FAITH CARD

You cannot live by faith without someone seeing it!

Hebrews 11:1-2, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report.

If your faith be hidden, what good is it? It would be like a candle that is lit but put in a room full of light; not much. If you claim salvation, but never share your faith with someone else, what good is it? If you are truly on your way to Heaven, you won’t have to tell anyone. There will be enough difference in your life that everyone will know.

Remember in school when you got a report card? What if you had a faith card that gave you a grade on how well you were displaying your Christianity? What if someone graded you on your witnessing, your language, your appearance, your church attendance? Friend, those things aren’t the main thing but they are important when it comes to our walk with the Lord!

DON’T DOUBT GOD

Doubters invert the metaphor and insist that they need faith as big as a mountain in order to move a mustard seed. -Anonymous

Luke 17:6, And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

Have you ever heard that, “If you only had more faith, this or that wouldn’t have happened?” I have. Once I had someone tell me it was because of my lack of faith that my dad wasn’t healed from his cancer. I didn’t agree with that individual because my dad did get healed. He got the ultimate healing, friend! He doesn’t have any more pain or suffering! He was completely healed the day the Lord took him home.

Friend, it is important that we have faith! I need to have more faith! But can I share a truth to you, if my faith isn’t in God’s will, no matter how much faith I have, whatever it is; will not happen. So, let us pray as the Lord prayed, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” When things don’t seem to go the direction we desire them to go, we know that God’s way is a whole lot better than our way! We can rest in Him. Don’t ever doubt God. Have faith in His way, His will, and His work in your life!

DEAD FAITH

A man ought to live so that everybody knows he is a Christian.... and most of all, his family ought to know. -Moody

James 2:26: For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

I am sure that I am just like you--we have some family members we are concerned about. We are not sure whether they are saved or not. I mean, they say they are but you wouldn’t know it by their actions. They still go to the same places they did before they made a profession of faith. They still say the same things they said before they made a profession of faith. They watch the same things on TV they watched before they made a profession of faith. They still lie, cheat, lust, and, on occasion, curse like they did before they made a profession of faith.

My main problem is not that they do any of those things, it is what they don’t do. They don’t read their Bibles. They don’t attend church regularly. They don’t fellowship with other believers. They don’t have that personal fellowship with Lord that is so needful for their spiritual growth.

Many times, I really wonder if those family members have faith at all. I believe they are suffering from dead faith--meaning they never had faith at all. Are you one of those types of people? Do you have a head knowledge of Jesus but lack the heart knowledge of Him? Do you tell folks you are saved but there are no works to back up what you say you are? Hey friend, you can get on board with the Lord and be saved today! Your faith can be alive so much that those around you don’t have to wonder! Will you trust Him today?

FINISH LINE IN VIEW

Setting our eyes toward Heaven gives us a renewed perspective that keeps our lives in focus to what matters most.

2 Timothy 4:7, I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Paul was at the end of his life. Looking back, he reflected on how he lived his life. He fought the good fight until the end by keeping the faith. His faith was not in the thing of this world but Heavenly things; those things that mattered most. All of that was centered around his faith.

As you and I approach our finish line of this life, let us keep our eyes toward Heaven; reflecting on our past long enough to express what matters most—our faith in the finished work of our Saviour Jesus Christ.  

WHAT DO YOU FEAR?

It is shocking to reflect that a change in the weather has more effect on some men's lives than the dread alternative of heaven or hell. -Spurgeon

2 Thessalonians 1:8-9, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

The thought of Hell to some people doesn’t even make them flinch. They have no concern or even care. They do not have a Biblical understanding that Hell is real and that one day, if they have not repented and trusted Jesus as Saviour, they will be eternally cast into Hell. The dreaded place that Paul described as a place of “… everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power.”

Do you fear the Lord enough that you fear Hell? Death is coming friend. You might want to consider your life in light of the Gospel.

OVERCOMING HINDRANCES

Victory comes by faith in God’s power!

1 John 5:4, For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

David had many things that could have kept him from becoming the man God wanted Him to be. His family, his friends, his enemies, and his youth could have held him back. None of it did because he overcame by the faith he had in God! He defeated Goliath, he saw the defeat of Saul, he overcame the problems of his family, and of his youth and experience by walking, not in his own strength, but in the power of God.

Will you have faith that overcomes the hindrances in your life? Or will you become another statistic and fall by the way side because of your lack of faith?

TRUST IN THE LORD

All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen. -Emerson

Proverbs 14:26, In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

As we walk with the Lord, we learn to trust Him more with the things we didn’t think we could trust Him with before. Friend, you can trust Him with your soul- Psalm 25:1, Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. You can trust Him with your sincere troubles- Psalm 46:1, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. You can trust Him with the scary unknown- Joshua 1:5, There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

What have you been holding back form the Lord? You can trust Him with that too!

HAVE FAITH

It is not faith and works; it is not faith or works; it is faith that works. -Anonymous

2 Kings 4:3, Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.

Have you ever wondered if the widow woman had gotten more pots, the Lord would have provided more oil? I believe He would have because God goes above and beyond. So often, we don’t go the extra mile, trying God’s faithfulness when He “…is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.”

Do what the Lord has asked of you friend and HAVE FAITH that God will do His part! He is able… will you have faith?

NO PLACE FOR FEAR

           If I had three hundred men who feared nothing but God, hated nothing but sin, and were determined to know nothing among men but Jesus Christ and Him crucified, I would set the world on fire. --John Wesley

2 Timothy 1:7, For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

            The Israelites didn’t originally enter the promise land when God told them to because they feared what the spies reported. That fear crippled them so much they did not obey God’s commands. As a result of their disobedience, they had to endure 40 years in the wilderness. They wondered around in the desert for forty years paying for that disobedience.

            Dear friend, fear cripples the local church from fulfilling its purpose. It cripples you and I from fulfilling what our God given purpose. Consider three acronyms for the word fear:

Forget Everything And Run

False Evidence Appearing Real

Face Everything And Rise

             What fear do you have that’s preventing you from obeying God? Are you prepared for the punishment for not being obedient? Is it really worth your delay? Or will you face your fear and rise above it? Will you have faith?

JESUS CAN DO MORE

           Low expectations of our Saviour means little faith.

Ephesians 3:20-21, Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

            We have lost the proper view of our Saviour. Once we held Him as the One who could do anything. Now, I believe we have lost the proper view of who He is and what He is capable of. Friend, Jesus is the One who held the sick, blind, lame, and dumb. He is the One who raise the dead. He is the One who has fixed marriages, dried up drunkards, and set those in the sins of addiction free!

            Whatever your limits are on the Saviour… He can do more! Have faith that He is bigger, stronger, and mightier than any of your problems! Just let Him work in and through your life and you will begin to see just how BIG, STRONG, AND MIGHTY He truly is!

THANK THE LORD FOR FAITH

           It is not to have faith in this church, this doctrine or that man, but it is to have faith in the man Christ Jesus at the right hand of God.  That is the only faith that will ever save a soul. - D.L. Moody

Galatians 3:22, But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

            What a gift Jesus has given us in our salvation! He has done it all for us to be saved. Jesus came from Heaven, sacrificing His life, arose the third day, came to me when I could not go to Him, convicted my sinful heart, imputed His righteousness, adopted me in my family, I could go on and on but we don’t have enough time this morning to thank Him for everything He has done. I will thank Him for one last thing—the faith! I praise God this morning that I had sense enough to believe His Word!  What a blessing to know I am saved and it’s all because what Jesus has done for me! It’s because I took Him at His Word—I have faith!

KEEP ON KEEPING ON

It’s good to know our responsibility in winning souls so that we don’t burn out.

Galatians 6:9, And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

The farmer cultivates and plants, God sends the rain and the harvest. We are farmers, cultivate the soil of man’s soul and plant the seed of the Gospel. God sends the Water of His Word via His messengers and gives the increase of souls for Heaven. If we get these responsibilities out of kilter, we will grow weary, and may even become wayward.

Child of God, know your responsibilities! Do what God has called you to do. Today, GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH! He has prepared His messenger with a message that will help you keep on keeping on!

GOT FAITH?

Real true faith is man's weakness leaning on God's strength. -D.L. Moody

Hebrews 11:6, 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.

It sure is difficult to function without faith to guide us. Without faith we are spiritually dead. We are helpless and hopeless without faith in God!

            Do you have faith? Saving faith? Faith that will keep you until the day of redemption! If not, you can today! Amen!   

KEEPING FAITHFUL

Compromise leads to Corruption

2 Timothy 4:7-8, I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

In Paul’s second letter to Timothy he gave Timothy some instructions about Christian Living, about the Ministry, and life to come. In these two verse Paul is sharing with Timothy the importance in remaining faithful to the call God gave him. To fight the good fight, to finish well, and to keep the faith.  

Many have compromised in this life, losing their witness in this world. Paul did not waver and his witness continues today! How about you friend? What are you compromising in that will lead to your corruption and eventually your crumbling? Get rid of it, fight the good fight, finish well, keep the faith, and live for Jesus!

ONLY BY FAITH

        “Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that thou mayest believe, but believe that thou mayest understand.” — Author Unknown

James 1:5-6, If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

Abraham stepped out by faith to what God had called him to do. Not knowing where he was going.

Noah stepped out by faith to what God had called him to do. Never before seeing rain.

            All throughout Hebrews 11 we see the patriarchs of our faith commended for their faith. 11:2 says, "For by it the elders obtained a good report." How are we living by faith? Living by faith is obedience to what God wants for our lives. Not seeing what He has done but having faith in what He will do!

            Lord help us to live by faith and not by sight. Help us live according to your will. Guide us, mold us, make us what you'd have us to be!

ONLY TRUST HIM

“Never doubt in the night what God gave you in the light.” — Author Unknown

There are so many lessons that we learn in the dark times of our life. The thing I believe we learn the most is to trust in the Lord. When a friend or family member takes their last breath. When we lose our job. When we get a bad report from the doctor. When everything we touch seems to be falling apart. It is times like these that we either learn to trust the Lord more or we tuck tail and run.

Each one of us have moments of weakness but is there a continual streak of yellow running down our backs? Elijah thought he was the only one left that was serving the Lord, Peter denied the Lord, and Thomas doubted. But each one of these men didn't stay with that mindset. They overcame and conquered their weaknesses.

Today let’s take what the Lord has taught us in the valley to fight the battles of this life, day by day. 1 Chronicles 19:13 Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight.

A BIT OF ENCOURAGEMENT

           Would Christ have made a child the standard of faith if He had known that it was not capable of understanding His words? - D.L. Moody

Matthew 18:3, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

            Oh, the faith of a child. I know a little about that. When my oldest daughter was young, a friend of mine and I would chunk her back and forth like a sack of potatoes. She would run back and say, again, again. I miss those days of not only her but my other two “kids” being true kids. Oh, I am thankful for who they have become and wouldn’t want them to go back for anything. But I learned so much about the Lord and myself during those days.

            Take a moment this morning and think about your kids. Think about how much faith they have in you. Think about the faith they have in people. Think about the faith they have in society. We learn a lot when we consider the faith of a child. Do you have that kind of faith, the faith as a child?

HAVE FAITH DEAR FRIEND

Real true faith is man's weakness leaning on God's strength. -D.L. Moody

Romans 1:17, For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

            Throughout the pages of the Bible we see many different circumstances and situations play out before our eyes. Some of those stories end with a display of God’s great power and strength, giving the believer victory. Others stories end with distress, destruction, and even death. What made the difference? What determined a different outcome? Faith!

            Faith is our victory friend! Saving faith! Daily faith! Even dying faith is needed! If your faith is waning this morning, GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH, having your faith recharged from the Word of God! He will surely give you faith to face the trial you’re in now or the one tomorrow may hold!

GOT FAITH?

Faith- Believing things when common sense tells you not to. –Davis

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

In the minds of those that don’t believe, faith is stupid. However, for those that do, it’s everything! Faith for the family, faith for our friends, faith for the future of our country, faith for funds, faith for the fundamentals of the faith, faith for fellow workers, faith for fortification, faith for the home front, or faith for the House of God. It's all about faith in the Lord Jesus Christ!

How’s your faith holding up these days? If wavering let us echo the one who brought his son to Jesus “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief”.

BE COMMITTED

I have now concentrated all my prayers into one, and that one prayer is this, that I may die to self, and live wholly to him. –Spurgeon

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Psalm 37:4-6

Being committed to something or someone takes time, effort, and most of all love. Think about this for a minute; how much time has the Lord invested in you?—“before the foundation of the world” How much effort has the Lord invested in you?—“he gave his only begotten Son” How much love has He given you?— In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 1 John 4:9

            If He has done all of this for you and I, shouldn’t we be committed to what He has commanded us to? Shouldn’t we be committed to what He has called us to? Shouldn’t we be committed to what He commissioned us to? Shouldn’t we remain committed???