Faith That Works
gtcotr/ss072703
Turn To Nehemiah 4
It is generally recognized that we must 'BELIEVE IN' something before we can successfully 'BELIEVE FOR' it
Tell the story about believing for a 1980 Toyota Corolla for 2 yrs.
Key Scripture
James 2:20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
Believing in and believing for may be a testimony to our faith ... But don't be fooled - faith without works is dead ... (Unproductive?)
James 2:17 (NJKV) Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
James 2:17 (KJV) Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Faith alone may not always work!
Faith Postures Us
Faith Positions Us (However)
It Will Take Work To Produce
Mark 5 The little woman with the issue of blood had to press
2 Kings 4 The widow had to borrow vessels and pour
Joshua 6 Joshua had to get the children to march around Jericho
2 Kings 5 Naaman had to dip in the Jordan river seven times
Acts 3 The lame man received his miracle only after he was pulled to his feet - not before!
I. Working On Your Faith
Ezra 8:21-23
21 Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions.
22 For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, "The hand of our God [is] upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath [are] against all those who forsake Him."
23 So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.
A. Faith Is Trust In God
B. Trust In God
C. Trust That You Have Heard God
D. This Type Of Faith Qualifies A Person For Supernatural Intervention (So that what you would not have been able to accomplish by yourself, now you can because of the partnership you have with the Holy Ghost through faith)
E. We should be ashamed not to put our faith into practice
1. James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe -- and tremble!
2. Evidently believing is not all there is to it!
II. Faith And Works
Nehemiah 4:7-9
7 Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry,
8 and all of them conspired together to come [and] attack Jerusalem and create confusion.
9 Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night.
A. Made Prayer
B. Set A Watch
C. Nehemiah 4:4:6 So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.
III. Faith That Works
A. Find A Scripture
1. Agrees With Scripture (The whole counsel - Acts 20:27)
2. Does Not Violate NT Theology
3. That Will Stand The Test Of Counsel
* Remember: God is sovereign!
> Faith is not the weapon we use to fight against God’s choices.
> Faith is the power we have to accept and accomplish the will of God.
B. Partner With God
1. Prayer & Confession
* What we say to God & What we say to others makes a difference
2. Philemon
6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
C. Participate In Your Miracle
1. Take What You Have
2. Start Where You Are
3. Do The Very Best You Can
