John 6:60-66:
60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, “This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble? 62 What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would [a]betray Him. 65 And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”
There are Biblical truths, life truths, that are hard to grasp and accept.
Mark 9:21-24:
21 And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” 23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”
He wants to believe, but in his own mind he knows he has unbelief.
It takes work to overcome our human natures. Don't get distracted by the world.
The world says one thing. God says something else. Who are you going to follow? You can't follow both. Being skeptical is seen as a good thing in the world -- not according to God when it comes to Him and His ways.
The world and the WORD are two separate things. When we try to mix the world and the The Word together it is like oil and water. We can't shake it and keep it together.
Circumstances. Careful not to walk away from your faith because of them.
Sometimes when things are going right we do not obey. Maybe we rationalize our disobedience.
Sometimes mass faith is a good thing, but eventually we have to stand on our own two feet.
Luke 22:31: Simon, Simon, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat.
Jesus began strengthening Peter before the trial came. God will do the same with all of us.
1 Peter 5:10:
10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
We have to come back to our faith after we get angry or distraught with God. Our Faith will be challenged.
It isn't going to be easy. Faith will be challenged. Only faith can get us through this life, through suffering.
Challenge to Evangelism.
Because we are worried what people might think we don't talk. Our discomfort stops us from speaking.
Faith and Message --
#1 We believe the Bible is the Inspired Word of God. (2 TImothy 3:14-17)
#2 We believe in the Trinity, 3 in 1, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All three equal (John 15:26)
#3 Salvation through Jesus Christ alone.
And after Salvation there is sanctification and Glorification.
John 6:67-70:
67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” 68 Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. 69 We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?”
What do you believe? Do you truly believe? Will you walk away too?
We each are in one of three places with God:
1. I have a relationship with Christ. I know I am going to heaven.
2. I am on the fence. I want to know more (so ask. God will tell you, will reveal Himself to you).
3. I'm not a believer. I mighthave a fish sticker on my car and own a few Christian t-shirts, but it means nothing to me.
Consider who you really are.