Sermon Tone Analysis

Faith is . . .

(insert Heb11_1 picture)

Faith is . . .

you can fill in the blank by now I’m pretty faithful of that.

Heb11:1 is familiar to most Christians, it is believable, it is applicable, but is it applied?

Not always.

We serve a loving, giving God who wants to give wisdom and wants to give faith16 min without reproach> He is an attentive God (2Chr7:14) who wants to hear our prayers and answer then in accordance to His will.

In a time that the temple had just been completed, in a time that Solomon prayed over the temple, and the people God issues a warning and a promise, regarding their sin and regarding His love and desire to bless them by forgiving their sin and healing their land.

They had to apply their faith, they had to apply the wisdom God had given them, as do we today, but if we lack it, wisdom, instructions, faith, we need to ask the giving God who wants to give.

A giving God - gives wisdom

God who wants to give, and give generously, without reproach (Jm1:5-8) wants us to turn to Him and ask Him.

Here are some things we may consider.

God’s wisdom is better than the worlds (1Cor1:20-25)

God wants us to have wisdom, His wisdom (Jm1:5)

Asking for it is predicated on the fact that we know we need it (1Jn1:6-7); we were in darkness, and we are now walking in the Light and we need His wisdom

God’s wisdom is given to you, generously and without reproach (Jm1:5)

God gives prolonged life (Exo20:12)

God gives grace and glory (Ps84:11)

He does not hold back from us, He gives generously and without reproach

God gives breath; gives spirit (Isa42:5)

He created all things and breaths life into them and the spirit too!

So if we know we need, and when we ask, we should ask without doubting (Jm1:6; Heb11:6; Jn14:13-14)

Faith and doubt cannot dwell together for faith replaces doubt.

We need to know what we believe, what we have faith in for without it is impossible to please God who wants to bless, reward those who believe.

God wants to give gifts, wants to give wisdom, wants to increase your faith, for without it you are like the waves of the sea (insert illustration you cannot hold back the waves)

We need to know, we need to come to Him with faith knowing, expecting that He will give to us when we ask (Jn14:13-14) - said to the Apostles but is applicable for us, when we ask by faith, and in accordance to His will.

When asking, don’t be double minded (Jm1:8; Ps119:113; Jm4:7-8)

God hates the double minded (Ps119:113)

Don’t be unstable by being double minded (Jm1:8)

Submit so not to be double minded (Jm4:7-8)

Don’t be double minded for you cannot serve two masters ( ref only to Lk16:23)

Faith and unbelief are two masters

May we remember that we are asking because we know we need, we need so to be able to handle the trials, tribulations we face in all joy.

Having our faith built up, our faith proved, our faith enduring the trials of this life and that takes the wisdom of God that comes from above.

A Giving God- judges unbelief

God is giving and God is just, God is impartial (Jm1:9-11) Don’t be caught without it, faith that is!

The lowly, the humble have high position in Christ (Jm1:9; Ps37:11; Mt5:5; 1Pt5:5)

God delights in the humble, as well as blesses them.

and add to that

May we clothe ourselves in humility for it will result in given grace

The rich are not exempt from trials/tribulations (Jm1:10-11)

Money cannot buy, secure happiness nor can it keep you from experiencing life's up and downs.

for we can also know that:

Riches can come, go, as do trials and tribulations, but wisdom

Riches come and go, they can be taken, stolen, lost, but the wisdom that comes from God cannot be taken from you.

And He gives it without reservations, without reproach and gives generously and in one version says liberally!

So glory in your high position in Christ today, glory in your humiliation in Christ.

We all face trials and tribulations, and we are to count it all joy (Jm1:3) by asking God for His wisdom (Jm1:5) not doubting (Jm1:6) by faith (Jm1:6-7) not being double minded (Jm1:8), regardless of our position or possession as well as our circumstances (Jm1:9-11).

We have a giving God that helps us to have joyful faith.

A Giving God- Gives, blesses and keeps His promises!

Do you want to be in receipt of God’s promises and God’s blessings?

God wants to bless and it may, will, oftentimes will take some effort (Jm1:12)

Blessed is the one who perseveres (Jm1:12; Mt5:3-12; Eph3:20-21; Php2:13)

Blessed, happy is the man who perseveres I think we may have seen that before.

These eternal and internal blessings happen not because circumstance but because of a giving God who wants to give, without reproach and give exceedingly abundantly more (Eph3:20-21)

For greater is He who lives to both will and work in you.

There is an external blessing that comes from the internal for the one who perseveres, it is the crown of life (Jm1:12; Rev2:10).

Crown given to those who love Him (Jm1:12)

A crown of righteousness as noted (2Tim4:8)

A crown of glory as recorded (1Pt5:4)

In our verse it is for those who love Him, so what does it mean to love Him?

Keep his commands (Jn14:15)

Love produces obedience

Obedience produces perseverance and endurance

Endurance produces victory

Victory results in the victors crown and eternal life.

(Encouragement slide 1 - victors crown)

It is yours all for the asking!

We are to be a victor in CHrist and our victory is found in Christ and it is for Christ we have been redeemed, delivered, transferred so that we may be transformed and conformed into His likeness for His purpose and glory.

May that help us to have joyful faith in and through all things, even the hard things.

(encouragement slide 2) prayer (exit slide)