| Topic: |
Religions > Bible |
| User: |
"Brendon Ward" |
| Date: |
02 Aug 2004 03:49:51 AM |
| Object: |
Fundamentals of Faith |
Here are what I consider the fundamentals of the Christian Faith. Those
with wisdom, please critique:
______
SEVEN Fundamentals of the walk
The Christian walk is made up of several essential things each as important
as the next, and each linking in with the next.
1. Generosity
Matthew 10:8
Often at times we thing that we deserve all the material comforts in the
world. But we forget two things:
a. That Jesus spoke these words "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall
gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"
b. To acknowledge that the Creator God is the provider of all things. If it
weren't for Him, we wouldn't even be alive. Many times the things that we
achieve, the things that we posses are the result of other peoples good
deeds. Like the movie Pay it Forward, we should aspire to be givers. Time,
money, skills, wisdom etc. Often these things come as no real cost to us. So
as freely as you have received, so freely should you give. James also speaks
of this in 2:15-16. Through our generosity, we can be good witnesses for
Christ. Jesus said in Matthew 25:40. Being generous, doing things for others
with not aspect of gain for yourself is a great way in which to serve God.
As a church, we are called to be each others support. There need be no lack
in the Body, for we should have all things in common. The Apostles lived
like this Acts 2:44-45.
2. Faith
It is by faith that we believe in the first place. But faith is defined by
James as an active thing, a verb - James 2:17.
Stepping out in faith, despite what the circumstances may look like. The
fact is that we serve an invisible God. Faith is an act of worship. Faith,
just as righteousness is pleasing to God. Abraham's faith was counted as
righteousness when he sought to offer Isaac on the altar. Our sacrifices to
God as accounted as faith as well. To live righteous is often like a
sacrifice. To defy the status quo, and live a sanctified live unto God. This
takes faith. It is the kind of thing that people are martyred for. By faith
we walk in self-denial, taking up our crosses and dying daily. By faith we
give, by faith we pray and by faith we do all things godly. Faith is the
cornerstone of the walk. Without it, all else is useless.
3. Attitude
Often pride can be our biggest attitude that gets in the way of where God
wants us to be. As I have spoken of before, pride denies our desperate need
for Gods grace, and embraces self, rather than denying it. 1 Peter 4:1 -
have the same attitude as Christ had. The name of Jesus, fruit of the
spirit. Verse 2 goes on to say that we should not walk in the ways of the
flesh. To make the change, we must have a change in attitude. An attitude of
submission, affliction, humility and subjection. We must also have an
attitude of generosity, and willingness to serve God, by faith, regardless
of the costs.
4. Challenge of Opportunity
We must endeavour to step outside our comfort zones whenever possible. We
must live a life of challenge. This is exiting and the results of it are
awesome. Many of us are bound by fear, and thus stay within our comfort
zones, as a result, we never grow spiritually. We should live a life of
overcoming, not running away or denying the challenges that we face, but
embracing them, and defying the odds. We are called blessed for overcoming,
and there is reward for it, in the here and now, and in the hereafter. Being
an over-comer qualifies for the first resurrection. Revelation 2:11 By faith
we overcome, by attitude we over come, by generosity we overcome.
We must also face the challenge of opportunity to witness. There are so many
people we can talk to about Jesus, but how many people do we talk to about
Jesus. There are so many causes to fight for, but how many causes do we
fight for? To we talk the challenge, or do we take a seat? We were saved by
grace for good works. We have a mandate.
5. Change
We must be willing to embrace change. This is not to say that we can be
liberal by moral standards and accept every wind of doctrine, or moral
compromise such as homosexual ministers. We must also be willing to move
with God, and not be left behind. Paul said, be transformed by the renewing
of your mind. We must walk in the freshness of the spirit and the newness of
life. By dying daily, we accept Gods daily mercies. We must change by
repentance, aspiring to righteousness. Being sensitive to God spirit and
open to his voice, helps us to move with God and to be open to change. Being
born again is massive change. Thing of your old life. I know that in my own,
I have made massive change and it was essential that I did. If I didn't, I
would still be doing drugs and living in sin.
6. Priorities
Jesus said "seek ye first the Kingdom of God", are we abiding in Him by
abiding by His words? What comes first in our lives? Are we a first fruits
people? Are we held back by ambition, material gain, an attitude, lack of
faith and generosity, an unwillingness to face opportunity and change or
insensitivity to Gods spirit? We must cast off all the works of the flesh
and walk in the spirit. We must bare fruit worthy of repentance. Jesus said
"by their fruits shall they be known". Who are we following, Jesus or
ourselves? Do we say "I need to sleep in" or "I need to pray"? We can live a
life where our top priority is Jesus by being filled with the knowledge of
His will and obediently walking in it. We must aspire to know and understand
His Word. If we make the right priorities, all our desires will be fulfilled
anyway.
7. Passion
Passion also means sensation. Are we living a passionate life filled with
the joy of God? Are we positive when the chips are down? Do we confess
Christ with energy, boldness and confidence? Are we excited about all things
pertaining to Christ? The Kingdom, our salvation. Are we passionate about
worship, do we loose ourselves in the presence of God by passionately
entering into it. Are we passionate prayers, do we pray willingly, and can't
wait to spend time with God? Are we passionate about Gods Word, Gods people?
Does our vision have passion?
Do we have a generous heart, a faith filled walk where we challenge the
opportunities and are open to change? Do we have the right attitude and are
our priorities in order? Do we live a life of immense passion and can the
fire of the spirit of God be seen a mile off? These seven things are the
essentials in growing up, and going on in God. Without them, we will remain
stagnant. "though we might be on the right track, if we don't move with it,
we'll get run over"
--
Brendon Ward
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