Building Tested Faith
080917 Building Tested Faith
James 1:4-ff
Tim Franklin
Introduction:
· My last two Wednesday night messages have been about the testing of our faith. You should have obtained some very keen insights to your spiritual walk by listening to them and applying those scriptures.
· I want to change the angle of approach tonight and talk about the building of a tested faith. It is one thing to have your faith tested. It is another thing to build a tested faith.
· What are the key ingredients to a tested faith?
o The Word of God is Key. Ro. 10:17 Faith comes by hearing the message…
o Patience – James 1:4 Let patience have her perfect work.
o Authority
1. The Word of God is Key
a. The first key to building tested faith is the word of God. Rom 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. NKJV
i. Faith does not come by opinions—Pharisees had many opinions and traditions of men.
ii. Faith does not come by information
iii. Faith does not come by the senses-the sense are, Gr. Sarx ‘flesh’ and Jesus says this counts for nothing.
b. It makes a big difference who speaks it.
i. God is the creator who spoke things into existence. He was there before the beginning. He will be there after the end. There is no shadow of turning in Him. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
ii. Therefore, for me His word is final. God said, that is the way it is whether we believe it or not.
c. What makes God’s Word different?
i. Heb 4:12For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. NKJV
1. Gr. Zon, zao. Living. Participle of the word zoe.
2. Energees, enérg(e)ia in the sense of "activity" or "energy" occurs at an early date. enérg¢ma means "act" or "action," and energ¢¡s "active." The verb energéœ means "to act," "to be at work." (from Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, abridged edition, Copyright © 1985 by William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. All rights reserved.)
3. Tomooteros, Gr. Sharp—cutting.
4. Diiknumenos, Gr. Piercing. To go through to penetrate to pierce.
5. Kritikos, Gr. Discerning—this word has the manner, ability or right of a judge. All wise. The Spirit of Wisdom is upon Him, from God etc.
ii. John 6:63-64It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe." NKJV
1. His words are spirit. Gr. Pneuma-spirit.
a. To cause to live or to make alive.
2. His words are life. Gr. Zoe-life filled to overflowing with vitality.
iii. 2 Tim 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. NKJV
1. Theopneustos- God, breath. Or God breathed, God’s breath.
iv. The word is light.
1. Ps 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. NKJV
2. Ps 119:130 the entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. NKJV See also Eph 1:17, 18
a. Knowledge of him –has to do with authority
b. Understanding enlightened.
d. The Word in Action—note the effect of Jesus preaching.
i. Matt 7:28-29And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. NKJV
ii. Matt 13:54 When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? NKJV
iii. Luke 5:26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen strange things today!" NKJV
i. Luke 4:36-37 Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, "What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out." NKJV
ii. Note the effect of Apostles preaching
a. Acts 19:8,9 Paul in Ephesus
b. Acts 10:44 Peter with Cornilus
c. Acts 8:5 Philip preaches in Samaria
d. Acts 8:30-35 Philip teaches the Ethiopian.
2. Patience is a Must
a.
3. Authority is Acquired
a. See point one—the word is light.
b. Acts 19 Paul I know and Jesus I know, but who are you.
Conclusion:
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