“Undergoing Construction: Build Your Faith! pt. 2”

Pastor Jim Lowe III

Sunday Morning, 9:30am Stream 09/08/24 (2nd Sunday Message)

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{All scriptures are NIV84 unless stated}

Today we are working on a project. That project is to improve a structure.

This structure seems to function pretty well… but it needs to be improved.

it needs updating.

it needs things to make it stronger.

This structure is US.

We’re doing alright…

but we’ve got to strengthen our temples. we’ve got to build our faith!

Message Title:

“Undergoing Construction: Build Your Faith! pt. 2”

Hebrews 11:1-2

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.

Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Being sure of the things we hope for.

This is what the ancients were commended for. Those who came before...in the Bible and not...

Example of Faith:

Most people are sitting down listening to the message. How many of you sat down in your chair today.

How many of you checked to make sure your chair would hold you before sitting down? Do you check most chairs before trusting them to hold you?

{that chair at great grandmas house that’s older than you?} Hasn’t a chair let you down before?

Hasn’t it broken on you?

Have you seen it break on someone else?

And you didn’t check your seat today?

Even When Chairs Have Let You Down Before, You’ll Still Have Faith In Them!

This is a strong form of faith!

And it’s NECESSARY to be a believer!

Hebrews 11:6

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.

Faith is necessary to please God! Without it you CAN’T please him! Faith is belief!

You don’t see how the chair is put together…. but you’ll sit on it.

you’ll trust it to hold you and not drop you.

Faith Is Fully Believing Something Even Without All The Answers!

And THIS is what the Lord wants for us.

What are some things we can learn about faith?

Faith Requires Being Bold In Your Belief

We talked last week how Jesus spoke to the fig tree

he commanded that no one would eat from it again.

Peter questioned him on it when they saw the tree died.

Verse 22-24

22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

He demonstrated how it’s not JUST saying words.

but the boldness it requires and faith to believe it will happen.

Doubt Is What Kills Our Faith!

Mark 11:23

23 “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.

It’s not just about saying words.

many of us pray the same prayers… but they’re just words.

it’s about believing it.

But when we believe.

We have to believe and NOT doubt. Doubt negates our faith.

Doubt Will Ruin Your Faith!

So how do we get rid of our doubt?

Trusting God even when we can’t see everything. We seem to want to see everything.

we trust what we can see.

But scripture tells us something plainly.

2 Corinthians 5:7

7 We live by faith, not by sight.

This means you WILL NOT be able to see everything. And the things you DO see…may not always be true!

Don’t Trust Everything You See! Your Eyes Can Deceive You!

How can you eyes deceive you? Because they can’t see everything.

Things We Can’t See:

• Air

We can’t see the air.

but it doesn’t mean it’s not there. we breathe it.

we can bag it.

we can put it in tanks for later.

Something VITAL for life…and we can’t see it.

you can live for days without food and water… but only minutes without air…

and we can’t even see it.

• Radiation

You can’t see radiation.

you see your microwave cooking things… but not "what’s cooking it.”

certain places in the world where if you stay there too long. it will kill you.

your bluetooth…

your phones.

your wireless internet.. they put out radiation…

we can’t see it.

• Certain Types Of Light

our eyes can only see light that’s within a certain wavelength. anything above or below it we can’t see.

ultraviolet light. infrared light.

we can’t see it.

We have to trust God beyond what we can see. Because what we “see” may not tell the whole story.

Abram was a man who believed God beyond what he could see.

Genesis 12:1-4a

The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” 4 So Abram left, as the Lord had told him;

Abram had done what the Lord had told him.

he trusted and did what the Lord told him to do. he left everything…

and went where the Lord WOULD show him.

The Lord Responds To Faith, Not Doubt!

The Lord appears to Abraham later on.

Genesis 18:1

The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day.

Abraham wouldn’t been near the great trees of Mamre if he hadn’t trusted the Lord in Ge 12.

Verse 9-10

9 “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “There, in the tent,” he said. 10 Then the Lord said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.”

Abraham and Sarah had not had any children.

Now they were promised not only a child…but a son.

Verse 10-11

10 Then the Lord said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. 11 Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?”

The Lord has now made a promise to Abraham…

But the bible SPECIFICALLY reminds us of the facts.

Fact:

Fact:

Abraham and Sarah were old.

she was PAST the age of having a child.

The Lord TOLD Abraham he and SARAH would have a son! within the YEAR.

she would be pregnant SOON!

Sarah did not believe!

Looking at her circumstances conflicts with what the Lord said.

it will work our for our BENEFIT. yet we still doubt him.

He told Moses the play by play. and Moses doubted him.

We want things to be perfect all the time.

How Do We Know We Have Great Faith If It’s Never Tested?

How do you know you’re ready for 1st grade…

if you haven’t proven you can pass kindergarten?

Stop letting doubt kill your faith!

Stop letting the things you SEE cause doubt!

The Lord is looking for people who can believe beFORE they see it! Jesus had shown himself to the disciples after the resurrection.

Thomas wasn’t there.

They ALL tried to tell Thomas.

John 20:25

25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”

Some of us only believe AFTER we’ve seen something. So Jesus shows up the next week…

LOOKS for Thomas.

John 20:27

27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

DOUBT kills faith…

Then what does Jesus say??

John 20:29

29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

You get BLESSED when you live by faith.

If We Want To See God Do More For You, We Have To Get Rid Of Doubt!

Stop doubting that the Lord will take care of you! Stop doubting that the Lord loves you!

Stop doubting that it will work out!

Faith Building Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 5:24

24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

God is faithful!

He WILL do it!

When has he NOT come through! Stop trusting your eyes!

Trust God!

Faith Gives Us The Ability To See When No One Else Can!

We live by faith.

Get rid of your doubt!

Faith Building Scripture:

Romans 8:28

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

All things work!!

You Have Survived Every Attempt To Take You Out To This Day! Trust He Will Keep You!

{in closing:}

If you are looking to build a better house of faith… you have to get rid of doubt.

What has the Lord told you?

Will he do it?