Developing a Lifestyle of Faith, Part 1

Positions you positions you. This is what the ancients were commended they were commended for their perfection. They were commended for their faith and Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. With thanks for being here for this Monday edition of Destin for victory with pastor Paul Sheppard when you study the lives of some of the heroes of the faith are struck more by their perseverance than their perfection was their faith.

There is lawlessness that distinguish them as you follow along with pastor Paul for the next couple weeks or so. Keep this question in mind. How can I develop the kind of faith that pleases God pastor Paul answers this question in the coming days and it starts right now.

Stay here or download the podcast on demand pastor Paul.net podcast or whatever you right now. Here's pastor Paul. Today's Destin for victory message developing the lifestyle I am more than convinced I'm did that there are so many more things. God wants to do through us for us and in us in these days these are the last days.

In fact, I believe these are the last of the last days. I'm watching world events now like never before and I see every indication of the kinds of things Jesus spoke about when he talked about the second coming and I believe we are in the last the last days, I believe, like the little boy whose grandfather tricked him by programming the chime on the clock to go 13 times the boy had come to learn how to tell time. So grandfather tried to trick him and set the chime for 13 he said. Now I want to listen and then tell me what time it is in the chime 13 times in any asked the boy know what time is it and he thought for a second and the boy said I don't know, but is later than it's ever been before and I'm telling you yes me. When Jesus is coming. I have to tell you I don't know but I'm going to quickly add what is later than it's ever been before.

And I believe his coming is quite imminent for that reason, I believe the Lord is going to move supernaturally in these closing days like never before and I want us to be positioned by understanding what it means to truly live and develop a lifestyle of faith the people who live their lives with a totally secular humanistic worldview. Look at people who practice religion as all doing pretty much the same thing, just in different ways. People who are secular in their worldview who are humanists who call themselves atheist or agnostic. Whatever it is they tend to look at religion all in one.

One lump all y'all religious and they kinda don't distinguish anything beyond this religious you just do not believe in the supernatural. However, they would describe it but they lump at all, whether Christian or Hindu or Muslim. Whatever the latest, put together urologist religious. I beg to differ.

That's not accurate to call people like me religious, you missed the point because of the technical for moment religion has to do with man's attempt to reach out to connect with the Almighty or something supernatural, something unexplainable and they want to appease deity, whatever that might be. That's religion you believe in or you pursue a god or gods that doesn't describe me then describe you because Christianity in its truest form is not a religion.

Jesus didn't come to die to establish a religion coming was to prevent us from having to come up with a way to find deity because Jesus coming deity found us, don't let me end with folk who are burning incense and praying prayers and and coming in and doing whatever they do to try to find something outside of themselves, trying to find God. I'm rejoicing that God found me using a different we call ourselves Christian in the truest sense in the biblical sense rejoicing is in the battle when we lost. God found us in Christ.

In fact, let's be honest when we were dead just as insane as we have sense enough to look for God: he says he came looking for. We lost and I'm done with Christ and his son. He reached out his hand for us. He wrapped himself in flask came through 42 generations.

The Old Testament tells us he was born of a virgin sinless life and he died a substitutionary death so that you and I could have a relationship. It's not about a religion. It is about a relationship with Christ.

I prefer to be known as a man who is developing a close relationship with Jesus Christ. Now that's what you mean when you say I'm a Christian, then yes I am. Those of us who know and what we're trying to do is build a closer relationship because he's parted it by coming into our lives so true Christianity is a journey with Jesus true Christianity. That's the way you want to describe it, it's a journey with Jesus and the Bible calls that living by faith.

So I want to understand what we talk about the coming messages. It's about this journey with Jesus which is described biblically as living by faith. Now the Bible uses that phrase first and Habakkuk chapter 2 verse four Habakkuk chapter 2 verse 4C, the enemy is puffed up his desires are not lighted says here's the phrase, but the righteous person will live by his faith or faithfulness set in the new international version will live by his faith by his faithfulness. In other words were taken our signals our cues from a different place altogether. When I living by what we see what we think what we feel we living by faith (Romans 117 in the New Testament.

You see, form the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written, the righteous will live by faith. And then when you get over to Galatians 311 you see the phrase again.

Clearly, no one relies on the law is justified before God because the righteous will live by faith. And then one more reference is Hebrews 1038 and here's what you see there and my righteous one will live by faith, and I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back, so I want to understand the terms were going to be working with what I'm talking about living by faith or walking by faith developing a lifestyle of faith.

That's what I have reference to what Christ came to establish is a journey where on a journey with him when I just sort of doing what we do we own and journey were moving with God and as you move with him.

The journey gets deeper and more exciting as you really learn what it means to develop a lifestyle of faith where faith is not something you practice like the law.

Faith is something you relive it becomes who you are. I am a faith walking person that's God's goal for all of us. So were called to live by faith, and I want to become clear about what it is and what it looks like solicitors, go to school limits to start with the ABCs so to speak of faith. What is faith well there's an answer that immediately comes to many of your minds found in Hebrews chapter 11 verse one. Let's look at it again.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see confidence in what we hope for assurance about what we do not see what is its basis.

How can I be confident of what I hope for. How can I be assured what I don't see that's because of faith foundation before I get to that. Let me point out verse two of Hebrews 11 goes on to say this faith is what the ancients were commended for now. What does that mean you know that Hebrews 11 is often called the faith Hall of Fame chapter because the writer goes on to give this example after example of faith throughout redemptive history and this verse says this is what the ancients were commended for seeing Moses and Abraham, and in all of these wonderful that we studied throughout the course of our journey with the Lord as we read his word and I want you to know are special because of anything about them that all special because they learned to have confidence and assurance in someone other than them. I pointed out, because that tells you that you can become a person of great faith they want commended because it was such a wonderful Hebrews 11 is were going to do and you'll see like you because they never made a mistake that one had a bad day commended because they always make great decisions because when crisis came when challenge came as a journey with God. They learn to put their trust in him and in themselves. When we charge football learn that you anybody much things to come. Found those who think they're strong.

It is your witness depositions.

You will be a faith Johnny is your positions you to be a faith giant.

It is the fact that she will going to get done. This is what the ancients were commended for want commended for their perfection. They were commended for their faith. They were commended for doing everything right commended for their were coming right back with more of today's destined for victory message from Pastor Paul Sheppard with senior pastor destiny Christian Fellowship in Fremont, California listen to the broadcast on demand@pastorpaul.net that's Pastor Paul.net to find a host of great resources that are online store. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

If you want to build a lifestyle of faith. It starts with the foundation.

Pastor Paul once again with the rest of today's message developing a lifestyle of faith and I'm here to tell you all of us qualified to be faith giant and that's what I want to see develop a lifestyle in our journey. I want to get stronger, not in ourselves, not in self-confidence but in confidence in him. My confidence is in me and he that is in my flesh. Paul said at one point dwells no good thing so I can afford to put confidence in the flesh I got to have my confidence firm in the Lord.

Now let's talk then about the foundation of faith.

Since faith is the substance of things hoped for evidence of things not seen. Bestway King James puts it, minutes got have a strong foundation. What is that foundation is the word of God itself.

When you go to Romans chapter 10, you find so then faith comes by hearing, I believe it's verse 17 so then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Faith comes by hearing by the word of God comes as a result of hearing the message of the message is heard the word about Christ. NIV says if I don't hear the word of God.

If I don't know what God's position is on something. I have nothing anchor my faith in now in elementary school before taking up into the argument to the faith we got all start to make sure you catch ABCs down so please understand if I don't have a word from God. I have nothing to base my faith on their brothers and sisters, lies the difference between faith and presumption.

When I presume and put that on God, just just about on faith. Well, if you still been afraid that means you're stepping out on something God has said goodbye just about. Just because I think is going happen work. Faith comes by hearing hearing by the word of God. I got a be familiar with the word so I can have a foundation for my faith is what says here's what God believes.

Here's what God has said proclaimed God has promised a personal promise for something for myself what God has promised this to other faith filled people so I'm gonna step on a believing that he's going to the same permit from God to base it on again based on what I think how I feel.

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God which tells you, you gotta then be in the word if you plan on being a faith giant now before we move further into Chapter 11. I want to step back and go a little back into Hebrews chapter 10 and there. I want you to find five directives for living by faith were laying a foundation so that when we start talking about these other patriarchs and apply what they did to our own lives will be doing so in a lifestyle that has been manufactured to live by faith. Hebrews chapter 10 verse 22. Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart, and with the full assurance of what faith brings the whole right there let us draw near to God. That's the first directive before we start talking about what it means to develop a lifestyle of faith. I want to make five commitments based on what the writer to the Hebrews says here's the first one. Let us draw near to God, you will be a faith giant, you will see God move supernaturally in your life you want to see the Lord do think that is never done for you in you and through you. I do and if you go first thing you want to do is draw near to God. Draw near to God is a decision you make. Draw near to God.

I'm going to get closer to God. That means that I've ever been before somebody needs to make a decision. I'm going draw near to God sound so simple yet, but look at our lives and you'll see why it's so necessary because there is so much around us. That is my name for our attention. Affections. I'm glad you said somebody demands on their song months God is competing with to put it that way competition, you should have any competition as God is our maker, our creator and sustainer gives us grace is the one who blesses us. Yet, we have to be mindful that there is so much around us that can distract us and keep us from being focused on the true and the living God, who is the most important being in the universe. It is easy for us because we live in these roles of flesh constantly tell ourselves to walk in the spirit and not according to the flesh of the flask and get so distracted can spend more time with people, then you do meditating on talking to through prayer and thinking about and reading about the goodness of the Lord spent all this time on don't matter on issues that don't matter personally that don't matter dreams that don't matter to save things that don't matter. And so when the Bible says God is calling our attention to what's important us draw near to God. That's a decision you make.

I told you many times before when the Bible commands us to love God, we in Western society think what is that we mean command loves the feeling love is goosebumps, does not want your relationship you build it all goes well, I don't remember what life you decided to hook up with who you decided because of something and we in the West. We think that's it. Western Hemisphere. We think that we go after that and that's why we break up at the rate we do these new societies Eastern Hemisphere societies and will do that, your mom and I said as we marry goosebumps ketchup. That's what you meant start here.

No, we need to make a partnership that makes sense where you live a good life and produce good children in the sense that one word about your feelings somewhere Revelation, we know that we these all about me.

Well how is your personal pink and working out for you is all I'm saying is a decision you like. It seems you like because you made and you drew near to that team.

You made a commitment to that team and the commitment takes many forms. You think about them by their paraphernalia. You buy tickets to you how to use.

If you get mad when they lose you emotionally, and why, because it is one day a major big tomato based on your hometown and basil Yamamoto but whatever it is like things you having been to the city but you like that team – obtain Green Bay to Green Bay is what you decide.

If for some reason way back into history.*You would use.

We came up, says Bart Starr, I just dated myself. You know what Bart Starr is so smart is calling you decide draw near to God where God is and point your car in that direction points your heart in that direction I'm going to invest in drawing near to God.

If I want to live by faith alone walk by faith. I want to see what faith will bring in the way of miracles and supernatural movements in my life. Draw near to God. I got become closer to God than I am to anything or anybody else. Faith begins with a foundation for Christian. That means building a foundation on what God has said so study his word. Get to know his promises draw near to him and he will draw near to you. Pastor Paul Sheppard Joyce. We know from a studio in California pastor. Looking ahead into this new year 2021, when the things we like to do from time to time to share stories of how God is using this ministry and I'm excited about that and I know you are as well.

So let's encourage people tell us some of the stories about how God is using this program I would love to hear from our listeners. You know Dustin for victory exists to challenge and inspire people everywhere to know God's son to apply God's word and to fulfill God's purpose that's our mission statement were serious about it and I want to know that all three things are happening. So if your listener and as a result of listening to destined for victory, you have come to know Jesus for yourself or your finding application of these messages in your every day and your finding your purpose in life what God wants to do in and through you.

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We'd love to hear from you. Visit Pastor Paul.net click the contact feature the top of the homepage and we look forward to hearing what God is done. We also have a special gift to share with you this month yours by request for your generous donation to destined for victory, introducing Pastor Paul Sheppard's booklet lessons from the cocoon you butterflies don't enter this world with wings.

They don't even end of the world's butterflies. Their transformation takes place over time. That's how the life of a believer in Christ works in lessons from the cocoon. Pastor Paul helps you understand that God is doing things in you, even when your life seems somewhat stagnant and unremarkable and he remind you that eventually you will have wings because you were born to fly. That's lessons from the cocoon our gift to you today by request for your generous gift to destined for victory.

Call us at 855-339-5500 or visit Pastor Paul.net to make a safe and secure donation online. You can also mail your gift. Of course our dresses destined for victory PO Box 1767, Fremont, CA 94538 again destined for victory.

Box 1767, Fremont, CA 94538 want to strengthen your own faith.

Try building up the faith of others is Pastor Paul is the last time you found somebody we can make sure they were strong before you left was the last time you found about down here and you said it did things that lifted that's next, I would Pastor Paul Sheppard's message developing a lifestyle of faith.

Until then, remember he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion. In Christ, you are destined for victory