Faith

Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale
Paster Bob Coy
2/14/10

Faith
Questions
1. What are the reasons for Faith?
Romans 1:16-17
16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Reason - Faith - It's how I'm saved!

It's how we serve:
Jesus was impressed with the Centenarian's faith, we should want him to be impressed with our faith and marvel at the direction we are taking with our lives.

Matthew 5:16
16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Something you can say when helping someone "God's really blessed my life so I just want to give back to him". Good Samaritans are a great thing.

This is an imperative thing, you have to have faith.

Question 2 - what ways can I find faith?
Hebrews 11:6
6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
1. Education

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

2. Experience
How do you experience God in your life? Healing

Our kids are watching us take steps of faith. The Children of Israel took the steps of faith because they watched their family.

Question 3 - How do I display faith?
Obedience

Watch what I do with your obedience.

Do not fear

So looking over at the promise land, that's my future over there.

You may not have a job because you haven't been a faithful employee.

You may not have growth in your job because you haven't been a productive employee. What if being more productive allows the company to make more money thus providing a potential raise?

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

1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. New Living Version

What's it going to be? Where are you going to step out in faith?

Last week I read the 10 commandments and realized my husband and I have been unfaithful with his work schedule. Since Charlotte's birth on June 19, 2008 we've worked a schedule of:
M-F I work full time while he stays home with Charlotte
S-S He works while I stay home with Charlotte

We took a reduction in take home pay with this schedule (he used to have a full time job) and we took on the additional expenses of having a child so this seemed like the only way to make our budget work.

For almost 20 months this has been our life and we've gotten used to this budget, comfortable even. Last week I was challenged by reading the following:
Exodus 2:8-11
8 Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
9 For six days you shall labour and do all your work.
10 But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns.
11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and consecrated it.
I grew up knowing these commandments but somewhere in trying so hard to make our budget work and being new parents we forgot this.
This message about faith has given me the courage to redo our budget - even though we are expecting a second baby in July. By faith I believe we can find a way to live without his Sunday income.