Articles
What is Faith?
What Is Faith?
By Steve Melton, April 5, 2020
Let me ask a question: In all that we are going through, how is our faith doing? This is something we need to constantly evaluate. Has the lack of our assembling together caused our faith to weaken or has it caused our faith to be stronger? I think most of us can say that it has increased our desire to be together with one another, as soon as possible. Even though we are restricted in many ways, is our faith prospering in good works? James 2:18 says: "I will show you my faith by my works." On a personal level this is where we need to be creative.
What are the ways we can encourage our brethren and those around us? Paul was isolated in prison and looked what he accomplished. Hebrews 11:1 it gives us a definition of faith. What it is and what it means to us. This is a basis of a poem I wrote recently and would like to share it with you.
“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for,
The evidence of things not seen.”
It is not a hopeful fairytale or a scientific fact;
But a truth that lies between.
Faith is not being able to see our Heavenly Father.
But we know that He is real,
His word has given us understanding.
Now it’s something we can feel.
We cannot behold His face,
Or hear a voice that can be heard.
We know that He communicates,
Through the revelation of His word.
We have even learned to trust our God,
From the promises He has kept.
We know He is with us in our joy,
And also when we have wept.
Through prayer we talk to our Father,
As if He were right by our side.
By faith we know He hears us,
If, in His love we abide.
For those without faith,
It is a concept that is hard to explain.
But look at nature and the universe;
This is evidence that should make it plain.
“Faith is the assurance of thing hoped for”
We are assured to see our Father as He sits upon the throne.
We get to see our Father’s face with a glory.
Brighter than anything we have ever known.
Let us look for ways to strengthen our faith, reading God's word and following the lessons online is a good start.
Psalm 23 - The Shepherd Psalm
By Larry Winn
This much-beloved psalm of David makes use of the features of the Shepherd to describe the deep faith and hope available to the child of God, made possible the watchful care of the Lord. It also mixes other metaphors, especially that of a gracious Host. The main points David describes in this Psalm are, the shepherd’s provision, the shepherd’s protection and the shepherd’s preservation.
David begins by illustrating the provision of the Lord, both physical and spiritual (1-3). David tells to us that we will lack no necessities provided by the Lord. David then describes the protection of the Lord, as he travels through dangerous places and in the presence of enemies (4-5). The psalm ends with an expression of faith and hope in the Lord's preservation, that God will furnish the goodness and mercy needed throughout life, so that he may abide in the house of the Lord forever (6).
The Christian should see in this psalm a wonderful foreshadowing of "The Good Shepherd", Jesus Christ, who gave His life for His sheep and even now watches over them (cf. John 10:11-15; Jesus in verse 11 refer Himself as the “good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” Heb. 13:20; “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant.” 1Pet. 5:4) “and when the Chief Shepherd (Jesus Christ) appears you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.”
A good follow-up to this psalm is Psalm 100, which expresses the praise we should render to God as His people and the sheep of His pasture. May this Psalm remind us of the wonderful provision, protection, and preservation the Lord furnishes His people.
A Moments Wisdom
--There are very few ways to make people like change. The best we can do is help them to feel less threatened by it.
--Opposition makes cowards of some and heroes of others.
--He who is standing around waiting for something to turn up might start with his own shirt sleeves.
--We often become what we repeatedly do.
--There would be fewer problems in this world if people had to chop wood to keep their smart phones working.
--If we all did the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves.
--No one will ever make a good leader who wants to do it all himself, or wants to get all of the credit for doing it.
--God never puts a man in a space too small for him.
--You can’t plow a field by turning it over in your mind.
Test Your Bible Knowledge of the Seven Churches of Asia
1. We would have tribulation ten days.
2. We had left our first love.
3. We were lukewarm.
4. We had a reputation as a living congregation, but actually were dead.
5. We had a prophetess who taught error.
6. We had member named Antipas who was made a martyr.
7. We kept the Lord’s command to persevere.
Upcoming Sermons
4/19/20 AM - Children of Light
PM - The Apostles Ran -- Once
4/26/20 AM - Who Wants You to Be Baptized
PM - Chasing Scapegoats
5/3/20 AM - The Faith of Abraham
PM - The Faith that Made Our Worship Hymns (Sermon in Song)
5/10/20 AM - The Gospel Train
PM - God, the Avenger
5/17/20 AM - The Four-Fold Purpose of the Gospel
PM - The City Whose Builder and Maker is God
5/24/20 AM - Jesus Healed Ten Lepers
PM - Some Bible Sevens
5/31/20 AM - “Moreover, I Declare Unto You the Gospel”
PM - The Rich Man and Lazarus
(Please note that all of the sermons for May 2020, with the exception of 5/3/20 PM, are derived from brother Del Wininger’s cloth sheet sermons. It is an honor to be permitted to use and benefit from the works of those who have gone on before.)
