Welcome to Refinery Life Australia.
Today we start a new series titled The Spiritual Struggle for the Renewal of the Church.
We need to cooperate with the Father God, who would prune out those branches, attitudes, ambitions, and actions that are counter productive, so that the church might bear much fruit.
Today we are talking about What You Believe Matters.
Prayer
Father, we thank You for adopting us as your children.
With yes wide open to Your mercies, we come to dedicate ourselves to you afresh.
Help us to use our talents and testimony that others may know Christ.
As be bring our tithes and offerings, we pray Your blessings upon them.
Help us meet the expenses of the ministry of this church and engage in ministries to the outer most ends of the earth.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
Text
Ephesians 4:5 AMP
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Ephesians 4:13 AMP
13 until we all reach oneness in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, [growing spiritually] to become a mature believer, reaching to the measure of the fullness of Christ [manifesting His spiritual completeness and exercising our spiritual gifts in unity].
Scripture Reading
Ephesians 4:4-6, 11-16 AMP
4 There is one body [of believers] and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when called [to salvation]—
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 one God and Father of us all who is [sovereign] over all and [working] through all and [living] in all.
Ephesians 4:11-16 AMP
11 And [His gifts to the church were varied and] He Himself appointed some as apostles [special messengers, representatives], some as prophets [who speak a new message from God to the people], some as evangelists [who spread the good news of salvation], and some as pastors and teachers [to shepherd and guide and instruct],
12 [and He did this] to fully equip and perfect the saints (God’s people) for works of service, to build up the body of Christ [the church];
13 until we all reach oneness in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, [growing spiritually] to become a mature believer, reaching to the measure of the fullness of Christ [manifesting His spiritual completeness and exercising our spiritual gifts in unity].
14 So that we are no longer children [spiritually immature], tossed back and forth [like ships on a stormy sea] and carried about by every wind of [shifting] doctrine, by the cunning and trickery of [unscrupulous] men, by the deceitful scheming of people ready to do anything [for personal profit].
15 But speaking the truth in love [in all things—both our speech and our lives expressing His truth], let us grow up in all things into Him [following His example] who is the Head—Christ.
16 From Him the whole body [the church, in all its various parts], joined and knitted firmly together by what every joint supplies, when each part is working properly, causes the body to grow and mature, building itself up [a]in [unselfish] love.
Introduction
What we believe is basic to the renewal of the church.
If we are to be equipped for ministry today, we must not only know what we stand for and what we stand against, but also what we stand on!
What we believe will ultimately determine what we do.
The Bible speaks of a general faith, something that everybody has, even satan.
It also speaks of a saving faith, as in Ephesians 2:8, 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.
And it also speaks of “the faith,” that is, the truths that have been revealed through Jesus Christ and God’s Word, which we have accepted.
These are not just intellectually grasped, they are personally and spiritually received.
Jude 3 says that we are to, contend for the faith that was once delivered for all the saints.
It talks of Judgment on False Teachers
3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
Therefore what you believe matters!
Four questions about what you believe must be answered.
- Is your faith really “your” faith?
Is it your faith or your parents?
Is it yours or your friends?
Is it your faith or just a doctrine of the church?
Has “the faith” really become yours, or is it like a sign in a book shop window that reads Secondhand Theology for Sale?
We don’t need a secondhand theology, we need a first edition!
This faith must become yours by personal experience.
It is not enough to say, “I know the truth.”
We must say, “The truth is mine!”
If we are growing in Christ, the truths of God’s Word become real and illuminated in our minds by the Holy Spirit.
For me I believed in the resurrection of Jesus, but I truly came to know it personally in my heart by means of the Holy Spirit working in my life.
2. Is your faith working?
What is your faith accomplishing?
Does it have power in your life?
- A real faith will meet your personal needs.
Faith determines how we live, where we stand, and what we do.
It provides a foundation that can withstand the storms of life we are told in Matthew 1:24-27.
B. A real faith will give you something to share.
When we truly believe, 2 Timothy 1:12 says we witness to Him whom we believe.
People everywhere need help.
People are lost to God, to their families, to the church, and to themselves.
Do you have a word for them?
Do you know haw to tell someone to be saved?
Do you have in your mind your own testimony of salvation?
Do you know Scripture verses for sharing the truth?
What you believe matters!
3. Is your faith basic?
The distinction between an opinion and a conviction is that an opinion is something you hold, while a conviction is something that holds you.
How many convictions do you have?
A basic faith is composed of convictions.
- A basic faith consists of beliefs that really matter.
What do you believe about Jesus Christ and how He relates to salvation, victory, and destiny matters.
What you believe about the Bible matters.
Do you truly believe that it is God’s Word?
What you believe about the Holy Spirit matters.
What you believe about salvation and the church and all of the basic doctrine of the Bible matters.
B. A basic faith is personal.
What do you believe?
What do you believe about God, the trinity, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, witnessing, stewardship, and the many truths of the Scriptures?
Write out your own personal theology and be strengthened in what you believe!
Just make sure it lines up with what the Bible says.
C. A basic faith is worth dying for.
Would you die for what you believe?
Many have, think of Stephen, and Paul, as well as Christian, martyrs who die in far off places everyday.
What do you believe that you would hold at any cost?
4. Is your faith Christ centred?
The foundation of our faith is Jesus Christ.
The disciples stood firm on Jesus’ testimony of who He was.
They had the Old Testament, but their walk of faith began with an encounter with Jesus Christ.
They met Him and followed Him, and He changed their lives!
The earliest know confession is “Jesus is Lord in Romans 10:9.
He is the centre of our faith.
Conclusion.
The acid test of genuine saving faith is spiritual maturity, christlikeness, the stature of the fullness of Christ.
It is not enough just to be orthodox, we are to be Christlike!
This is being renewed in our faith.
Until next time
Stay in the Blessings
I really want to encourage you to be diligent with your Bible study time, because God has so much more for us than we can get from just going to church once or twice a week and hearing someone else talk about the Word.
When you spend time with God, your life will change in amazing ways, because God is a Redeemer.
Theres nothing thats too hard for Him, and He can make you whole, spirit, soul and body!
You’re important to God, and you’re important to us at www.refinerylife.org
When it comes to prayer, we believe that God wants to meet your needs and reveal His promises to you.
So whatever you’re concerned about and need prayer for we want to be here for you! Or even if you just want to say Hi, you can contact us
2021 IS A YEAR OF REFORMATION
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