Walking by Faith
Forward by Faith • Sermon • Submitted
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· 154 viewsIntroductory sermon to our theme for the year, Forward by Faith.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
As you can see our theme this year is “Forward by Faith.” Our encouragement this year is to keep moving ahead, but the only way to do this is by faith. We need to keep doing what God has told us to do no matter what.
In thinking of our duty to keep on, it reminded me of the Honor Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
For eight hours, he prepares his uniform and his mind for duty. Every day of his duty, he gets a fresh haircut. And when he is on duty, he will not vary from his command a single step, or for a single second, no matter the weather, no matter the hour of the day, no matter the day of the week, no matter the number of people watching, and no matter if no one watches at all.
You've seen his picture, of course, for he is the unflinching guard, the sentinel, a member of the Third United States Infantry Regiment of the United States Army, the men and women who guard the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery, just outside our nation's capitol.
For every minute of every day, since July 2, 1937, the Old Guard has stood guard. And there is nothing casual about the way the work is done Arlington.
When the job is done well, it is nearly impossible to discern any movement of the young soldier's head, or weapon. With an average age of only 22, these young, enlisted men and women, with ranks ranging only from Private First Class to Specialist, prepare for weeks to take a turn at the tomb.
And most importantly of all, the guard will remain posted, and the steps will remain perfect, even when there is not another soul in sight, when no one is watching to see if the sentinel remains diligent at midnight. (Source: http://www.tombguard.org/)
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
1. We Are on a Journey
1. We Are on a Journey
We are like Abraham leaving his own country to go to a place he hadn’t been before. But his eyes were always on a heavenly destination
16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Abraham was willing to leave home and the things that he could see, to pursue what he could not see.
A. Walking Means a Way of Life
A. Walking Means a Way of Life
Involves our Christian course here on earth; means to live or behave in a specified manner; or how one behaves, or conducts one’s life
Another way to say it would be, “We live by faith, not by sight.”
How we walk is important!
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Starting next week we’ll be doing a more detailed study in what our Christian walk means but notice that:
B. Walking Means Activity
B. Walking Means Activity
2020 has been a year of cancellations, quarantines, and shelter-in-place thinking. But that’s not the Christian life. Notice a few things that the picture of walking gives us.
1. Walking means life
1. Walking means life
A dead man can’t walk. I’m afraid that this quarantine mentality is causing Christians to stop and stagnate in their spiritual walk. But the word walk gives us the idea of life.
2. Walking means busyness
2. Walking means busyness
we can sit at the Master’s feet and that is a blessing but we have to get up and walk as well.
3. Walking means progress
3. Walking means progress
Moving forward, making headway. This is why our theme is FORWARD by Faith. We must continue to make spiritual progress; we must continue to advance the heavenly kingdom.
25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
We must continue moving forward no matter what!
“If you hear the dogs, keep going. If you see the torches in the woods, keep going. If there's shouting after you, keep going. Don't ever stop. Keep going. If you want a taste of freedom, keep going.”
― Harriet Tubman
4. Walking means endurance
4. Walking means endurance
We must keep moving step-by-step - stopping has no place here - hour after hour we advance. Not running or jumping but walking.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
We must choose to do so - many don’t want to walk forward.
Walking is not a balloon ascension. A great many people think the Christian life is some great, overwhelming experience and you take off like a rocket going out into space. That’s not where you live the Christian life. Rather, it is in your home, in your office, in the schoolroom, on the street. The way you get around in this life is to walk. You are to walk in Christ. God grant that you and I might be joined to Him in our daily walk. (McGee, J V: Thru the Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson)
2. We Cannot be Guided by Sight
2. We Cannot be Guided by Sight
A. Don’t Judge Things by Appearance
A. Don’t Judge Things by Appearance
Not by sight means “not by appearance.” Our life and walk is governed by faith in our immortal hope; not by the outward specious appearance of present things
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
We are to walk and live in an environment that has no visible form.
B. Dangers in Walking by Sight
B. Dangers in Walking by Sight
There are some specific dangers to those who walk by sight…to those who say ‘seeing is believing.’
1. Walking by sight is immature
1. Walking by sight is immature
Any child can walk by sight, so can any fool. The Christian can see beyond what is just in front of him.
24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
The cow only eats the grass that’s right in front of him. He has no capability to adapt, to see beyond what is right there.
2. Walking by sight is deceptive
2. Walking by sight is deceptive
The eye doesn’t see everything. Sight is limited. In addition, the mind has to interpret what is seen. Without faith what we choose based on what we see is very deceptive!
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
We just experienced the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. To the naked eye they look like two other stars - a bit brighter and bigger maybe but just two dots. However, if you take out a telescope you’ll see a planet with rings and it’s blue moon Titan, close to a giant planet Jupiter with 4 planets visible.
See faith is the telescope that sees beyond what’s around you, what only your sense can tell.
3. Walking by sight can be based on feelings
3. Walking by sight can be based on feelings
The things we see and experience can affect our feelings which then can distort reality. Sometimes we just react to the circumstances we see. Problems are exaggerated, fear is produced, and decisions are clouded.
Our feelings can be unstable. If we have a positive experience I feel positive and vice versa.
Walking by sight is very susceptible to being controlled by our feelings which are highly affected by our circumstances. Many people confuse their feelings for the Holy Spirit.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
* Ultimately, Christians says I don’t care about the things that are seen and temporary; the things that are not seen influence me; they are eternal.
3. It Must be a Walk of Faith
3. It Must be a Walk of Faith
A. Understanding Faith
A. Understanding Faith
Faith is not accepting certain things as true, but trusting a Person, and that Person Christ.
Faith refers to a sense of trust, guiding belief, faithfulness, and often a committed sense of loyalty.
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Substance (assurance / confidence / proof) - what we hope for in faith is substantial. Faith understands what God is doing, and nothing can be more substantial that God and His work.
Faith in God’s word is what we stand on!
Evidence of things not seen - although God and his work are unseen, faith assures of the reality and inevitability of that.
We have a sure hope in the future - we’re not bound by what we can see.
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
B. Don’t Mix Faith and Sight
B. Don’t Mix Faith and Sight
It’s one side of the street or the other. Christians do attempt this.
Example: “God loves me! I just got a raise at work!” First part is faith, second part is sight. What if you hadn’t prospered in business?
Example: “I have trusted in Christ, but I’ve been so depressed lately, I’m not sure I’m saved.” Both are wrong. Faith is meant for the darkness as well as the light; for good and for bad feelings.
Walking by sight is so limited! But when you walk by faith you believe in what God reveals. Your information is vastly expanded.
Don‘t mix faith with reason! Reason moves us from the outside in. But faith moves us from the inside out.
I’ll remind you that Peter saw Jesus, walked with Jesus, heard Jesus. But look at this exchange
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Peter had all the physical evidence in front of him; he saw miracles; he heard the wonderful teachings. But he walked or lived right because of his belief in what God had revealed to him.
C. How to Walk by Faith
C. How to Walk by Faith
Start with Saving Faith
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Faith is the attitude whereby a man abandons all reliance in his own efforts to obtain salvation. It is the attitude of complete trust in Christ, of reliance on him alone for all that salvation means.
Let me illustrate the importance and scope of saving faith from the Bible.
I want to look at what is the greatest apostolic confession of faith in the Bible. And then see how he got there. You might think it was something Peter said, or even John. Now there are great statements of faith by these two men. But I’d like to submit to you that the greatest apostolic confession of faith came from Doubting Thomas.
28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
These two names, Lord and God, are huge - theologically dramatic. They show faith triumphing over doubt. Thomas was a detective - an examiner of truth, evidence. He wanted understanding, then faith. And these types of seekers of truth are blessed - they will find it.
Yet Jesus says there is a higher faith!
29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
So start with saving faith - that faith which touches the invisible truths of heaven. Then,
2. Continue with Trusting Faith
Commit yourself wholly to the Lord.
When we live by faith, it glorifies God, witnesses to a lost world, and builds Christian character into our lives.
(Be Committed. An Old Testament Study. Ruth and Esther. Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books)
11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
Believe that He will provide for your walk / life
19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!
Follow God’s way
25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
CONCLUSION
So this year lets move Forward by Faith!
God expects you to walk - move forward - advance and progress in your Christian life. There are no spiritual quarantines!
God expects you to not be distracted by appearances. They aren’t accurate, they’re deceptive. They can manipulate us and our emotions.
God expects you to live by faith. Trusting in what he was revealed, the invisible truths of heaven and His word. Be commited to him, trust his supply, and follow his way!