Weekly Update |   April 11, 2024

On Faith

Dmitriy Zherebnenkov

Let’s continue some thoughts from this Sunday’s message on faith.

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Heb. 11:6)

This text says that everything that a Christian does must flow out of faith in God. This faith consists of two parts—faith in God’s existence and faith in His promises in His Word. Unfortunately, we don’t often realize that this expectation of faith is always required of us. Consider the following aspects of a believer’s life that reveal the need for faith and may have us cry out like the disciples did, “Increase our faith!” (Luke 17:5)

Salvation. This is the starting point for a life of faith. This faith is the kind that grabs hold of the gospel with all of one’s soul.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” (Rom. 1:16-17)

Prayer. Prayer without faith loses its main purpose—union with God. Whenever we have some kind of need, we draw near to God in faith without doubting (Jas. 1:6-7), expect Him to answer, and believe that He is faithful to His Word and will give an answer (Mark 11:23-24). Prayer focuses our spiritual eyes on God.

“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.” (1 John 5:14)

Spiritual armor. The full armor of a Christian includes this element—faith! Faith in God is the shield from the attacks of this world.

“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one” (Eph. 6:16)

Impartiality. Freedom from being dependent on others’ opinions and the ability to be impartial have a lot to do with real faith in Jesus Christ.

“My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.” (Jas. 2:1)

Strength in suffering. We all have a calling in life, but to see this calling, and even more importantly, to accept it, requires faith.

“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” (Heb. 11:8)

Death. One of the greatest ways to check for living faith is to consider how a person dies. If there is living faith, death will be mixed with joy!

“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.” (Heb. 11:13) There are many more texts that can be brought up as a litmus test for living faith, but I’m sure that the above texts are sufficient for you to check yourself. Beloved friend, is living faith evident in your life as seen in these texts?

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Continue supporting the churches working among the people who have suffered from the war in
Ukraine: https://gfchurch.com/ukraine/

Below are the services and meetings for this weekend:

• Thursday (6:30 PM) – Kid’s Bible School (open to all but required for parents), followed by Bible Study (Proverbs) for the whole church at 7:30 PM
• Sunday services:
  • Worship Service in Russian at 9:00 AM
  • Worship Service in English at 11:15 AM

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