Now Faith

Sermon Date:  October 12, 2016

Sermon Topic: Now Faith

Sermon Notes:

2 Samuel 22:2-3 – The Lord is my rock, fortress and deliverer. God is able to keep us in the midst of suffering. I must commit my whole self to God. In all that we do God gets the glory. Believers experience a lot – God is working in every situation involving believers. Some things are to warn us, some draw us closer to Christ and some are to simply teach us.

We may become lax in worship, fellowship and study – then something happens and we need to return to church. The worst thing to do when going thru is to stay away from the church. When you give a testimony someone is going through the same thing.  Our testimony makes us strong. It’s evidence. Testimony renews our faith in God. There’s purpose in every one of our experiences. Genesis 39:20 – God is working in our lives. Joseph was imprisoned with God’s favor because he had a greater purpose for Joseph. He knew that his brothers who sold him – would need him.

We can only see right now – God knows our end from our beginning  - before we were born he knew the plans that he thought towards us. 1 Peter 4:12 – Think it not strange….there will be disappointments and disruptions. If I lean to my own understanding – I wonder why me?

I have to get to a place where I’m repeating Romans 8:28 – All things work together for good. So when trials come – I know that they also work for my good. When you trust in God – no good thing will he withhold from you. It’s painful and disappointing, but it’s for the good.

Some things we have to go through alone – God is using every experience in our lives to test our trust in him. Take Job for instance, God asked Satan if he considered Job. He knows just how much we can bare.

God won’t ever let us fall. Deuteronomy 8:16-17 – God brought them through and they still wouldn’t trust him. We should be thankful and trusting. We must thank God for what has been and what’s to come. Mathew 6:25 – take no thought of what you should eat or wear.

We can learn from the bids – be joyful and praise him every morning just like the birds.  God says that we’re better than Sparrows. Mathew 6:27 – God wants us to trust in him. Proverbs 16:3 – Commit your mind to God – so his mind can be on us. Praise and worship is our expression of trust in God.

Put your trust in God.

In trusting God we need a perseverance in faith. Hebrews 10:35 – 36 – Don’t lose your confidence. You need patience to wait so you can receive the promise.

It may not be immediate. Psalms 40:1 – I waited patiently. He set my feet on the rock – waiting develops character.

Someone is watching your life; watching how you react to situations.

We must put God first. Proverbs 3:6 – we put eternal joy. 2 Corinthians 4:17 – over temporary hardship. The things God has for us are eternal. Eyes haven’t seen or ears heard what God has for those who love him.