February 8, 2009
Evening Service

Hebrews 6:1-3

Review:

1. The writer has encouraged us to move on from being a babe in Christ, feeding only on milk, and to move on to perfection. 
2. The four things that I would like to continue for us to consider as things of maturity are, LOVE, TRUST, FAITHFULNESS, AND SERVICE.  Lord willing, after looking at the Principles, we will look at these four aspects of being perfect, or complete.

 

This evening we are looking at the second attribute of the Principles of Christ, and that is, having faith toward God.

 

Heb 6:1-3  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,  (2)  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.  (3)  And this will we do, if God permit.

 

Faith toward God;  one of the principles in the Doctrine of Christ.

 

Let’s first define faith by the Scriptures:  Heb 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Now let’s see how that thought applies to us, and faith.

 

Jesus talks about faith:

LACK OF FAITH IN PROVIDING:

• Mat 6:30  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

 

God will provide:

• In this portion of Scripture God teaches us that He will provide for our needs.  Not all our wants, but our needs He will supply. 
• When we are down, and we think almost out, this is the time to look up, and call out to our heavenly Father.  HE WILL PROVIDE.  
• Forsaking you, and failure should not be mentioned in the same breath with the words, God Almighty.   I will not leave you, nor forsake you.  He will provide.

 

LACK OF FAITH IN PROTECTION:

• Mat 8:26  And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
• Mat 14:31  And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

 

God will protect:

• The song, Jesus take the wheel.  How many times have you had to call on God for this type of help?  If you are like me, many.    The bad thing is when we don’t call on God!!! 
• Christian, we are in a walk with God.  God Almighty as our Heavenly Father, we as His children, and Jesus as our guide, and teacher. 
• It is daily, hourly, and every minute of the day.  24-7.  I will not leave you, nor forsake you.  He will protect you.

 

 

 

 

 

LACK OF FAITH IN MIRACLES:

• Mat 17:14-21  And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,  (15)  Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.  (16)  And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.  (17)  Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.  (18)  And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.  (19)  Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?  (20)  And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.  (21)  Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

 

God will work miracles:

• Mat 9:2  And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
• Mat 9:22  But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
• Act 3:16  And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
• Act 6:8  And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

 

We will see later in this letter that Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever.   He is the Alpha, and Omega, the beginning, and the end, He is from everlasting to everlasting.  HE IS ALIVE AND WELL, WALKING THROUGHOUT HIS CHURCHES TODAY.

 

• I KNOW THAT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE FEEL LIKE THE APOSTLES FELT;  Luk 17:5  And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.  AND THAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO ASK FOR.
• WE KNOW ALSO THAT ROMANS TEACHES US THAT “FAITH COMES BY HEARING, AND HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD.”  SO WE CAN BUILD OUR FAITH BY STUDYING, AND HEARING THE WORD OF GOD.
• WE ALSO KNOW THAT FAITH IS A GIFT FROM GOD.  PAUL TEACHING ON THE GIFTS IN CHAPTER 12 OF I CORINTHIANS SAYS THIS:  1Co 12:9  To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
• THEN THE APOSTLE CLOSES THE GIFT CHAPTER BY SAYING;  1Co 12:31  But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way.

 

AND THAT MORE EXCELLENT WAY IS THE WAY OF LOVE.  WE MOVE FROM FAITH TO LOVE, LOVE TO TRUST, TRUST TO FAITHFULNESS, AND FAITHFULNESS TO SERVITUDE.

 

MAY GOD ADD HIS BLESSINGS TO OUR STUDY THIS EVENING.