Scripture References: Hebrews 11, Genesis 12, 2 Corinthians 5:7, Romans 14:23, Hebrews 11:6, Philippians 1, Hebrews 10, Ephesians 3:12, Hebrews 4:16, Psalm 27
Intro:
- Welcome and express gratitude for everyone’s presence.
- Acknowledge the challenge of editing and focusing on New Year's resolutions.
- Share personal struggle to choose a single area of growth.
- Highlight the desire for a change that affects everything.
Key Points:
- The Need for Faith:
- Faith impacts every aspect of life: prayer, time management, work, relationships.
- Desire for faith that sees God’s goodness in all situations.
- Faith contrasted with sight, not unbelief (2 Corinthians 5:7).
- Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).
- Abraham's Example:
- God’s call to Abraham: “Close your eyes and take my hand.”
- Faith as confidence in what we hope for and assurance of what we don’t see (Hebrews 11:1).
- Confidence Shaken:
- Many enter the new year with shaken confidence due to failure or injury.
- Good news: God completes the work He begins (Philippians 1:6).
- Jesus prays for our faith, not our avoidance of failure.
- Overcoming Injury:
- Injury breeds reluctance and timidity, leading to settling and complaining.
- Encourage risk-taking, even after injury; avoiding pain is futile.
- God wants to restore confidence, not perpetuate fear.
- Approaching God Boldly:
- Some lack confidence to approach God, fearing judgment.
- Through Christ, we can approach God with freedom and confidence (Ephesians 3:12, Hebrews 4:16).
- Our approach is based on Jesus’s righteousness, not our own.
- Confidence in God’s Goodness and Timing:
- Questioning God’s goodness or timing erodes confidence.
- Psalm 27: Declaration of faith in God’s protection and provision.
- David’s example: Preaching to himself to build his faith.
- Charge to wait for the Lord, be strong, and take heart.
Conclusion:
- God desires to restore our confidence in Him.
- Faith is not blind optimism, but assurance in God’s character and promises.
- We are called to declare our faith and trust in God’s goodness and timing.
Call to Action:
- Declare God’s truth and promises during worship.
- Receive communion as a reminder of God’s sacrifice and invitation to boldness.
- Ask God for the gift of faith to overcome doubt and fear.
- Stop listening to self-doubt and start speaking God’s truth.
- Wait for the Lord, take heart, and be strong.
- Trust that God will complete the work He began in you.
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*Summaries and transcripts are generated using AI.
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