We Love God!

God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)

Our peace and confidence are to be found not in our empirical holiness, not in our progress toward perfection, but in the alien righteousness of Jesus Christ that covers our sinfulness and alone makes us acceptable before a holy God.
Donald Bloesch

How can Satan in a subtle way get people to disregard the truth on Sunday morning? How about getting people to think the sermon is entertainment or sitting through an entire sermon for a need to uphold a religious duty? Yeah, nothing about coming prepared to hear God’s Word. According to Satan - I’ll keep them out late on Saturday night. I’ll distract them with Sunday afternoon plans. I’ll have them put way more time into looking good physically than preparing their hearts spiritually before coming to church. I’ll have them arrive late so they can miss the singing to prepare their hearts to receive the truth and then distract others trying to worship when they stroll in. I’ll get them to believe the message is more intended for someone else. I’ll get them to listen for the 1% they disagree with as compared to the 99% they need to know. I’ll convince them that applying what they just heard is optional. And then I’ll get them to forget about what they heard before they even reach their cars.
Randy Smith

    • The Cultivation Of Faith

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    The Cultivation Of Faith THE CULTIVATION OF FAITH B6-08-6P Heb. 11:13-14 (read 1-14)

    PURPOSE: To instill faith in God for everyday living. INTRODUCTION: III. CULTIVATE FAITH BY EMBRACING PROMISES A. Faith is unquestioning belief, complete trust A. Not only BELIEVE the promises, you must or confidence. EMBRACE them (claim for YOU) B. This is the only thing that please God. B. The widow was heard because she would not C. It is also a very difficult place to find take “no” for an answer from the wicked judge D. To reach such a high plane, we must cultivate such faith as we possess IV. CULTIVATE FAITH BY CONFESSING A. Not “Name it and claim it” I. CULTIVATE FAITH THROUGH SPIRITUAL SIGHT B. This confession is that we are “strangers & A. Seeing miracles strengthens faith pilgrims on the earth” 1. Abel’s sacrifice was acceptable and rewarded C. That we have no permanent possession here (versus Cain’s evil sacrifice) D. That we are seeking another country as home 2. Enoch believed “them that honor me I will honor, & them that despise me shall be ALTAR CALL: lightly esteemed” (1 Sam. 2:3) & pleased God A. What do you need from God? (versus others alive at the time) B. Exercise FAITH IN GOD (not prayer, faith, etc) 3. Noah heard “build an ark & save your house” C. Ron Wood’s son in hospital room during C.M. ’85 He obeyed and lived–others drowned 1. 75% chance that he will never walk again 4. Abraham believed God when He said, “Go! & I 2. Tend to loose faith in prayer will give you an inheritance” 3. Habakkuk 3:17, “Although the fig tree shall While Lot looked to Sodom not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the B. Ro. 10:14, “How shall they believe in him of vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, whom they have not heard?” and the fields shall yield no meat; the C. This is perhaps the least of faith flock shall be cut off from the fold, and D. “These all died… having seen [the promises] there shall be no herd in the stalls; afar off” YET I will rejoice in the Lord, I will JOY in the God of my salvation” II. CULTIVATE FAITH BY PERSUASION A. “These… were persuaded of [the promises]” B. Prayer requires faith (James 1:6, “Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering…. Let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord” C. “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them & ye shall have them” 1. Cain did not believe the promise of God’s blessing–Trusted his own labors 2. Those alive with Enoch did not believe it necessary to “please God” 3. All the world in Noah’s day did not believe 4. Lot wanted security and choose the plain D. But if you will have faith, you must be persuaded of God’s promises

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