The Making or Breaking of Faith

I don't watch David Letterman but he has made popular the idea of using a
Top Ten list to describe something. His approach always brings a 'comic
relief' and they are often quite entertaining and sometimes even have an
element of truth in them.
 
I want us to consider some building blocks which will help us in our
faith journey, but also put alongside each of those building blocks some
'lines' which Satan uses to counteract that possible growth.
 
We need to realize, first of all, that faith is a work of God:
John 6:29: "Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the
one he has sent.""
 
1 Cor. 3:6-7: "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it
grow. {7} So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but
only God, who makes things grow."
 
Building Block for Faith: #1: Is There a God?"
 
Look at the creation around you and observe what God has made known.
Acts 17:24-28: ""The God who made the world and everything in it is the
Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.
{25} And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything,
because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.
{26} From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit
the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact
places where they should live.
{27} God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for
him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
{28} 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your
own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'"
 
God has given us everything (life, country, a place to live, etc.) that
we should seek Him.
Romans 1:18-20: "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against
all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their
wickedness,
{19} since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God
has made it plain to them.
{20} For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his
eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood
from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."
 
· The creation is a proof since its design is so magnificent there had to
be a creator!
· The fact that there IS a creation points to a first cause!
· Our conscience points us to a higher Being since we have a concept of
right and wrong!
God is approachable:
Psalm 31:1-2: "In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put
to shame; deliver me in your righteousness.
{2} Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of
refuge, a strong fortress to save me."
 
Psalm 116:1-2: "I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry
for mercy.
{2} Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I
live."
 
Romans 8:31-39: "What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is
for us, who can be against us?
{32} He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how
will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
{33} Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It
is God who justifies.
{34} Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that,
who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also
interceding for us.
{35} Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or
hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
{36} As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we
are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
{37} No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him
who loved us.
{38} For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor
demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
{39} neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will
be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our
Lord."
 
He rewards those who seek Him:
Hebrews 11:6: "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because
anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards
those who earnestly seek him."
 
What do you believe about the existence of God? How much are you willing
to do to seek Him (there needs to be some sense of commitment and a
response of faith).
 
Satan's Response #10: "What you see is what you get."
Matthew 6:6: "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and
pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is
done in secret, will reward you."
 
Matthew 6:18: …"so that it will not be obvious to men that you are
fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who
sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
 
2 Cor. 4:18: "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is
unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
 
 
Building Block for Faith: #2: "Is there a God-Written, God-inspired book?
 
Romans 10:17: "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and
the message is heard through the word of Christ."
 
2 Tim 3:16-17: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,
rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
{17} so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good
work."
 
Hebrews 4:12-13: "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than
any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit,
joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
{13} Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight Everything is
uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give
account."
 
The Bible not only claims to be an inspired revelation from God…it also
claims to be verbally inspired:
1 Cor. 2:13: "This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human
wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in
spiritual words."
 
Satan's Response: "One religious book is as good as another."
It is generally accepted that the Old Testament canon was revised and
completed under the direction of Ezra and 120 Hebrew scholars known as
The Great Synagogue.
 
Ezra's purpose was "to study the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to
teach the statutes and ordinances in Israel" (7:10 NRSV). He was well
equipped for this task as a priest and scribe. Jerusalem needed the law
of God.
 
· The permanence of the Jews was threatened by opposition from non-Jews
and by the Jews' careless disregard for the things of God.
· Ezra's teaching was needed to give solidity and strength to the Jewish
community struggling against pressures to surrender its ethnic and
theological identity.
 
Ancient rabbis said that if Moses had not received the law from God,
Ezra would have. Ezra is often called "the father of Judaism," though
others offer a different opinion. This is because he did most to codify,
emphasize, and sent up the law of Moses. Also, he is credited with
initiating what became Jewish isolationism and separatism, seen
graphically in the New Testament. He led Jews to divorce their foreign
wives and send them and their children away.
 
There are essentially four things which helped determine which books
would be included in the canon of the New Testament:
1. Was the book in question written by an apostle, or, if not, did the
one who wrote it sustain a relationship to an apostle which would raise
his book to the level of apostolic endorsement? This was especially true
of such books as Mark, Luke, and Acts.
2. Were the contents of the book being considered of such a spiritual
character as to entitle it to the rank indicated in the first test? It
was on the basis of this second test that most of the apocryphal books
were rejected and the ones we now have in the canon were accepted.
3. Was the book under consideration universally received by the church?
4. Did the books which were being weighed give evidence of being
divinely inspired?
 
There was never really any question regarding 20 of the books of our New
Testament, but seven (Hebrews, James, 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, Jude, and
Revelation) took longer to gain acceptance. It should be pointed out that
there was never a time in the consideration that they were wholly
rejected.
 
It is not my belief that it was left up to human judgment alone:
1 Cor. 14:37: "If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted,
let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command."
 
1 John 2:20, 27: "But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of
you know the truth.
{21} I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but
because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth…
{27} As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you,
and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you
about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit--just as
it has taught you, remain in him."
 
The purpose of the Bible
1. A lamp to guide us (Psa 119:105) "Your word is a lamp to my feet and
a light for my path."
2. To set us free (John 8:32) "Then you will know the truth, and the
truth will set you free.""
3. To make us wise and to perfect us (2 Tim 3:15) "and how from infancy
you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for
salvation through faith in Christ Jesus….(2 Tim 3:17) "so that the man
of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
4. To save us (James 1:21) "Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and
the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you,
which can save you."
5. To purify us (1 Pet 1:22) "Now that you have purified yourselves by
obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love
one another deeply, from the heart."
 
 
Building Block for Faith: #3: "Who Are You, God?"
 
What image comes to your mind when you hear the word "God.?" What you
believe about God…what image you ponder up in your mind…greatly affects
your outlook in life and particularly affects the calibre of joyful you
experience.
 
The disciples struggled with this in the Upper Room, in the very last
days of Jesus' time with them. They wanted to see God!
 
Do you remember the response of Jesus?
John 14:9: "Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have
been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the
Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?"
 
Romans 2:1-4: "Therefore you are without excuse, every man of you who
passes judgment, for in that you judge another, you condemn yourself; for
you who judge practice the same things.
{2} And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who
practice such things.
{3} And do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment upon those
who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape
the judgment of God?
{4} Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and
forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you
to repentance?"
 
Your outlook about God affects your willingness to study and grow in the
Word:
1 Peter 2:1-3: "Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and
hypocrisy and envy and all slander,
{2} like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it
you may grow in respect to salvation,
{3} if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord."
 
 
We know what Satan's Response is: "There is a God and He is mean,
abusive, and hard….or He is so good He would not let you go to hell."
 
Satan caused Eve to question God's word:
Genesis 3:1-5: "Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild
animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really
say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"
{2} The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in
the garden,
{3} but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in
the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'"
{4} "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman.
{5} "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened,
and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
 
God has always wanted to reveal Himself
Matthew 1:20-23: "But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of
the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do
not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which has been
conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
{21} "And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for
it is He who will save His people from their sins."
{22} Now all this took place that what was spoken by the Lord through
the prophet might be fulfilled, saying,
{23} "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD, AND
SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME
IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US.""
 
Matt. 9:12-13: "But when He heard this, He said, "It is not those who are
healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick.
{13} "But go and learn what this means, 'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND
NOT SACRIFICE,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.""
 
(Mat 11:25-30) "At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of
heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and
learned, and revealed them to little children. {26} Yes, Father, for this
was your good pleasure. {27} "All things have been committed to me by my
Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the
Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
{28} "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you
rest. {29} Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and
humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. {30} For my yoke
is easy and my burden is light.""
 
Matt. 19:21-30: "Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and
sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure
in heaven; and come, follow Me."
{22} But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieved;
for he was one who owned much property.
{23} And Jesus said to His disciples, "Truly I say to you, it is hard
for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
{24} "And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through
the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
{25} And when the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and
said, "Then who can be saved?"
{26} And looking upon them Jesus said to them, "With men this is
impossible, but with God all things are possible."
{27} Then Peter answered and said to Him, "Behold, we have left
everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?"
{28} And Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you, that you who have
followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His
glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the
twelve tribes of Israel.
{29} "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father
or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, shall receive many
times as much, and shall inherit eternal life.
{30} "But many who are first will be last; and the last, first."
 
Matt. 25:24-30: ""And the one also who had received the one talent came
up and said, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did
not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed.
{25} 'And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the
ground; see, you have what is yours.'
{26} "But his master answered and said to him, 'You wicked, lazy slave,
you knew that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I scattered no
seed.
{27} 'Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my
arrival I would have received my money back with interest.
{28} 'Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one
who has the ten talents.'
{29} "For to everyone who has shall more be given, and he shall have an
abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have
shall be taken away.
{30} "And cast out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that
place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
 
How is God best described?
Luke 15:7: ""I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in
heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous
persons who need no repentance."
 
Luke 15:10: ""In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence
of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.""
 
Luke 15:17-24: ""But when he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of
my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here
with hunger!
{18} 'I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father,
I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight;
{19} I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of
your hired men."'
{20} "And he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a
long way off, his father saw him, and felt compassion for him, and ran
and embraced him, and kissed him.
{21} "And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven
and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
{22} "But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out the best
robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his
feet;
{23} and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and be merry;
 
{24} for this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was
lost, and has been found.' And they began to be merry."
 
 
Building Block For Faith: #4 "Who Am I?"
It's also important that we see self—who you are; where you are going,
etc.
 
Matthew 9:36: "And seeing the multitudes, He felt compassion for them,
because they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd."
Matthew 10:28-33: ""And do not fear those who kill the body, but are
unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both
soul and body in hell.
{29} "Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them
will fall to the ground apart from your Father.
{30} "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
 
Luke 12:6-7: ""Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? And yet not one
of them is forgotten before God.
{7} "Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not
fear; you are of more value than many sparrows."
 
{31} "Therefore do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows.
{32} "Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also
confess him before My Father who is in heaven.
{33} "But whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before
My Father who is in heaven."
 
Satan's Response: "YOU are…God.
You are everything or you are nothing—or remember when you….
Rev. 12:10: "And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the
salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of
His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown
down, who accuses them before our God day and night."
 
2 Cor. 2:10-11: "But whom you forgive anything, I forgive also; for
indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for
your sakes in the presence of Christ,
{11} in order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan; for we are not
ignorant of his schemes."
2 Cor. 7:10: "For the sorrow that is according to the will of God
produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the
sorrow of the world produces death."
 
When the Spirit of God convicts you, he uses the Word of God in love and
seeks to bring you back into fellowship with your Father. When Satan
accuses you, he uses your own sins in a hateful way, and he seeks to make
you feel helpless and hopeless.
 
Notice: Satan tries to have it both ways:
· wants us to think that sin is OK if it's a "little" sin or a "mistake"
instead of a sin…"little white lie"…
· but if we admit sin in our life, he then wants to use it and make us
think God doesn't love us any longer or won't forgive us again.
·
"Love For All"
Love for all—and can it be? Can I hope it is for me—
I, who strayed so long ago, Strayed so far, and fell so low?
 
I, the disobedient child, Wayward, passionate, and wild—
I who, who left my Father's home, In forbidden ways to roam.
 
I, who spurned His loving hold; I, who would not be controlled—
I, who would not hear His call; I, the willful prodigal.
 
To my Father can I go? At His feet myself I'll throw;
In His house there yet may be Place—a servant's place—for me.
 
See! My Father wanting stands; See! He reaches out His hands;
God is love, I know, I see, Love for me- yes, even me."
 
Proverbs 28:13: "He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But
he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion."
 
1 John 1:8-10: "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving
ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
{9} If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us
our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
{10} If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word
is not in us."

Last modified: January 04, 2010