WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:22.260 Hi, and welcome to the Willow Ridge Church weekly podcast. 00:00:22.760 --> 00:00:25.880 This is where you can find audio for our current and past sermons. 00:00:26.080 --> 00:00:30.420 We hope that you enjoy this week's installment, and be sure to check back next week to hear 00:00:30.420 --> 00:00:31.260 the latest message. 00:00:31.680 --> 00:00:32.440 Thanks for listening. 00:00:45.980 --> 00:00:53.560 It is a very high honor to be able to ask to preach in the absence of Bo. 00:00:54.260 --> 00:00:55.360 Don't be alarmed. 00:00:55.460 --> 00:00:56.600 This is my knapsack. 00:00:56.600 --> 00:01:00.020 I'm not running away from home or the home. 00:01:00.760 --> 00:01:06.260 So it's just some props that I have this morning. 00:01:07.460 --> 00:01:14.860 This morning, though, before we do anything further, what I would like to ask is any of 00:01:14.860 --> 00:01:22.200 you who have a family member or a friend that is in Utah right now, the Salt Lake Mission 00:01:22.200 --> 00:01:24.380 Trip, would you just stand right now? 00:01:28.060 --> 00:01:35.080 I want you to look around because this represents—if you have a friend, you can go ahead and 00:01:35.080 --> 00:01:35.780 stand up, too. 00:01:35.860 --> 00:01:36.780 Stand for your friend. 00:01:39.040 --> 00:01:46.120 This represents where another congregation of ours is meeting today at a church in Salt 00:01:46.120 --> 00:01:51.900 Lake City, where a group from this church is going out to spread the gospel message. 00:01:52.660 --> 00:01:54.980 And I want us to pray right now. 00:01:55.720 --> 00:01:58.200 Those of you who are standing, please look around. 00:01:59.720 --> 00:02:02.540 Pray for the people that are in Salt Lake City right now. 00:02:02.620 --> 00:02:03.420 Let's just pray. 00:02:05.420 --> 00:02:11.480 Heavenly Father, we come before your presence now thanking you for all the blessings that 00:02:11.480 --> 00:02:14.940 you have given us and the opportunities you have given us. 00:02:16.220 --> 00:02:24.760 Right now, Lord, at this very time, we raise our voices to you asking prayer for the ministry 00:02:24.760 --> 00:02:26.540 team that's there in Salt Lake. 00:02:27.860 --> 00:02:31.940 Lord, would you empower them with boldness as they share your word? 00:02:33.040 --> 00:02:36.100 Would you give them safety everywhere they go? 00:02:36.100 --> 00:02:44.480 Will you give them strength and faithfulness in preaching and teaching others about you? 00:02:46.040 --> 00:02:50.360 Lord, we pray that this will be a wonderful experience for each person there. 00:02:51.540 --> 00:02:58.880 And Lord, our prayer is that you would provide great fruit from what's taking place now. 00:02:59.780 --> 00:03:01.380 Lord, we trust you. 00:03:01.920 --> 00:03:05.200 We know, Father, that you provided this opportunity. 00:03:06.380 --> 00:03:13.620 And Lord, we give it up to you for your glory, praising you, knowing that you will be doing good 00:03:13.620 --> 00:03:16.740 things through this faithful team who has gone. 00:03:18.040 --> 00:03:19.400 Thank you, Lord, we pray. 00:03:20.140 --> 00:03:22.240 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:03:23.480 --> 00:03:24.440 You may be seated. 00:03:27.120 --> 00:03:32.920 As we get started this morning, excuse me, let me just get my things here. 00:03:33.120 --> 00:03:36.620 I was told that I could preach 75 minutes today. 00:03:36.620 --> 00:03:43.780 Well, I heard that Bo had done that before, so that's the reason why I just thought I had 00:03:43.780 --> 00:03:45.220 that opportunity too. 00:03:45.440 --> 00:03:46.560 So please don't get alarmed. 00:03:46.620 --> 00:03:48.180 I just brought some snacks along the way. 00:03:48.340 --> 00:03:50.400 If you have snacks, eat them on yourselves too. 00:03:52.160 --> 00:03:54.340 Anyway, we are continuing our series. 00:03:54.480 --> 00:03:59.660 If you want to go ahead and turn to your Bibles or your electronic devices to Galatians chapter 00:03:59.660 --> 00:04:04.340 five, we are continuing our series in the fruit of the spirit. 00:04:05.440 --> 00:04:09.700 And today we'll be looking at the fruit of faithfulness. 00:04:10.580 --> 00:04:17.340 And as we open up God's word, go ahead and turn to Galatians five, but we're also going 00:04:17.340 --> 00:04:19.220 to back up to verse 16. 00:04:20.900 --> 00:04:23.920 As we get started this morning, I want to tell you a story. 00:04:24.880 --> 00:04:29.460 There was a very nervous bride on her wedding day. 00:04:30.200 --> 00:04:34.760 She was there in the chapel waiting for the ceremony to begin. 00:04:36.100 --> 00:04:40.740 And the minister noticed how nervous she was. 00:04:41.100 --> 00:04:47.700 So he went over to offer her comfort, asking her if there's anything he could do and what 00:04:47.700 --> 00:04:48.260 was wrong. 00:04:49.380 --> 00:04:55.940 She said, yes, I'm concerned that I'm not going to remember what to do. 00:04:56.880 --> 00:05:03.680 So the minister put his arm around her and said very gently, there's only three things that 00:05:03.680 --> 00:05:04.720 you need to remember. 00:05:05.760 --> 00:05:12.720 As you enter the church, you will see in front of you the aisle that you will go down. 00:05:13.360 --> 00:05:15.420 So remember aisle. 00:05:17.000 --> 00:05:24.620 And then you will make your way down to the very end of that aisle where your groom and 00:05:24.620 --> 00:05:27.820 I will be standing there at the altar. 00:05:28.520 --> 00:05:31.880 So remember aisle, altar. 00:05:32.640 --> 00:05:40.500 And also remember that once you get there, there will be a hymn that will be sung and then 00:05:40.500 --> 00:05:41.920 we will go to the vows. 00:05:43.560 --> 00:05:45.340 This seemed to calm her down. 00:05:45.340 --> 00:05:54.900 But I will say later at the reception, many of the groom's friends, including family, were 00:05:54.900 --> 00:06:03.100 concerned because as they heard her going down the aisle, they heard her saying, I'll alter 00:06:03.100 --> 00:06:09.620 him, I'll alter him. 00:06:11.140 --> 00:06:17.240 Now, I only share that with you as we begin today, because as we look at the fruit of the 00:06:17.240 --> 00:06:27.000 spirit, we are looking at how God wants to alter us, wants to transform us by the power of the 00:06:27.000 --> 00:06:35.000 Holy Spirit, so that we can become all that he's envisioned for us to become as his child of faith. 00:06:35.840 --> 00:06:42.360 Now, as we look, turn with me and we're going to look at Galatians chapter 5. 00:06:43.040 --> 00:06:48.080 And what I want you to do is I want you to begin looking at verse 16. 00:06:49.560 --> 00:07:02.360 Verse 16 says, but I say, walk by the spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the 00:07:02.360 --> 00:07:02.720 flesh. 00:07:03.420 --> 00:07:08.780 Now, what it's talking about is that if we go back to John chapter 14, just as a bit of 00:07:08.780 --> 00:07:14.740 review, John chapter 14 is when Jesus was saying to the disciples, peace, I leave you. 00:07:15.400 --> 00:07:22.160 I am going away, but I will ask the father to send to you a helper. 00:07:23.080 --> 00:07:24.900 And that helper is the Holy Spirit. 00:07:25.640 --> 00:07:29.940 And that helper will teach you all things and lead you in all ways. 00:07:30.460 --> 00:07:37.640 And the reason why the helper was sent to us is because that is literally Christ within us 00:07:37.640 --> 00:07:38.400 as a Christian. 00:07:39.040 --> 00:07:47.740 When we come to faith in Christ Jesus, and in our belief, God gives to us at the moment 00:07:47.740 --> 00:07:52.280 that we come to faith, the promised Holy Spirit, the helper. 00:07:53.400 --> 00:07:59.740 And that's what we're looking at in Galatians chapter 5, talking about the Holy Spirit, 00:07:59.740 --> 00:08:05.720 which empowers us to live a life reflective of Christ within. 00:08:06.560 --> 00:08:09.320 Now, we have this struggle that takes place. 00:08:09.820 --> 00:08:16.100 We have this struggle of the flesh and the struggle of the spiritual. 00:08:17.120 --> 00:08:23.520 The flesh we've already seen up above of all the things in the flesh, envy, strife, anger, 00:08:23.520 --> 00:08:33.520 all that stuff, we need to put to death, crucify that life, and live faithfully in the new life 00:08:33.520 --> 00:08:36.860 found in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:08:37.060 --> 00:08:42.640 Now, very quickly, I want you to look at verse 16, which we just did. 00:08:42.700 --> 00:08:44.700 And I want you to notice the verbs. 00:08:45.560 --> 00:08:50.280 First of all, he says, walk by the Spirit. 00:08:50.980 --> 00:08:58.300 Now, if we go to verse 18, he says, but I will say, walk by the Spirit. 00:08:58.860 --> 00:09:05.500 Go to verse 18, but if you are being led by the Spirit, and then if you click on down to 00:09:05.500 --> 00:09:14.920 verse 25, it says, if we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 00:09:14.920 --> 00:09:16.740 Now, did you notice those verbs? 00:09:18.100 --> 00:09:45.660 Now, go back up with me to verse 22 to 23, and this is where our major passage comes from. 00:09:45.660 --> 00:09:47.480 And we're continuing the sermon series. 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:53.080 Today, we're on the seventh attribute or characteristic of God. 00:09:53.620 --> 00:10:02.800 Verse 22 to 23 says, but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness. 00:10:03.720 --> 00:10:07.900 And then we come to what we're going to look at today, faithfulness. 00:10:08.320 --> 00:10:11.440 And then the other two are gentleness and self-control. 00:10:12.400 --> 00:10:15.080 Against such things, there is no law. 00:10:16.220 --> 00:10:24.860 Now, first of all, we have to ask ourselves pretty much, what does it mean, fruit? 00:10:26.280 --> 00:10:28.580 Today, sermons is very easy. 00:10:28.700 --> 00:10:33.500 You will notice I don't have a ton of screens, but I'm not going to ramble either. 00:10:33.560 --> 00:10:37.840 I can tell you the three points you want to go ahead and write them down, because I believe 00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:43.620 every time we open up God's Word, take pen and paper, because God's always got a fresh 00:10:43.620 --> 00:10:44.540 message for us. 00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:46.820 Very simple, the three points. 00:10:47.720 --> 00:10:48.420 What is fruit? 00:10:49.700 --> 00:10:50.900 What is faithfulness? 00:10:52.380 --> 00:10:54.320 What impact does it make on my life? 00:10:55.900 --> 00:10:57.380 First of all, what is fruit? 00:10:57.900 --> 00:11:01.500 Now, did any of you bring a snack? 00:11:02.020 --> 00:11:02.200 Okay. 00:11:02.960 --> 00:11:04.680 I brought an apple, okay? 00:11:05.080 --> 00:11:06.800 An apple is a fruit. 00:11:07.740 --> 00:11:14.620 Did you know that in the world, there are 7,500 different varieties of apples? 00:11:15.800 --> 00:11:19.580 In the United States, we find 2,500 of them. 00:11:20.360 --> 00:11:24.280 But now, if you go to your grocery store, don't be asking them to put all 2,500 out for 00:11:24.280 --> 00:11:24.820 you, okay? 00:11:26.060 --> 00:11:29.820 And there's a variety of different apples. 00:11:30.480 --> 00:11:32.660 For example, I don't know what your favorite apple is. 00:11:33.060 --> 00:11:36.080 Some people like the red delicious, some like the golden delicious. 00:11:37.000 --> 00:11:39.860 Some like the pink lady, some like the empire. 00:11:40.480 --> 00:11:45.440 Some like, especially this is named for my age group, I guess, the Granny Smith apple. 00:11:46.740 --> 00:11:49.460 But there are a variety of apples. 00:11:50.340 --> 00:11:55.980 Now, when we talk about the definition of fruit, I want to share with you the definition 00:11:55.980 --> 00:11:58.320 that is out of dictionary.com. 00:11:58.960 --> 00:12:05.960 Dictionary.com basically says, fruit, I don't know if I can find it here. 00:12:07.620 --> 00:12:11.340 Fruit is something that can be refreshing. 00:12:11.340 --> 00:12:16.580 It comes from a plant, and it is used for eating purposes. 00:12:17.400 --> 00:12:24.020 And the qualities of the fruit, no matter what the different varieties are, is that it refreshes 00:12:24.020 --> 00:12:25.460 and it nourishes. 00:12:26.120 --> 00:12:31.700 For example, right now, and I won't do it since nobody else brought any fruit with you. 00:12:32.240 --> 00:12:38.600 If I were to take a big bite out of this apple, I would taste it. 00:12:39.240 --> 00:12:40.680 I'd be refreshed. 00:12:41.480 --> 00:12:45.440 And it would nourish me, unless it's rotten. 00:12:46.620 --> 00:12:48.820 Then it'd be a great big surprise, and we'd throw it away. 00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:57.780 But I want you to get the picture in your eye of what it means that we are to be fruit. 00:12:58.500 --> 00:13:01.540 And fruit is nourished by God. 00:13:01.540 --> 00:13:08.180 And fruit comes from the life that's in us, which comes from God, the Holy Spirit. 00:13:08.820 --> 00:13:16.960 So as a result, fruit is what we need to be, because we represent God in the world. 00:13:17.720 --> 00:13:28.640 And as a result, as fruit, we need to be refreshed and nourished, and also refresh others and nourish them. 00:13:30.160 --> 00:13:30.980 That's fruit. 00:13:32.040 --> 00:13:36.540 Now, the second thing that I want us to look at is, what is faithfulness? 00:13:37.260 --> 00:13:40.300 When we looked there at verse 22 to 23, it says, 00:13:40.680 --> 00:13:44.900 But the fruit of the Spirit is, and today we're looking at faithfulness. 00:13:45.400 --> 00:13:49.480 Now, the Greek word in the text for faithfulness is pistos. 00:13:50.360 --> 00:13:56.500 It actually is translated and can be translated both faith and faithfulness. 00:13:56.760 --> 00:14:02.400 So what we're looking at is the fruit representative of faithfulness. 00:14:03.500 --> 00:14:05.040 Now, faithfulness. 00:14:06.040 --> 00:14:09.120 What exactly is faithfulness? 00:14:11.060 --> 00:14:20.760 Faithfulness, defined by dictionary.com, is a lasting loyalty and trustworthiness in relationships, 00:14:21.140 --> 00:14:27.140 especially what would be found in a marriage or friendship relationship. 00:14:28.640 --> 00:14:30.680 It even goes on to say, 00:14:30.680 --> 00:14:37.300 A wedding ring is a symbol of unending love and faithfulness to each other. 00:14:38.600 --> 00:14:41.100 Second definition of faithfulness is, 00:14:41.100 --> 00:14:48.680 The fact or quality of being true to one's word or commitments as to what one has pledged to do, 00:14:49.680 --> 00:14:51.220 professes to believe. 00:14:52.460 --> 00:15:05.920 Third, the fact or quality of being dedicated and steadfast in performing one's duties, working for a cause, etc. 00:15:08.420 --> 00:15:09.100 Faithfulness. 00:15:10.300 --> 00:15:13.940 If I were to ask you right now, to close your eyes, 00:15:14.680 --> 00:15:16.600 please understand I'm not asking you to go to sleep, 00:15:17.840 --> 00:15:21.280 to close your eyes and picture in your mind 00:15:21.280 --> 00:15:25.520 faithfulness in a relationship. 00:15:27.100 --> 00:15:30.320 What are some words that come to you in description? 00:15:32.180 --> 00:15:37.420 Loyal, steadfast, trustworthy. 00:15:38.880 --> 00:15:40.780 You can fill in the rest of the blanks. 00:15:41.860 --> 00:15:47.960 But right now, focus on what that looks like to you of faithfulness. 00:15:49.320 --> 00:15:52.560 Faithfulness is a word that's found in a relationship. 00:15:53.560 --> 00:15:57.260 The faithfulness of my friend, the faithfulness of my spouse, 00:15:57.820 --> 00:16:04.000 the faithfulness of my volunteers committed to the assignment they took 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:07.040 or the task that they have. 00:16:09.180 --> 00:16:09.820 Faithfulness. 00:16:10.660 --> 00:16:18.160 The fruit of faithfulness is very important to us in living the Christian life. 00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:24.400 Now, we've very simply gone through what is fruit, what is faithfulness. 00:16:25.520 --> 00:16:27.220 Now we're getting to the meat of it. 00:16:27.700 --> 00:16:30.940 Look, if you will, with me at Hebrews chapter 11, 00:16:31.040 --> 00:16:32.920 and we're going to begin at verse 1. 00:16:33.440 --> 00:16:37.520 We're going to look at Hebrews 11, verses 1 to 3, and also verse 6. 00:16:37.940 --> 00:16:42.560 Hebrews 11, 1 through 3, this is what is written. 00:16:43.560 --> 00:16:44.940 You see it there on the screen. 00:16:45.380 --> 00:16:53.640 Now, faith is the assurance of things hoped for. 00:16:55.020 --> 00:16:59.160 The commitment of things, the conviction of things not seen. 00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:03.860 Now, what exactly does that verbiage mean? 00:17:05.340 --> 00:17:11.900 Faith is the assurance of things hoped for. 00:17:12.940 --> 00:17:16.360 The conviction of things not seen. 00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:17.160 That's verse 1. 00:17:17.700 --> 00:17:22.580 Now, assurances of things not seen. 00:17:23.480 --> 00:17:27.480 For example, in the physical material world, 00:17:27.480 --> 00:17:32.800 our eyesight is used to see evidence that something exists. 00:17:34.140 --> 00:17:38.000 In the spiritual world, the invisible world, 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:43.100 we have faith to know that something exists. 00:17:44.260 --> 00:17:49.040 Now, we can look all through the Scriptures and know about faith, 00:17:49.360 --> 00:17:52.040 especially based upon experiences of other people. 00:17:53.220 --> 00:17:56.960 David talked in the Psalms about the faithfulness of God. 00:17:58.180 --> 00:18:06.220 At the same time, when we talk about the assurance of things hoped for, 00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:09.840 there's a certainty involved in that. 00:18:10.660 --> 00:18:13.720 Now, as an example, very quickly, let me just ask you this. 00:18:14.660 --> 00:18:17.480 Have you ever played the game, Where's Waldo? 00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:21.000 Have you ever done that, gone crazy? 00:18:21.220 --> 00:18:22.840 Somebody gives you this 3D picture. 00:18:23.480 --> 00:18:25.480 It's got all these different images in it. 00:18:25.540 --> 00:18:30.460 And then they say, okay, find Waldo in the 3D picture. 00:18:31.240 --> 00:18:36.000 Or it may be, do you see the lady and also the ballerina? 00:18:36.220 --> 00:18:40.940 Or do you see, okay, and you look in this 3D picture, 00:18:42.940 --> 00:18:49.020 knowing it's there, but trying real hard to see it. 00:18:49.800 --> 00:18:52.200 Now, some of you are wizards immediately. 00:18:52.520 --> 00:18:54.360 Oh, I found it, I found it, I found it. 00:18:55.520 --> 00:18:58.300 Of course, some of you say you found it and you didn't find it, 00:18:58.360 --> 00:18:59.660 but hey, you just want to go with the group. 00:19:01.160 --> 00:19:03.900 And some of you go, I can't find it. 00:19:03.960 --> 00:19:05.120 Is it really there? 00:19:05.820 --> 00:19:08.720 And sometimes a friend or family member will help you 00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:12.100 to see where Waldo is in the 3D picture. 00:19:13.780 --> 00:19:16.500 That's kind of an illustration of faith. 00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:22.320 Because you see, God is there whether we see him or not. 00:19:23.180 --> 00:19:27.260 And faith is where we are trying to see him 00:19:27.260 --> 00:19:29.060 in the picture of our world. 00:19:30.320 --> 00:19:34.180 We have faith in knowing he's there. 00:19:35.680 --> 00:19:40.540 But we strain and look to find him. 00:19:41.760 --> 00:19:44.360 Now, I dare say that any of us in this room 00:19:44.360 --> 00:19:48.500 have probably gone through difficult times in our life. 00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:53.200 And sometimes we feel like God has left us. 00:19:54.820 --> 00:19:58.960 You know, it reminds me of a time when I went on a date. 00:19:59.880 --> 00:20:02.520 Well, I mean, it wasn't the only date I've ever been in in my life. 00:20:02.620 --> 00:20:05.100 But anyway, I went on this date with a girl 00:20:05.100 --> 00:20:08.380 that I really, really wanted to ask out. 00:20:08.840 --> 00:20:11.820 So I was pretty jazzed when I asked her out and she said yes. 00:20:13.560 --> 00:20:16.380 Spiffed up the car, spiffed up me, went and picked her up. 00:20:17.220 --> 00:20:18.620 First of all, we went out to eat. 00:20:19.160 --> 00:20:20.820 Her choice, of course, I'm a gentleman. 00:20:21.980 --> 00:20:24.400 Dinner was going good, conversation was going great. 00:20:24.820 --> 00:20:27.060 Then we decided we'll go see a movie. 00:20:27.840 --> 00:20:30.180 I'm like, yeah, her choice again. 00:20:30.760 --> 00:20:32.700 It's a rom-com, but that's okay. 00:20:32.920 --> 00:20:34.260 I'm with the girl in my dreams. 00:20:35.300 --> 00:20:36.440 We go in. 00:20:37.820 --> 00:20:38.940 We sit down. 00:20:40.040 --> 00:20:41.460 The lights get dark. 00:20:43.180 --> 00:20:47.460 About five minutes into the movie, the urge came. 00:20:48.760 --> 00:20:51.740 I didn't do what I tell my grandkids to always do 00:20:51.740 --> 00:20:52.840 before we leave the house. 00:20:53.620 --> 00:20:54.640 Go to the bathroom. 00:20:54.820 --> 00:20:58.280 That was the urge that came. 00:20:59.460 --> 00:21:04.360 So I politely excused myself, left the darkness of the theater, 00:21:04.620 --> 00:21:07.500 went out into the lobby, found the restroom, did my business, 00:21:07.580 --> 00:21:08.500 was coming back in. 00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:10.840 And you know how it's been if you've ever been in a movie theater. 00:21:11.480 --> 00:21:14.100 You've gone from the light, now you're coming into the dark, 00:21:14.160 --> 00:21:15.580 and you're like, where did everybody go? 00:21:16.160 --> 00:21:17.320 It's just way too dark. 00:21:19.060 --> 00:21:20.580 But I was a smart kid. 00:21:22.420 --> 00:21:25.920 I was thinking to myself, you know, when we came into the movie theater, 00:21:26.600 --> 00:21:35.040 I can remember we were probably about 20 rows back from the back 00:21:35.040 --> 00:21:37.700 because we didn't want to get too close nor too far away. 00:21:38.260 --> 00:21:39.360 So I thought, that's easy. 00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:42.120 What I'll do is I'll start counting. 00:21:42.620 --> 00:21:44.600 One, two, three, four. 00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:47.300 Came to the 20th row from the back. 00:21:48.500 --> 00:21:49.660 Looked to my right. 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:54.680 Sure enough, girl was sitting there all by herself. 00:21:55.500 --> 00:21:57.140 I was so proud of myself. 00:21:57.520 --> 00:21:58.980 I scooted on in. 00:21:59.060 --> 00:22:01.840 I sat down, kind of got close and everything. 00:22:03.300 --> 00:22:08.140 Not very long later, I get this on my shoulder. 00:22:09.600 --> 00:22:10.780 I turned around. 00:22:12.540 --> 00:22:13.820 There's where the girl was. 00:22:13.900 --> 00:22:16.520 She was on the 19th row, not the 20th row. 00:22:19.360 --> 00:22:22.220 Needless to say, she never became my wife. 00:22:22.300 --> 00:22:24.240 But that's another story for another time. 00:22:25.500 --> 00:22:33.960 But, you know, sometimes that's the picture that we have of our relationship with God. 00:22:35.220 --> 00:22:37.860 We have faith that he's there. 00:22:39.140 --> 00:22:44.640 And then when the darkness comes and we feel like we lose our way, 00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:48.040 he didn't move. 00:22:48.600 --> 00:22:49.320 We did. 00:22:51.260 --> 00:22:54.220 God is always faithful in relationship. 00:22:54.880 --> 00:22:58.340 So when we're looking at this definition of what is faithfulness, 00:22:59.040 --> 00:23:03.540 we have to be very sure that we understand what we know 00:23:03.540 --> 00:23:09.900 and what we understand through our experiences of God always being faithful. 00:23:11.180 --> 00:23:14.420 And God is always faithful in his promises. 00:23:15.640 --> 00:23:18.140 We can find verses throughout the Bible. 00:23:18.740 --> 00:23:22.000 God is faithful in always being present with us. 00:23:22.600 --> 00:23:26.560 In Deuteronomy, it talks about he will never leave us nor forsake us. 00:23:27.600 --> 00:23:33.200 God is faithful in giving us new life found in Jesus Christ. 00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:39.220 It says he is also faithful that if we confess our sins, he is faithful to forgive us. 00:23:40.440 --> 00:23:44.680 One of my favorite verses, in fact, all of the chapter of Philippians, 00:23:44.900 --> 00:23:49.800 Philippians 4, 6 and 7, talks about do not be anxious about anything, 00:23:49.980 --> 00:23:52.180 but in everything with prayer and supplication, 00:23:52.900 --> 00:23:54.720 present your requests to God. 00:23:55.720 --> 00:23:58.560 And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding 00:23:58.560 --> 00:24:03.880 will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 00:24:05.560 --> 00:24:06.160 That's faithfulness. 00:24:06.160 --> 00:24:06.720 That's faithfulness. 00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:12.440 Philippians 4, 19, talks about, 00:24:12.780 --> 00:24:17.220 and my God will supply all my needs according to his riches. 00:24:18.580 --> 00:24:27.240 Now, I encourage you to pause and take a few moments and you think in your mind the faithfulness of God in your own life. 00:24:28.120 --> 00:24:29.340 Where have you seen him? 00:24:29.460 --> 00:24:30.860 Where have you experienced him? 00:24:31.380 --> 00:24:35.060 As you look back and review, 00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:44.140 remember how God has been faithful and know his promises that if he was faithful then, 00:24:44.380 --> 00:24:48.920 he will be faithful with you as you continue moving forward. 00:24:50.620 --> 00:24:51.260 Now, 00:24:52.820 --> 00:24:56.180 faithfulness, though, is hard sometimes. 00:24:57.160 --> 00:24:58.040 For example, 00:24:58.500 --> 00:25:01.040 don't worry, 00:25:01.120 --> 00:25:01.860 I'm not going to eat it, 00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:02.700 not going to make you hungry, 00:25:02.800 --> 00:25:04.680 not going to spoil your appetite before lunch. 00:25:05.660 --> 00:25:08.620 I love Hershey's candy bars. 00:25:09.540 --> 00:25:10.200 But now, 00:25:10.260 --> 00:25:12.220 it's got to be the one that has the almonds in it. 00:25:12.640 --> 00:25:12.860 Okay? 00:25:14.220 --> 00:25:16.480 Love the ones with the almonds. 00:25:17.900 --> 00:25:18.220 Now, 00:25:18.620 --> 00:25:21.520 how many of you have been at an airport, 00:25:22.400 --> 00:25:22.960 hospital, 00:25:23.580 --> 00:25:23.980 whatever? 00:25:24.980 --> 00:25:26.240 You get the munchies. 00:25:27.520 --> 00:25:28.460 Get a little hungry. 00:25:29.900 --> 00:25:35.220 Go looking for your credit card or change or money or whatever to go to what we call the vending machine. 00:25:36.380 --> 00:25:36.620 Oh, 00:25:36.680 --> 00:25:38.880 the best is whenever you're on a long trip and, 00:25:38.980 --> 00:25:39.040 you know, 00:25:39.080 --> 00:25:43.860 you stop at those travel centers where you pick up your maps or you see where you're going to stay for the night. 00:25:44.260 --> 00:25:44.420 Okay? 00:25:44.460 --> 00:25:45.840 And you go to those vending machines and, 00:25:45.920 --> 00:25:46.040 I mean, 00:25:46.060 --> 00:25:46.920 it's like Fort Knox. 00:25:47.020 --> 00:25:49.260 They've got all these bars all over it and everything. 00:25:51.560 --> 00:25:52.820 And by faith, 00:25:52.880 --> 00:25:54.060 we take that money, 00:25:54.200 --> 00:25:55.440 we put it in the machine, 00:25:55.440 --> 00:25:58.200 and we expect to get the candy bar. 00:26:00.120 --> 00:26:00.560 Now, 00:26:00.640 --> 00:26:04.980 what happens when the candy bar doesn't drop down? 00:26:07.160 --> 00:26:09.520 Do we shake the machine? 00:26:12.620 --> 00:26:14.500 Do we yell to the heavens? 00:26:14.620 --> 00:26:15.020 Oh, 00:26:15.120 --> 00:26:15.520 no, 00:26:15.740 --> 00:26:17.100 I can't believe it. 00:26:17.900 --> 00:26:19.680 And then it gets even worse when we go, 00:26:19.800 --> 00:26:20.220 you know, 00:26:21.100 --> 00:26:24.960 that was the last bit of change that I had. 00:26:26.700 --> 00:26:28.040 What are we going to do now? 00:26:29.860 --> 00:26:30.260 Now, 00:26:30.320 --> 00:26:31.460 sometimes though, 00:26:31.660 --> 00:26:34.220 we get doubly blessed. 00:26:34.380 --> 00:26:36.760 And if we punch it just right, 00:26:37.280 --> 00:26:40.540 we might get two of these suckers popping down. 00:26:40.620 --> 00:26:41.280 And then we're like, 00:26:41.340 --> 00:26:41.520 Oh, 00:26:41.580 --> 00:26:42.440 I am blessed. 00:26:42.520 --> 00:26:43.420 I am blessed. 00:26:44.340 --> 00:26:46.900 Do we share that other candy bar with somebody else? 00:26:46.980 --> 00:26:47.140 Oh, 00:26:47.200 --> 00:26:47.540 no. 00:26:47.980 --> 00:26:48.740 Out of faith, 00:26:48.800 --> 00:26:49.380 the Lord said, 00:26:49.460 --> 00:26:50.540 you don't need one tie. 00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:51.500 You need two. 00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:56.220 So I go chomping off. 00:26:57.180 --> 00:26:58.340 Then I start praying, 00:26:58.480 --> 00:26:58.740 Lord, 00:26:58.860 --> 00:27:00.220 don't let the billy get any further. 00:27:00.440 --> 00:27:01.280 It's already a pillow. 00:27:01.620 --> 00:27:01.860 Okay. 00:27:03.140 --> 00:27:04.880 But all I'm just saying is, 00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:07.660 that's kind of how we treat faith. 00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:09.760 We go to God, 00:27:09.820 --> 00:27:11.220 we put the money in the vending machine, 00:27:11.220 --> 00:27:13.260 and we expect him to give 00:27:13.260 --> 00:27:15.920 what we're asking for. 00:27:17.060 --> 00:27:19.120 And then we don't get what we're asking for. 00:27:19.200 --> 00:27:20.100 How do we respond? 00:27:20.220 --> 00:27:20.980 How do we react? 00:27:22.840 --> 00:27:23.240 God, 00:27:23.320 --> 00:27:24.080 you've deserted me. 00:27:24.080 --> 00:27:24.420 God, 00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:25.300 you've forsaken me. 00:27:25.420 --> 00:27:25.640 God, 00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:28.060 I don't know why you're not answering my prayer. 00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:30.560 I'm doing it in faith. 00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:34.560 And God says, 00:27:35.100 --> 00:27:36.840 trust my wisdom, 00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:37.220 Ty. 00:27:39.700 --> 00:27:40.420 Trust me. 00:27:41.480 --> 00:27:44.780 I've seen your latest reading on the weight scale. 00:27:45.620 --> 00:27:46.760 I'm doing you a favor, 00:27:46.900 --> 00:27:47.260 bubba boy. 00:27:50.160 --> 00:27:51.720 But we don't see it at that. 00:27:53.120 --> 00:27:53.480 See, 00:27:53.480 --> 00:27:56.720 that's where faithfulness also comes from 00:27:56.720 --> 00:28:00.800 in trusting the wisdom of God 00:28:00.800 --> 00:28:02.080 and that God knows best. 00:28:03.040 --> 00:28:06.680 Let's go ahead and look at all of Hebrews chapter 11. 00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:09.580 Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, 00:28:09.640 --> 00:28:11.200 the conviction of things not seen. 00:28:11.660 --> 00:28:12.420 For by it, 00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:15.440 the people of old receive their commendation. 00:28:16.400 --> 00:28:17.240 By faith, 00:28:17.240 --> 00:28:17.240 by faith, 00:28:17.320 --> 00:28:21.120 we understand that the universe was created by the word of God. 00:28:21.840 --> 00:28:26.160 So that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. 00:28:27.500 --> 00:28:28.660 Then verse six. 00:28:29.740 --> 00:28:31.300 And without faith, 00:28:31.300 --> 00:28:34.620 it is impossible to please him. 00:28:35.660 --> 00:28:45.560 For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. 00:28:46.520 --> 00:28:47.040 Now, 00:28:47.160 --> 00:28:49.340 just a few more points here. 00:28:50.420 --> 00:28:52.920 We talk about faith being the assurance of things hoped for, 00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:54.620 the conviction of things not seen. 00:28:55.560 --> 00:28:59.840 It's the physical realm versus the spiritual realm. 00:28:59.940 --> 00:29:00.780 And in the spirit, 00:29:01.160 --> 00:29:04.060 God doesn't need faith because he's the creator of everything. 00:29:04.380 --> 00:29:06.000 We are the ones that need faith. 00:29:07.440 --> 00:29:07.940 You know, 00:29:08.020 --> 00:29:09.340 you go to Genesis chapter one, 00:29:09.420 --> 00:29:09.920 verse three, 00:29:10.060 --> 00:29:11.240 by his word, 00:29:12.120 --> 00:29:13.780 he spoke into existence. 00:29:14.260 --> 00:29:14.760 Genesis one, 00:29:14.860 --> 00:29:15.020 three, 00:29:15.100 --> 00:29:16.000 he created the world. 00:29:16.100 --> 00:29:16.880 He created light. 00:29:19.060 --> 00:29:20.440 Whenever we go through, 00:29:20.640 --> 00:29:21.700 we have that faith. 00:29:21.780 --> 00:29:23.500 You go to Romans chapter one, 00:29:23.560 --> 00:29:25.300 I think it's about verse 20 or whatever. 00:29:26.220 --> 00:29:32.980 When it's talking about the fact that people who say there is no God are fools. 00:29:32.980 --> 00:29:39.020 And the reason being is because God has revealed himself in all of creation. 00:29:39.980 --> 00:29:43.460 And we may not actually see God, 00:29:44.020 --> 00:29:46.980 but we see the fingerprints of God in everything. 00:29:47.520 --> 00:29:49.440 And we know that an intelligent, 00:29:50.280 --> 00:29:53.340 orderly designer made it all happen. 00:29:54.560 --> 00:29:56.520 That's the faith to believe. 00:29:56.800 --> 00:29:58.820 That's the relationship of faith. 00:29:58.820 --> 00:30:02.820 And that's where we are to have faithfulness in that relationship. 00:30:02.980 --> 00:30:03.900 With God, 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:07.780 because we are being led by his spirit, 00:30:08.420 --> 00:30:09.220 the Holy spirit. 00:30:10.540 --> 00:30:11.020 Now, 00:30:11.080 --> 00:30:13.560 very quickly in the next 45 minutes that I have, 00:30:13.660 --> 00:30:13.780 no, 00:30:13.820 --> 00:30:14.420 just kidding you. 00:30:16.280 --> 00:30:18.300 Let's turn over to James. 00:30:19.560 --> 00:30:22.440 James chapter two is an interesting passage. 00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:23.920 And I know some of you are going to say, 00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:24.180 Ty, 00:30:24.240 --> 00:30:25.060 why are you going there? 00:30:25.060 --> 00:30:28.820 Because James chapter two is talking about works. 00:30:30.480 --> 00:30:31.720 And not faith, 00:30:31.800 --> 00:30:32.380 but works. 00:30:32.600 --> 00:30:36.500 And y'all are going to have to pop some screens because I'm going to read kind of fast. 00:30:37.540 --> 00:30:38.540 James chapter two, 00:30:38.620 --> 00:30:39.860 picking up at verse 14. 00:30:41.260 --> 00:30:42.040 What good is it, 00:30:42.120 --> 00:30:42.640 my brothers, 00:30:42.740 --> 00:30:44.400 if someone says he has faith, 00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:45.620 but does not have works? 00:30:46.520 --> 00:30:49.540 Can that faith save him? 00:30:50.400 --> 00:30:54.740 So he's talking about saving faith. 00:30:55.600 --> 00:30:57.420 Now go on down what he says. 00:30:57.880 --> 00:31:02.120 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 00:31:02.660 --> 00:31:04.740 and one of you says to them, 00:31:05.560 --> 00:31:06.560 go in peace, 00:31:07.140 --> 00:31:12.800 be warmed and filled without giving them the things needed for the body. 00:31:13.500 --> 00:31:14.560 What good is that? 00:31:15.760 --> 00:31:17.920 So also faith by itself, 00:31:18.080 --> 00:31:20.380 if it does not have works, 00:31:20.600 --> 00:31:21.540 is dead. 00:31:22.740 --> 00:31:23.900 But someone will say, 00:31:24.360 --> 00:31:26.100 you have faith and I have works. 00:31:26.460 --> 00:31:29.280 Show me your faith apart from your works. 00:31:30.040 --> 00:31:33.140 And I will show you my faith by my works. 00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:35.740 You believe that God is one, 00:31:35.820 --> 00:31:36.480 you do well. 00:31:37.340 --> 00:31:39.220 Even the demons believe, 00:31:39.640 --> 00:31:40.700 and they shudder. 00:31:42.200 --> 00:31:43.840 Do you want to be shown, 00:31:44.440 --> 00:31:45.480 you foolish person, 00:31:45.620 --> 00:31:47.880 what faith apart from works is useless? 00:31:49.200 --> 00:31:52.100 Was not Abraham our father justified by works 00:31:52.100 --> 00:31:55.380 when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 00:31:56.380 --> 00:31:59.120 You see that faith was active along with his works, 00:31:59.200 --> 00:32:01.700 and faith was completed by his works, 00:32:01.920 --> 00:32:05.440 and the scripture has fulfilled that saying, 00:32:05.920 --> 00:32:08.000 Abraham believed God, 00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:11.060 and it was credited to him as righteousness. 00:32:12.200 --> 00:32:15.240 And he was called a friend of God. 00:32:16.460 --> 00:32:18.800 You see that a person is justified by works 00:32:18.800 --> 00:32:20.020 and not by faith alone. 00:32:20.460 --> 00:32:23.680 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute, 00:32:24.160 --> 00:32:27.300 justified by works when she received the messengers 00:32:27.300 --> 00:32:29.780 and sent them out by another way. 00:32:30.720 --> 00:32:33.500 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, 00:32:34.420 --> 00:32:39.620 so also faith apart from works is dead. 00:32:41.320 --> 00:32:43.640 We've looked at what is fruit. 00:32:45.040 --> 00:32:46.940 Second of all, what is faith? 00:32:48.060 --> 00:32:49.340 And now third of all, 00:32:50.300 --> 00:32:56.140 what impact does faith have upon you? 00:32:57.240 --> 00:33:00.480 Now, he begins with this and saying, 00:33:01.280 --> 00:33:04.140 what good is it if someone says he has faith 00:33:04.140 --> 00:33:05.420 but does not have works? 00:33:06.320 --> 00:33:08.200 I'm going to condense all this down. 00:33:09.640 --> 00:33:12.920 He's not saying you are saved by your works. 00:33:13.040 --> 00:33:13.820 That's the law. 00:33:15.180 --> 00:33:17.720 You are saved, as we say, 00:33:17.880 --> 00:33:19.840 you are saved by your faith 00:33:20.380 --> 00:33:22.460 unto doing good works. 00:33:23.560 --> 00:33:24.500 See, you need to understand, 00:33:24.620 --> 00:33:26.200 if you have faith, that's an action. 00:33:27.460 --> 00:33:28.300 For example, 00:33:29.240 --> 00:33:31.240 if you say to your friend, 00:33:31.780 --> 00:33:33.620 I have faith in you, 00:33:33.900 --> 00:33:35.560 the friend's going to look at you and say, 00:33:35.680 --> 00:33:36.200 show me. 00:33:37.440 --> 00:33:38.200 Just show me. 00:33:39.820 --> 00:33:41.480 When I look at my grandchildren, 00:33:41.700 --> 00:33:42.940 I want them to know 00:33:42.940 --> 00:33:45.580 that they can have faith in me. 00:33:45.800 --> 00:33:47.520 And if I just tell them every night 00:33:47.520 --> 00:33:48.820 when I put them to bed or whatever, 00:33:48.980 --> 00:33:49.440 hey, honey, 00:33:50.520 --> 00:33:51.580 who loves you, baby? 00:33:51.820 --> 00:33:52.620 I do. 00:33:53.160 --> 00:33:54.080 Those are just words. 00:33:56.200 --> 00:33:57.940 But if I take those grandchildren 00:33:57.940 --> 00:33:59.160 and I feed them, 00:33:59.920 --> 00:34:01.140 I clothe them, 00:34:01.980 --> 00:34:04.140 I take care of them when they're sick, 00:34:04.760 --> 00:34:08.120 I'm there for them through thick and thin 00:34:08.120 --> 00:34:10.580 and good and bad and whatever, 00:34:11.580 --> 00:34:15.900 then I'm showing by my works 00:34:15.900 --> 00:34:17.840 my faithfulness. 00:34:18.800 --> 00:34:21.300 See, God has called us 00:34:21.300 --> 00:34:23.180 to be faithful 00:34:23.180 --> 00:34:26.020 and that should produce in us 00:34:26.020 --> 00:34:28.280 doing good to others 00:34:28.280 --> 00:34:29.060 in His name. 00:34:30.100 --> 00:34:31.720 We don't do good 00:34:31.720 --> 00:34:33.640 in order for us to get the credit. 00:34:33.640 --> 00:34:35.060 It's to do good 00:34:35.060 --> 00:34:37.460 so that they will glorify the Father 00:34:37.460 --> 00:34:39.420 by the good works that we do. 00:34:41.080 --> 00:34:41.480 Now, 00:34:41.980 --> 00:34:44.900 what is the relationship 00:34:44.900 --> 00:34:47.440 of faith 00:34:47.440 --> 00:34:49.340 and the impact on us? 00:34:50.280 --> 00:34:51.960 It requires us 00:34:51.960 --> 00:34:53.220 to act, 00:34:54.000 --> 00:34:55.260 to have action. 00:34:56.860 --> 00:34:57.760 That action 00:34:57.760 --> 00:35:00.000 is kind of like 00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:05.700 gorilla glue. 00:35:06.300 --> 00:35:07.620 Now, have you ever used 00:35:07.620 --> 00:35:09.060 gorilla glue? 00:35:11.560 --> 00:35:13.080 It's like epoxy glue 00:35:13.080 --> 00:35:14.040 but much stronger. 00:35:14.280 --> 00:35:15.820 I could even say duct tape 00:35:15.820 --> 00:35:17.300 but it's even better than duct tape. 00:35:17.300 --> 00:35:18.720 Gorilla glue is that 00:35:18.720 --> 00:35:19.760 once it sticks, 00:35:20.120 --> 00:35:20.940 there ain't no way 00:35:20.940 --> 00:35:21.840 it's coming off. 00:35:23.460 --> 00:35:25.440 So whenever we have 00:35:25.440 --> 00:35:26.320 something broken 00:35:26.320 --> 00:35:27.640 that needs to be repaired, 00:35:27.880 --> 00:35:28.740 something that needs 00:35:28.740 --> 00:35:29.980 to be put together 00:35:29.980 --> 00:35:31.400 and it needs to have 00:35:31.400 --> 00:35:31.980 an adhesive 00:35:31.980 --> 00:35:33.260 so it stays forever, 00:35:33.520 --> 00:35:34.720 we turn to 00:35:34.720 --> 00:35:35.560 gorilla glue. 00:35:36.060 --> 00:35:36.300 Now, 00:35:36.440 --> 00:35:37.300 before we go any further, 00:35:37.680 --> 00:35:38.820 I am not getting 00:35:38.820 --> 00:35:39.640 any commissions 00:35:39.640 --> 00:35:40.420 for advertising 00:35:40.420 --> 00:35:41.020 gorilla glue. 00:35:42.680 --> 00:35:43.820 I'm just using it 00:35:43.820 --> 00:35:44.560 to make a point. 00:35:46.200 --> 00:35:47.100 Gorilla glue, 00:35:47.220 --> 00:35:48.220 when it is applied, 00:35:49.220 --> 00:35:50.800 sticks forever. 00:35:51.600 --> 00:35:52.560 it's better than 00:35:52.560 --> 00:35:53.900 the energizer bunny 00:35:53.900 --> 00:35:55.900 who keeps on going. 00:35:57.400 --> 00:35:58.320 Gorilla glue, 00:35:58.520 --> 00:36:00.120 once it is applied, 00:36:00.360 --> 00:36:01.280 there is no 00:36:01.280 --> 00:36:02.220 pulling it apart. 00:36:04.060 --> 00:36:05.660 That's the faithfulness 00:36:05.660 --> 00:36:06.740 of God in our life. 00:36:08.140 --> 00:36:09.200 Once we come to Him 00:36:09.200 --> 00:36:09.840 in faith, 00:36:10.080 --> 00:36:10.940 there is no 00:36:10.940 --> 00:36:12.140 breaking that relationship. 00:36:12.540 --> 00:36:13.320 God says, 00:36:13.760 --> 00:36:15.260 even if we are faithless, 00:36:15.360 --> 00:36:16.760 He is forever faithful. 00:36:18.500 --> 00:36:20.280 Whenever we talk here 00:36:20.280 --> 00:36:21.500 in Hebrews 00:36:21.500 --> 00:36:22.480 and we go through 00:36:22.480 --> 00:36:23.180 what we call 00:36:23.180 --> 00:36:24.080 the hall of faith, 00:36:24.200 --> 00:36:24.900 Hebrews 11, 00:36:25.240 --> 00:36:26.920 all those different names 00:36:26.920 --> 00:36:28.340 and all those stories 00:36:28.340 --> 00:36:29.220 that we find 00:36:29.220 --> 00:36:30.200 of those individuals 00:36:30.200 --> 00:36:32.220 are about how 00:36:32.220 --> 00:36:33.520 they put faith 00:36:33.520 --> 00:36:34.560 into action. 00:36:35.560 --> 00:36:37.180 I can say all day long, 00:36:37.240 --> 00:36:37.560 I believe, 00:36:37.660 --> 00:36:37.940 I believe, 00:36:38.020 --> 00:36:38.600 I believe, 00:36:38.740 --> 00:36:39.800 and somebody says, 00:36:39.880 --> 00:36:40.480 show me. 00:36:42.400 --> 00:36:43.980 And when we believe 00:36:43.980 --> 00:36:45.460 and when we have faith, 00:36:45.520 --> 00:36:46.880 it ought to have an impact 00:36:46.880 --> 00:36:48.500 on the people around us. 00:36:48.740 --> 00:36:49.440 That's the reason 00:36:49.440 --> 00:36:50.480 why it says, 00:36:50.840 --> 00:36:51.940 if a brother or sister 00:36:51.940 --> 00:36:54.020 needs clothing, 00:36:54.980 --> 00:36:55.940 daily food, 00:36:55.980 --> 00:36:57.400 and we just say to him, 00:36:57.480 --> 00:36:58.520 hey, go in peace, 00:36:59.080 --> 00:37:00.140 God will provide. 00:37:01.280 --> 00:37:03.260 It's not impacted us. 00:37:03.300 --> 00:37:04.280 It's not caused 00:37:04.280 --> 00:37:05.800 a response from us. 00:37:07.160 --> 00:37:08.200 When he goes on 00:37:08.200 --> 00:37:08.720 and says, 00:37:09.120 --> 00:37:10.220 show me your faith 00:37:10.220 --> 00:37:11.260 apart from your works 00:37:11.260 --> 00:37:12.160 and I will show you 00:37:12.160 --> 00:37:12.860 my faith 00:37:12.860 --> 00:37:14.580 by my works. 00:37:15.320 --> 00:37:16.040 That's called 00:37:16.040 --> 00:37:17.560 the fruit of faithfulness 00:37:17.560 --> 00:37:19.460 translates into action 00:37:19.460 --> 00:37:20.800 of faith, 00:37:21.380 --> 00:37:22.980 action of being there 00:37:22.980 --> 00:37:23.760 for others. 00:37:24.920 --> 00:37:25.880 When he says, 00:37:26.020 --> 00:37:26.900 you believe that God 00:37:26.900 --> 00:37:27.380 is one, 00:37:27.460 --> 00:37:28.120 you do well. 00:37:29.260 --> 00:37:30.960 Even the demons believe 00:37:30.960 --> 00:37:31.780 and they shudder. 00:37:33.080 --> 00:37:33.480 Now, 00:37:33.580 --> 00:37:34.160 here's where I'm going 00:37:34.160 --> 00:37:35.300 to wrap up right here 00:37:35.300 --> 00:37:37.000 because this is real 00:37:37.000 --> 00:37:37.880 important to notice. 00:37:39.680 --> 00:37:40.940 Even the demons, 00:37:41.480 --> 00:37:43.380 those who are opposed 00:37:43.380 --> 00:37:43.900 to God, 00:37:44.720 --> 00:37:46.520 have faith 00:37:46.520 --> 00:37:47.460 and believe in God. 00:37:48.820 --> 00:37:50.240 But that faith 00:37:50.240 --> 00:37:52.040 does not change 00:37:52.040 --> 00:37:53.220 their lifestyle. 00:37:54.060 --> 00:37:55.200 It's not put 00:37:55.200 --> 00:37:55.800 into practice. 00:37:56.320 --> 00:37:56.620 So, 00:37:56.740 --> 00:37:57.560 you can believe 00:37:57.560 --> 00:37:58.400 all day long, 00:37:58.480 --> 00:37:59.020 but if it makes 00:37:59.020 --> 00:37:59.780 no impact 00:37:59.780 --> 00:38:00.720 on your life, 00:38:00.960 --> 00:38:01.900 it is not 00:38:01.900 --> 00:38:03.180 the fruit of faithfulness 00:38:03.180 --> 00:38:03.600 that God 00:38:03.600 --> 00:38:04.900 calls us to exhibit. 00:38:06.440 --> 00:38:08.540 When you have faith, 00:38:09.600 --> 00:38:10.460 there's an impact. 00:38:11.140 --> 00:38:12.880 There's a lifestyle change. 00:38:14.020 --> 00:38:15.020 It impacts 00:38:15.020 --> 00:38:15.940 relationships 00:38:15.940 --> 00:38:16.960 with others 00:38:16.960 --> 00:38:18.080 and it impacts 00:38:18.080 --> 00:38:18.760 your relationship 00:38:18.760 --> 00:38:19.420 with God. 00:38:20.620 --> 00:38:21.020 Now, 00:38:21.720 --> 00:38:22.780 how can you have 00:38:22.780 --> 00:38:23.400 more faith? 00:38:24.900 --> 00:38:25.840 The way you can 00:38:25.840 --> 00:38:26.900 have more faith 00:38:26.900 --> 00:38:28.740 is simply asking 00:38:28.740 --> 00:38:29.560 for more faith. 00:38:31.160 --> 00:38:31.460 You know, 00:38:31.540 --> 00:38:32.180 in the Bible, 00:38:32.320 --> 00:38:32.880 we read where 00:38:32.880 --> 00:38:34.100 Jesus talks about 00:38:34.100 --> 00:38:35.620 those who had 00:38:35.620 --> 00:38:36.860 little faith, 00:38:38.140 --> 00:38:39.320 those who had 00:38:39.320 --> 00:38:40.540 great faith. 00:38:43.060 --> 00:38:44.200 There is 00:38:44.200 --> 00:38:45.060 the opportunity 00:38:45.060 --> 00:38:45.760 for us 00:38:45.760 --> 00:38:47.000 to grow our faith. 00:38:48.040 --> 00:38:48.180 Now, 00:38:48.300 --> 00:38:49.620 you and I both know 00:38:49.620 --> 00:38:52.440 the Bible tells us 00:38:52.440 --> 00:38:54.020 you can get 00:38:54.020 --> 00:38:54.980 fire insurance 00:38:54.980 --> 00:38:55.900 in the afterlife 00:38:55.900 --> 00:38:58.280 by confessing 00:38:58.280 --> 00:38:58.940 and believing 00:38:58.940 --> 00:38:59.880 in Jesus Christ 00:38:59.880 --> 00:39:00.400 as your Lord 00:39:00.400 --> 00:39:00.840 and Savior. 00:39:01.000 --> 00:39:02.380 John 3.16 says 00:39:02.380 --> 00:39:05.360 if you believe 00:39:05.360 --> 00:39:06.280 in the only begotten 00:39:06.280 --> 00:39:07.240 Son of God, 00:39:07.360 --> 00:39:07.620 Jesus, 00:39:08.060 --> 00:39:09.760 you'll be saved. 00:39:10.240 --> 00:39:11.160 You won't perish. 00:39:12.920 --> 00:39:13.900 But the faith 00:39:13.900 --> 00:39:14.260 that God 00:39:14.260 --> 00:39:15.080 calls us to 00:39:15.080 --> 00:39:17.400 is a growing faith, 00:39:17.920 --> 00:39:19.260 a large faith, 00:39:19.640 --> 00:39:20.500 an impactful 00:39:20.500 --> 00:39:21.580 faith 00:39:21.580 --> 00:39:23.160 that impacts 00:39:23.160 --> 00:39:23.580 the world 00:39:23.580 --> 00:39:24.360 around us 00:39:24.360 --> 00:39:25.600 for His purposes. 00:39:26.960 --> 00:39:28.520 And that's 00:39:28.520 --> 00:39:30.500 the Gorilla Glue 00:39:30.500 --> 00:39:31.740 kind of faith 00:39:31.740 --> 00:39:33.560 where once 00:39:33.560 --> 00:39:34.740 you're with God, 00:39:34.860 --> 00:39:35.740 your desire 00:39:35.740 --> 00:39:37.240 is to grow 00:39:37.240 --> 00:39:38.240 in your relationship, 00:39:38.500 --> 00:39:39.300 to understand 00:39:39.300 --> 00:39:40.120 His ways, 00:39:40.240 --> 00:39:41.500 to read His Word, 00:39:41.880 --> 00:39:42.520 to pray, 00:39:42.720 --> 00:39:43.060 God, 00:39:43.240 --> 00:39:44.680 give me more faith 00:39:44.680 --> 00:39:46.220 so I can be 00:39:46.220 --> 00:39:47.420 more impactful 00:39:47.420 --> 00:39:48.960 for you. 00:39:50.960 --> 00:39:51.680 Now, 00:39:52.580 --> 00:39:53.760 I already heard 00:39:53.760 --> 00:39:54.260 the grumbling 00:39:54.260 --> 00:39:55.320 of several stomachs. 00:39:55.980 --> 00:39:56.720 We probably 00:39:56.720 --> 00:39:57.420 need to stop. 00:39:58.500 --> 00:39:59.760 I could go further 00:39:59.760 --> 00:40:00.760 into Hebrews 00:40:00.760 --> 00:40:01.540 and James, 00:40:02.320 --> 00:40:04.380 but just like 00:40:04.380 --> 00:40:05.060 Bo when he went 00:40:05.060 --> 00:40:05.500 through all of 00:40:05.500 --> 00:40:06.200 Psalm 107, 00:40:06.320 --> 00:40:06.460 okay, 00:40:06.600 --> 00:40:07.220 I'm not, 00:40:07.340 --> 00:40:07.740 I'm just hitting 00:40:07.740 --> 00:40:08.260 the highlights. 00:40:08.960 --> 00:40:09.660 We'll go through 00:40:09.660 --> 00:40:09.960 it later. 00:40:10.080 --> 00:40:10.440 In fact, 00:40:10.520 --> 00:40:11.060 my encouragement 00:40:11.060 --> 00:40:11.840 to you is 00:40:11.840 --> 00:40:12.680 when you leave 00:40:12.680 --> 00:40:13.040 today, 00:40:14.460 --> 00:40:15.680 examine more fully 00:40:15.680 --> 00:40:16.620 these scriptures 00:40:16.620 --> 00:40:18.680 with the question, 00:40:19.920 --> 00:40:20.400 God, 00:40:20.700 --> 00:40:21.880 what are you 00:40:21.880 --> 00:40:22.420 saying to me? 00:40:23.580 --> 00:40:24.540 Where am I 00:40:24.540 --> 00:40:25.380 in this passage 00:40:25.380 --> 00:40:25.880 of scripture? 00:40:26.140 --> 00:40:26.580 What are you 00:40:26.580 --> 00:40:27.540 trying to show me? 00:40:27.980 --> 00:40:28.940 Show me and reveal 00:40:28.940 --> 00:40:29.980 to me the barriers 00:40:29.980 --> 00:40:31.020 to my faith 00:40:31.020 --> 00:40:31.580 in growing 00:40:31.580 --> 00:40:32.840 and oh Lord, 00:40:32.960 --> 00:40:33.500 may I be 00:40:33.500 --> 00:40:34.980 a faithful servant 00:40:34.980 --> 00:40:36.260 to where at the 00:40:36.260 --> 00:40:37.120 end of my life 00:40:37.120 --> 00:40:38.120 you will look at me 00:40:38.120 --> 00:40:38.620 and say, 00:40:39.160 --> 00:40:40.060 well done, 00:40:40.640 --> 00:40:41.300 good 00:40:41.300 --> 00:40:43.040 and faithful 00:40:43.040 --> 00:40:43.860 servant. 00:40:45.780 --> 00:40:46.460 Now right now, 00:40:46.520 --> 00:40:47.000 I'm going to ask 00:40:47.000 --> 00:40:47.560 us to pray. 00:40:49.580 --> 00:40:50.440 Pray about 00:40:50.440 --> 00:40:51.500 about what God 00:40:51.500 --> 00:40:52.820 is saying to you 00:40:52.820 --> 00:40:54.460 in these scriptures 00:40:54.460 --> 00:40:55.060 today. 00:40:56.120 --> 00:40:57.220 What is God 00:40:57.220 --> 00:40:58.100 saying to you 00:40:58.100 --> 00:40:59.200 about revealing 00:40:59.200 --> 00:41:00.620 and living 00:41:00.620 --> 00:41:03.160 as a fruit 00:41:03.160 --> 00:41:04.160 of faithfulness? 00:41:04.240 --> 00:41:04.760 Where is that 00:41:04.760 --> 00:41:05.400 in your life? 00:41:07.460 --> 00:41:08.520 as we pray. 00:41:08.520 --> 00:41:10.580 Just to let you know, 00:41:10.680 --> 00:41:11.400 we're going to stand 00:41:11.400 --> 00:41:12.020 right now. 00:41:13.440 --> 00:41:14.480 There's going to be 00:41:14.480 --> 00:41:15.500 prayer guides 00:41:15.500 --> 00:41:16.380 at either corner 00:41:16.380 --> 00:41:17.160 here if you need 00:41:17.160 --> 00:41:18.080 to talk with someone 00:41:18.080 --> 00:41:18.920 about prayer. 00:41:19.640 --> 00:41:21.240 If you don't have 00:41:21.240 --> 00:41:22.000 a relationship 00:41:22.000 --> 00:41:22.760 of faith 00:41:22.760 --> 00:41:23.880 in Jesus Christ, 00:41:24.340 --> 00:41:24.980 take care 00:41:24.980 --> 00:41:25.600 of that today. 00:41:26.520 --> 00:41:27.500 All you have 00:41:27.500 --> 00:41:28.020 to do 00:41:28.020 --> 00:41:28.740 is say, 00:41:28.800 --> 00:41:29.520 Lord Jesus, 00:41:30.080 --> 00:41:31.020 I come 00:41:31.020 --> 00:41:31.640 to you 00:41:31.640 --> 00:41:33.660 in faith. 00:41:35.660 --> 00:41:36.220 Maybe 00:41:36.220 --> 00:41:37.080 you've been 00:41:37.080 --> 00:41:38.300 joining the church 00:41:38.300 --> 00:41:38.860 in services 00:41:38.860 --> 00:41:39.360 and you need 00:41:39.360 --> 00:41:40.320 to join the church 00:41:40.320 --> 00:41:40.920 in membership 00:41:40.920 --> 00:41:42.120 because only 00:41:42.120 --> 00:41:42.720 in a faithful 00:41:42.720 --> 00:41:43.260 community 00:41:43.260 --> 00:41:44.060 can you grow. 00:41:46.060 --> 00:41:47.500 Whatever decision 00:41:47.500 --> 00:41:48.100 it is, 00:41:48.200 --> 00:41:49.000 just know 00:41:49.000 --> 00:41:50.500 every time 00:41:50.500 --> 00:41:51.500 we examine 00:41:51.500 --> 00:41:52.500 God's word, 00:41:53.640 --> 00:41:54.440 he has a message 00:41:54.440 --> 00:41:54.940 for you. 00:41:56.140 --> 00:41:56.960 Let's pray 00:41:56.960 --> 00:41:57.360 right now 00:41:57.360 --> 00:41:58.120 for that message. 00:42:00.140 --> 00:42:01.160 Oh God, 00:42:02.000 --> 00:42:03.960 we are always 00:42:03.960 --> 00:42:05.280 in need 00:42:05.280 --> 00:42:06.180 of you. 00:42:07.600 --> 00:42:08.680 And oh Lord, 00:42:08.760 --> 00:42:09.400 right now 00:42:09.400 --> 00:42:10.680 with no distractions, 00:42:11.040 --> 00:42:11.720 not looking at 00:42:11.720 --> 00:42:12.600 people around us 00:42:12.600 --> 00:42:13.820 but focused on you, 00:42:14.320 --> 00:42:14.620 Father, 00:42:14.760 --> 00:42:15.640 we lay down 00:42:15.640 --> 00:42:16.620 all of our burdens, 00:42:16.800 --> 00:42:17.680 all of our obstacles 00:42:17.680 --> 00:42:19.060 and we come to you 00:42:19.060 --> 00:42:20.120 praying 00:42:20.120 --> 00:42:22.140 for your faith 00:42:22.140 --> 00:42:22.920 in our life. 00:42:24.340 --> 00:42:24.940 Lord, 00:42:25.080 --> 00:42:26.040 strengthen our faith 00:42:26.040 --> 00:42:26.800 relationship 00:42:26.800 --> 00:42:27.420 with you. 00:42:28.840 --> 00:42:29.800 Lord God, 00:42:29.960 --> 00:42:31.080 use us 00:42:31.080 --> 00:42:32.300 in being 00:42:32.300 --> 00:42:33.200 fruit of your 00:42:33.200 --> 00:42:33.960 faithfulness 00:42:33.960 --> 00:42:34.480 to the world 00:42:34.480 --> 00:42:35.280 around us. 00:42:36.940 --> 00:42:37.540 Lord, 00:42:38.340 --> 00:42:39.740 right now, 00:42:40.660 --> 00:42:41.680 hear us 00:42:41.680 --> 00:42:43.020 as we reach out 00:42:43.020 --> 00:42:43.440 to you. 00:42:45.060 --> 00:42:45.740 In the name 00:42:45.740 --> 00:42:46.240 of Jesus 00:42:46.240 --> 00:42:46.840 we pray. 00:42:48.100 --> 00:42:48.700 Amen. 00:42:55.940 --> 00:43:14.180 thanks again for listening to the willow ridge church weekly podcast we hope that you enjoyed 00:43:14.180 --> 00:43:18.960 listening to this week's message if you'd like to learn more about who we are or explore additional 00:43:18.960 --> 00:43:28.140 resources visit us online at www.willowridgechurch.com or by searching for willow ridge church on facebook and instagram