Sunday, September 2, 2018

Blessing and Faith



Be Attitudes Matt 5:3-12 Luke 6:20-23
Blessing guidelines Deuteronomy 28

Blessings are based on our actions from these passages.

God is not the source of your trouble. God is your deliverer. Faith with obedience are needed. Stand against the devil.

Faith and obedience are needed for the answer of blessing. James 1:22 Some would say it is by grace and not works. Ephesians 2:8-9 Salvation is by grace through faith. Grace is offered and we take the grace by faith. Faith is expressed by our actions. Some would say, it is God who gives us faith. Yes, God gives faith to all. Romans 12:3 We all have faith, just as the disciples had. 2 Peter 1:1 It is given to us to grow our faith and use our faith. We are not saved with no action. Action is the result of faith and not the other way of action giving rise to faith. Philippians 3 shows Paul  seeking God with zeal. He doesn't trust in his zeal but in the work of Christ. Philippians 3:9 Zeal will follow, when faith is there.

If you have faith and no zeal, your faith is dead. James 2:17 What do you do when your faith is dead? Let God arise. Ps 68:1; Revelation 3:20; Isaiah 40:31-41:1a; Romans 10:17  With God, faith is activated. And when faith is activated zeal is there. Without the zeal we will question the idea that Bible hope is producing. The hope of the Bible brings God and faith. The hope of the Bible without God brings arrogance and/or frustration. The hope of the Bible without God is powerless. It is faith that overcomes. If we are not overcoming something is missing. 1 John 5:4

What do we do when something is missing? Seek God! Jeremiah 33:3; Matthew 6:33; Isaiah 40:31-41:1a And continue seeking Him till we understand what is going on. James 1:5; Matthew 7:8 With God and His direction we will overcome. 1 John 5:4 Some would say, “but I haven't overcome. This faith stuff doesn't work.” We don't try faith for a while to see if it works. We live by faith. 2 Corinthians 5:7 Faith doesn't quit in hard times. Faith rejoices in hard times! Romans 5:1-5; James 1:2-4 It is the hard times that brings the power. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Remember:
Understanding Scripture is not for self indulgence. John 10:10 says Jesus came to give us an abundant life. It also says in Luke 12:15 we are not to be greedy. Even when we have an abundance our life does not consist of our possessions. So, our abundant life is not talking about possessions. We can't believe in godly faith for our own pleasure. James 4:3 Yes, there is prosperity. Proverbs 10:22 The purpose of prosperity is the advancement of God's kingdom. Deuteronomy 8:18

Jesus is our life and light. Every day is an adventure with Jesus.

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