R409 Putting Your Faith To Work

We all could use some encouragement and will find it together today in the Bible-based reading of Dr. Don Wilton about putting your faith has we open the word of God to get another were open to talk with you and pray with you at this number.down 866-899-WORD 866-899-9673. We would love to connect with. I want you to just share what is upon your heart with the Lord talk to him about tell the Lord cite Foster I'm sitting so far back you don't even know that I'm to know God does.

He knows all about hearts and about the things that go on. He knows about out torn ligaments. He knows about our impending surgeries.

He knows about what we going through tomorrow knows about marriages knows about all these things he knows about and he loves you and he loves me, this is God's church.

I want to speak about a very special subject this morning. All of these subjects from God's word was special, but this one has particular significance. I think for us to die putting your faith to work. That's the subject.

How can I put my faith to work if we were to do a survey here this morning and I should imagine all over Spartanburg County. We would discover that there are literally hundreds and thousands of people in Spartanburg today. Who would have no problem saying that they have exercised their faith in God. When you trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior. You exercised your faithful by grace through faith are you saved and not of yourselves, it is the gift of God not of works lest any man should boast. It is our faith that comes into place. Why because we don't understand why or how God would want to save us, but we believe him and we take it 90s word, we we exercise our faith. We we trust in God we believe implicitly that God is going to do what God says he's going to do without biggest problem is is that from Monday through Friday and Saturday we struggled to put our faith work to translate that faith into action.

You know, it's one thing to say that God wants me to do something. It's another thing to say okay God, I'm going to do it because you said on Mr. and faith means that I don't necessarily know where. While a lot, I just do because God said what I want you to turn with me today to the letter to the Hebrews in Chapter 11 we gain to read just one verse Hebrews chapter 11 in verse seven, we gain a look at the life of Noah to die a man of extraordinary faith and you can keep your finger in Genesis chapter 6, seven, eight, because because I think that God understood us, Mr. board on June I think God realized that we would have a problem in one church service of preaching about Noah putting his faith to work and having to read all three chapters chapter 6, seven, I we would be there for the rest of the so what God did was he put it into the hall of faith in Hebrews chapter 11 and there is one verse in Hebrews chapter 11 that summarizes everything that Noah was all about.

Please follow with me in your Bibles and I'm going to stop once or twice. Hebrews chapter 11 verse seven by faith Noah, when warned about the things not yet seen going to stop right there. It's hard for me to get parts that one phrase. Did you notice that now he has Noah, who by faith began to put his faith to work based upon what God said is not based upon anything that he had yet seen. That's right, you know, we are people who like to line up all our ducks in a row. The we wanted all we wanted all lined up. We want everything we want. We want the site of God not listen, Lord and I know that I know that you put in my heart to begin this new business venture and I know that you've impressed upon my heart to invest in the stock and and I know that you want me to go to this place.

So to do that. But before I do any of that. Even though I believe you told me to do. I want to know what's going to happen two years from now and then on the that's not faith, it's like sitting church budgets. God's not going to bless our church until we exercise review biblical spiritual faith.

Now that doesn't mean to say that God doesn't give to men and women. A good mind to think and to work and to calculate and analyze and open their eyes and to see in the make good judgments and wise decisions. But God expects us to exercise our faith. He expects us to put our faith to work. He wants us during the week to demonstrate the practical reality of the exercise of our faith in and through the Lord Jesus Christ. What happened yet another Bible says, by faith know when warned about things not yet seen in holy fear. I love that don't you. I preached a message in the book of Revelation. Some time ago entitled holy cow. I know for 120 years preached a message entitled holy fear, don't you think holy fear.

What is holy fear. It's fear because you're a man because you're a woman because you want to know what's going on down there, it's fear because you cannot trust yourself. It's fear because you know the stock market could collapse. All of a sudden it's all in the holy righteousness of an Almighty God has been very sure of the world and ourselves in the palm of his hand.

What shall we fear what shall we fear some of you facing surgery tomorrow right Jean love you very much. I know you going to have surgery tomorrow. We praying for you. Not just because your precious but because you are a child of God there are people all over our congregation who are facing surgery and who are praying for people we praying for Greg Mason in Greenland and we praying for one another at the Bible says that we must exercise out. We must put to work.

What a word of assurance that wonderful is an incredible thing to know that we can cost our care upon the Lord we can trust him implicitly. So, look what happens here in verse seven know when warned about the things not seen in holy fear built an ark to save his family by faith he condemned the world, and became heir and what an incredible word day, he became the inherited toll.

He became the recipient care is a man who put his faith to work. He put it to work. He said listen, but all these things around here that make me comfortable and God you telling me to build an ark. There's no water yeah there's hardly any rain here. People don't believe me going to Berkeley. But God said I'm gonna do it and he put his faith to work and what is the result. The result is that Noah became the recipient, the heir apparent of one of the righteousness of God that comes by faith. Unbelievable water reward. There are three things about Noah that I think are rather similar to you and me to let me share them with you quickly number one Noah lived in a day of grace. Did you know that he lived in a day of grace is what the Bible says in first Peter chapter 3 and verse 20 God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. That's grace that's that is grace, the patience of God is the grace of God. That's what God is done to me all my life. That's what God is doing to you all your life.

That's what God is doing to us and for us as a church. God is waiting patiently now, this particular incident. It was for 120 years.

That's a long time. Quote that is a long time. Can you imagine Noah building in block 420 years and the Bible says God waited patiently.

Noah lived in the day of grace note in the second place. Noah lived in a day of great projection of God very similar to also. I guess that I could spend the rest of this go back and look at Genesis chapter 6 verses one through seven and you reading about Spartanburg 1997 reading about the United States you reading about New York and Washington reading about the world.

Noah not only lived in a day of grace but he lived in a day where man and woman Boys and Girls Club word check the sovereign preciousness of a holy God. They will opting out, but there's 1/3 common denominator here. Noah lived at the end of an age.

He lived at an end of an age and in Revelation chapter 15 in verse one God draws a line and he says I'm going to pull out the cup the bowls of my anger upon you the same carpet Jesus had to drink from winning the garden of Gethsemane. He said, take this cup from me. Nevertheless, not thy will but mine blindly done. Jesus was willing to submit himself in obedience to the father and I'm going to submit to your beloved friend that Noah found himself in circumstances somewhat akin to what the Bible teaches in the book of Revelation somewhat akin to what we living today. Noah lived at the end of an age. God said I want you to build and all the people are so wicked they have strayed from me.

They have said no to me that rejecting the word of God by giving themselves to social gospel they are using alternative things to present alternative means to a God who has established himself as the no alternative. As far as he is concerned, he said I am the way the truth and the life no man can come under the father but by me. Noah lived in a day of grace and he lived in the day when people rejected God and he lived at the end of an age.

But Noah was a man who put his face to work inside me today plaster. What do I need to do to put my face to work. Let me give you six things write these down number one you must hear above the noise going to put your faith to work my friend today. You must put, you must hear above the noise number two, you must obey. Contrary to human reason.

That's number two putting your faith to work you must obey.

Contrary to human reason number three you must do, despite the lack of company you must do whatever God tells you to do, despite the lack of company number four. You must go despite opposition and discouragement. Number five, you must accept God's judgment without questioning his injustice. You must accept God's judgment without questioning his justice. Number six, you must look ahead to the promises of God.

Oscar self the question how can I put my faith to work. Number one, you must hear above the noise number two, you must obey. Contrary to human reason number three you must do, despite the lack of company number four. You must go on despite opposition and discouragement.

Number five, you must accept God's judgment without questioning his justice and number six you must look ahead to the promises of God that's look at them very briefly.

Number one, you must hear above the noise. Can you imagine the noise that surrounded the building of the there was not only the clatter and the drumbeat of hammers and all the other things that would go into building an ark of this magnitude, but there was the noise of the discontentment of the people. There was the opposition. There were people out there who was screaming at the lower. The Bible says that the people were not just satisfied to see him make and take a stand and acting parties faith to work, but they went into practical action to try and prevent him from doing so. I believe what the Bible teaches us frame is that if we're ever going to put our faith to work. We must hear above the noise. We are surrounded by many voices in the world today. The voice of reason, the voice of suggestion. The voice of intimidation, the voice of Tim Tatian the voice of idealism, the voice of moderation. The voice of nationalism. The voice of liberalism the voice of accommodation, the voice of plagiarism.

The voice of socialism. The voice of politicization. There are voices that are crying everywhere from the very pit of the garden of Eden when the serpent came after his servant, and said shortly stripping Shirley Shirley, young lady.

God didn't really mean when God said that he surely not. If we want to put our faith to work we go to hear above the noise number two, you must obey.

Contrary to human reason can you imagine an all excuse me you building an ark.

There's not even any there's no rain where barren land. We don't have an you must be joking. You flush a flat we going to have a flat always. Can you imagine that judgment. What judgment. How could God have a home any of us what you talking about Grace means Bryce whose care giving, God's waiting patiently for us. Well that doesn't matter to us.

That's very nice of him.

We accept these generous offer. Can you imagine all the rhetoric that began to flow out of the hearts of the people who stood around the you see friends. Human faith accepts and acts upon the revelation of God in Genesis chapter 6 verse 22 Noah did everything just as God commanded him back in the 1700s. William Carey felt God calling the India the voices around him in the human reason presented to him said don't go, you gonna die. You going to get a disease that too many foreign things in India are you not going to be able to stand the food in an and William Carey said I'll go and he went to took him seven years working in serum poor India before he lit one person to Christ. But today you can go to Indian you going to find born-again believers all over India because God used one man to put him to work his faith to translate his faith into action to obey God implicitly pleads back with the rest of today's message putting your faith to work with Dr. Don Wilton adjustable Dr. Don Wilton remind you for connecting all the time both on the phone.

It's answered 24 hours a day at 866899 word 866-899-WORD 9673 Dr. Don Wilton a week behind beer 2 AM friend and introduce you to resources like the fortified message in the book call strategy of Satan both available right now on our website as well. At tewonline.org, G, because we believe we are in a battle. Spiritual warfare is very real and you and I need to be prepared again discover more website@tewonline.org or give us a call about how you can obtain your copy of these wonderful resources. 866-899-WORD is the phone number 866-899-9673 have asked today's great teaching with Dr. Don Wilton, you must hear above the Lord, you must obey. Contrary to human reason number three you must do, despite the lack of company not tell you, folks, this is a big weakness of mine but I'm going to tell you that if you put your faith to work you might be the only one doing you know if you're anything like me. I do anything I say will who's going with you. I'm on one of these unusual people. That's why none of you ever see me in a restaurant, so I don't enjoy sitting in a restaurant by myself and when I see one of you in a restaurant and some of you know that you by yourself. I'm there like a shot. Come and join us. Come and join us not only because you are a special person but because I just you know I'm one of those people. I just love to have others around me and there's something good there's nothing wrong with it but let me tell you something folks review again to translate your faith into action.

If you going to do the will of God. You may be the only one happened to Elijah, listen first Kings 1913 and 14.

What are you doing here, Elijah. He replied I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty, the Israelites have rejected your covenant, they broken down your altars. They put your profits to date with the sword. I'm the only one left and now they are trying to kill me. Jesus said forgive me if I don't look surprised and in Matthew's Gospel our Lord Jesus Christ himself said in Matthew chapter 7 he said listen, I want to tell you something if you going to put you all to work you must enter in at the narrow gate because it's the narrow gate that leads to lack the broad way that leads to destruction. Many people find the Broadway but few people find the narrow way. If we going to put our faith to work.

Number one, you must hear above the noise number two, you must obey.

Contrary to human reason number three you must do, despite the lack of company number four. You must go on despite opposition and discouragement friends we can get discouraged at every turn. I will guarantee you it is possible to catch a football and tear ligament.

I will guarantee you it is possible to have an investment and watch the stock market crash.

I will guarantee you it is possible to marry someone and then they have an argument within guarantee you it is possible to be healthy one day and not be well the other day, I will guarantee you that you can bring up your children in the knowledge and admonition of the Lord Jesus Christ and it is possible for your son for your daughter to let you down spiritually. You must go on despite opposition and discouragement.

Paul wrote to second Corinthians 4 verses eight, nine and 10.

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed. We are perplexed, but when not in despair were persecuted, but will not abandon with struck down, but we are not destroyed.

Listen to this. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in the body.

Wow that's putting my faith to work. Jesus said if I'm going to put my faith to work but to carry the scars of his body and mind what it means to put your faith to work. That's the meaning of true Christian discipleship number five you must accept God's judgment without questioning his justice. We get these two issues so mixed up so many of the times.

Remember how Abraham pleaded with God to spare Sodom said oh God. You cannot destroy Sodom if there 100 people who believe in you. Please spare Sodom and God said, okay, I'll scrape Sodom up there 100 feet. He said okay God I get the message.

If there 50 would you spare Sodom, God said, I'll spare Sodom if there 50.

He said if there were 10 when you space Sodom. He said I'll spare Sodom if there are 10 you see friends. The point that God was making is that we must accept his judgment without questioning his justice, God isn't just God and because he is just he is a judging God and God's judgment is based upon his injustice and his ultimate act of justice is Jesus Christ and him crucified.

Number six, you must look ahead to the promises of God. If you going to put your face to work here friend, you must look ahead to the promises of God.

That's what faith is really all about.

You see friends, faith at work results in rule always know all about anyway know my friends was all about the salvation for all who enter the judgment for those who don't. What is Jesus Christ all about salvation for all those years accept them judgment for those who refuse to do so. You see, we've got to look ahead to the reward. When we put our faith into action. We got a look at him. We go to understand and know the mind of Christ we got accept implicitly and completely and distinctively everything that God is said to us, we gotta be willing to take God at his word. What happened to Noah's love one. What happened in those loved ones by rule say all of them. What is the Bible teaching second Chronicles 15 in verse seven but as for you, be strong. Do not give up for your work will be rewarded. Dear give up all I pray you heard loud and clear. The voice not just of Dr. Don Wilton, but of the Lord. Using this broadcast to let you know he loves you is a plan for your life is ready to help you put your faith to work and it starts with the first decision to say yes to Jesus Christ which you open your heart, you per Dr. Don preacher now as he shares from his heart to open your heart to him. Are you ready to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. I'm so happy to hear that wanting to pray this prayer with me. Dear God, I know you love very very and I know that the Lord Jesus came God on the cross so that I might be forgiven today. I repainted myself.

I confess my sin. And I invite you to Jesus name I pray, if you prayed that prayer. Let me be the first one welcome to the family of God. This is one I hope that you know how much I'm going to be praying help very important pieces. Corliss said we could talk to you connect you in the right ways you can begin this wonderful journey. Welcome to the family of God.

I'm confident that some of you have given your life to Jesus. While Dr. Don was praying.

Moments ago and you've got it done business in time for a brand-new beginning. We have resources for you if you call 866-899-WORD. Let us send them to you right away.

That's 866-899-9673, and some of you rededicate your life. We have great free resources for you as well want to call 866899673 where here for you and our website TW online.org there are number of great resources that are available now more than ever fail as well start dollars six dollars online W online.org store located at the top of the page. We appreciate your support Encouraging Word St., Inc. you for listening today it's been a great day of teaching and tomorrow we begin a two-part series on the rapture.

Such a powerful message.

Can't wait to join with you as we get together on the next edition of The Encouraging Word