The Pathway of Faith - Part 1

Nonentity intensified Catholic child and family. Thursday, September 15 today will find practical guidance for keeping her life moving forward on a steady course.

Stay tuned for help in navigating the pathway of faith.

If you look around your circuit dances you my have a pretty good reason for being a little bit afraid.

If you decide looking at circumstances from a human point of view. Well, I can understand that except for this point. What about our relationship to God. What does that do with where we are, no matter what our circumstances are and is our relationship with him.

Depended upon our circumstances always that relationship superior and overall above everything else in life there a lot of people who very very afraid. But the question is do I have a legitimate reason to be afraid.

If I'm really who I say I am a follower of Jesus Christ, whether only two paths to walk the path of fear and the path of faith and often times people say they're walking in faith when the road in fear which can have both. You keep me in fear and faith. At the same time. It's like you can't trust God and not trust them at the same time. And so, which road would you say that you traveling that in spite of everything going on you walk in the pathway of faith because you've learned what it means.

I want you to turn if you will to the 41st chapter of Isaiah to the probably the most powerful passage in the Scriptures when it comes to this whole issue of faith and trust in God and while he God is saying this to the nation of Israel.

What he says is certainly true of us individually because it is the promise of God. So, if you will begin with me in verse eight of this 41st chapter of Isaiah, but you Israel, my servant Jacob, whom I've chosen descendent of Abraham. My friend, you whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from its remotest parts, and said to you. You are my servant, I have chosen you and not rejected you that listen to what he says about his relationship to Israel, which is certainly true of us the day, for he says do not fear, for I am with you, do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored and those who contend with. You will be as nothing and will perish.

You will seek those who quarrel with you but you not find them. Those who wore with you will be as nothing and nonexistent, for I am the Lord your God who upholds your right hand, who says to you, do not fear will help you.

What an awesome promise from God and the issue here is this number one and that is this promise is only to God's people. It is not the people who rejected him is not our people rejected Jesus Christ. These words are to God's people now when you think about the pathway of fear.

For example, in what the Lord makes very very clear in his word. For example, the apostle Paul said to Timothy, he said, God is not given us a spirit of fear income from him. God is not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind. We think right and so when you look at how people think and respond to things and some of the people are filled with fear this could happen because they see things happening other places they think this could happen to me. That could happen to me.

God does not want us walking in fear now somebody says what about what the Bible says about fearing God does that mean I'm to be afraid of him because he's holding though I'm to be in all of them because he is holy.

I am to reverence him for who he is. He is the sovereign God of the universe, holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, the reverence him yet to be afraid of, you know that I'm living in sin, afraid of him.

Yes you living in sin and living in disobedience to God. Rebellion told him afraid of God, you have absolute right to be.

Because you are going to suffer the consequences of that sin.

But if you're a child of God. He paid your sin that inform across 2000 years ago. You one of his children sealed by the Holy Spirit forever a child of God. Your name is written in the Lamb's book of life. You have nothing to be afraid of that when we disobey God. What happens the very presence of sin and alive causes fear. Look at the first book of the Bible Genesis chapter 3 when Adam and Eve sinned and God came seeking them and that all of you hadn't in the bushes somewhere and a goddess & you know what's the deal here. What is Adam say I was afraid what caused Adam to be afraid sin in his life and when sin is a part of the life of the believer. It actually creates fear in our relationship to God. But that's because of something we are doing, not because of something God is doing so. Is not that who we are with the children of God and the so when you think about all the reasons naturally. Fear is going to steal our peace and joy and happiness and contentment in life at prayer life is it won't be much worth anything for the simple reason if I'm afraid I'm doubting him and so if I come to him asking for some requests and yet I'm doubting whether he's going to do it or not it's because of something going on inside of me. Fear creates doubt and so there lots of consequences that God does not intend prayer life. And as you look at this whole list of things so ask yourself the question, what is it that deep down inside after Dr. losing my job, there are fear of financial what and what is it your friend that I can tell you, you have no reason as a child of God, to live in fear is not the will of God is not his purpose.

Not his plan and is not anything in the Scripture that would challenge me to be afraid unless I choose to live in absolute disobedience to God. So for the child of God. Doesn't that who we are and look at all that Jesus said all the apostle Paul teaches us.

It's not to be afraid God is not given us a spirit of fear but of love power of a sound mind whole different perspective on life.

So the person who travels the pathway of fear is going to be disappointed going to end up not being able to accomplish the things that God wants you to accomplish in life, so that candlelight doesn't fit. So what is it, what about the pathway of faith we want to spend more time on failure and a fear but what about the pathway of faith.

If I'm going to walk that pathway. What is required of me. What will I do what will be the style of my life if I am walking in faith and is the first thing and that is I am going to focus on God, not on my circumstances no matter what they are.

This is what Satan does, he gets his focus on the circumstances and you know what a little and he overcomes a molehill and finally becomes a gigantic mountain because the longer we think about it and the more reasons we think it won't work in the larger the problem gets. He wants us focusing on him and really give you versus Scripture that I quote many times but I want you to turn to it because I want you to read it with me and I want you to see it. Listen to this verse of Scripture. Psalm 103 verse 19 the Lord has established his throne in the heavens and his sovereignty rules. Overall, what is that mean it means that God who is the sovereign ruler of this universe rules over all things all times all circumstances, all people, there is nothing outside.

Beyond him, and beyond his ruling his control no matter what. And there's a whole blast of people would say that can't possibly be true because what it is plane crash while this car wreck. What are they down why my sick why why why why why listen.

He says his sovereignty rules of all. Just because God doesn't do things the way I would like to have them done sometime this because he doesn't operate on our schedule and do according to our plan.

We think he's not in control but he's not in control who is is the devil in control absolute not you in control. Absolutely not. God is an absolute control of all things now. People who do not believe that will be quick to say this is a verse I believe.

I believe the verse that says God causes all things to work together for good to those who love him, to those who collect on this purpose that many people who are not Christians, and many people who are Christians would say it this way, God causes all things to work together for good. That is not what the Bible says that is not what it says it does not say God causes all things to work together for good. That's not what it says. He says God causes all things to work together for good to those who love him. I watch this, who loves him what did he say those who love me will obey me, God causes all things to work together for good to those who love him. That is, to those who obey him and are called according to his purpose. If I'm living a righteous life a godly life. God is going to turn everything from my good no matter what happens, but it isn't just a matter because he just will make everything good. Every single one of us could testify to the fact that that everything has always turned out just good, it's a good from God's perspective and good for his purpose.

For example, if I were 25 years of age, you can save. You know the heat and live long enough, but I live long enough as a believer to tell you this.

I've been through wars, hardship, pain, all kind of situations and circumstances in my life, just like many of you in here. I'm here to tell you this, God has turned every difficulty every hardship, every loss every separation. No matter what, for my good and his glory every single time is about my circumstance, you don't know my circumstance so you can you can argue that his reason because he says his sovereignty rules over all and that for his children, he will cause everything to work together for good. If we obey him walking in obedience to him. He will turn it real good. That's who he is. So therefore I don't have any reason to be worried and fretting and fuming. If I honestly and truly believe that God is in control.

So something comes along and I get disappointed is a well see that God is not Trenton.

Listen, remember, disappointment is inevitable.

Discouragement is a choice.

This because I get disappointed as me not have to be discourage God is ready to turn our hardships and difficulties and pains into something good. That's why I can walk the pathway of faith, not fear. Because, listen, because of who he is not who we are because of who he is and because his character doesn't change, and he's not prejudice.

Don't do this for this person. Not that the Delta walking in obedience to him fulfilling his plan for your life. God is on your side and he has every circumstance under control so God is at work in the life of his children, so we don't have to worry about was suppose this and suppose that and suppose the other and that we can this work up a pretty bad case if we choose to do that but what I want you to see is this that God's pathway is always the best pathway this pathway begins with focusing on him as the sovereign ruler of this universe and once I settle that issue absolute all things. A second thing is this and that is a, walk the pathway of faith. I've got to face some moments and doubts and fears in my life just like everybody else is there those things that come along and when I do if I'm going to walk in faith.

I need to face the following questions. If I'm going to walk in faith and need to ask myself these questions, don't just jump all my goodness what's going to happen all Lord. So let's start with the first I need to ask myself the question where these tales come in from I'm doubting God numb, fearful, ask myself the question, where is this coming from. We know it didn't come from God because he says he's not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind. We can walk righteously before him. So where these doubts coming from the second question I would ask myself is this has God ever failed me in the past has he ever failed me in the past.

Here I'm facing the situation and things look a little gloom and little Little Delmon as he fell me in the past. No doubt the deal that third question is does he not promise to meet all my needs.

Yes he does.

Does he keep his promises.

Yes, he does what is he say he says he will supply all of our needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. He's never exhaustible. He is inexhaustible. I don't have to be concerned about that. Does he not promise to meet all my needs and if you go back to the things that Jesus said so much of what he said of reassuring us that he's there to meet our needs no matter what they may be possible all the same way like in the Old Testament how God used his saints, so does he promise to meet on Monday. Jesse does next question and that is that he not give me the Holy Spirit to enable me to do whatever he requires of me. Yes, he has when you trusted him as your personal savior came in your life seal.

Use a child of God and your member he's told his disciples before he left he said listen sit down and wait in the city of Jerusalem until you be endued with power from on high, because a job I have for you. You cannot do it in the flesh, you cannot do in your own strength wait and I will supply the Holy Spirit, who will be in you with you and upon you forever.

You have the same Holy Spirit living in you. You have the same right to claim for your self. The promise and the power and the provision and the guidance in the direction of the Holy Spirit is those New Testament saints did.

That's who we are. The walk of faith is not a walk of fear and faith. It's a walk of faith and confidence in him. The next question and that is did he not promise to be with me at all times absolutely in difficulty, hardship, pain, suffering, loss.

Again, you name it. He made a promise that if I'm tempted to be fearful to ask myself these questions. Did he not promise to be with me at all times. Yes, he is so for example, incidents go back to your job for mom and since a lot of folks are looking for one and you are afraid to go. Inmate is a big corporation. Maybe some big shots, to talk to you and maybe you've never been interviewed before of have this big title and you just walk in there little bit all my goodness, Lord, help me listen to this. When you walk in there. You walk in there remembering this.

I'm not walking in here by myself Jesus and are going to meet this guy Jesus and are going in here. He said I will never leave you nor forsake you.

No matter what you say will that's just talk about witnessing. No, it's not.

He says I will never forsake you know never forsake you. And that means it when he says I'll be with you to the end of this age talking his disciples. The truth is he's going to be with us on listen through the time he cares is home to be with himself because that's his promise. So whatever situation your face and move this. You can't face alone.

That's why when you trust the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal savior you can ever be alone again, you cannot be you can be lonely, which can be alone because he's promise to be within next question is anything too hard for God will see my fears and is dwindling away as I asked these questions anything too hard for God was answer that right there is nothing too hard for God.

You see, we have to be expressive and what we feel there was a deep, if you really trust him. Sam trusting in God, not far enough.

I hope I hope you will help me through this.

No, that's not trust. We have a right to be bold, not arrogant, not egotistical, not prideful but bold bold means courageous to face any and every circumstance and if all these questions have the right answer to them which we we would as believers, then what in the world and my flight up next question is this one of those forks in the road, in which my unbelief could cost me a lifetime of regret well so I want to be very careful this fork in the road we all meet those forks in the road where we have choices to make the to be obedient to God and disobedient. Whatever it might be but think about those questions and listen when you attempted the fear pull it out and read. This is why you should write down these things and some of you should put in the back of your Bible, or put them on something that you won't lose him if I were facing some kind of fiat right of entry by five card led by my table at night and I go right for one sleep and I tell you that oftentimes something that you want to remember something that you want to start believing to be true about God in your relationship.

Write it down and the last thing you do before you go to sleep read it.

You say what's that got to do with it. Something very powerful when you read it you turn on when you go to sleep. Your subconscious mind already has it and it's gonna work all night long. You know why because your conscious mind is out of the way is the if my subconscious is working which is a gift of God the Holy Spirit works there subconscious mind if my conscious mind is working. I'm still struggling with this worker would not, but if I read this on Sam trusting you God to do when you sit working all night long and you know what happens while you not sleep God is doing something to the way we think that's what David said. He said I meditate upon you in the night and he says God teaches him in the night watching God works in our life. When you and I are asleep if we will allow him to do.

Thank you for listening to the pathway of faith. If you'd like to know more about Charles Stanley were intense ministry in tax data lighting back after the presentation of intense managing Atlanta, Georgia