LIVING EXPECTANTLY
SERIES: THE ULTIMATE LIFESTYLE
April 6, 2008 Pastor Bill Bump
Matthew 9:9 (NIV)
'....According to your faith will it be done to you.'
Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)
'Without faith, it is impossible to please God....'
1. How does God build my faith?
By testing it.
James 1:3,4 (NIV)
'...the testing of your faith develops perseverance....so that you may be mature and complete...'
Job 7:17, 18 (NIV)
'What is man that you make so much of him, and that you give him so much attention, that you examine him every morning and test him every moment.'
Lesson: Every day our faith is being tested.
2. How does God test my faith?
A. God tests our faith through difficulties.
1 Peter 1:6,7 (NIV)
'.....for a little while you have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that you faith.....may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.'
Isaiah 48:10 (NIV)
'See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.'
What is to our response to difficulties?
James 1:2,3 (NIV)
'Consider it pure joy....whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance.'
Lesson: To live by faith, I must learn to rejoice continually.
B. God tests our faith through demands.
God sometimes asks us to do things that we think are impossible.
Exodus 16:4 (NIV)
'...The people are to go out each day and gather enough manna for that day. In this way, I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.'
Hebrews 11:8 (NIV)
'By faith, Abraham obeyed and went...'
Hebrews 11:7 (NIV)
'By faith, Noah built an ark....'
Lesson: To live by faith, I must learn to obey immediately.
C. God tests our faith through delays.
Deuteronomy 8:2 (NIV)
'....God led you all the way in the desert these 40 years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.'
Isaiah 64:4 (NIV)
'......God acts on the behalf of those who wait for Him.'
Psalm 37:34 (NIV)
'Wait for the Lord and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land....'
Lesson: To live by faith, I must learn to wait patiently.
