Faith in action

Adapted from a sermon by Justin Humes teaching on faith
Mark 11:20-24,Matthew 21:21,Luke 17:5-6,John 15:16,1 John 3:21-22,1 John 5:14-15

1. We must be right before God "if our heart condemns us" have we given ourselves to sin?
    Confidence before God comes from a clear conscience, and because we... do the things that are pleasing in His        sight. James 5:16-18
2. 1 John 5 According to His will, we have confidence. "we know" Ephesians 1:9, John 15:15
    All things I have heard of the Father, I have made known to you.
   
A. Does this match with Scripture- to know this we must know the Word of God.
B. Has God led you in prayer regarding this- to know this we must be in fervent prayer, looking for the leading of
        the Holy Spirit.
C. What are our motives- glory for ourselves, greed, to "consume it of our own lusts"
D. Without doubt- God is able, not just believe, but trust that it will happen John 11:24
        James 1:5-8 Wisdom is truth from God's perspective, absolute divine truth, not our own human understanding or
        ability to reason. Not double-minded seeking our own and God's. We cannot have both, but must submit
        our own will to that of God.
       
        Hebrews 11- These men and women were not great of their own accord, but were great in faith in an all mighty
        all powerful God that they knew could deliver on His promises.
        
        David- did not act in fear when facing Goliath, but ran after him.
        Faith is something to act on, not a feeling, but a decided ability to step out knowing that God is in control
       
        Faith without works is dead- Proverbs 14:23 "In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty."
       
        Noah didn't wait for the rain to start, but spent 200 years building a boat to save people from a flood, when
        they had never even heard of rain before that time.
        The Israelite priests could not make the waters recede by standing on the shore, but when they stepped into
        the water, their faith was exercised and God fulfilled His commands. It was not until they were willing to step            out that they truly put their trust in God.

Example from "Facing the Giants" Two farmers, both dealing with a drought, prayed for rain. One went out and prepared his fields to receive the rain, the other did not. Which one had more faith?

Peter saw Jesus walking on the water, took initiative and asked Jesus to call him out of the boat. He took it upon himself to follow Jesus in a way that made no sense to the human mind. Yet, he exercised that faith and got out of the boat. Yes, Peter did stumble, but because of his faith in Christ, his willingness to put trust in Jesus beyond his knowledge of gravity and the he COULD NOT walk on water made him get out and walk where no man besides Jesus Himself ever dared to walk before.