God give us faith

Sermon Summary

Main Message

This message emphasizes the importance of faith in our lives as believers. We are reminded that without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6), and that He desires for us to have blameless hearts, not relying on our own power or cleverness. Instead, we want to see His power at work in our lives, just like the early church experienced when the Holy Spirit fell upon them.

Key Scripture References

• Hebrews 11:6 - This verse emphasizes that faith is essential for pleasing God. We are called to have faith in His promises and provision, even when circumstances seem impossible.
• Acts 2:43-47 - The early church experienced the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit, where everyone felt a sense of awe at the miracles happening among them. They shared their possessions freely, ensuring no one was in need, and they loved God with all their hearts.
• Joel 2:28-32 - This passage prophesies that the last days would be marked by supernatural spiritual gifts, including dreams, visions, words of knowledge, and prophecy. We are encouraged to recognize that these signs point to the fulfillment of God's promises in our lives.
• Hebrews 4:16 - This verse reminds us that we can come before God's throne of grace with confidence, receiving mercy and grace in times of need. We acknowledge our dependence on Him and ask for His power to be at work in us.
• Romans 12:1-2 - We are called to present ourselves as living sacrifices, not conformed to the world but transformed by the renewing of our minds. This means we must let go of our own strategies and resources, relying instead on God's power and guidance.
• Ephesians 5:18-21 - We are reminded that the Holy Spirit is the source of spiritual gifts and fruit in our lives. By submitting to His control, we can experience the transformation we long for, becoming witnesses of Christ's love and power in the world.
• Matthew 9:22 - Jesus said that faith like a mustard seed could move mountains. We are encouraged to have faith that God can do anything, even when circumstances seem impossible.

Key Takeaways

• We must recognize the importance of faith in our lives as believers, acknowledging that without it, we cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6).
• The early church experienced the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit when they surrendered to His control. We are called to follow their example, relying on God's power rather than our own.
• God desires for us to have blameless hearts, not trying to mix His power with our own cleverness (Hebrews 4:16).
• We must come before God's throne of grace with confidence, receiving mercy and grace in times of need (Hebrews 4:16).

This Week's Challenge

Two specific challenges we can take this week include:

• Pray for the Holy Spirit to fall upon us, that we might experience His power and guidance in our lives. Ask God to help us let go of our own strategies and resources, relying instead on His provision.
• Spend time in prayer and reflection, asking God to reveal areas where we are trying to mix His power with our own cleverness. Seek His mercy and grace in those areas, trusting that He will transform us according to His promise (Romans 12:1-2).

Reflection Questions

• What is one area where I am trying to mix God's power with my own cleverness? How can I surrender to His control and trust in His provision?
• How can our church community come together to experience the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit, just like the early church did (Acts 2:43-47)?
• What does it mean for me to have faith that God can do anything, even when circumstances seem impossible? How can I cultivate this kind of faith in my life?