1/31/10 “Building Blocks of Faith”
Building Blocks of Faith
1 31 10 HT PM
James 1:2-4 NKJV
James 1:2 NKJV
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
James 1:3
knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
James 1:4
But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Tonight, we will continue a look at faith. Last week, we looked at three pillars of faith.
Three Pillars for Faith -
1. Jesus and all His power is with you
2. God is your safety net, His arms are under you
3. Your faith is already in proportion to you will face
Tonight we will look at some Building blocks of faith – the pillars are positions you build upon, while the blocks are what you build with.
1. Word of God –
Faith comes by hearing….
Romans 10:13 MSG
“Everyone who calls, ‘Help, God!’ gets help.”
Romans 10:14
But how can people call for help if they don’t know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven’t heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them?
Romans 10:15
And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it? That’s why Scripture exclaims,
A sight to take your breath away!
Grand processions of people
telling all the good things of God!
Romans 10:16
But not everybody is ready for this, ready to see and hear and act. Isaiah asked what we all ask at one time or another: “Does anyone care, God? Is anyone listening and believing a word of it?”
Romans 10:17
The point is, before you trust, you have to listen. But unless Christ’s Word is preached, there’s nothing to listen to.
• The Word of God should be heard
• The Word of God should be read
• The Word of God should be believed
2. Works through God
Faith without works is dead…
James 2:19 MSG
Do I hear you professing to believe in the one and only God, but then observe you complacently sitting back as if you had done something wonderful? That’s just great. Demons do that, but what good does it do them?
James 2:20
Use your heads! Do you suppose for a minute that you can cut faith and works in two and not end up with a corpse on your hands?
James 2:21
Wasn’t our ancestor Abraham “made right with God by works” when he placed his son Isaac on the sacrificial altar?
James 2:22
Isn’t it obvious that faith and works are yoked partners, that faith expresses itself in works? That the works are “works of faith”?
James 2:23
The full meaning of “believe” in the Scripture sentence, “Abraham believed God and was set right with God,” includes his action. It’s that mesh of believing and acting that got Abraham named “God’s friend.”
James 2:24
Is it not evident that a person is made right with God not by a barren faith but by faith fruitful in works?
Emphasis here on works of faith through God, because the works of the flesh will destroy faith!
Galatians 5:19 NKJV
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
Galatians 5:20
idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
Galatians 5:21
envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
3. Willingness to hope
Faith is the substance of things HOPED FOR…
Hebrews 11:1 NKJV
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
The things we hope for will release the level of faith we need HOPE BIG! Receive BIG FAITH!!!
I believe there is a connection in our life with the things we HOPE to see done through our life and the level of faith that builds up in our life.
What great things do you believe God for today?
Matthew 8:5 NKJV
Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him,
Matthew 8:6
saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”
Matthew 8:7
And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
Matthew 8:8
The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.
Matthew 8:9
For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
Matthew 8:10
When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!
Matthew 8:11
And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 8:12
But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 8:13
Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.