June 24 & 28, 2020
Emotions that are meant to enhance your life can also steal your life.
But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. —James 1:6-8 NIV
These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock. But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards. —Matthew 7:24-27 MSG
Without faith it is impossible to please God! —Hebrews 11:6 NIV
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. —Hebrews 11:1-2 NIV
By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead. —Hebrews 11:4 NIV
In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD (I want to honor you God … they didn’t have money so they gave fruit to the Lord - but you he didn’t make it a priority … nonchalant). But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, —Genesis 4:3-4 NIV
God is less concerned about what you do and more interested in the ORDER that you do it.
By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. —Hebrews 11:5 NIV
Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away. —Genesis 5:24 NIV
By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. —Hebrews 11:7 NIV
You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. —James 2:22 NIV
And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. —Hebrews 6:15
For in just a very little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.
—Hebrews 10:37-38
By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time… By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. —Hebrews 11:24-27
By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days. —Hebrews 11:30
HERE IS THE FINAL LESSON OF FAITH: God always does the right thing!!!
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better… —Hebrews 11:39-40 NIV
This plan of mine is not what you would work out, neither are my thoughts the same as yours! For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than yours, and my thoughts than yours. —Isaiah 55:8-9 TLB
FILL OUT THIS WEEKS CONNECTION CARD HERE
- Today, I accept Jesus in my life for the first time.
- I will live out my faith the remaining 167 hours this week.
- I need to accept that God always does the right thing.
- As a family, we will read and discuss Hebrews 11.