Faith Alive!
April 27, 2008
Text - Acts 16:16-34
Verified - to establish the truth, accuracy, or reality of
God teaches that it is faith that verifies Jesus
It is faith alive that verifies Jesus!
How do I have faith alive?
1) Have faith in the name of Jesus!
V18 - Enemy seeks to associate with you – deception
Relevance - association? The enemy wants to be associated so he can ruin your testimony! Look out for the tricks of the trade - Everyone else does it, handles it, deals with it . . . Lies, faithlessness, fear, worry, sex, money, worship, love are some areas
Get fed up with the enemy! The promises of the name!
Prov. 18:10, Phil. 2:9-11 - Power! John 14:12-14 - Faith in Jesus! Who he is/what he’s done!
Jesus will evict the enemy!
2) Have faith in the midnight hour
V25 - When the world caves in! Railroaded!
They weren’t shackled to their circumstance but to God! They made a place for God! Psalm 22:3 - They were in the throne room of God! God was there! Jehovah Shammah
Worshiping instead of whining! Ministering instead of moaning! “Listening to them”
Make your midnight hour a place for God! Sicknesses, death, despair, etc. Tertullian - “The legs feel nothing in the stocks when the heart is in heaven.”
Pray – Praise – HOPE - hold on and pray expectantly
3) Have faith God will break out
V26-34 - God makes the jail break! He breaks the heart
A) V29 - brought to his knees! Why - Unforgiving world - needing a forgiving God! V14 God opens the heart!
B) Share the news - V31-32 - “in/on Jesus” - explain the way to be saved
C) V33 - The new!! Repair – declare – care
Conclusion
Mtn. Lion sighting confirmed!
What if faith alive was spotted? The enemy evicted! Worship in the midnight hour, chains loosened to declare and receive the gospel! People would see that the crucified Jesus is alive! Decide today to be spotted and change eternity!