Sabbath: Living by Faith
Read for This Week’s Study: Prov. 28:4; Prov. 28:7; Prov. 28:9; Rom. 1:16-17; Gal. 3:24; Prov. 28:5; 1 John 2:15–17; Prov. 29:13.
Memory Text: The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe
(Proverbs 29:25, NKJV).
So many voices call to us from so many directions. How do people know what is right and what is wrong? The answer is found in God and His written revelation. We must learn to rely on God and to obey His Law. The rest then will follow by itself.
Jesus told us this when He said to seek first the kingdom of God,
and then all that we need will be supplied (Matt. 6:33, NKJV). We are to make trusting and following God our first priority; otherwise, we will make something else that priority, which is idolatry, pure and simple. And we can learn to trust God only by living a life of faith. The Christian walk is just that, a walk; we have to make the choices to do the things that the Lord has told us to do, and then leave the consequences to Him.
*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, March 14.
(31)
nowadays faith is our weapon that
we need in order to overcome evil forces…
and truly faith without works is empty
Perhaps a very real challenge most have with living by faith is maintaining course when bad things happen around them and to them. There is an expectation that the faith will make a difference to the circumstances. So faithfulness in tithes yields financial prosperity, adherence to the health message brings longevity, and prayer presents a shield against the attacks of the enemy, many think.
Convinced from scripture and willing to believe in the immediate material blessings promised by Jehovah one may place his expectations beyond the will of God. If the context of scripture does not always make it absolutely clear, certainly by experience the faithful will come to understand that material benefit is not guaranteed in this life.
On the other hand the presence of sin guarantees suffering, an equal opportunity hazard to both the righteous and unrighteous. Although the world might pretend theirs is purely an experience of fun and pleasure it is apparent they too have a rough road, albeit to a different destination.
However the righteous with the long view in mind relates to their distress different from others by setting their minds on Heaven (Colossians 3:1-3). Rather than complain, count their woes and dwell on their pain they exercise the patience of Christ (Galatians 5:22; Revelation 14:12), while looking for the blessed hope (Titus 2:13).
Particularly as the end approaches the faithful will have to endure much, and suffer for the cause of Christ (1 Peter 2:19). Yet their faith need not be shaken, for the prophet John caught a glimpse of a later time and had a little talk with an elder/angel. In reference to the redeemed around God’s throne the angel said, “These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 7:14).
Like Enoch keep walking by faith (Genesis 5:24), and keep looking up, for redemption draws near (Luke 21:28).
Hallelujah and praise God!
Praise the Lord!
it is by faith that we can touch the untouchable, see the invisible, do the impossible, fight the mighty and break the chains of the devil
Please help me with this question. The last sentence said "Lord has told us to do, and then leave the consequences to Him." My question is, which one? If we read the bible, there are many things which are contradict between what God said, between Genesis and the Gospels, with the teaching in Acts and Letter of Paul, particularly in Sabbath and clean and unclean food. So, which one do we have to follow? Don't say that it isn't contradict, because it really is. Actually I've discussed it in my church, but I want another opinion. My current approach to this problem is by obeying what is really written and said by God (I believe more in the books of the old testament + the gospels than in books of Paul). Thx, may God bless and lead us
Hi Kia, I understand your concern to make sure you are following the words of the LORD. I hear your conviction that the Paul contradicts the OT and the Gospels. I on the other hand believe there is harmony throughout the Bible on the character of the LORD and His Principles.
I believe that the LORD has been revealing His Everlasting Covenant progressively in the various covenants. I have discovered that many times the people have misunderstood and perverted these covenants.
I believe that the Principles behind all the LORD's instructions in the OT are still valid in the NT although the applications may differ.
Even Peter said that sometimes Paul was difficult to understand and that some people twisted what Paul said.
I have found it very helpful in understanding Paul to put all his teachings together to get a complete picture and then discovering which particular issue he is clarifying in the different letters.
I don't believe that Paul contradicts the OT/Gospels i.r.o. the Sabbath or clean/unclean foods or the Law, just that people misunderstand or twist what Paul teaches.
Can we be pure in heart and still have corruptible flesh? In other words, "Can we do what we do not want to do and still have the mind of Christ? Romans 7. How then do we maintain a godly hatred for sin, when the flesh is in the habit of loving it. Are we our flesh? If not then, are we spirit, as our Father in Heaven is? I think we are all quite intelligent, in our own eye's, thinking that we have a large grasp of the Gospel message and declare our own righteousness more than the righteousness of God. Let me explain in a Word, "for it is God who works in us to will and to do according to His good pleasure." Who are we to declare our own right path and to judge others as to whether they are "in Christ" by their religious practice. We ourselves are saved by grace, and where sin does abound, (in other people's lives of course) grace does abound much much more. For what purpose...to do the will of God. Vessel of honor or vessel of ignoble purposes, we are all a part of Him, if we only just believe that we are. What is even more important is that we can purge ourselves from ignoble purpose and make of ourselves vessels of honor if we so desire it. Not to be saved or as evidence of our salvation but to give glory to God for all that He does in us and through us. I love God, He loves me, and nothing is going to be able to separate us from that love. Attack!
It is by faith that we obey God and keep the Sabbath holy. We are in the last days. Both people of God and of the world can show kind gestures but the difference is who they praise.
We can go back to last week lesson and take our interprataion of Proverbs 26:13-14. Proverbs 22:13, to help us better hold on this weeks memory text. It is not wise for us look for trouble, wasting a lot of energy with worry about trouble that most likely will not come to pass. Said another way: "It is better to trust in the Lord and take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in man." Psalm 118:8. Yes Kakembo, faith and trust in the Lord go hand in hand in dropping fear and worry or even fostering needless life draining anxiety.
It's indeed by faith that we are sure of things we have not seen.The believe in us is a reality.we are strongly convicted that what we believe exist and is the truth.Our myopia is changed to longsightedness by a special lens called "faith"
Lets reread Acts 10 looking at Peter's vision as a parable. vs 15 says:
"And the voice came to him again a second time, What God has cleansed and pronounced clean, do not you defile and profane by regarding and calling common and unhallowed or unclean."
Reading on with the story of Cornelous, and putting it together with vs15 the explanation of the vision. We find that what God has cleansed and pronounced clean was Cornelous a Gentile, which up until the vision, in parable form,the Jews had the misconception that the Gentiles were unclean meat and they, the Jews, were clean meat.
So you see this parable in vision form opened the way for the Gospel to go to the Gentiles.
God was not referring to food, but to people. God said, whosoever that come to Him, He will in no wise turn away. Everyone can come to God regardless of his/her ethnic background. His arms remain wide open to receive anyone (drunkard, prostitutes, drug addicts, food addicts, poor, rich,etc)
Living by faith spares u the worries of everyday bcoz u believe all is in God's hands.
When acting in faith we are to act even against logic because we trust God.We know that God loves us and is already in the future, he knows the end from the beginning.In the story of Abraham being called to sacrifice Isaac he obeyed, in Hebrews 11 Verse 19 it says "He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back."
Trusting in God provides peace of mind and rest of spirit. I am learning every day to trust in God and to lean not unto my own understanding. God knows all about us and our individual circumstances. Nothing in our lives has taken God by surprise. God is bigger than our problems or concerns. Trust in God with all of your heart and He will take care of you and your situation . Praise God while He is working in and through you.
Sometimes, we find ourselves handling the subject of faith like a product you will match to a shop, buy and move holding around. This is a difficult concept my brothers and sisters. Sometimes, we fail to understand that We cant even build our believe in God without faith. We have not seen God by our eyes, we have to believe; the more we try to justify His in-existence, the more painful the experiences. Knowing that without faith we cant please God, Where do we get Faith from? By reading Gods word and keeping ourselves in earnest prayer. Most times i even find myself confused whether i have enough faith to pray because, in a human setting the more i try to please God/ lead a righteous life, the more merciless Satan deals with me. I think its only by His grace that i can have a proper Faith in Jesus.
James Says
James 1
2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various [c]trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces [d]endurance. 4 And let [e]endurance have its perfect [f]result, so that you may be [g]perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and [h]without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a [i]double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Verse 6 even leaves me sick, "must ask in faith without any doubting". I don't know Who has achieved this and if there is a secret to this, then i would really appreciate to know
Dependence Upon God (FAITH)
For without me ye can do nothing. John 15:5, last part.
The first lesson to be taught ... is the lesson of dependence upon God.... As a flower of the field has its root in the soil; as it must receive air, dew, showers, and sunshine, so must we receive from God that which ministers to the life of the soul.
The presence of God is guaranteed to the Christian. This Rock of faith is the living presence of God. The weakest may depend upon it. Those who think themselves the strongest may become the weakest unless they depend on Christ as their efficiency, their worthiness. This is the Rock upon which we may build successfully. God is near in Christ’s atoning sacrifice, in His intercession, His loving, tender ruling power over the church. Seated by the eternal throne, He watches them with intense interest. As long as the members of the church shall through faith draw sap and nourishment from Jesus Christ, and not from man’s opinions and devisings and methods; if having a conviction of the nearness of God in Christ, they put their entire trust in Him, they will have a vital connection with Christ as the branch has connection with the parent stock. The church is established not on theories of men, on long-drawn-out plans and forms. It depends upon Christ their righteousness. It is built on faith in Christ, “and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” ...
The strength of every soul is in God and not in man. Quietness and confidence is to be the strength of all who give their hearts to God. Christ has not a casual interest in us but an interest stronger than a mother for her child.... Our Saviour has purchased us by human suffering and sorrow, by insult, reproach, abuse, mockery, rejection, and death. He is watching over you, trembling child of God. He will make you secure under His protection.... Our weakness in human nature will not bar our access to the heavenly Father, for He [Christ] died to make intercession for us.
No fear no doubt for everything which can hamp our way to our Lord Jesus Christ because we know he is our answer to all problem he is almighty God responsible of our life , we have to be sure of him if we are really Christians