LIVING GODLY IN THIS PRESENT AGE An Online

LIVING GODLY IN THIS PRESENT AGE An Online Lesson April 5, 2020

What can we do as Christians under this “new normal”? - Shelter at home - Social distancing - Massive sanitizing efforts - Electronic communications Let’s consider some Biblical principles to help strengthen our faith For many of us these are reminders

How is your faith? • The life of a Christian is one of faith • 2 Peter 1: 5 -7 – our foundation • What does it mean ours is a life of faith?

How is your faith? • What is faith? Trusting confidence and reliance on something or someone. • Hebrews 11: 1, The substance (assurance – NASB) of things hoped for, and the evidence (conviction – NASB) of things not seen • Even though we have not seen God, we believe in Him because of His word

How is your faith? • What is faith? • It is NOT a blind faith! God has given us plenty of evidence of His existence and His word • Faith is believing God (as opposed to merely believing IN God) and trusting God.

How is your faith? • What is faith? • Romans 10: 17, faith comes by hearing • Why can we trust God? Look at what He’s done for us and the world. His pattern for the church cannot be improved upon (Ephesians 3: 10 -11)

How is your faith? • What is faith? • John 17: 17, IF the Bible is the word of God it is truth – which gives us reason to believe and trust Him • That is why we need to study - to increase our faith Romans 1: 16 -17

How is your faith? • This is a time of testing our faith • HOW are we handling these times? Do we trust God as we should? • Tests of faith in scripture Hebrews 11 Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, the Israelites, Joshua, etc. • They faced great challenges and kept trusting God

How is your faith? • This is a time of testing our faith • Consider Abraham – Hebrews 11: 8 -19 • He left Ur of the Chaldeans by faith • He dwelt as a stranger in Canaan, believing God (400+ years) • At age 100, he begot Isaac (Genesis 21) • He offered up Isaac (Genesis 22) • With his mature faith you can see what it means to trust God.

How is your faith? • So how is our faith? • It is easy to have faith when all is well, but what about in the troubling times? When the world seems upside down

How is your faith? • So how is our faith? Psalm 46: 1 -3, God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. (NKJV)

How is your faith? • So how is our faith? • Psalm 46: 1 -3, can we see that God is in control and no matter what we are dealing with, we must trust Him. • In troubling times read texts about God! Romans 8: 31 -39

How is your faith? • What if my faith is not as strong as it should be? • Turn to His word as we just noted • Pray about it – Mark 9: 24, Luke 17: 5. • Act in faith – you have to take a step. Live the Christian life. • Make up your mind you are going to trust Him! James 1: 5 -8

• • How is your faith? So how is our faith? 2 Corinthians 5: 7, we walk by faith and not by sight! While we may not view God with our 5 senses, by faith we KNOW He is there, and we believe Him Does the world see our faith?

LIVING GODLY IN THIS PRESENT AGE - 2 An Online Lesson April 5, 2020

How is your faith • In part 1, we addressed the importance of faith – trusting God and believing Him • Are we walking by faith? • In this lesson, some more things to consider in these times NOTE: These are all related to our faith

Don’t worry • This is related to our faith • Worry is not a good thing! It is letting the cares of this world consume us. It leads to all sorts of problems • Provers 12: 25, anxiety in the heart causes depression, but a good word makes it glad • Psalm 37: 8, Cease from anger… Do not fret – it only causes harm

Don’t worry • This is related to our faith • Worry shows, to a degree, a lack of faith • We must LEARN not to worry

Don’t worry • Matthew 6: 24 -33, Jesus taught us not to worry • No one can serve 2 masters • “Do not worry” – 3 times (25, 31, 34) • There is futility in worry – Things you cannot change – why worry? IF you can change something – do it instead of worrying!

Don’t worry • Matthew 6: 24 -33, instead trust God • There are more important things than the cares of life • God takes care of His creation • You are of more value than these • After these the Gentiles seek – hoarding? ? • Seek FIRST God’s kingdom… • Point - trust God always

• • Don’t worry When our faith is what it ought to be, we will not worry! We will put it in God’s hands and let it go (Philippians 4: 6 -7) “Worry about nothing, pray about everything, and think about the right things” (4: 6 -8) There is a difference between worry and concern!

Keep God in your life • Consider the “spiritual indicators” • Christianity is a way of life, not a compartment or hobby • Even if times alter HOW you can serve Him, you STILL serve Him • Romans 12: 1 -2 Romans 6: 15 -18 2 Timothy 2: 3 -4

Keep God in your life • As Christians, we need to give considerable time to godly activities: • Listening to Him – 2 Timothy 2: 15 • Talking to Him – 1 Thessalonians 5: 17 -18 • Say something about Him to others – Philippians 2: 15 -16

Keep God in your life • As Christians, we need to give considerable time to godly activities: • Do something for someone else – Galatians 6: 9 -10, 1 Corinthians 9: 19 • Do 5 to build yourself up spiritually – 2 Corinthians 13: 5, 1 Corinthians 9: 27, Romans 12: 3, etc. • Use this time to draw closer to God in some little way

Count your blessings! • We can obsess about everything that is wrong and be miserable, and make others miserable

Count your blessings! • OR we can look at how truly blessed we are - Most in good health, no virus - Comfortable homes and plenty of food - Access to medical resources - Ability to communicate with each other - Multiple resources to help us study God’s word - We have God who sees us and knows our heart.

Count your blessings! Psalm 40: 1 -5, I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth — Praise to our God;

Count your blessings! Psalm 40: 1 -5, 4. Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust, And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered.

Count your blessings! • This is about attitude! • You may not be able to control the circumstances outside, but you CAN control how you respond to what is going on! • We should always “count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done. ” (Sacred Selections, #68)

Do not let ANYTHING keep you from serving God Romans 8: 35 -39

Let us pray!