Sermon – “Believe”

Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” 7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.

3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?

9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

How amazing that God works you know some people say that I have a hard time believing in God because he’s invisible You don’t seem but we do see God We see the evidence of God as he works through his people don’t we if we see the evidence of God working through other people’s hands as they help people or as they teach people and speak to people so we see the evidence of God So this morning my message the title believe and it’s not very often that I have a title that’s just a one word title but that’s what the Lord’s been speaking to me believe believe is such an important word in our vocabulary. Believe is a. Has a turn of consequences what you believe has eternal consequences so it is a very important word most people in our society if you say to them Do you believe they’re automatically going to think well they’re asking me Do I believe in God. Or are you a believer there most people are going to know what you’re talking about or you believe or they’re going to know that you’re asking the question Do you believe in and God So with that will go ahead right into the scripture then we’ll get into this more we’re going to break down this word believe first Peter two verses one through ten hear the word of the Lord therefore now this very first verse. Before him got started in if we are a believer these things that we’re going to do we’re going to lay aside therefore laying aside all malice all deceit hypocrisy envy and all evil speaking so if we do believe we’re going to if we spoke evil things we’re going to stop speaking evil we’re going to no longer be hypocritical we’re no longer going to envy our neighbors we’re no longer going to be deceived we’re going to lay all these things aside and as new born babies desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow thereby if indeed you have to. Basted that the Lord is gracious coming to him as to a Livingstone rejected indeed by men but chosen by God and precious you also as living stones are being built up a spiritual house a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifice is acceptable to God through Jesus Christ therefore it is also contained in the scripture Behold I lay in Zion a Chief Cornerstone elect precious and he who believes on him will by no means be put to shame see what that word so important he who believes on him will by no means be put to shame therefore to use who believe he is precious but to those who are disobedient The stone was to build a rejects rejected has become the Chief Cornerstone a stone of stumbling a rock of offense they stumble being disobedient to the word to which they also were appointed but you are a chosen generation a royal priesthood a holy nation his special people that you may proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light who once were not a people but are now the people of God who have not of who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy those who believe in God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son in the Holy Spirit or his special people we are now the people of God If you believe in God If you believe in the Son You are the people of God There are two words that are very different difficult to differentiate between and they are the word faith and believe they are so similar you know I have a different recent lot of different resources I use and as I was researching I started on vacations. Really don’t always take a tire complete vacation because I just can’t help myself care says I can’t I just can’t give up working but as I was searching and searching and you know if you look in your bible encyclopedias use your dictionary as you use common to just whatever and you look up the word believe it’s going to say see faith as what it tells it see faith to get an understanding or definition of believe but personally I believe that there as a difference in these two words in one aspect we’re going to look at both aspects but in one aspect I believe that they are very different here’s my reason for saying that let’s say that you were to come across a person that was suffering with a terminal illness they were very sick and the day they share with you that the doctors have done all that they can do there is no medicine is going to cure you there’s no surgery that we can do that’s going to help you and you know we have fixed founded all of our technology all that we can do and there’s nothing more that we can do for you in you being the God loving fear God fearing person that you are the one of the Christians you are you might say to that person well you know when the doctors can do no more we can believe in God we can have faith in God we can believe that God can do what the doctors can’t do You could say that the word tells me that the if you have faith the size of a mustard seed we can move mountains and that mountain might be a disease or whatever you may be dealing with so if you have the faith of the mustard seed God can take this from him but the here’s the problem. What if a person doesn’t even believe in God how are they going to have the faith of a mustard seed if they don’t believe in the one you’re telling them about so you see the difference there you must first be leave. In God before you can have faith. That God can do something before you have faith in Him you must believe in him though you can believe that he can move that mountain so they are different in that aspect. Before one can have faith we must believe to have faith or to believe rather is to consider to be true and honest Jesus said I am the Way the Truth and the life to believe is to accept the word that someone tells you. As truth as evidence of something. If someone tells you something you have to make a decision whether or not you believe what they tell you correct. If someone is telling you something you’re not there when you turn on the nightly news is that true what they’re saying you hear someone ready Is that true you have to met we are faced every day with the decision to believe or to not believe something as Karen already revealed to you we was on vacation not just this past week the week before down in North Carolina and I got to go do a little bit of fission so we went fishing and I caught a fish this big now you’ve got to make a decision where you’re going to believe what I’m telling you right I’m telling you that fish was this big so now you know that. Right OK now you’ve got to make a decision and you are so worth the fish Well I ate it. Whereas the picture didn’t have a phone with neck and take a picture but we did catch a bunch of little fish about this big so now you probably will believe that but so you had to make the decision ready you believe most of the time that fish story is going to be a fib right so you have to make a decision are you going to believe what somebody tells you. Now if I had that picture of that big fish that caught then there’s the evidence it doesn’t take a lot of belief correct it doesn’t take much belief in that I did catch a little hammerhead shark but it was only about that big it was a little into I found an illustration that test whether someone believes something this kind of Rilya a really neat story Ken Davis shares this story about how when he was in college he was asked to prepare a lesson to teach his speech class he said they were graded on their creativity and ability to drive home a point in a memorable way. The title of his task was the law of the pendulum He spent twenty minutes carefully teachin of physical principle that governs a swinging pendulum could you know what a pendulum is something you know the swings from a string OK the law of the pendulum is a pendulum can never return to the point a point higher than the point from which it was released because of friction and gravity when the pendulum returns it will fall short of its original release point each time it swings it makes less and less of an arc until finally it is at rest this point of rest is called the state of equilibrium we’re all forces acting on the pendulum are equal can attached a three foot string to a child’s toy. Top and he skewered it to the top of the blackboard with a thumb tack he then pulled the top to one side and made a mark where he was going to let it go and each time they swung back he made a new mark on the board he said it took less than one minute for the top to completely stop swinging and come to rest when he finished a demonstration you could look at the marks on the blackboard that proved his theses Then he asked how many people in the room believe the law of the pendulum that it was true everyone in the class including the teacher raised her hand said they believed it the teacher then got up and started to walk to the front of the room thinking that the demonstration was over in reality it just began hanging from the steel ceiling beams in the middle of the room was a large crude but functional pendulum two hundred fifty pounds of metal tied to five hundred pound test parachute cord can invited the instructor to climb up on a table and sit in a chair with the back of his head against a seaman wall can then brought the two hundred fifty pounds of metal up to the teacher’s nose holding the huge pendulum just a fraction of an inch from his face he once again explained the law all the pendulum the teacher had applauded only moments before if the law of pendulum is true then when I released this mass of metal it will swear across the room returned just short of the release point which is your nose so you’re in no danger now for that final restatement of the law he looked at the teacher and he said Do you believe the law is true. There was a very long pause huge B. to sweat on his head and stop or lip in a weekly nodded his head yes and whispered Yes so can release depend a limb it made a swishing sound across the room at the far end of the swing it paused momentarily and started back and can stated that he never saw a man move faster in his life as he does so from the chair. So he got up there and he says to the class he said Do you believe that he believes the law the pendulum. The classes no he did not believe it he did not truly believe it Diddy. What is it that makes a person believe in something or someone some people will say that they will only believe what they can see. They want to see the scientific evidence they want to see the facts well that’s not belief it’s there before you has already said if I was holding a big bishop or then it wouldn’t take any believe. But belief is a believing in what is unseen believe in something someone tells you if that teacher would have truly believe the law of the pendulum he would have stayed put in that chair wouldn’t he wouldn’t have moved. Some people will believe in other people. You know octaves trying to think of just some natural examples and really I don’t like talking about politics but you know you think of politicians as let’s just pick a politician maybe going to run for a governor or senator or Mer whatever when that person decides he wants to run for an office you can’t do it alone this person thinks they have a great platform they’re going to make a big difference in your community or in their state are going to make all these changes it’s going to help people so what do they have to do they have to find someone that believes in them and believes their message right they have to find someone that really truly believes because it’s takes a lot of volunteers so they find someone they get their message out there and these people have to decide do we believe what they are saying they have to decide do they believe that wow it’s going to help me it’s going to help my community it’s going to help grow my community it’s going to help me financially or it’s going to help me in so many ways they have to make that decision to they believe and people can find people to believe and most of time with politicians it doesn’t always work out the way they proclaim it will but do they trust that person there is the key to believing do you trust that person but one concerning faith to believe is to have a farm whole hearted conviction a persuasion that God truly does exist they God is real we see it. In creation every day we see it in his people but that is a whole hearted conviction that’s what it means we believe I believe this word to be true. Do you believe I hope everyone listening today over the Internet or here today I hope the answer to that question is yes that we believe. As I was doing research I thought I’m just going to Google. What is it that makes people believe in God. And you get so many different responses many of which are from nonbelievers even atheistic views on why people believe in God and here is why some of them claim that we believe in God Some claim that many believe simply because they have been indoctrinated into the faith by their upbringing that they have been raised in the church so that’s just it they just go to church that’s what they claim now we’re going to defend here and a bit Another view is that some claim to have faith because of peer pressure pressure from their families that’s why they believe now this is not me saying that this is nonbelievers some say the people believe for fear of what happens after death what’s going to happen. They fear what might be after death now those that don’t believe they call this wishful thinking they say well they are just a bunch of wishful thinkers thinking that there is something better something more grand after this life well as a believer I truly believe there is something better I believe that there will be a place where there will be no more pain there will be no suffering there will be no evil that is what’s going to make that place so much better I truly do believe God’s word and I believe that there is a heaven a place that God is prepared to do that Lord is preparing for us I believe that the word tells me that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom so I have no problem saying yes right you’re right I guess I look to what we have to look forward to I have no problem saying that. Other say that believers have they lack the basic skills and logic and reasoning. Or some of these things that they say true. As to why people believe yeah they might be we’re told in proverbs we talk about this inside of school Proverbs twenty two six says Train Up a Child in the way that he should go and when he is old he shall not depart from it. Not just because he’s not believe yours are going to say well they only believe because they’ve been indoctrinated that doesn’t make it a bad thing does it know we want to train up our children in a way that should go we have the responsibility to train up our children in ways to go we have the responsibility to teach them about God. Yet each and every one of our children will reach that age where they must decide for themselves whether or not they believe they are not going to make it to heaven by their parents belief. Have we heard so many years ago God has no grandchildren only children sons and daughters no grandchildren each one must make their own decision free will to choose whether or not they be leaving God It is my hope that all of our children all of our children represented here. Grandchildren I hope that they are not following God because of peer pressure I hope they are not following God only because they were raised in the church. I hope that they are following God because they have felt the sincere conviction of the decision in their hearts their own free will. To follow God to choose his ways that’s my hope and my prayer and I hope that that’s your hope and prayer for your family your children for all of your family that each one will make their own decision and believe themselves to answer that question about the their claim. To reasoning and logic that we lack that. There may be some credibility to that simply because some people say when they ask why do you believe well I just do I just have faith that’s all well really that’s not a very good answer. Is that we should be able to defend why we believe. But that is true believers and nonbelievers many people don’t reason and logic as they should in truth those that call themselves believers in God should know that we are called to be able to reason the word of God says in James five or James one I’m sorry James one five through six. If any of you lack wisdom let him ask God who gives to all liberally and without reproach and it will be given to him but lead him ask in faith without doubt with no doubting preview doubt is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind more scripters on reasoning in Jude Chapter one Verse three dear friends although it was although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share I felt compelled to write in urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all intrusted to God’s holy people isn’t that amazing they God and trusted us to contend for the faith he has and trusted his people with that. I think of the talents the parable of the talents where one is giving five talents given five talents and one is given to one is given one. And the one with five went out and turned that into ten one with two turned it into four and one with one went out and buried but God has intrusted us. To use the gifts he’s given us to contend for the faith no I’m not trying to discourage you by saying that you are entrusted to contend with that I’m trying to encourage you to get in the Word of God to dig deep into his word to search it out to ask him to give you understanding in wisdom to be able to reason and contend first Peter three fifteen says but honor the Messiah. As Lord in your hearts all ways ready to give a defense to anyone who asked for the reason for the hope that is in you always be ready. As David would say to defend your soup. To say as I said to say just all I just believe that’s all I know just tell him why we believe in friends you know we just a few weeks ago was talking about Abraham. And when he bought the cave in the field for his burial place for Sarah it’s still there today. I know that just if that can defend it there is evidence I believe that the nation of Israel is very articulate they always have been in keeping records in history so we can go to Israel if you choose to or you can go to Israel and you can find that cave you can find many other things that you can find in the Bible that are still there today. And we can review share that as evidence to help people maybe believe. Second Corinthians ten FOS as we destroy the arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ Psalms ninety four sixteen. Who will raise up for me who will raise up for me against the wicked who will take a stand for me against evil doers. How many hands who wants to go out there and fight against the wicked we’re going to raise our hands. Most of us will shy away because we feel that we’re not. Well equipped but we can be well equipped. Titus one verse nine he must be devoted to the trustworthy message we teach then he can use these accurate teachings to encourage people and correct those who oppose the word. While you. May not have known that we are responsible to know all these things second Timothy for to preach the Word be prepared in season and out of season correct rebuke and encourage with all or with great patience and careful instruction believe believe in God in be able to share God with others have the knowledge have the understanding but after we believe in God then we must be leave God. You see what I’m saying we believe we believe in him but then we must be to leave him we must believe that he will do what he says he will do that he can do what he says he will do we must trust him that is the evidence of our belief do we trust him. As I spoke a few weeks ago God called Abraham to sacrifice that son that he waited for so many years to receive. But he was willing to go he went to go sacrifice his son he believed God He believed and trusted that God would raise Isaac from the dead he trusted him that is the evidence. Of our belief do you believe God Do you trust Him Jesus asked the question in Luke eighteen eight when the Son of Man comes will he really find faith on the earth. What a question when Jesus Christ comes back will he really find faith on the earth does that mean. Will there be people of faith while the word does say that there will be a falling away. Or does it really mean will he find real faith those that really believe God really trust God really obey God. Will he find that when he comes back obedience he says if you love me you will obey my commandments first John doesn’t first John five here’s the test if you really love God If you believe God do you. Do you buy him do you trust him. Would we stay in that seat or would we be diving off of that seat. Like that teacher and the example. If God told us to sit in that seat. Where we’re going to stay there we’re going to believe that the evidence was just presented yet that man still did not believe what are we going to do with God When God tells us to do something. Are we going to trust are we going to obey. Jesus said in Don eleven twenty five he said to the woman I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in me though he may die he shall live and whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Whoever believes in Him shall never die do you believe that today. Do you believe you have that much faith and trust in hope in Him It’s my prayer that you do believe first in God then I believe the hope that you believe God to choose given him all of your life to do are going to trust him with your life and he may put us to the test to test our faith to see if our faith and belief is genuine is it true. So when that test comes. Trust in Him. He will give you the strength. The Lord help my unbelief. That can be our prayer go on or that prayer help my unbelief help it to be strong Amen.