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12/21 Fundamental Thoughts-Sermons

“Faith of The Heart”

Ephesians 6:10-24

Emphasis vv 14-17

INTRODUCTION: Our faith is constantly being challenged. Just listen to the news, local and mostly the national news. They don’t want to acknowledge Christmas. One network refused to play a paid commercial to thank our troops for what they are doing and wishing them a Merry Christmas. (They finally backed down and played it; reluctantly.)

When you watch the Discovery Channel, the History channel, everything started before God. All their shows are pointed at showing God does not exist and the world exists by man. Listen to Alus Gorus the receiver of a “Nobel PEACE Prize” for touting how man is mis-managing the environment, and how close we are to destroying the earth. All of this is designed, yes designed, to kick your faith and get you on the side of secular (worldliness) knowing and believing God has no control over you.

There are something’s we need to understand

I. WHAT IS FAITH!

A. Faith Is Believing God

(Psalms 37:3) Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

1. Trusting in the LORD. (Jehovah)

i. Committing yourself to the

LORD

ii. Trusting He will meet your

needs

B. FAITH Is Taking God At His Word.

(1 John 5:13) These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

1. That you may know

i. IF you believe

C. FAITH Is Believing Without Seeing.

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

1. Believing without complete understanding

D. FAITH Is Hearing And Then Believing.

(Romans 10:17) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

1. How can you get faith without hearing God’s Word

E. FAITH Is Believing Then Taking Action.

(Romans 10:13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

1. Call on His name in belief

2. Salvation then happens

We need to understand

II. WHAT FAITH ISN’T!

A. FAITH Does Not

1. Shield us from physical

Suffering

i. Paul suffered many times

(2 Corinthians 11:24-27) Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

B. FAITH Does Not

1. Shield us from loss of earthly possessions.

i. Paul consider earthly things

ii. Of no value

(Philippians 3:7-9) But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

2. Consider Job

i. He lost it all

ii. He believed

iii. He had faith

iv. He regained it all and more

C. FAITH Does Not

1. Guarantee us a life of ease and luxury.

(Hebrews 11:8-10) By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

D. FAITH Does Not

1. Shield us from grief.

(1 Peter 5:8-9) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

We need to understand

III. WHAT FAITH DOES!

A. FAITH Saves

1. God saves us through our Faith

(Ephesians 2:8-9) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

i. It is not earned

ii. No work at all

iii. It is a gift of God

a. Given

b. No strings

c. No contracts

B. FAITH Justifies.

(Romans 5:1) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

1. Justified = Just as if we had never

sinned

C. FAITH Strengthens.

(Philippians 4:13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

1. Christ strengthens me

i. Therefore through Him I do

all things

D. FAITH Reaches Out To Others.

CONCLUSION: Faith is what we have if we have called upon the Lord and asked for the salvation that will be given.

However, it is the same faith that talks to your neighbor; or friend; or grandchild about Jesus the Christ.

It is a Faith of sharing, a sharing and desire of wanting all you know to want to be with you in Heaven.

We get our spiritual strength by leading others to Christ. By being in church hearing the Word of God we are strengthened.

This is where we go back to the verse we started with

(Ephesians 6:16) Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Our first thoughts are of the round garbage can shields we used to use when we played Gladiators as a young boy. This shield is the body length shield which protects us against those fiery darts which are thrown at us.

What are those darts?

Alcohol

Drugs

Divorce

Anger

Vanity

Pride

Adultery etc.

Our protection is our Faith, the very thing we all claim, yet some don’t listen while they are here, others won’t come to here, some are hit and miss attendees.

How do you expect not to have major trials when you haven’t used your shield of faith.

When we each were first saved our arms got tired carrying that big shield around, yet things happened and we would pick the shield back up. Some found by being here with their shield life was easier, not without trials, but those trials were easier to handle.

It is always easier with help than being alone. Jesus is there with you if you are with Him. Where did you leave Him. Go back to Him.

If you haven’t made the decision to accept Christ and His help during your problems, this is the time to do it.

12/13 Fundamental Thoughts-Sermons

Isaiah’s Christmas Message

(Isaiah 7:14) Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

(Isaiah 9:6) For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

The first verse is prophecy foretold which came about around 2000 years ago.

The second verse also foretells of the coming of the Lord in the very first portion, the remainder is still prophecy, yet to come.

Have you noticed the names we will call Jesus in the millennium?

Some we already call Him

Prince of Peace, Wonderful, Counselor,

However, some of these names might stick in our craw.

The mighty God, The everlasting Father

This baby Jesus "The Mighty God?"

This baby Jesus "The everlasting Father?"

I. THE COMING OF JESUS

(Isaiah 7:14) Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

A. This Was Stated 700 To 800 Years Prior To Jesus Birth.

1. A virgin birth,

i. A birth like no other

2. Joseph and Mary were more than engaged,

i. But not married

(Matthew 1:18) Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

3. Before they came together

4. Mary became a virgin mother

5. It had never happened before

i. Nor has it happened since

(Matthew 1:23) Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

B. Here in Matthew his name is stated as Emmanuel

1. In Isaiah it is spelled Immanuel,

i. One letter difference in 700 to 800 years.

ii. Either way Emmanuel still means “God with us”.

(Micah 5:2) But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

C. Jesus Has Been Since The Everlasting,

1. The Man-God Jesus,

i. Was told before hand

ii. Where he would come from.

2. The book of Micah was written about 650 to 750 years before Christ.

II. THE CHARACTER OF JESUS

(Luke 1:31) And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

A. His name Jesus

1. Jesus is another form of the name Joshua

i. "Jehovah is Salvation"

(Luke 1:32) He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

B. He Shall Be Great

1. The Son of the Highest

i. He will have the throne of David

ii. God will give it to Him

(Philippians 2:9) Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

C. A Name Above Every Name

1. God has exalted Him

i. A very special name

(Revelation 19:16) And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

D. A Name Is Written

1. On His vesture

i. His clothing

2. On His thigh

i. His clothing

ii. Not a tattoo

CONCLUSION: Where have you put the Wonderful name of Jesus.

IS HIS NAME IS AT THE TOP

I had the nicest Christmas list,

The longest one in town.

Till Daddy looked at it and said,

"You'll have to cut it down."

I knew that what he said was true

Beyond the faintest doubt,

But was amazed to hear him say,

"You've left your best friend out."

And so I scanned my list again,

And said, "Oh, that's not true!"

But Daddy said, "His name's not there,

That friend who died for you."

And then I clearly understood,

'Twas Jesus that he meant;

For Him who should come first of all

I hadn't planned a cent!

I'd made a Christmas birthday list,

And left the Savior out!

But, oh it didn't take me long

To change the list about.

And tho' I've had to drop some names

Of folks I like a lot,

My Lord must have the most because

His Name Is At The Top.

Unknown

Do you have the sweetest name we know attached to your heart or just sitting on a shelf collecting dust like maybe your Bible; your prayer life.

Where is your salvation, on your shoulder, and ready to fight over it or

Is it in your heart, ready to live it?

Where do you put Jesus Christ this Christmas season?

We probably know that Jesus wasn’t born on this day.

This Christmas

Remember Jesus when you are with your family,

Remember Him when you are alone,

No man knows your heart, only Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

If you don’t know Him don’t let this season pass without Him.

Counterfeit Christianity Unmasked [1 John 3:1-10]

I. Intro

The United States Treasury Department has a special group of men whose job it is to track down counterfeiters. Naturally, these men need to know a counterfeit bill when they see it.

How do they learn to identify fake bills? Oddly enough, they are not trained by spending hours examining counterfeit money. Rather, they study the real thing. They become so familiar with authentic bills that they can spot a counterfeit by looking at it or, often, simply by feeling it.

II. God the Father Loves Us (1 John 3:1-3)

III. God the Son Died for Us (1 John 3:4-8)

---i. Christ appeared to take away our sins (vv. 4-6).

---ii. Christ appeared to destroy the works of the devil (vv. 7-8).

IV. God the Holy Spirit Lives in Us (1 John 3:9-10)

OLD NATURE: NEW NATURE:

“our old man” “the new man”
(Rom. 6:6) (Col. 3:10)

“the flesh” “the Spirit”
(Gal. 5:24) (Gal. 5:17)

“corruptible seed” “God’s seed”
(1 Peter 1:23) (1 John 3:9)

V. Questions:

The Bible was not written so that you and I might check on other people.
They were inspired so that we may examine ourselves.
Each of us must answer honestly before God:

--1. Do I have the divine nature within me or am I merely pretending to be a Christian?

--2. Do I cultivate this divine nature by daily Bible reading and prayer?

--3. Has any unconfessed sin defiled my inner man? Am I willing to confess and forsake it?

--4. Do I allow my old nature to control my thoughts and desires, or does the divine nature rule me?

--5. When temptation comes, do I “play with it” or do I flee from it? Do I immediately yield to the divine nature within me?

The life that is real is honest with God about these vital issues.