FAITHFUL OR RELIGIOUS?

1 SAMUEL 14

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. FAITH IS THE VICTORY [1 John 5:4] For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

 

1. Faith is Encouraging [v. 1-7, Mark 11:22] And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

 

2. Faith is Enabling [v. 8-15, Mt. 17:20-21] And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

 

3. Faith is Contagious [v. 16-23, Luke 22:32] 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

 

II. RELIGION IS A SORRY SUBSTITUTE

 

1.  Undercuts Its Adherents [v. 24-28, Matthew 6:7] But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

 

2. Underutilizes Sanctified Common Sense [v. 29-30, Mt. 7:3-5] And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

 

3.  Undermines True Faith [v. 31-34, Mt. 7:21-24] Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them , I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

 

III. RELIGIOUS RESULTS

 

1. Silence of God [v. 35-37, Psalm 66:18] If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

 

2. Silliness of Man [v. 38-45, Proverbs 14:12] There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

 

3. Stubbornness of Sinners [v. 46-52, Ps. 146:2-3] While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being. Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.