What Is Your Sense of Security Based Upon?

Many Christians feel secure in their relationship with God only when they’re ‘doing good’. Their sense of security is in their behavior and circumstances. Their security is not really in Christ and what Jesus did for them. It’s in their performance. Working to perform for God is ‘dead works.’ Paul called it “falling from grace.” We’ve fallen when we base our security and relationship with God on outward signs rather than inward change.

The Apostle Paul’s greatest challenge was not in dealing with the overt sins in the church, it was getting religious people to lay aside legal standards of performance (the law) and walk in freedom, faith, and grace. There was always someone trying to get people to live under a performance standard to outwardly prove their righteousness.

Any believer is susceptible to performing for spiritual security. As soon as we focus on what we are doing for God rather than on what Jesus did for us we are susceptible to performing for God. Keep your eyes on what Jesus did for you and your sense of security will be satisfied.

God Can Take Bad Situations and Turn Them for Good

God can take bad situations and turn them around for good. Take, for instance, Philip from the Book of Acts. Philip was distributing food among the believers in Jerusalem. He was known as a spiritual man, but his real potential in ministry was unknown. Suddenly heavy persecution broke out in Jerusalem. Most of the believers fled for their lives seeking safety in surrounding towns and regions. Sounds like bad news, doesn’t it? However, Acts 8:4 says those who fled “preached the word wherever they went.” The adversity in Jerusalem caused a scattering of the believers, but led to preaching of the gospel in new places and to the emergence of more ministers.

It was the adversity in Jerusalem that brought the good news to Samaria. Philip went from distributing natural food to distributing spiritual food as evangelist, miracle worker, deliverer, and healer in Samaria. Philip was equipped, was gifted, and was a man full of the Spirit and wisdom before the adversity. Then God took a bad situation and used it for good. He’ll do the same for you.

God is Not a "Hard Man"

Some Christians have a harsh view of God the Father. Their view is similar to one of the men in the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. One man was given five talents, another was given two talents, and another was given one talent. The first two men took risk and invested their talents and doubled their investment bringing affirmation from their boss.

However, the man with one talent did not invest but hid his talent and got no return. He said to his boss "I was afraid of you because you are a ‘hard man’." This man’s view of the boss was that of a harsh task master who would pounce on any failure. His decision to hide his talent was fueled by the fear of losing the money with the consequence of punishment from a ‘hard man.’.

If your view of God is that of a ‘hard man’ you will tend to operate out of fear rather than out of love. ou will take few risks because of the fear of failure. This view of God results in fear-based rather than faith-based living. It is based in the old covenant rather than the new covenant. Got faith?? Invest it! God is not a "hard man."

Faith Versus Presumption

Faith is a strange concept to many Americans. The Bible says in Hebrews 11:1 that ‘faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.’ Faith requires believing in someone or something we cannot physically see. Faith is stable, unwavering and continual.

Many people apply their faith the same way as they buy and sell stocks; buy if you think it will produce a profit. Sell if it doesn’t. They read about Jesus and see that He did great things. They apply a superficial faith in Him. However their faith is based upon an expected outcome in the natural realm. It may be a financial return, healing of a disease, or getting a specific job. If their "Jesus stock" doesn’t do well in their natural eyes, they look somewhere else. That’s not faith. That’s presumption; presuming upon Jesus to do only what you want. In reality, faith is being sure of Jesus, even when you don’t get want you want.

Even Science Requires Faith

The Bible says in Hebrews 11:1 that ‘faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.’ A scientist exercises faith as he or she draws conclusions from evidence observed. Scientific evidence is seldom complete and irrefutable. Every year the scientific process leads to new discoveries in medicine, treatment of disease, and preventive health. The new discoveries unravel the old conclusions. Things science professionals so boldly advocated as worthy of their faith, and ours, are tossed aside in favor of something new.

It requires faith to draw a scientific conclusion. It requires faith to draw spiritual conclusion. The conclusions of the faith of a Christian do not unravel truth; Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever! While over time we discover deeper meaning and relationship with Him, Jesus himself is unchanging.

Upon What Are You Building Your House?

Faith is a strange concept to many Americans. The Bible says in Hebrews 11:1 that ‘faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.’ To be sure means to be firm, unyielding, and stable. As we look around us we see little in the corporate world, government, politics or the economy that is firm, unyielding, and stable.

Our faith is like building a house. The stability of the house will depend upon where we build it. We can build it on firm, unyielding and stable ground or we can build it on sandy or marshy ground. Upon what are you building your faith this morning? Is it only in the things you can see or is it in those things you hope for but cannot see? Jesus is a firm, stable and unyielding rock upon which to build your faith. No matter what your problem this morning, you can be sure that He is your solution. Place your faith in Him and build from that rock.

Faith Is Being Sure

Faith is a strange concept to many Americans. The Bible says in Hebrews 11:1 that ‘faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.’ How sure are you this morning of the things you hope for? How certain are you of those things you can’t see with your natural eyes? When we ask ourselves this question we often don’t like our own answer. But we all have faith in something and someone, but in what and in whom?

The Bible is very clear that our relationship with God the Father is by faith in Jesus the Son. We can’t see Jesus physically but we can be certain of him without seeing Him. That is faith. We are saved by our faith. Everyone has enough faith to accept Jesus without seeing him. We have a choice this morning to be certain only what we see or to be certain of what we do not see. Make the choice to place you faith in the one you do not see, Jesus Christ.