Faith Will Be Our Currency • Sunday Service

Faith Will Be Our Currency • Sunday Service

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"Faith Will Be Our Currency"

In Christian eschatology, the "end times" refer to a period preceding the second coming of Christ. It's believed that during this time, believers will face unprecedented trials and challenges, testing their faith like never before. This concept is based on various biblical passages and themes:

1. **Increased Persecution**: The Bible predicts that believers will face increased persecution and hardship. Scriptures like Matthew 24:9 speak of believers being handed over to be persecuted and killed, and Revelation 2:10 mentions imprisonment and trials for the faithful.

2. **Great Deception**: The end times are characterized by widespread deception. False prophets and messiahs will appear, deceiving even the elect if possible (Matthew 24:24). This environment of deception will test the discernment and steadfastness of believers.

3. **Moral Decay and Lawlessness**: A decline in moral standards and a rise in lawlessness are prophesied (2 Timothy 3:1-5). Believers must maintain their integrity and faith amidst a society drifting away from biblical values.

4. **Spiritual Warfare**: Ephesians 6:12 indicates a heightened spiritual battle against the forces of darkness. Believers will need to rely on their spiritual armor and faith in God to withstand these challenges.

5. **The Love of Many Growing Cold**: Due to increased wickedness, the love of many will grow cold (Matthew 24:12). Maintaining a heart of love, compassion, and faith in such an environment will be a significant test.

6. **Tribulation and Trials**: The Book of Revelation describes a period of tribulation, marked by natural disasters, wars, famines, and other catastrophes. These events will challenge believers to trust in God’s sovereignty and goodness.

7. **The Test of Faithfulness**: In Luke 18:8, Jesus asks, “When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” This suggests a testing of genuine faith and perseverance.

8. **The Call for Endurance**: Revelation 14:12 calls for the endurance of the saints, who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. This implies that maintaining faith and obedience will be challenging yet crucial.

Abraham, often referred to as the "Father of Faith," is renowned for his exemplary faith in the Bible. His life offers several profound examples suitable for a sermon on faith:

### 1. Leaving His Homeland (Genesis 12:1-4)

- **Call to Leave**: Abraham (then Abram) was called by God to leave his homeland, Haran, for a land that God would show him.

- **Faith in Action**: Despite not knowing the destination, Abraham obeyed immediately, demonstrating faith in God's promise and guidance.

### 2. Belief in God’s Promise of a Son (Genesis 15:1-6)

- **Promise of Descendants**: God promised Abraham, who was childless and advanced in age, that he would have descendants as numerous as the stars.

- **Unwavering Belief**: Abraham believed God's promise, and it was counted to him as righteousness. His faith did not waver despite his and Sarah's old age.

### 3. The Birth of Isaac (Genesis 21:1-7)

- **Fulfillment of Promise**: God's promise was fulfilled when Sarah bore Isaac. Abraham was 100 years old at that time.

- **Testament to Faith**: The birth of Isaac in their old age was a direct result of their faith in God's promise.

### 4. The Sacrifice of Isaac (Genesis 22:1-18)

- **Ultimate Test of Faith**: God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice Isaac, his long-awaited son.

- **Willingness to Obey**: Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac demonstrated his absolute trust and obedience to God. He believed God could even raise the dead (Hebrews 11:17-19).

- **God’s Provision**: At the last moment, God provided a ram for the sacrifice, sparing Isaac. This event is a powerful example of faith and trust in God's provision.

### 5. Seeking a Wife for Isaac (Genesis 24)

- **Ensuring the Promise Continues**: Abraham ensured that Isaac did not marry a woman from Canaan but from his own relatives, trusting God's promise concerning his descendants.

- **Guided by Faith**: His servant, guided by prayer and faith, found Rebekah, aligning with God's plan.

### Sermon Points:

- **Faith in the Unknown**: Abraham's journey is a model of trusting God even when the path is unclear.

- **Faith Against Odds**: His belief in God's promise about Isaac, against all odds, highlights that faith often defies human logic.

- **Obedience in Faith**: Abraham's readiness to sacrifice Isaac shows that true faith is often tested and proven in obedience.

- **Legacy of Faith**: Abraham's life demonstrates that faith has a lasting impact, influencing generations.

Abraham's story teaches that faith involves trust in God's promises, obedience to His commands, and the belief that God will fulfill His word, even when circumstances seem impossible. His life is an enduring testimony to the power and significance of faith.

Here are ten scriptures from the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible that emphasize standing firm in faith and not backing down in the face of enemy attacks or discouragement:

1. **Ephesians 6:13** - "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."

2. **1 Corinthians 16:13** - "Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong."

3. **James 4:7** - "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."

4. **1 Peter 5:8-9** - "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith..."

5. **Isaiah 54:17** - "No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” says the Lord."

6. **2 Timothy 1:7** - "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

7. **Joshua 1:9** - "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

8. **Psalm 18:39** - "For You have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me."

9. **Philippians 4:13** - "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

10. **Psalm 44:5** - "Through You we will push down our enemies; Through Your name we will trample those who rise up against us."

These scriptures collectively inspire believers to stand firm in their faith, resist fear and discouragement, and trust in the strength and support that God provides in the face of adversity.

Without faith, we can’t please God.