Strengthening Your Faith

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What is Faith?

We all know the Bible answer to that can be found in Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

What gives you Faith?

What gives you faith when everything is going wrong?

What gives you faith when problems are touching you personally?

How do we Strengthening our Faith in God in times like these?

I don’t know about you but it is hard for me to just have Faith in something I can’t see.

That is why we have a Bible, because God is the same yesterday, today and forever, He does not change

 

The Bible is a Book full of people with Faith. Why so that we can know how God has worked in the past, so it can give us Hope and Strengthen our Faith in Him now and in the Future.

 

Let us Pray!

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I would like to share with you what gives me Faith.

What gives me Faith is Stories Like:    “The Prophet Elisha and his servant”

Tell a short Story about Elisha…..

2 Kings 6:

16: And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

17: And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see.  And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

Sometime we get discourage when we don’t see things going like we think they should.   If I can’t see it with my eyes I don’t believe it

  • Sometime we are discourage when other Christian judge us by there standard of Christianity.  Remember satin also goes to Church

 

  • Many of time we are surrounded by the enemy and satin brings sickness into our life, don’t let it get you down, let it be a tool to draw you closer to Jesus.

 

  • What about other problems in this world.   Read the story of Job

 

  • Don’t give up Faith, but pray and ask God to open your eyes so that you might see; Angle standing next to you to protect you and take care of you.

Fall on your knees and pray, don’t let Satan block your hold on Jesus

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  What gives me Faith is Stories Like:  “Moses crossing the Red Sea

God gave a Man a Missionto lead his People and that man was “Moses”

We meet him by the Red Seawith his Church group of complaining Christians “You have brought us here that Pharaoh may kill us.    Remember the Story; the army was right behind them.

Exodus  14:

21: And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

I have heard many of people try and explain what happen and how the water naturally dried up for the Children of Israel to cross over 

But then there is this one little scripture that said

22: And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

It is proof that God can not only Walk on Water but he can also make it stand Vertical if he so needs

There was a young Man reading his Bible and he was at the part where Moses was crossing the Red Sea and he was so excited about how God would deliver his people.

Then a Man came up to him and asks what he was so excited about. So he told him, and he said O that, yes but you see there was a strong Earthquake that day and the water just ran out some. And so there was still about 6 inches of water left so that was no real miracle.

As the man was walking away, the young man started jumping up with even more excitement, when the Man asks what was it, he said “God just drowned the entire Egyptian Army in 6 inches of Water.

 

If I had learned anything in Life; I have learned that if God said it, Believe it!

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What gives me Faith is Stories Like:      “A boy named David”

Israel was at war:  Both armies’ were camp on a hill with a Valley between them. David found himself bring supplies to his Brothers, when he saw what 

1 Samuel 17:

23: And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.

24: And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.

We are no different; we run and forget about God who is fighting on our side, when we see how big the Mountain is that satin laid before us.

26: And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel?  for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?

  • How big are the problems you face everyday in Life. We all look at the little things in life that make us afraid. Because our problems look so gigantic.
  • None of us fight the same battles, because we are all different, what’s a problem to you is child play to me; and what’s a problem for me is silly to you.

 

  • We allow satin to put a magnifying glass in front of our eyes to make us fear the things we have no control of.

 

  • We need to learn the lesson of True Faith  in God

 

  • The Bigger the problem the bigger the Miracle, What is too big for God

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 What gives me Faith is Stories Like:   A young man by the name of “Stephen”

He was filled with the Holy Spirit.  He was brought in for what he believed

Act 7

55: But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

56: And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

57: Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,                                                               (People will do the same today)

58: And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.

59: And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

60: And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

 

  • People today still don’t want to hear the Truth. They will do all they can to keep from hearing and not believe the Truth.  Why does it always seem easier to believe a Lie then to believe the Truth, 

Matthew:7:13:  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

  • There is a time coming when again they will want to stone and Kill you for telling God’s Truth. So don’t be afraid when it come; Jesus told us it would happen, be Faithful, because you will not be alone.

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What gives me Faith is Stories Like:       “Sharack, Meshack and Abednego.”

 

It is very importance when you are in a leadership position to be true to what you believe.     Because you may be called in to account for it someday

Daniel 3

12: There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of theprovinceofBabylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

13: Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.

The King told them look I understand about this thing you have of worshiping your God, but right now you don’t need to worry about your God you need to worry about Me.    Because I am fixing to do you a lot of boodle harm if you don’t do what I say

Look at what they said to the King

17: If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

18: But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

19: Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.

 

  • When the going gets hot will you be there for Jesus.

 

  • The hold world will be falling down on there knees paying honor to someone other then Jesus, Will you follow.

 

  • The Bible said you can’t serve God and man

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What gives me Faith is Stories Like:  “Daniel and the Lion Den”  

He too was in a leadership position, but his pure heart made him stand out among all the other.   So they tricked the king

Daniel 6

18: Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.

21: Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.

22: My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

 

  • When the going gets tuff will you be able to stand for Jesus all by your self.

 

  • That’s right no Mama and Daddy there, No Brother or Sisters There, No Husband or Wife There, No boy friend or Girl friend there to help you make it.
  • Just you all alone.  Most people fail because they have never put Jesus First

 

  • Do you have the Faith in Jesus that will secure you a place in Heaven?

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What gives me Faith is Stories Like:  Noah

 

He had the faith that can build when everyone else was in doubt  

Geneses 6

7: And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

8: But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

I am happy for us today that there was a Man like Noah

Again the Earth is filled with Violence; and again it will be destroyed.

The Ark Represented Jesus, all who would go in could be Saved. It is no different to all who come to Jesus he will again save them, but they must make a choice

  • It may not be easy to go and do what God is telling you to do.

 

  • But if you put the little Faith you have in God you will be like Noah. “How” Everyday he drove a nail into the Ark every time he put a board on the side his Faith Grew and Grew until he could see the plan God had in mind for him

It happens only by Faith    When you are obedience to Gods word he will save you

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What gives me Faith is Stories Like:  Elijah “Choose ye this day who you will service”

 

Did the people forget who there God was, who brought them through the Red Sea, Who provided for them for 40 years in the wilderness, who defender them from other invading tribes.

1 Kings 18

21: And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions?  if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.  And the people answered him not a word.

Yes they did forget, and so do we, when we put other things first in our Life before Jesus.

One of the Most Dangerous things that we as Christians can do is to put Religion before God, it happens when we believe more in the rules then the rule maker, this is what happened to the Jewish nation. They put Gods Laws before God himself. 

Jesus said I am the truth the light and the way, no man comes unto the Father but by Me.

Remember that It is by Faith that we server him; and because we Love him that we keep his Commandment. We don’t keep His commandments to be saved.

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What gives me Faith is Stories Like:  Creator who became his Creation

“ Why; to Save Them from there Sin”

John 3:16

16: 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.

 

18: He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

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 Now my Question is;         What are you doing for Jesus?

 

What’s your Christian Experience like lately, are you kind of Plateau, or maybe on a down ward trend.

If you leave here today and get nothing else out of this Sermon except what I am going to tell you right now you will have understood what other before you have giving for Jesus.

Today; there is a knock on your Door, you open it up and there are 6 Police Officers and 4 Army Men come to take you in for a hearing.

You say, what have I done, (Know one say’s a word more to you except that they have a warrant for your arrest).

You are hand cuffed and lead out of your home, you look back and see your kids crying, the neighbors are all out watching you being lead away because of the commotion in the neighborhood.

You are brought in and told to wait, you look and see a group of people some you recognizer as former Church members other you have no idea who they are.

You ask a guard standing near-by, where are my Children, and my Family; he only looks at you and said “TRADER” and turns and looks the other way. 

Now you are brought in before this council, and they ask you question about your family, your place of work, and finally about you Church.

You are accused of crimes against the State; you have broken Civil Laws, and can no longer be trusted worthy with your Freedom. You have been told and warred about your failure to keep the secular day of worship and about you’re spreading lies about Jesus coming back to this earth.

 

You have been tried and convicted for your crimes,

Do you have anything to say for your self before sentence is passed on to you?

The Judge picks-up his gravel and say “you are hear by sentence to Death”

 

HOW WILL YOU STAND?  

 

There will only be two Choices  “Faithful or Faithless” 

 

How is your walk with Jesus today, it is not enough to just say that you love him.

You must have a daily living relationship with Jesus if you will be able to stand for him when the time comes.  Remember you will not be alone Jesus will be there just like with Stevenson, giving you the Strength you need.

But we must learn to live by Faith now so that when the times comes we will not fail but like the Men and Women of the past stand strong in Faith for Jesus.

 

Don’t trust to yourself, Peter denied Jesus three times before he learned one of the most importance lesson and that is just two little worlds   Have Faith………

 

Strengthen your faith in Jesus everyday; read about the life of others who had Faith. When the time comes and the clock is ready to strike midnight right before the hammer falls. Jesus will be there.

 

He is never late my friend; he is always right on time!

God Bless you all amen    

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