Live By Faith!

**sharky67** · #1 08-22-2007

Live By Faith!

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do
not see. - Hebrews 11:1

Are you an optimistic person? Or do you live each day expecting a bunch
of problems? Maybe your life has been difficult and you have chosen to
cope by expecting more troubles. Maybe you are more comfortable calling
yourself a realistic person. The truth is, God promises many things in
his Word, but an easy life is not one of them.

That is why it is important to understand what it means to live by
faith. A good place in the Bible to read about living by faith is in the
book of Hebrews chapter 11. This chapter gives a snapshot of historical
figures who trusted in God's promises. Each of them endured some very
scary times by trusting that God had something much better in store for
them. Each of them knew that this earth was not their real home. They
were looking ahead to a much better place. They were looking forward to
living forever with God because he promised to send them a Savior.

The fascinating thing about all the people listed in Hebrews chapter 11
is that all of them died before their Savior Jesus came down to earth to
pay for their sins. Did this mean they missed out on God's promise?
Absolutely not! They simply took God at his Word. They trusted that when
God makes a promise it's as good as done! Hebrews 11:16 says, "they
were longing for a better country-a heavenly one. Therefore God is not
ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them."

How can you live by faith? Trust in God's promises!
Prayer:
Dear God, please help me to always trust in your promises. What you
have promised will come true! You sent your Son into the world to take
away my sins and he will come again to bring his believers to heaven!
Help me to always live by faith and trust in you. Amen.

MrCorey · #2 08-22-2007

Hey Chris;

Thanks for this. I don't want to argue but I'd like to make a comment or two.

Personally, I do have a problem believing God's promises. I have been down that road many times only to get disapointed in God & myself. With God because He didn't answer, with myself because if it's not God's fault then I'm doing something wrong. See?

So, I am a pessamist, but I just proceed with caution.

And also, while I do try to keep my focus on the fact that I am just "passing through" this world. When I am dealing with pain {emotional more than physical}, it's hard to focus beyond that.

**sharky67** · #3 08-22-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrCorey

Hey Chris;

Thanks for this. I don't want to argue but I'd like to make a comment or two.

Personally, I do have a problem believing God's promises. I have been down that road many times only to get disapointed in God & myself. With God because He didn't answer, with myself because if it's not God's fault then I'm doing something wrong. See?

So, I am a pessamist, but I just proceed with caution.

And also, while I do try to keep my focus on the fact that I am just "passing through" this world. When I am dealing with pain {emotional more than physical}, it's hard to focus beyond that.

Hey bro! I just preached last Sunday night on Job 38-42 - "Is There Any Comfort". I'd like to send you a transscript of the sermon VIA email. I think it might help you. Would you like to see it?

FlatLander · #4 08-22-2007

it comes from a sermon on healing

http://68.145.168.191/southview/reso...%20Healing.mp3

god is alway active in the world, he's always omni present

if we pray for healing he just doesn't drop something somewhere else and come to heal us
if he answers it he's just doing something in addition to what he was doing before
but if he doesn't it doesn't answer it he's still here, he has a reason to continue with you as you are,

maybe check out the mp3, Clyde is so much better at getting the point across

MrCorey · #5 08-22-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by sharky67

Hey bro! I just preached last Sunday night on Job 38-42 - "Is There Any Comfort". I'd like to send you a transscript of the sermon VIA email. I think it might help you. Would you like to see it?

Yes, please. That would be very nice of you.

Thank you Flatty, I will go there too.

guynspfld · #6 08-22-2007

Thanks for sharing this, I really appreciate it, faith for me sometimes seems to waver, even though in my heart I know that God never wavers its me that is the weak one and just when I think I can make it on my own something happens to remind me that I need Him.

Such is the case as to what we have gone through and are going through over the last year I have lost my father, switched jobs, worked 2 jobs, my wife has had major surgery, and my finances have been in disarray now for about 8 months.

God has been with me the entire time, and there are days when I am clinging to his promises like someone who would be hanging from a cliff desperately holding on for dear life, then there are times that I cling to those promises from the top of the mountain i.e. when my wife's diagnoses from the tumor was not cancer this year, when I felt His comfort and assurance that my father was now with my Heavenly father feeling that assurance and comfort at his funeral with taps playing in the background.

Tonight I face an uphill battle with my financial burden and we are praying that God would allow us to assist others and encourage others once we pay all of this off.
My wife and I have committed ourselves again tonight before God to seek His will and tackle this issue in our lives because it has been a burden for sometime.

Thanks so much for the words of encouragement Chris

**sharky67** · #7 08-23-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by guynspfld

Thanks for sharing this, I really appreciate it, faith for me sometimes seems to waver, even though in my heart I know that God never wavers its me that is the weak one and just when I think I can make it on my own something happens to remind me that I need Him.

Such is the case as to what we have gone through and are going through over the last year I have lost my father, switched jobs, worked 2 jobs, my wife has had major surgery, and my finances have been in disarray now for about 8 months.

God has been with me the entire time, and there are days when I am clinging to his promises like someone who would be hanging from a cliff desperately holding on for dear life, then there are times that I cling to those promises from the top of the mountain i.e. when my wife's diagnoses from the tumor was not cancer this year, when I felt His comfort and assurance that my father was now with my Heavenly father feeling that assurance and comfort at his funeral with taps playing in the background.

Tonight I face an uphill battle with my financial burden and we are praying that God would allow us to assist others and encourage others once we pay all of this off.
My wife and I have committed ourselves again tonight before God to seek His will and tackle this issue in our lives because it has been a burden for sometime.

Thanks so much for the words of encouragement Chris

My pleasure brother. May God bless you with His peace that passes all understanding.