord Controls What You Can't
D. The Lord Knows the Enemies Plans Against You
E. The Lord will Refute the Enemies Accusations Against You
F. The Lord will be Your Vindicator
5. THE LORD WILL DIRECT YOUR PATH IF YOU WILL TRUST HIM
Proverbs 3:5-7: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.”
A. Wholeheartedly Trust God not Yourself
B, Don't Try to Figure Everything Out on Your Own
C. Live in Submission to God's Plans not Your Own
D. Listen and Obey His Directions in order to Suceed
E. Don't overestimate Your Own Wisdom
F. Reverence God and Refuse Evil
___________________________
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Make Sure of Your Trust in God | Sermon Outline
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Following is a sermon outline on trusting God. I hope you find it helpful and can develop it and use it.
Make Sure of Your Trust in God
by Eddie Lawrence
1. MAKE SURE YOUR TRUST IN GOD'S POWER OUTWEIGHS YOUR FEAR OF SATAN'S POWER
But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?
(Psalm 56:3, 11)
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. (John 14:1)
"You overcome your fears of what Satan or men can do to you by place in your faith in what God can do for you."
2. MAKE SURE YOUR TRUST IN GOD IS GREATER THAN YOUR TRUST IN MAN
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God
(Psalm 20:7)
Too often we listen to people when we should be listening to God. A person's motives and interest in you will never equal God's love or His interest in you. He loves you and knows what is best for you. Peter was strongly rebuked by Jesus for desiring what men wanted instead of what God wanted. Jesus told Peter that behind his words Satan was at work.
3. MAKE SURE YOU DON'T MISCALCULATE YOUR OWN ABILITIES
Trust in the LORD with all your heart; don't lean on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
(Proverbs 3: 5-6)
Be very careful here. It is often in the areas where you view yourself to be strong that your greatest fall can occur. It is at that point that you are less likely to think you need God and tend to depend on yourself. You may resist temptation through your own will-power but doing so just becomes a point of pride. We must humbly receive God's grace through trusting Him in order to become like Christ.
4. MAKE SURE YOUR TRUST IN GOD IS CONSTANT
My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me
(Psalm 63:8)
Trust in the LORD always, for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock
(Isaiah 26:4)
Declare me innocent, O LORD,for I have acted with integrity; I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
(Psalm 26:1)
Never vacation from your need for God. One of the best ways to maintain your trust level in God is through being grateful and thanking God. When you thank God, your are declaring your need and dependency on Him and recognizing His care of you.
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Sermon on Surrender
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1 Peter 5:5-10 – Surrender, Send, Strengthen, See
by Timothy L. Jainniney, Roanoke, Virgina
Introduction:
5 “…All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
When I read this passage, I think of Tammy Faye Bakker (Messner’s) Book, “Run To The Roar.” She spoke of a loud, intimidating, roaring lion who ended up being toothless, old and nearly powerless. Yet she also spoke of her living in constant fear.
God has a word of encouragement and instruction for you in these passages.
I. V. 5-6 SURRENDER YOUR WILL TO GOD
A. Assume The Place Of Submission – We live in a day when men are all seeking their own way, but the child of God who wants to please the Lord will learn to allow God to have the place or preeminence in his life, Col. 1:18. “And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.”
B. Assume The Place Of Servanthood – "Clothed with Humility" literally means to "wear the apron of a slave". True humility before the Lord merely me assuming the place of a slave. This is what Jesus did in the Upper Room, John 13:4-16, washing the feet of the disciples. In other words, I have no will but His will. I have no plan but His plan. I have no desire but His desire. We are called His "bondslaves." Eph. 6:6. "Servants" = "Bondslaves."
C. Accept The Plan Of The Sovereign – If we can learn the way of humility, then the Lord will lift us up in His own way. As long as we seek to promote ourselves, we will never amount to much for the glory of God. However, when we turn loose of our lives and willingly place ourselves under the Lord, He will use us for His glory!
Surrender Your Will To God, then…
II. V. 7 SEND YOUR WORRY TO GOD
A. Casting – "Casting" – This verb refers to the act of "throwing" something. It is in a form that refers to a one time deal. We are told here to "once for all, throw our burdens to Jesus!" When the worries of life press us down, we do not have to bear them alone! Thank God, there is One Who is stronger than we are and Who is willing to carry our load.
B. Completely – Notice how much or our burden we are supposed to give to the Lord. "All your care"! He tells us to give Him everything! We are not so much as to keep even the smallest part of a burden to ourselves. We are told to give it all up to Jesus!
C. Confidently – How can we do this? With the absolute confidence that He cares for us. When we are burdened, it touches the heart of God and He is moved on our behalf. Please notice that this verb is in the "Present Tense, Active Voice and the Indicative Mood." You may wonder what this means for you. Present Tense means ongoing activity. Active Voice means the Lord Himself is involved. Indicative Mood means that it is a fact! Put it all together and we find that Jesus Christ, Himself, is actively involved in caring for us. Why the interest on His part? He has made quiet an investment in us (The Cross) and He will see to the needs that arise in our lives.
Surrender Your Will To God, then…
Send Your Worry To God, then…
III. V. 8-9 STRENGTHEN YOUR WALK WITH GOD
We are told that we need to be "sober and vigilant" KJV, “self-controlled and alert.” NIV. This means that we need to get serious about some things, especially where the devil/enemy/adversary is concerned. Who do you think wants to bring you down? Who do you think is actively interested in seeing you miserable? Who do you think is working against you every day? Yet, as we strengthen our walk with the Lord, we will see the path to victory over the devil!
A. Be Serious About The Devil's Reality – This verse refers to a being that most of the world does believe in this evening. However, just in case there is any confusion in your mind, the devil is real! Jesus believes in him, the Bible believes in him, God believes in him, therefore, he must be real! Here, he is called "Adversary". This word means, "An opponent, an enemy". He is also called "the devil". This name means "slanderer; or false accuser." This is the same one who attacked the character and name of old Job; Job 1:6-12; Job 2:1-7. He is still the same old devil that he always was and he hates you and wants to see you fall. The sooner we come to realize the truth of Satan's reality, the sooner we will see the need to strengthen our walks with God.
B. Be Serious About The Devil's Ferocity – The devil is compares to a "roaring lion" in this verse. Why a lion? Well, there are some similarities between the devil and lions.
1. Lions Are Forceful – They are 14 to 21 times stronger than a man. Satan is far stronger than we are as well! We cannot fight him on OUR own.
2. Lions Are Ferocious – A mature lion can consume 30% of his own body weight at one setting. They are famous as the king of beasts and as the king of the jungle. All those who encounter them treat them with fear and respect. By the way, God's children would do well to learn to respect the devil! We do not need to fear him, but he does have power that is far superior to our own NATURAL abilities. He is a ferocious foe who is never satisfied with his conquests. He feeds on the carcass of the fallen ones and he rises to hunt more.
3. Lions Are Fearful – A mature lion's roar can be heard up to 5 miles away. Lions do most of their roaring at night. The reason they roar in the first place is to create fear in the hearts of those who hear them. This is just what the devil does too! He roars to create fear in the hearts of God's children. Why? Because fear paralyzes faith! If the devil can get you to listen to his roar, he can keep you from hearing God's Word. If he can paralyze your faith, then he can attack your life.
C. Be Serious About The Devil's Susceptibility – The good news about the devil is that he can be defeated by the child of God! The secret to overcoming him and changing his roar into a meow is to "resist" him! This word means to "stand up against" the devil! Be steadfast in your faith, knowing that the Lord has already defeated the devil and that victory for the child of God is found in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Don't let him have your honor, your family, your life, or anything else he is after. Stand against him and see the victory! You can resist him and you can see him defeated in your life. Learn the truth that if you will resist him, he will flee from you, James 4:7. Learn that true victory comes to those who will walk in faith. Get to the place where you have no doubts as to the truth of 1 John 4:4, overcoming our enemies, every spirit, the spirit of antichrist. To get to that place requires that every child of God grow in the Lord and that we strengthen our walk with Him daily through prayer and the study of His Word!
Surrender Your Will To God, then…
Send Your Worry To God, then…
Strengthen Your Walk With God, and finally…
IV. V. 10 SEE THE WORK OF GOD
One of the greatest incentives to walking in continuous victory is to be able to see the Lord at work all around you! Notice three thoughts:
A. The Grace We Now Enjoy – While we journey through those difficult days, while we fight the devil day by day, while we face those times when we are burdened with worries and cares, always remember that God's grace is sufficient for you, 2 Cor. 12:9, “…My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect (complete) in weakness.” He did not say that He would lift every load. He did not say that He would flatten every hill. He did not say that He would smooth out every rough spot. However, He did say that He would change you in the midst of your difficulty so that you could be successful in your walk with Him. There is grace for every trial, for every step and for everything we face as we go through life!
B. The Grief We Must Endure – Verse 10 makes it plain that there will be difficulties along the road of life from time to time. The word "suffer' bears this out for us. Jesus Himself said it would be so, John 16:33. Even Job knew that there would be difficult times in our lives, Job 14:1. God only had one Son Who did not sin, but He has no sons that do not suffer!
Let us remember that even when life is a veil of tears for us, that we have the Lord's promise of His Presence, Heb. 13:5; Matt. 28:20; His Provision, Phil. 4:19; His Power, Matt. 28:18; and His Promotion, John 14:1-3. Therefore, let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith! Why, Because He has already ran the race and He knows the way!
C. The Glory We Will Experience – This verse tells us that when the suffering days are over, there are glory days ahead! Notice what the Lord tells His children here: He will make us perfect, establish us, strengthen us and settle us. When will this happen? Yes, this will be something that will take place in our eternal future, however I believe we can have this NOW!
Conclusion: Ask yourself the following questions and be honest:
Am I surrendering my will to God?
Am I sending my worries to God?
Am I strengthening my walk with God?
Am I seeing the work of God?
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Sermon on Faith
Posted by: | CommentsThe following video is like a sermon on faith. It is a song, I Never Lost My Praise, by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Enjoy this powerful video of praise as it lifts your heart today.
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DOUBT & UNBELIEF – sermon outline by Spurgeon
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Doubt and Unbelief
By Charles H. Spurgeon
TEXT: Mark 16:14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. (KJV)
This shows us the way in which we must deal with unbelief in ourselves, and in others. It is a sin and should be treated as such. Jesus would not have upbraided had not this been the case.
In the case before us they had repeated testimonies from their own brethren, and backed by his own word—but we have even more guilt, for we know him to be risen and yet doubt.
1. Let us consider its evil in itself.
Suppose someone doubted us.
Think of who he is and what he has done.
Consider his near and dear relation to us.
The many times in which we have doubted
And upon the same matter.
Where his promises forbade unbelief
Despite our own declarations.
What have we believers in preference?
2. Let us observe the evils which it causes.
It grieves the Spirit of God.
It causes disbeliefs in our own hearts.
It weakens us for action or suffering.
It depresses others.
It leaves an ill impression [on] sinners.
It cannot but gender to bondage.
3. Let us reflect upon its sinfulness where it reigns.
It gives God the lie.
It argues hatred in the heart.
It is the sign of utter moral death.
It is the essence of hell.
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Have Faith in God – sermon outline
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I just got off the phone with a missionary friend of mine who cares for 39 orphaned children in Honduras. For about 20 minutes I listened to a string of stories of the marvelous provision of God. He has been able to buy a $40,000.00 acreage of property and now its paid for. On this acreage he is teaching the children how to farm so that they can learn how to provide for themselves. God has blessed their gardens and this past year they experienced a big harvest.
He had been praying specifically for a Ford F-150 pickup truck, a tractor and a trailor to haul it on. A few weeks ago he received a call from a man in Texas. The man asked, "Can you use a 2006 model Ford F-150 pickup. Then another one contacted him about a tractor and then came the trailor. He is about to leave on an 11 day trip headed back to Honduras. Oh, did I mention that when he left Honduras by plane, he had $4.50 in his pocket. When he landed in the states he had $24.50. A man on the plane gave him a $20. Now as he heads back, he travels with his truck, tractor, trailor and provision for the trip.
He told me someone mentioned that he had great faith. He said, "I told them that I do not look at my faith. I look at the object of my faith. The Bible says "Have faith in God!" When I hung up, I could not help but think about the amazing faithfulness of God. Regardless of where you are, or what your needs are, remember….Have faith in God. It is the object of your faith that is important. A little mustard seed is able to stretch upward and get warmth from the fiery sun and recieve water from the moving clouds. Yet, it is God who provides them both. That's the way it is in our lives as well. Dear friends, let us have faith in God!
Here is a little outline you might could use sometime:
HAVE FAITH IN GOD
by Eddie Lawrence
Mark 11:21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.”
22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
1. EVERYBODY USES IN FAITH IN THEIR DAILY LIVES
A. Faith that the car will get them to work.
B. Faith that the roads will be passable.
C. Faith that the water is not poisoned.
D. Faith that their seat will hold them up.
E. Faith that their watch is working correctly……..
2. FAITH ALWAYS FOCUSES ON AN OBJECT
Jesus said to put your faith in God. Have faith in God implies that you are relying on God's character and trustworthiness.
3. FAITH IS TRUSTING THAT SOMETHING WILL DO WHAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO DO.
Illus-You take a pill that comes from a factory you don't know about. A prescription that was written by a doctor you may not know very well. Filled by a pharmacist that you may not know very well. Yet, you open the bottle and take the pill without any doubt. Why? Your prior testimony and the testimony of others for the most part.
Have you ever thought about all the testimonies from people who share what God has done for them? Have Faith in God.
4. FAITH IN GOD WORKS THE SAME WAY.
There will always be the visitor called "doubt" that will drop by to persuade you that God can't be trusted. The question I have is, what has doubt ever done for you? What can doubt do for you now? What can God do for you? Seems like it's time for your faith to tell Mr. Doubt that visiting hours are over.
Notice our Scripture tells us to speak what we believe. If you what you are getting is not what you want, then it might be a good idea to examine what you have been speaking. If Jesus spoke to a tree and it obeyed and he tells us to speak to mountains in faith and they will obey, then just maybe we should try it out. Begin to trust what Jesus said, and in your praying speak to those things that need to be moved out of your life. Speak to those things that are unfruitful to wither. Speak life over the things that need to live.
It may sound silly, but it really comes down to the whether or not you are willing to trust God to do what He says He will do. If we can do it with an pill them surely we should give God a chance to do what He can do!
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15 Ways to Behave More Christian
Posted by: | Commentsby Eddie Lawrence
INTRODUCTION – It is much too easy to become swept into movements and lose sight of the bigger picture. At our weekly small group men’s meeting recently, eight of us guys sat at my dining room table as we do each Tuesday morning. The topic of discussion centered around how to be in the world but not of the world. The question was posed, “How do we stand firmly in love on an issue we really believe in?”We LOVE you so.. how about liking us on Facebook?..
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A Bold Faith – sermon outline
Posted by: | CommentsA Bold Faith
by Eddie Lawrence
Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all 17 (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; 18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” 19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
Notice that a bold faith:
1. Is Contrary to What Can Be Hoped for in the Natural
2. It Is Rooted in Hope that Rests in God
3. Is Not Weak
4. Does Not Consider The Limitation of the Natural
5. It Does Not Waver Through Unbelief
6. By Giving Glory to God Faith is Strengthened
7. It is Convinced At God’s Ability
8. It Sees God Perform His Promise
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The Seed of Faith — Sermon by Andrew Murray
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The Seed of Faith by Andrew Murray
(This is the third chapter in his book, Why Do You Not Believe?)
"The seed is the word of God." Luke 8: 11.
Very simply as well as strikingly is the word of God set forth to us in this parable. There lies the cold, dead earth, which of itself brings forth either nothing, or thorns and thistles. It has not the power to give man nutritive corn.
When the husbandman, however, desires to have that corn, he takes good seed and commits it to the ground that had hitherto brought forth nothing but weeds. The soil receives it, and keeps it in the silent and dark secrecy of its bosom. Encouraged by the sunshine and moistened by the dew of heaven, it shoots there and grows up; and the cold dead earth by and by becomes the mother of a beautiful crop. The life was not in the earth, but in the seed; and yet the earth was just as indispensable as the living seed, before that these fair fruits could be reaped. Although the seed did not receive life from the earth, yet without the earth’s having its share in the work, the seed could not yield its fruit. It must offer the seed the soil, in which the root can shoot; in its bosom must the seed still be kept until it be ready to make an appearance above ground.
A glorious and instructive picture is this of the new life of grace. Like the seed, the word has a divine power of life. Like the earth, the heart is in itself lifeless, unfruitful of itself in what is good. Like the seed in the earth, the word is strewn in the heart and committed to it, simply to be received and kept there.
The living power that God has lodged in the seed is the security that the ground, although in and of itself wholly incapable of bringing forth anything but weeds, will be changed into a fruitful field. Thus, however helpless you may feel yourselves to be, will the living seed of God’s word send forth its roots in your heart, and sprouting upwards bring forth fruit.
Sinner, yearning for salvation, you have only to acknowledge that a living power is presented to you in every word of God. With that confidence must you keep it in your heart, and the certainty of fruit depends not on any ability of yours, but on the faithfulness of God. Only endeavor by prayerful consideration and faithful keeping of God’s word, to prepare a place for it in your heart.
Mourn no longer, then, that your heart is so hard and so full of weeds, but rather understand what you see every day, that by the keeping of the seed the dead earth is transformed into a fruitful field.
Faith is not a thing that is present in you before you receive the word, or with which you must meet the word. No! there is life in the word, and it is by the word that faith is first awakened.
Meanwhile, forget not that there are many kinds of seed, and that every kind bears fruit according to its nature. A child of God, for example, longs for comfort in adversity; he chooses one of the promises of God to His people, sows it in his heart, and keeps it; the desired fruit is the comfort of God.
As those who are troubled about your sins, you have need of the promises of God’s grace in relation to the ungodly. Seek for seed according to your need. "The Lord is gracious and full of compassion"; "He will abundantly pardon"; "He that comes to Me I will in no wise cast out"; "Christ died for the ungodly." That is the kind of seed you must use.
Every one of these words is a heavenly grain of seed containing power for eternal life. One of them is sufficient to bring forth, when it shoots up, the fruits of faith and peace and life. Let one of them be faithfully kept in the heart, and it cannot but be that faith will be born of it.
In the seed is life: the seed of God’s word has a divine power of life. O, take, then, the heavenly seed, lay it up in your heart, and keep it there. Although you do not actually feel that you believe, resolve at least to hold fast by the thought: "It is the living word of God. God will give the increase in His own time."
The seed needs time for development. It must be kept a long time quietly beneath the ground: one day it certainly comes up. Day by day continue absorbed in heart with the word of promise and of grace. The true God and His living word are the guarantees that your experience also will be: "Faith comes by the word of God."
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The Five Ingredients of Faith – Luke 5
Posted by: | CommentsTHE FIVE INGREDIENTS OF FAITH
by Eddie Lawrence
INTRODUCTION- We often talk about taking a step of faith, but actually a step of faith involves several "steps" in order to truly be faith.
TEXT- Luke 5: 1 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, 2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. 3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.
4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”
9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” 11 So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him. (NKJV)
NOTICE THE FIVE INGREDIENTS OF FAITH IN THE ABOVE PASSAGE:
1. KNOWLEDGE
(V5)..nevertheless at Your word…
Simon (Peter) first had to know what Jesus wanted him to do before he did it. He heard Jesus Word.
The first ingredient is knowledge. In order to act upon something, you first have to know about it.
For example, if the local restaurant had a two-for-one special on their Ribeye Steak Dinners, in order for me to get in on it and experience it, and eat one of those dinners, I would first have to know about the offer.
Faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17) the Word of God. How can people be saved if they do not hear? This is the question Paul asked the Romans. In other words, people first have to know what God is saying.
2. BELIEF
(V5) But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”
Notice Peter’s objection at first, we have already done this and caught nothing. In other words, it is hard to believe that there is any reason in the natural to act on what you are saying.
Yet, Peter made the decision to believe what Jesus said. Had he not chosen to place faith in what Jesus said, he would never have let down the nets.
Once a person knows then they must choose whether or not they believe that knowledge is correct. Is it true?
To continue the restaurant illustration, you would not go for a special offer at a restaurant if you did not believe they were having the special offer. You would assume it would be a waste of time. This was Peter’s first thought, but he moved through it and make the choice to believe Jesus word.
3. COMMITMENT
(v5) …nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”
Notice Peter says, "I will" let down the net. These is an act of his will. He is commiting himself to doing what Jesus said even before he does it.
If a person has decided that they have heard and know about is true, then the next step is whether or not, they will commit to that truth. A person can believe that it is true that the restaurant is offering a two-for-one special on their ribeye steaks, but may not commit to actually taking the step to utilize the offer. They may hear of others who have gone and eaten one of the steak dinners and who share that is wonderfully delicious and a great deal, and still not get one for themselves. In order to fully experience the truth of what they have heard about and believe to be true, they have to commit to it for themselves. In other words, they head toward the restaurant with the full intent of buying.
4. ACTION
(v6) And when they had done this…
Peter actually followed through on his commitment and did it. This is the action part.
This is the step of acted upon a commitment made. To continue the illustration. This is the step of entering the restaurant, ordering and eating the steak.
5. RESULTS
(v6) And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”
The results of Peter’s step of faith is that he saw in the natural what he had already heard, believed, committed to and acted upon in his spirit and life. He experienced a bunch of benefits:
-A boat load of fish "a great number of fish"
-Enough to share with others "signaled to their partners"
-A deeper revelation of Who Jesus was "fell down at Jesus’ knees" An act of worship.
-A deeper revelation of Who he was "sinful man"
-A powerful public witness "all were astonished"
-A realization of purpose for his life "from now on you will catch men"
This last ingredient is really more of a benefit of faith. The result one receives because he has heard and known, believed, committed to and acted upon what he has heard, and experienced it for himself. This is standing up at the table at the restaurant, rubbing your belly, and being fully satisfied and full because you ordered and ate the two-for-one special. You then walk out and become a witness to what you have experienced to others whom you think would enjoy a ribeye steak dinner at a great price.
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