"Practical Faith Part 1"

Service Times

Sunday Worship and Bible Studies @ 9am & 10:45am

Wednesday Family Night @ 6:30pm

Tuesday Night Celebrate Recovery @ 6:30pm

Small Groups meet at various times

“Practical Faith”

Faith – Works – Results

Part 1 of 3

	Over the next three weeks we’re going to look at Faith – Works – Fruit/results
	Throughout the Word of God we see “giant killing faith” or “panic driven faith”… great faith/weak faith.
	Many times we feel like we’re on a ship tossed about on the sea of life… What good is your faith?
	Does your faith give you deep seated peace? Victory? Are you living a practical or abstract faith?
	This morning, life changing, impacting, make a difference faith is highly esteemed by God…

Grace, Faith and Purpose

TURN - Ephesians 2:8-10 ⁸For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

	We’ve been saved by God’s Grace… through faith…a free gift of God.
	We’re God’s workmanship – created to do good works (more on this aspect next week)

God’s Definition of Faith

Hebrews 11:1 What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. NLT

Faith – a “trust” or “confidence” in God.

	Titus 1:2 “God who cannot lie”… 1Jn 2:21 “It’s impossible for God to lie”
	God revealed Himself: Creation – His Word – His Son – Our Conscience

A Few “Faith” Facts… (There are many)

The Means by which we are Justified (by grace, it’s all of God)

Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Produced by Hearing God’s Word

Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. kjv

Faith is like a muscle that needs the nourishment of God’s Word and daily exercise

Assures Victory over the Enemy

1 John 5:4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

Ephesians 6:16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Can be Embraced or Rejected

Hebrews 4:2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.

Accomplishes the Impossible

Mark 11:22-24 ²² "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. ²³ "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. ²⁴Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Only those who see the invisible can do the impossible.

Encourages One Another

Romans 1:11-12 ¹¹ I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong-- ¹²that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith.

Causes Church Growth

Acts 16:5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.

I sometimes wonder about people who feel their faith is strong enough to take them to heaven, but it’s not able to take them to church…???

Grows under Pressure

James 1:2-3 ² Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

We are God’s workmanship… He uses the trials of our life to polish and mature us – Christlike

Faith never grows in a disobedient heart…

Pleases God

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Nothing sweeter for a child of God than to please Him… By surrender & obedience to His Word in faith.

1. Through Faith in God’s Power…

2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

Ø Obstacles are Smashed (Joshua – Jericho): Joshua 6:20 When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so every man charged straight in, and they took the city. Hebrews 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

Addictions, depression, unforgiveness, lust, anger, illness…

	Sometimes we become so anemic in our faith… like the man in Mk 9:24, “help my unbelief…”
	We not just some patched up sinner that goes through life like a whipped puppy…
	We allow the world/flesh/Devil to whip and beat us up… living in defeatsville
	Oh God, you’re just not Big enough to handle this problem in my life… little faith.
	By faith the walls of Jericho fell… by faith in the Lord your obstacles will fall also.

Ø Miracles are Realized (Nehemiah – Jerusalem): Nehemiah 6:15-16 ¹⁵So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. ¹⁶When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God. Colossians 2:6-7 ⁶So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, ⁷rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Salvation, relationships, character, Cross Creek’s Building Project…

	The greatest miracle today is when a person puts their faith in Jesus Christ – born again!
	This church is full of miracle stories… a pastor friend refers to us as the miracle of Cross Creek!
	The Lord has done so much here both physically and spiritually…

	I recently put together a biography of Cross Creek for our bankers (Check it out on our website)
	We officially began August 1, 1999… 2001 after beseeching our Lord, 19 actual members voted unanimous to buy this property for $240,000. We no way could afford the $1911 monthly mortgage payment – This MUST be of God - FAITH! We’ve invested over $100,000 in improvements (all paid for). All this work completed by YOU – God’s people.
	We kept growing and trusting the Lord for a small piece of property owned by UGI… June 2004 we purchased it for $3000, then began to clean that area up to what we have today…We brought in hundreds of fill down near our sign/driveway built up higher, etc...
	We kept growing and prayed toward purchasing Mary’s Place – 6 acres with a home next to us… Sept 2005 we purchased the property for $100,000, built our twin pavilions and greatly expanded our parking to 180-200 cars.
	We then surveyed, consolidated, did a complete land development plan – many meetings with Zoning boards, planning commissioners, Township supervisors, engineers, surveyors, legal work, and architectural work & money we now hold our beautiful yellow BUILDING PERMIT !!!!
	We’re slowly wrapping up stipulation agreements with various contractors, various procedures with the bankers, title search companies and lawyers… we are getting close – continue to pray!
	With approximately 400 people, the Lord has blessed us with many talented people and tradesmen. You will be asked to make a sacrifice and to get involved… our pews are filled with gifted people waiting to get involved serving the Lord and making a difference - by FAITH.
	The end of 1999 we had 35 average attendance & $633 weekly offerings, today we are close to 400 with a $6000 weekly offering and nearly a $300,000 budget! Since the beginning we have grown an average of 39% in attendance and 37% in offerings EVER YEAR! In fact this past Easter we had 454 people in attendance! Do you believe God wants us to build a building???!!!

I look around and see the miracle stories of Scott C., Dave R., Andy I., Judy R., Jim S., Reina C., Nancy W., Chris P., Pete F., Paul & Sharon, Bill & Alice, Dave & Vicky, Matt & Traci, Evan & Peggy, many of our teens, many of our children … where do I stop??? God alone knows all the lives that has been touched over the last 8 years by faith here at Cross Creek. Individual lives, families, relationships restored, Spiritual growth & battles… while through it all our precious Lord Jesus Christ is glorified!

	Because of an unswerving faith in our Lord, He is the one accomplishing great things here.
	God uses each of us… what is taking place is accomplished by God’s Power in God’s time!

George Mueller said, “Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man’s power ends.”

2. By Grace Through Faith All Believers Stand in…

· God’s Propitiation – Romans 3:25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—

o To satisfy sin debt by the sacrifice of Christ… Christ’s death is the final sacrifice which completely satisfied God’s righteous demands against sinful man… averting His wrath and judgment from those who believe.

· God’s Presence – 1 John 3:19 This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence

o God the Holy Spirit dwells within us, we can come boldly before the Throne…

o We stand in God’s very presence in Jesus Christ.

· God’s Promises – 2 Peter 1:1-4 ¹ Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: ²Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. ³His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. ⁴Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

o We stand in His divine Power and Promises… never leave you or forsake you, authority, strength and confidence, promise of living forever in eternity with the Lord.

· God’s Privileges – Colossians 2:2-3 ² My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, ³in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

o Christian are so privileged… Born again into God’s family, sins forgiven – home in heaven… someday to be with the Lord forever!

“Little faith will bring your soul to heaven, but great faith will bring heaven to your soul”

· What would it be like to bring the riches & treasures of heaven to your soul???

· We are saved through faith by God’s Grace… ooh the grace of God.

· You cannot experience saving grace of God without placing your faith in Him

· Do you know Him this morning? Have you exercised saving faith in the Lord Jesus?

3. Faith is the Human means to Access God’s Grace

Romans 5:1-2 ¹ Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

G.R.A.C.E. – God’s Riches At Christ Expense (Picture of Crucifixion)

Forgiveness, Salvation, Courage, Love, Wisdom, Peace, Hope, Contentment, Abilities, Protection, Gentleness, Joy, Prayer, Worship, Discernment, Knowledge, Purpose, Direction, Blessings, Enablement, Fruit of the Spirit, Strength, Encouragement, etc

At our disposal are all of God’s Heavenly Resources!

4. God’s Requirement is to Live by Faith.

Romans 1:17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

We MUST learn to exercise everyday Faith in the Lord… blessings & growth will follow!

Willing Spirit - A choice we make, a decision of our will

Humble Attitude - God resists/stiff arms the proud… BUT gives GRACE to the humble - Jam 4:6

Cleansed Heart - Sin is the major cause for defeat today… Be clean through Christ.

Do I trust God to do great things in my life?

Do I believe the Lord is building His Church today?

Am I actively demonstrating and sharing my faith with others?

It all starts with faith in the Lord Jesus… We’re sinners standing in the need of God’s forgiveness through Christ… Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved! When you exercise faith in Christ, God forgives you of every sin you have ever committed – He wipes the slate clean. It’s not you working and trying to merit salvation but resting in what God already accomplished.

Lord Jesus, thank you for loving and dying for me. Forgive and cleanse me of my sin and come into my heart. Thank you for your GRACE and by faith, I believe and trust you to save my soul.