God and His Word
The sermon emphasizes the importance of placing faith in God's unchanging nature and His promises as revealed in Scripture.
K.P. Yohannan emphasizes that true faith is rooted in believing God and His unchanging Word, distinguishing it from mere belief based on personal experiences or observations. He highlights God's faithfulness and goodness, asserting that His promises will always come to pass as He watches over His Word. Faith does not ignore the realities of life but acknowledges them while trusting in God's greater power and promises. By focusing on God's nature, believers can rise above their circumstances and see the solutions that only He can provide. Ultimately, faith empowers us to look beyond our immediate challenges and trust in the God who can accomplish the impossible.
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Faith deals exclusively with believing God and His Word. It is with this foundation that biblical faith is distinguished from all else. We may say, "Oh, I believe in that politician. I believe in this make of car. I believe in this medicine because it worked for me." This kind of belief is based on our past experience, what we have seen with our eyes or understood with our minds. Unlike this type of belief, the faith that brings about the promises of God is powerful only because of whom the faith is placed in.
God's very nature and character is faithfulness and goodness. He is always constant and true. So is His Word. Neither He nor His Word will ever change. "For I am the LORD, I do not change" (Malachi 3:6). And God watches over His Word to make sure it comes to pass. Isaiah 55:10-11 says, "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."
Because of this truth, we can confidently believe God, knowing that He does not change, that He is full of goodness and that what He said in His Word will happen!
True Faith
Faith is not denying what is happening in your life or what you are experiencing. It is not pretending that you do not see the dangers or the problems before you. Like I mentioned earlier, Caleb and Joshua saw the strength of those who inhabited the Promised Land. They did not deny that the cities were fortified or that the giants were real. Faith is not denying that you are sick when you are horribly ill. It is not denying that your finances have run short when you are out of funds. Rather, faith is seeing all the problems before you with your earthly eyes, yet not using those eyes to see the solution. God is greater than every difficult situation we face. Faith sees God for who He is, for His ability and for His promises, and believes on Him in the midst of all the difficulties known. By faith we are able to look beyond the problems and solutions of man to see Him who is invisible and can do the impossible!
Sermon Outline
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I
- Definition of faith
- Distinction between biblical faith and worldly belief
- Importance of the object of faith
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II
- God's nature as faithful and good
- Unchanging nature of God and His Word
- Scriptural support for God's promises
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III
- Understanding true faith
- Faith in the face of reality
- Seeing beyond earthly problems
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IV
- The role of God's Word in faith
- The power of God's promises
- Trusting in God's ability
Key Quotes
“For I am the LORD, I do not change.” — K.P. Yohannan
“My word... shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please.” — K.P. Yohannan
“By faith we are able to look beyond the problems and solutions of man to see Him who is invisible and can do the impossible!” — K.P. Yohannan
Application Points
- Recognize the difference between worldly belief and biblical faith in your daily life.
- Trust in God's promises even when circumstances seem overwhelming.
- Use Scripture as a foundation for your faith and understanding of God's character.