Gemstone: Faith

Gemstone: Faith

When we look to the world’s concept of our “faith” it is often seen as foolish or naive, it doesn’t make good business sense, it comes with too many risks and variables.

As believers we please God through no other way then through our faith. A faith that must extend beyond well-wishes or prayers, rather a living faith that is displayed through complete trust in God.

Observations & Conclusions:
Biblical Faith looks like:

  1. Costly
  2. Risky
  3. Uncomfortable
  4. Obedient
  5. Courageous in the face of fear

Biblical Faith looks for:

  1. The promised city of God
  2. A heavenly country
  3. A future reward and resurrection

Biblical Faith looks at:

  1. Jesus Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith

Applications:

  1. What does your faith look like?
  2. What do you look for?
  3. Who do you look to?

Philippians 3:7-9

“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”

Hebrews 11:13

“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.”

Matthew 8:23-27

23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

2 Corinthians 6:3-10

3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.