A Renowned Faith

Paul and his companions were grateful for the Christians living in Thessalonica. They were greeted warmly there, but Paul’s gratitude was more than selfish. He was grateful for their faith and how they turned to God. This is what he told them in 1 Thessalonians 1:8-9 (NLT):

And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don’t need to tell them about it, 9 for they keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the living and true God.

The faith of the Thessalonians was more than surface level. It changed them at the deepest spiritual levels. There was such a dramatic shift that it became known everywhere throughout all of the churches. What has God done in your life? Are the people around aware of how God is working in you? May God’s power be so evident in us that we are known as devoted followers of Christ.

God Is Your Provider

The latest message from Griffith First Christian Church in Griffith, Indiana. This is the first message in our series, “Elijah: Standing Alone” and is based on 1 Kings 17.

Faith That Keeps Going

Suffering is a part of life. Everyone suffers along this journey. People of faith suffer, too. Followers of Jesus are not exempt. The Word of God says that in this life we can expect to suffer. Some of it is self-inflicted. Some of it comes from external sources through persecution. Either way, we will suffer. The Thessalonian believers underwent persecution when they put their faith in Christ. This intense persecution did not deter them in their faith and they did not waver from it. This is what Paul said to them in 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7 (NIV):

So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord. 7 As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Greece—throughout both Macedonia and Achaia.

After receiving the message of grace with joy, they experienced severe suffering for their faith. They pressed on and kept going. If you are being persecuted for your faith in Jesus, be like the Thessalonians. Keep going and keep pressing on. Don’t give up on Jesus, who also suffered in many ways. Your reward awaits you and it is worth it.

Faith, Hope and Love

When you boil down the Christian life to its basic essence, three are three hallmarks of a believer: faith, hope and love. The apostle Paul told the Thessalonians that he was always praying for them with gratitude to God. This is what he said to them in 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 (NLT):

We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. 3 As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul and his companions were thankful for the faithfulness, love and hope that the Christians in Thessalonica displayed. Paul said in 1 Corinthians that faith, hope and love were the things that matter most. In the end, you’ve got to have faith that is lived out. You need to have love that is shown and not just talked about. You also have to have hope that comes from faith in Christ. Without faith, hope and love, you’re not a maturing Christian. Faith in Jesus, love that is demonstrated and hope that is real are at the very core of a follower of Christ. May you be filled with faith, hope and love today as you walk with the Lord.

True Beauty That Lasts

King Lemuel was told by his mother what qualities to look for in a wife. She said to find one of noble character who was worthy of praise. There is one key characteristic that brings praise to a woman, she said. He recalled her words in Proverbs 31:30 (NIV) when he wrote:

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

King Lemuel’s mother said that a woman could turn on the charm to attract him to her. Charm only gets you so far and if it isn’t true, would eventually turn into disdain. She could be as fair as fair could be. She might turn all the heads of every man in the room, but her outer beauty will eventually fade. What is the one quality that brings her honor and praise? The fear of the Lord. Faith in God is the key that unlocks the door of a lasting relationship. The true beauty of a woman is in her soul, Lemuel’s mother said. If you want a relationship that will stand the test of time, you have to make God the center of it. The only way to truly get closer to each other is to worship and honor the Lord together. Put Christ at the center of your life as individuals and He will be the center of your relationship. Then you will know true and lasting love that will never fail.

The Flawless Word Of God

In Proverbs 30, the author shifts from King Solomon to Agur. He gave a warning to those who would not heed the Word of God. This is what he wrote in Proverbs 30:5-6 (NIV):

Every word of God is flawless;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 Do not add to his words,
or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.

God’s Word is flawless, Agur said. This means that it can be trusted. The New Testament says that the Word is “God-breathed.” In other words, it was inspired by God through the Holy Spirit. Human authors wrote down the words that were inspired by God’s Spirit. Therefore, we should obey the perfect Word of God. You may wonder how we can trust a book that was written over 2,000 years ago. What if there were translation errors along the way? This is where faith comes in because the God who created everything and who inspired the original authors to write is the same God who can protect and preserve His Word from error over the course of history. Trust the Lord to preserve His precious Word that tells us how to have a saving relationship with Him through Jesus.

Self-Reliance

Here in our country, we honor and exalt those who are self-made. We lift up those who made something of themselves. We live by the mantra, “Believe in yourself.” We believe that if you can see it, you can be it. All you need is self-reliance and hard work and you can make something of yourself. King Solomon said that to trust in yourself is foolishness. This is what he wrote in Proverbs 28:26 (NIV):

Those who trust in themselves are fools,
but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.

Earlier in the book of Proverbs, he wrote a famous bit of wisdom when he said in Proverbs 3:5 (NIV):

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding.

Instead of believing in and relying on yourself, you need to trust in the Lord and His wisdom and understanding. God sees the big picture and He knows the right way to go. He can guide you and lead you as you move about your day. You’re going to be tempted to go it on your own. With your own limited understanding, you’ll soon find yourself lost. Put your faith and belief in God and let Him guide you and keep you safe.

Fear/Faith

Here is the latest message from Griffith First Christian Church in Griffith, Indiana.
This message is based on Numbers 13-14 and is about trading fear for faith in God.
Visit our website for previous sermons at http://gfcc.net/watch-a-sermon.

Start Them Off Right?

As Christian parents, we want our children to grow in faith and in wisdom. We want our kids to grow up to love Jesus with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength. We want to pass on our faith to the next generation. So we take them to church. We take them to youth group. We have conversations with them about God. We try to live a godly life in front of them. We pray for our kids and ask God to protect them. These are all good things to do. King Solomon said so when he wrote these words in Proverbs 22:6 (NIV):

Start children off on the way they should go,
and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

What happens, though, when they turn from it? I have talked with several brokenhearted  parents who cling to this verse as a promise from God and feel as though God has let them down. They did all of the right things, but their kids have wandered from the faith. Proverbs aren’t necessarily promises. They’re better seen as guiding principles. Everyone has to make their faith their own. Every generation has to make up their own minds regarding faith in Christ. As a parent, do your best to instill faith in your children and never stop praying for them, even when they are older. Trust the Lord to constantly call them back to His loving arms of grace.

The Best Medicince

Our mental state affects our physical bodies. People who have a positive outlook and attitude heal quicker from diseases. Your body and your mind work hand in hand to bring about healing. The opposite is also true. People who have a negative and defeatist attitude will find their healing slower. King Solomon wrote about this in Proverbs 17:22 (NIV) when he said:

A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

How does one get a cheerful heart? Faith in God and in His Son, Jesus. If you believe that God is your Healer and your Forgiver and Friend, you will have a more pleasant and positive outlook on life. That includes diseases and illnesses that you may contract during your lifetime. Does this mean that you’ll never get sick if you have a positive attitude? Of course not! Christians do get sick and some even pass away after battles with terminal illnesses. How you cope with the illness can be helped by your faith. Trusting that God will work things out for your ultimate good can fill your heart with cheer and joy. Knowing that there is a Heavenly home awaiting you can help you see past your present illness. Whatever malady you may be facing, know that God has the final say about your ultimate healing. Put your life in His more than capable hands and let Him fill your heart with joy.