Sunday, April 17, 2016

Fortify Your Faith

Mark 11:22-24
The way we come to know God is through the exercise of faith.  The way we develop our spiritual strength and knowledge of God is the same.  The way we began is the way we continue.  God is not pleased with religion in place of faith.  How can we fortify our faith?
Anyone who is confident in their relationship with God will be confident in their faith.
A faith test occurs when our concept of God and the reality of our lives conflict and we can’t understand why something is happening.
God builds our faith by testing it.
The testing of our faith is more about who God is than who we are.
The end of a test of faith may not be a change in circumstance but a greater knowledge of God and His love and power.
Four Ways God Fortifies Our Faith
I. By Testing Our Obedience - Luke 2:4-7
Examples of Faith-Building Challenges
·  Manna – Faith in God’s Provision Exodus 16:4
·  Abraham – Faith in God’s Purpose Genesis 12:1-3
·  Elijah – Faith in God’s Direction - I Kings 17:2-7
We cling to what we’ve got because we are fearful of losing it.  God wants us to let go so He can bless us.
II. By Providing for our Problems  - 1 Peter 1:6-7
Nothing ever happens by accident in the life of a follower of Jesus Christ. Everything is Father-filtered.
God’s permission brings God’s protection, provision and purpose. Romans 8:28; 1 Corinthians 10:13
Sometimes God will custom-make a problem to grow our faith.
III. By Employing Our Resources  - Luke 16:11
There is a direct relationship between how we handle money and the spiritual death of our lives.
Every time I give as God directs, it breaks the grip of materialism in my life.
IV. By Making us Wait  Isaiah 64:4

While you are waiting God is working.

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