DEEPER part 2

INTRO: We are going to continue in the theme of going Deeper in God. 

This Morning I want to talk about: GOING DEEPER IN OUR FAITH. 

Galatians 2:19-20 (NIV) 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” 

• Paul is speaking in this passage of scripture saying, “This life I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God. 

• The Apostle Paul was an incredible man of faith. 

• He had a life changing encounter on the road to Damascus when his name was Saul. 

• Jesus spoke to him and said, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 

• It’s interesting to note that Saul/Paul’s persecution of Christians was after Christ had died on the cross, was raised for the dead and now seated at the right hand of God. 

• So how did Saul persecute Jesus when Jesus wasn’t on the earth when he said this to him? 

Matthew 25:40 (NIV) 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ 

In this passage Jesus is saying this in the positive as well as the negative: 

When we see Christians being persecuted for their faith, they are not just persecuting you, but they are persecuting Jesus.  

• (So, he knows how you feel in the situation when you are stepping out in faith). 

Galatians 2:19-20 (NIV) 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” 

One of the most popular scriptures in the bible for new believers: 

Paul is saying, “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God. 

• Paul is saying that he has died to his old life,  

• He even called his old life as a Pharisee as garbage. 

Philippians 3:7-8 (NIV) 7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 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  

G4411 πίστις pistis, n. [243] [√ 4412]. faith, faithfulness, belief, trust, with an implication that actions based on that trust may follow; “the faith” often refers to the Christian system of belief and lifestyle:– faith (225), faithfulness (4), believing (2), belief (1), believe (1), believe (1 [+2400]), believers. 

Faith is not meant to be a passive position, but a powerful pursuit of His purpose. 

• People say, “I have my faith in God!” 

• What they actually mean is: “I believe there is a God.” But that’s pretty much the extent of it. 

• The devil believes in God, so that’s not a strong position of standing for a Christian. 

• Growing in our faith is about stepping out and trusting God to come through. 

• Going deeper in our faith will only happen as we get to know the Lord better. 

Galatians 2:19-20 (NIV) 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” 

• Paul said I can live by faith, because he knew that the Son of God loved him. 

• That was the same revelation that John had. (The one who Jesus loved as he always referred to himself). 

• Maybe he needed to constantly remind himself of the fact. 

• Some of us need to do that every day until it sinks in. 

• Get up in the morning and say, I am the one who Jesus loves. 

• Everything he did flowed out from that position or posture. 

• God’s Grace (undeserved favour) and enabling power to do what God had called him to do. 

• To be a minister to the Gentile world, (which is ironic considering Pharisees hated the gentiles). 

• Probably where Jesus’ words rang true to Paul. 

• Love your enemies  

That’s why we focused on going deeper in our relationship with the Lord. 

1. To abide in his presence. 

2. To go deeper in his word. (Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God) 

3. It’s only when we know our God and his character, that enables us to step out in faith.  

Faith is not meant to be a passive position, but a powerful pursuit of His purpose. 

James 2:14-17 (NLT) 14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? 17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. 

James 2:21-22 (NLT) 21 Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. 

Hebrews 11:1-3 (NKJV) 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 

3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. 

• There has to be substance to your faith. 

• All through chapter 11, it talks about the great people of faith and what they were able to do for God. 

In Hebrews 11:30 It mentions an incredible account of faith but doesn’t mention the person’s name, but we know that person is Joshua.