Sermon Central
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Faith Fitness: Promises You Can Believe Series
Contributed by John Dobbs on Jan 9, 2010 (message contributor)
Summary: A series encouraging growth in our faith. Used originally in the new year.
Faith Fitness:
Promises You Can Believe
The new year brings a flood of commercials with products promising better health, loss of weight, good memory, etc. This year brings us a tennis shoe that shapes up our body while we walk.
My favorite verse this time of year is from the KJV and says, "For bodily exercise profiteth little..." 1 Timothy 4:8!
Many make resolutions
*A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one Year and out the other.
*A dog's New Year's Resolution: I will not chase that stick unless I actually see it leave his hand!
*St John Chrysostom - When we once begin to form good resolutions, God gives us every opportunity of carrying them out.
How much attention are we paying to the fitness of our faith? Are they any more successful than the resolutions we make to take care of our bodies?
Peter has given us some awesome promises that we can truly believe ... to help us get our faith back in great shape for a lifetime. When your faith is fit…
1. YOU HAVE THE POWER YOU NEED (3)
The answer is not your own talents or strength. It is found in the extraordinary power of Christ. The world adores celebrities and best selling authors and athletes. But they do not have the power to make it through life.
Sources of a Fit Faith:
-His Divine Power.
-Knowledge of Jesus Christ (1:2; 1:5; 3:18)
-The call of his own glory and goodness )
2. YOU CAN ESCAPE THE TRAPS (4)
The world continues to call out to us. 2 Peter 2:20;
1 Peter 1:14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.
1 Peter 2:11 … abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
Escape these traps through power of Christ!
3. YOU CAN WALK THIS PATH (5-7)
4. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE (8-9)
Effective and productive = being used by God in the work of his kingdom. In a spiritual rut we often forget what God has done for us.
5. YOU CAN FEEL SECURE (10-11)
Not in perfection, life without mistakes. EAGER to make your calling and election sure. Add the Christian Graces and You will never fall. You will receive a rich welcome. Live in the eternal kingdom of Jesus Christ
My goal: verse 12.
Set some spiritual goals... get spiritually fit ... and recognize that God promises that you can do it.
