Jim markus - Lay leader candidate   "Momentum for Life:  Faith"    January  15th, 2012 

Lord, let us believe in thee. Let our faith be full and unreserved and let it penetrate our minds.  Let our faith be joyful and give peace and gladness to our spirits. (amen)

  Just what is faith – faith is a common denominator.

 everyone has expressed faith in something. No one can live a single day without experiencing faith.

 

We have faith our alarm clock will go off.  How about faith in our coffee maker?  Did you not have faith in your car that it would start and bring you here this morning?   Faith is also expressed in the spiritual realm in each of us regardless of our backgrounds or education.

 our talents can also express faith.

 

The difference between the faith we exercise in our daily routine and our religious faith is the object of our faith. Did you know that everone places their faith in something or someone?

 

Your faith is only as good as the object in which you place your faith. The bible insists that we personally put our faith and trust in jesus christ.

        Ever wonder where to find faith in the bible?

*here are some of the refernces in the bible.

1) what is faith?  Some would say there are a number of ways to manipulate god.  I don’t believe this, some do, but we don’t. This is the approach of the health and wealth prosperity gospel.

 

This approach only sees faith as having one aim – one fruit – a life of ease and blessings.

and others would say faith is an adherence to a set of beliefs. You must always believe the right doctrine. Paul says in 2nd timothy – “i know whom i believed “         if your beliefs are not founded on the right person it does not matter what else you believe.

         

Still others say faith is a blind leap into the dark. To many unbelievers faith is the antihesis (direct opposite) of science to those saying –

You just have to have faith, is the same as saying – just have to act contrary to everything you know and trust that it will all work out for the best.

 Also faith is simply devotion to whatever god one happens to follow.  It can be said, “he is a person of deep faith”. What really matters is that he is sincere.

 

Also remember faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.   By faith we understand that the worlds were formed by the word of god, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

True faith is having confidence and obedience to god’s word in spite of circumstances.

Faith seems to be the common denominator.

All of us daily express faith in something.  Not one single day goes by without us exercising faith.

 

The difference between the faith we exercise in our daily lives and our religious faith is the object of that faith.

 

What kind of a faith picture do you have for your life? Do you know what god’s will is for you in all of these areas?

 

Life should be lived like this:  yesterday is a cancelled check;  we cannot negotiate it again.

 tomorrow is a promissory note;  it can’t be utilized until it arrives.

 Today is cash in hand;  it must be invested.

 

The bible quotes: “this is the day which the lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

 Remember what i said earlier:   faith is the assurance of the things we hope for.  Proof of things we do not see.

 

When we live our lives with that conviction then we grow from faith.   Because we exercise muscles we must also exercise our minds and our bodies.

 Using this definition of faith we should be able to come up with god’s vision for our lives and we shall accomplish god’s will without boundries.

 Remember you do not have to settle for your life as it is.  God wants you thru faith to come into the fullness of what god has for you.

 

Faith involves assurance and conviction. (slide)

 

 solid faith stands under every situation and supports you with assurance.

 

Beyond a shadow of a doubt,  god will take charge of the situation.  Faith is always related to something in the future.

 

The word “hope” (slide) points to the future.

 

We must always see tomorrow in light of god’s abilities, not our own.

 

Faith can prepare us for the adventure instead of fear,  because of our assurance that god can handle all things.

 

Faith is fixing our attention on what we cannot see.  It is thinking broadly,  beyond the realms of natural expectations.

 

The walk of faith leads us to be spiritually minded.

 

As christian people of faith, god moves in realms of faith rather than unbelief.

 Ever wonder why we so quickly receive those things that are negative and unwanted in our lives?

Because doubt and unbelief have been firmly entrenced in our lives and when we give a place for it, it comes out almost immediately.

What would happen if belief and faith were as strongly entrenced in our lives as doubt and unbelief used to be?

 

Watch out ! (slide)

 how do we remain a person of faith when everything around us speaks of un- belief and doubt?

 

Uncertainty,  doubt and unbelief lead us to bad associations and people with negative thoughts.

 The big question (slide with big question mark)

 are we influencing them or are they influencing us?

 We are to be the salt and the light of our world.

 Remember:  trust in the lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understandings;  in all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your paths.

 

Do not be wise in your own eyes, fear the lord and depart from evil.

 

Faith is like a sunrise – it always rises on a new day and brings with it hope to trust in god (slide with sunrise)

 remember the sun rise is fresh every morning.   

Shall we not also start fresh every day?

Amen and amen…