FAITH-OBEDIENCE-JOY
BREAD
8 And
God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all
times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: “He has
scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for
food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the
harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be
generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in
thanksgiving to God. 12 This
service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is
also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by
which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that
accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in
sharing with them and with everyone else.
2 Corinthians 9:8-13 (NIV)
19 Everyone
has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to
be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.
Romans 16:19 (NIV)
22 Do not
merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word
but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself,
goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently
into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not
forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.
James 1:22-25 (NIV)
BUTTER
“Faith and works are bound up in the same bundle. He that obeys God trusts God; and he that
trusts God obeys God. He that is without
faith is without works; and he that is without works is without faith.” C. H. Spurgeon
“Faith is a living, bold trust in God’s grace, so certain of
God’s favor that it would risk death a thousand times trusting in it. Such confidence and knowledge of God’s grace
makes you happy, joyful and bold in your relationship to God and all creatures. The Holy Spirit makes this happen through
faith. Because of it, you freely,
willingly, and joyfully do good to everyone, serve everyone, suffer all kinds
of things, love and praise the God who has shown you such grace. Thus, it is just as impossible to separate
faith and works as it is to separate heat and light from fire! Ask God to work faith in you, or you will remain
forever without faith, no matter what you wish, say or can do.” Martin Luther
“It is just as important to trust God as it is to obey Him.” Jerry Bridges
“Clearly, this word (faith) immediately and fundamentally
demands lordship, because it has the underlying foundation of obedience,
commitment, and submission….When someone believes something, regardless of what
it is, that belief changes them and results in some action or behavior that is
characteristic of the belief. Every one of
the characters in Hebrews 11 had faith, but that faith always, without exception,
resulted in an outward action….Truly believing something, being fully persuaded
of it, and trusting in it automatically demands behavior that conforms to the
belief….To obey Him (Jesus) means we acknowledge His lordship and submit to His
authority.” J. D. Watson
HEART SAVOR
- · Faith leads to obedience which leads to joy. “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV).
- · I am not to merely listen to God’s Word – sit, soak and sour – I am to do what it says.
- · God provides all I need for a life of faith and obedience. I will never want for anything good.
