It Pays To Believe God
Luke 17:5 - 10
5And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.6
And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.7
But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?8
And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?9
Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.10
So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.We need to have a desire for more faith - vs 5
Romans 10:8 - 17
8But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;9
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.10
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.11
For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.12
For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.13
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.14
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?15
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!16
But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.Faith can be increased - 17
Hear God's Word
James 2:14 - 26
14What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?15
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,16
And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?17
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.18
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.19
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.20
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?21
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?22
Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?23
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.24
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.25
Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?26
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.Faith does not stand alone or empty
Works will FOLLOW
Works will CONTINUE
Works will GROW along with our faith
1 John 5:1 - 4
1Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.2
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.3
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.4
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.We are overcomers by faith
Hebrews 11
From this scripture we can learn…
God honors faith
Gary Marcum - New Beginnings Church - 070906pm