Genuine Faith is Living, Active, & Hopeful

Bible Text: Topical Study | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Topical Study

Romans 1:17 says, “The righteous will live by faith.” The object of our faith is Jesus Christ: crucified, resurrected, coming again.
Philippians 3:8, “What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.” 2Corinthians 5:21, “God made him [Jesus Christ] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him [Jesus Christ] we might become the righteousness of God.”

Only those who belong to Christ can live by faith, for our faith is in the One who has saved us; we therefore, express our faith by doing that which pleases God.

Genuine Faith requires effort and action…
2Corinthians 1:3-4, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”
James 2:18, “But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.’” 23-24, “And the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,’ and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.”

Through the use of our time, our talents, and our treasure, we benefit God’s people and bring glory to God.

Genuine Faith has the right priorities…
Colossians 3:2, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things,” (Hebrews 11:1), “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

The world’s people pursue the pleasures and treasures of this earth; while God’s people seek to know and to do God’s will. By obeying God (Matthew 6:20), we lay up “treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

Our purpose and focus is to encourage other believers while witnessing to the lost. Only when we live by faith can we please God (Hebrews 11:6), “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”

Genuine Faith doesn’t get bogged down in past or become overly concerned in the present…
Isaiah 43:18-19 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”
Philippians 3:13, “One thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining
toward what is ahead.”

Often we live in the past, our testimony often relating to something that happened long ago; we cannot survive on past victories, nor should we be held captive by past failures. We must move away from the past, living in the here and now while looking forward to the future, with great anticipation and expectation of all that God will do.

The best is yet to come for those who live by faith, and so, we trust God for the present, as well as for the future.
1Corinthians 2:9, “However, as it is written: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.’”

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! Genuine Faith trusts God for everything – now and forever – in Christ… Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Too many Christians are spiritually soft. They want to have (and do) everything the easy way, instead of by trusting God to get them through the tough times. 2Timothy 2:3, “Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” 2Timothy 3:12, “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

2Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

To live by faith is to experience and endure hardships. When temptations, testings, and trials come our way, we must keep the faith, trusting in God’s provisions.
Acts 20:22, “compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.

“Going…not knowing,” Paul made that statement as he was saying goodbye to a group of friends, maybe never to see them again.

As believers and followers of the Lord we know He leads us in certain directions, and at times that leading is unmistakably clear, although, it may not seem logical or even practical, and yet it can be crystal clear to us.

Out of love and obedience we go, trusting God to provide and protect. We pack our bags, pull up the stakes, roll up the tents, and bid our friends farewell; off we go on a new adventure, sensing God’s clear leading. How strange, and yet, how typical for people of faith.

Abraham faced this walk of faith at the age of 75, when he pulled up roots and journeyed to an undisclosed location. Think about that, Abram gathered his wife, his family, his servants, and his animals, and then he headed for parts unknown! Hebrews 11:8, “By faith Abraham, when called to go… obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.”

Going, not knowing where. Obeying without fully understanding how God would work it all out. Often the Christian journey is unpredictable, and at times, rough, even risky, but God has promised to care for us, provide for and protect us, and to never leave us.

We must be willing to stay and contend for the faith just as much as we must also be willing to pull up stakes and venture off into the “unknown,” trusting God to guide, provide for, and protect us, as He directs our steps according to His own plan and purpose.
Philippians 4:12-13, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”
2Peter 1:3, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.”
Titus 2:14, Jesus Christ “gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”

So, let us seek to become and to remain people of faith, people of hope, people of love, encouraging one another toward love and good deeds, and proclaiming the message of Christ, while serving God and trusting Him to provide all we need, now and forever, in and through Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior, the One and Only True God, who was, and is, and is yet to come, the Almighty.