Weekly Bell Ringer “A Person Of Faith”
by Richard Daughtridge
Weekly Bell Ringer - August 27, 2008
A Person of Faith by Richard Daughtridge
Faith connects us to God.
A few months ago visiting Baltimore I noticed banners for a city wide promotion that simply displayed one word, “Believe.”
I thought, “What a clever promotion but what does it mean?”
Believe in what? Believe in ourselves? Believe in our government? Believe in our religion? Believe in our company? Even believe in fate that things will work out?
We all love imagination. Our dreams, our ideas and our hopes are all in our subconscious waiting like seeds to be birthed. Faith is the venue that will bring these dreams, ideas and hopes into our world as reality.
Faith however must be connected to something or someone bigger than we are. It must have a power that is able to transcend our natural limitations. Faith without such a higher source has no such power. It would be like an electrical appliance with no power cord or a light bulb with no electricity.
The object of our faith is a person, God the Father. As Christians we are taught to pray in the name of Jesus (the authority) to God the Father (the object of our prayer.
Notice how Christ taught us to pray.
“Our Father(object of our faith) which art in Heaven (invisible empowered kingdom) Hallowed be thy name(name of Jesus) Thy Kingdom Come(connecting the unseen with the seen) Thy will be done( sovereign will) On Earth as in Heaven (heaven to where we live) Give us this day (when? today) our daily bread (food for faith) forgive us our debts (changing our spiritual condition) as we forgive our debtors. (changing our relationships) Lead us (following the Father) not into temptation but deliver us from evil (changing our conduct) for Thine (possessive) is the kingdom, (authority) power (ability) glory (majesty) forever. (without end)
Proverbs 8:12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
Philip. 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Hebrews 11:1-3 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. [2] For by it the elders obtained a good report. [3] Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
It’s been said, “It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you believe something.”
This could not be further from the truth. Having faith in the wrong place will produce negative or damaging results. We are responsible to search out Truth and grow into a person of Faith.
James 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
1 Cor. 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
May we all in earnest “Believe” God Bless Richard Daughtridge
This week’s sermon “Champions Of Life” by Richard Daughtridge
Posted inSermonson August 20, 2008 by jacobschurch
Sermon Notes: “Champions of Life” by Richard Daughtridge
1. A Champion’s Strength
Philip. 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Proverbs 8:12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
2. A Champion knows his Competition
1SA 17:4 A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. He was over nine feet tall. [5] He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels; [6] on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. [7] His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. His shield bearer went ahead of him.
3. A Champion’s Heart
1SA 17:32 David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.”
1SA 17:50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.
4. A Champion enters the “No Whining Zone”.
James 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
1 Cor. 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
5. A Champion’s service.
Philip. 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
6. A Champion’s Passion.
1 Tim. 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
7. A Champion’s Goal.
Philip. 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
8. A Champion’s Team .
1 Cor. 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
9. Champion’s Never Give Up
2 Tim. 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Matthew 25:23
His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.