To Live By Faith

A Community of Faith, Love, & Hope PART 1

“For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep
conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of
severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, 9or they themselves
report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.”
1 Thessalonians 1:4-10

“We always thank God for all of you,
mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember
before our God and Father, your work produced by faith,
your labor prompted by love, and your endurance
inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Thessalonians 1:2-3

To live by FAITH, be known by LOVE, & be a voice of HOPE

1.TO LIVE BY FAITH

story: ‘contingency plan’

1 Sam. 14 (tell story)

Often we look to the Bible for comfort, assurance, and kind of a ‘how to’ guide, but not courage - we’re willing to engage in the battle if we believe that God has promised ultimate
victory. We have somehow convinced ourselves that God has signed a contract w/ us, promising that we will never fail. Implied that we will never suffer, or go thru disappointment, or even be inconvenienced in the journey. ( I am inconven. not living here, but committed) What Jonathan knew w/out any doubt was that nothing could stop God from saving, whether by many or few. But he was honest w/ his armor-bearer and said, “perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf”.
What he was saying is, “I know what God is doing - He is delivering the Phil. to the hands of Israel. It’s clear what’s on God’s heart. He has called us to engage in battle - I have no doubt that God is powerful enough to give us victory. So let’s act in line with the heart of God, and see what He is going to do in and through us, if anything at all right now.

With our church, I have no doubt that God is calling us to impact this city - it is absolutely clear that Jesus came so He could save the lost. And absolutely God is calling our church to join Him in declaring the gospel to the nations. I know that God is pleased w/ our action - now let’s see what He is going to do in and thru us.
How about in your life?
(never fail, suffer, be disapp, be inconv, not just w/ the church, but in whatever area of life - dare to dream BIG -
you must live by faith)

What does it really mean to live by faith?
________OBEDIANCE________________
A church begins to live by faith when
it's people move the things God has
clearly said into the non-optional category.

What are some of the non-optional things
God has called us to do?
______PRAY, READ, SERVE, WORSIP,
FELLOWSHIP, EVANGELIZE, ETC..._____


It is never enough to live on __YESTERDAYS FAITH_______
We are always required to move into ___FRESH FAITH____

RESOURCE: 'Fresh Faith' by Jim Cymbala

Recall Moses and Joshua how each
of them had to cross a body of water.
(Exodus 14:21-22 and Joshua 3:12-17)

What took faith yesterday is sight today.

When we live by faith, we allow God to take us into
new experiences of __WHO HE IS ____
and ___HOW HE WORKS____.

We cannot live on the faith of the past,
we are called to be the living expression of faith!
When a church lives by faith
it's people prove that God can be trusted.

I have been crucified with Christ
and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
The life I live in the body,
I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20