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FREE MP3 PRAISE MUSIC GOING AROUND THE WORLD
Recently we reviewed the parable of the Talents.
And we saw the application to us concerned using what God has given us, by faith, for His Glory. This principle applies also
to sharing the ministry of others, as well as joining with them in faithful works.
Certainly we all have received His
word. What are we doing with it? Are we
laboring with others who are working His word?
1 Cor.3: 6 "I have planted,
Apollo's watered; but God gave the increase. 7
So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth;
but
God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth
are one: and every man shall receive his
own reward according to his own
labor. 9 For we are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye
are God's
building."
A simple definition of the talent: "it is whatever the Lord gives us now and
will ask us about later."
Remember it is a trust from God. He gives it for
us to do what honors Him.
1 Cor 12:7 " But the manifestation of
the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal."
Jesus is talking to people who claim to follow Him. And He reminds
us all
that there will be a day of accounting. Jesus tells us in v.19, Mt 25:19
"After a long time the master of
those servants returned and settled
accounts with them."
When Christ takes us up there will be a review of all
we did after salvation.
The Book of Life will be opened. Our page reviewed. That which we did in FAITH will live to be
honored with rewards. The rest will have burned up.
ARE WE FULLY WORKING THE FAITH HE GAVE? LET US LABOR EVEN MORE
FOR HIM.
JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH
Ephesians 2:
8 "For
by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not
of works, lest any man should boast."
TITUS 3:5
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done,
but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;" (we bring nothing
good to God that would merit His favor. )
Gal. 2:16
"16 Knowing
that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ,
that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh
be justified.
17 But
if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin?
God forbid.
18 For
if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
19 For
I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God."
(THE LAW CONDEMNS ALL. THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST PAID FOR THE
JUDGMENT ON US, OF DEATH ACCORDING TO LAW. ALL OF US ARE JUDGED UNDER LAW! WE ARE SINNERS. CHRIST GAVE US LIFE
! HE TOOK OUR PLACE. HE DIED FOR OUR SINS. HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD. LIFE CAME INTO US FROM HIM. AND CHRIST NOW LIVES THROUGH
US WHEN WE ARE IN THE FAITH AND FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT! "NOT I, BUT CHRIST LIVITH IN ME...
FAITH THAT SAVES WORKS
"Faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is not
alone" John Calvin.
Titus 3:8
"This is a faithful saying, and these things I will
that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are
good and profitable unto men."
(Be careful to excel in good works - Though the apostle
does not lay these for the foundation of salvation, yet he brings them in at their proper place after salvation, and then
mentions them, not slightly, but as affairs of great importance. He desires that all believers should be careful - Have their
thoughts upon them: not barely to practice, but to excel, to be eminent and distinguished in them: because, though they
are not the ground of our reconciliation with God, yet they are amiable and honorable to the Christian profession. And profitable
to men - Means of increasing the everlasting happiness both of ourselves and others.)
Titus 3:14
"And let our's also learn to maintain good works for
necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful."
"The just shall live by faith."
This declaration of the Christian's principle of life
is found in the bible. (Hab. 2:1-5; Rom. 1:17; Heb. 10:38 ) In Habakkuk we see the difference between the lives
of the unjust and the just.The unjust are puffed up and live by their own self sufficiency. They reject God.
But the just live by faith-our confidence is in God.
To us faith is more than a philosophy of life. The righteous shall live his whole life by faith.
We are saved
by faith, kept by faith, and we live by faith. Our faith shall be tried many times and in many ways but saving faith
will always be vindicated, because it is more than equal to any occasion. Faith knows how to wait on the Lord and it is always
victorious.
Faith defies reason: it moves mountains (Mt. 17:14-21). Faith does not always face facts (Heb. 11:32-39).
Faith says, God is working out His perfect will in my life, and
I can wait, endure and suffer.
EXAMPLE OF FAITH IN ACTIONS
Colossians 1:10
"That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing,
being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;"
(The apostle was constant in prayer, that the believers
might be filled with the knowledge of God's will, in all wisdom. Good words will not do without good works. God undertakes
to give strength to us; a God of glorious power. The blessed Spirit in us is the author of this. In praying for
spiritual strength, we are not limited, or confined in the promises, and should not be so in our hopes and desires according
to HIS WILL.
All who are designed for heaven hereafter, are prepared
for heaven now.
We who have the inheritance of sons/ daughters, have
the education of sons/daughters, and the disposition of God's growing children.)
LACK OF LIVED FAITH LEADS TO LOSS OF REWARDS AND MINISTRY,
NOT SALVATION (EXAMINE OURSELVES WHETHER WE HAVE "THE" FAITH")
John 15:2
"Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh
away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit."
(The word of Christ is spoken to all believers; and
there is a cleansing virtue in that word, as it works God's grace, and works out corruption in us. And the more fruit
we bring forth, the more we abound in what is good, the more our Lord is glorified. In order to be fruitful, we must
ABIDE IN CHRIST, have union IN him by faith.
It is our great concern as disciples toconstantly
keep up dependence upon Christ, and communion with him. True Christians find by experience, that any interruption in the exercise
of our faith, causes holy affections to decline, our corruptions to revive, and comforts to diminish. THIS IS CAUSED
BY UNCONFESSED SINS. TOO OFTEN WE ARE OUT OF FAITH IN OUR LIVES: Whatsoever is not of faith is sin
Rom.14.22-23
22 "Hast thou faith? have it to thyself
before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
23 And
he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin."
Hebrews 10:38
"38 Now the
just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him
Those who do not abide in Christ, may flourish
for awhile in outward profession, come to nothing. The fire is the fittest place for withered branches; they are good for
nothing else. God will remove us from the place of fruit bearing. Let us seek to live more simply in the fulness of
Christ, grow more fruitful in every good word and work, that our joy in Him and in his salvation be full.)
FAITH REVEALED IN US AND TROUGH US Pt 2
FRUIT BEARING ATTRIBUTES
Gal.5:22-23
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."
(Christian character is not mere moral or legal correctness,
but the possession and manifestation of nine graces: * love, joy, peace--character as an inward state; * longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness--character in expression toward man;* faith, meekness, temperance--character in expression toward God. Taken together
they present a moral portrait of Christ, and the apostle's explanation of Gal 2:20 "Not I, but Christ," and as a definition
of "fruit" in Jn 15:1-8. This character is possible because of the believer's vital union to Christ and is wholly the fruit
of the Spirit in those believers who are yielded to Him. Jn 15:5 1Cor 12:12,13 )
Colossians 3:12-17
12 "Put
on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing
one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And
above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
15 And
let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16 Let
the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And
whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."
HEROS OF FAITH
Hebrews 11:32-39
"32 And
what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David
also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
33 Who
through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.
34 Quenched
the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight
the armies of the aliens.
35 Women
received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better
resurrection:
36 And
others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37 They
were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins;
being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38 (Of
whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And
these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:"
Faith does not make anything easy, but it does make
all things possible.
Heb. 11:1
" 1 Now
faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Your faith is your title
deed to eternal life. Just as a title deed is evidence of real estate, so your faith is your evidence of your eternal estate
in God.
Heb. 11:6
"6 But
without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder
of them that diligently seek him."
We cannot come to God, unless we believe that he
is what he has revealed himself to be in Scripture. Those who would find God, must seek him with all their heart. Noah's faith
influenced his practice; it moved him to prepare an ark. His faith condemned the unbelief of others; and his obedience condemned
their contempt and rebellion. This shows how believers, being warned of God to flee from
the wrath to come, are moved with fear, take refuge in Christ, and become heirs of the righteousness of faith. Good examples
either convert sinners or condemn them.
Faith is taking God at His word.
Faith does not
believe that all things are good, or that all things work well. It does believe that all things work together for good to
them that love God.
Rom. 8:28
" 28 And we
know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
(Romans 8:30 "...and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He
justified, He also glorified".)
Above all, taking the shield of faith
Eph. 6:16
"16 Above all,
taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked."
You cannot be saved without faith.
John 3:36
"36 He that
believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth
on him"
You cannot live victoriously over the world without faith.
1 John 5:4
" 4 For
whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."
You cannot pray without faith.
James 1:6
" 6 But
let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed."
You cannot have peace with God without faith.
Rom. 5:1
"1 Therefore
being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:"
You cannot have joy without faith.
1 Pet. 1:8
" 8 Whom
having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:"
You are justified by faith and not works.
You are to live by faith
Gal. 2:20
"20 I am crucified
with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by
the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
You are made righteous by faith
Rom. 10:1-4
"1 Brethren,
my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
2 For
I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For
they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves
unto the righteousness of God.
4 For
Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."
Christ dwells in your heart by faith
Eph. 3:17
"17 That Christ
may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,"
The Holy spirit is received by faith
Gal. 3:2
" 2 This
only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?"
Whatsoever is not of faith is sin
Rom. 14:23
"23
And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin."
May God bless the reading of His word.
Chaim
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