TOPIC: Overcoming faith
TEXT: 1 John 5:4-5
CONCISE OUTLINE: - According to the bible, overcoming faith is ...
Past generations have been stronger in their faith than this generation though! How will we fair if times get tough?
We are also known for our defense of underdogs. We’ll root for the under-dog when we’re not in the game but put us on the field and we play to win. When all is said and done, we all like a winner!
In the summer Olympics in Beijing, NBC (broadcasting to a primarily American audience) knew this truth very well; when an underdog had a shot at victory they played it for all it’s worth.
They filled our screens with background on anyone who had a chance for victory out of hardship. When there was no clear top runner they would hype the underdogs constantly.
Americans want the loser to win and win big! That’s why it’s hard to under-stand why American’s aren’t pushing & shoving to get into the Kingdom of God! A place made ready by the Chief Underdog.
Yet not even all of those who know of victory have victory! Theirs is the same as the demons in James 2:19.
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How can one live in the world and still have a victorious life in Christ … what’s the mystery of overcoming faith?
EXPANDED OUTLINE:
Richard Blair - says the missing ingredient in many people’s lives is commitment. Many people own jogging apparel but few jog. Those who jog seriously jog in the rain, snow, or wind. The difference is commitment.
Some jog to be seen, but not the serious jogger. And they would never buy their jogging outfits to make a statement.
In fact most are like serious skiers, they’d never spend money on fancy fashion statements. Levi’s and heavy thermal under-wear is what the want; the little money they have goes into equipment. Blair says many Christians are like joggers and skiers. Some are to be seen, others are there for the discipline.
The difference for the believer is not in commitment: it's in surrender. The surrendered believer labors to be a workman unashamed of the gospel and the God of the gospel. Surrendered believers know the Word and the Word knows them.
One thing is for sure you cannot have overcoming faith if you do not have God’s Faith.
The bible also says … faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. [Romans 10:17]
This is the single biggest area of weakness in the church today, biblical ignorance. How can the people of God have overcoming faith if the source of that faith is the word of God and they are ignorant of what it says?
How can God’s team be victorious if it does not train, if it does not prepare itself?
Let me tell you how to be prepared for the eventualities of life in Christ:
If you love the Author of your faith, you'll love the book He wrote!TITLE: FAITH IS THE VICTORY - How to Overcome World!
TEXT: 1 John 5:4-5
… whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world-- our faith. And who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?TRUTH CLAIM: This message was recently preached as a New Years message.
NOTE: Ad lib current events and their tie to our cultural decay, both in USA and the whole world.FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How can one live in the world and still have a victorious life in Christ … what’s the mystery of overcoming faith?
CONCISE OUTLINE: - According to the bible, overcoming faith is ...
I. A Believing Faith!CONTEXT: Americans are known world over as a people who take their hits and then get up, dust themselves off, and start all over again. And we may have a rough year ahead of us.
II. A Pleasing Faith!
III. A Working Faith!
IV. A Believing Faith!
V. A Sustaining Faith!
VI. A Saving Faith!
Past generations have been stronger in their faith than this generation though! How will we fair if times get tough?
We are also known for our defense of underdogs. We’ll root for the under-dog when we’re not in the game but put us on the field and we play to win. When all is said and done, we all like a winner!
In the summer Olympics in Beijing, NBC (broadcasting to a primarily American audience) knew this truth very well; when an underdog had a shot at victory they played it for all it’s worth.
They filled our screens with background on anyone who had a chance for victory out of hardship. When there was no clear top runner they would hype the underdogs constantly.
Americans want the loser to win and win big! That’s why it’s hard to under-stand why American’s aren’t pushing & shoving to get into the Kingdom of God! A place made ready by the Chief Underdog.
Yet not even all of those who know of victory have victory! Theirs is the same as the demons in James 2:19.
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How can one live in the world and still have a victorious life in Christ … what’s the mystery of overcoming faith?
EXPANDED OUTLINE:
ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE IT IS …APPLICATION/CHALLENGE:
I. A Believing Faith!My wife gets real nervous going over bridges, especially those that arch high!ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE IT IS …
Our faith in Jesus is as simple as crossing a bridge. We must have the simple confidence Christ is who He says He is and will do what He says He’ll do! Just like we trust a bridge to be what it claims to be and do what it claims it will do!
The bible says "… faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." [Hebrews 11:1]
We must first believe!
You say you believe but so do the demons.
What should we say then, that your faith believes that God is but does not believe that he can heal you, that He can bring you through the tough times ahead, pay your bills, feed your kids, or give you hope and purpose in life?
You believe there is a God … who is He? Describe Him! Give me His bio!
II. A Pleasing Faith!Hebrews 11:6 saysACCORDING TO THE BIBLE IT IS …"And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."In the light of (a) Jeremiah’s plea ("we believe, Lord help us in our unbelief") and (b) Jesus’ own statements to the believing apostles ("oh ye of little faith"), this tells us that pleasing faith is more than a simple statement of belief.
III. A Working Faith!James, the half brother of Jesus, says real faith shows itself by its works - James 1:22. (see also James 1:14, James 1:17-18)ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE IT IS …[OARS] I have said it before, and it is not original with me, and will say it again, that faith and works are the Christian’s oars for crossing the River of Life. It takes both oars to keep from rowing in circles.
IV. A Sustaining Faith!ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE IT IS …For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. [2 Timothy 1:12]He is able to finish that which He began in us!
For the arms of the wicked will be broken; but the LORD sustains the righteous. [Psalm 37:17]
Cast your burden upon the LORD, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. [Psalm 55:22]
V. It’s A Proclaiming Faith!But most of all ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE IT IS …you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excel-lencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY. [1 Peter 2:9, 10]Jesus gave His final instructions to His disciples as He ascended into heaven to be with the Father,“you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” [Acts 1:8]
VI. A Saving Faith!For by grace are you saved, through faith … [Ephesians 2:8]
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. [1 Corinthians 9:24-25]Tom Landry - one of the NFL’s most successful coaches was asked what makes a champion. “A champion is simply someone who will not give up when he wants to.”
Richard Blair - says the missing ingredient in many people’s lives is commitment. Many people own jogging apparel but few jog. Those who jog seriously jog in the rain, snow, or wind. The difference is commitment.
Some jog to be seen, but not the serious jogger. And they would never buy their jogging outfits to make a statement.
In fact most are like serious skiers, they’d never spend money on fancy fashion statements. Levi’s and heavy thermal under-wear is what the want; the little money they have goes into equipment. Blair says many Christians are like joggers and skiers. Some are to be seen, others are there for the discipline.
The difference for the believer is not in commitment: it's in surrender. The surrendered believer labors to be a workman unashamed of the gospel and the God of the gospel. Surrendered believers know the Word and the Word knows them.
One thing is for sure you cannot have overcoming faith if you do not have God’s Faith.
The bible also says … faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. [Romans 10:17]
This is the single biggest area of weakness in the church today, biblical ignorance. How can the people of God have overcoming faith if the source of that faith is the word of God and they are ignorant of what it says?
How can God’s team be victorious if it does not train, if it does not prepare itself?
Let me tell you how to be prepared for the eventualities of life in Christ:
Suggested close - "Faith Is the Victory" followed by "I Surrender All"
- read His word often, daily
- study His word regularly, deeply
- wash in His word thoroughly, frequently
- share His word constantly, boldly
- proclaim His word boldly, reverently!
Abe Lincoln - said, “Take all of this book upon reason that you can, and the balance on faith, and you will live and die a happier and better [person].”
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