Sermon May 31, 1998, Sesquicentennial Celebration in Field Park

Lesson: Ephesians 2:1-9, KJV

Sermon title: It Requires Faith

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FAITH

People came west for may reasons.

Freedom to worship

Land

Freedom from constraints of civilization

To make their fortune

Because it was there

We are people from many places in with our own desires for fulfillment.

You had to have faith in yourself.

Your own abilities

Your capacities to survive, thrive, and establish yourself.

You soon learned that you could not survive on your own.

Can you survive on your own.

My brother was here from Mass.

We went to Old World.

Even though you made most of what you needed, you could not long survive on your own.

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Communities developed.

You had faith in one another.

You became dependent.

Faith in one another was not enough.

Community must be based on something more.

That something more is faith.

Faith is a word we use to describe:

An attitude

A condition

A relationship

Faith implies an attitude of trust towards God which:

Allows you to believe what God says.

(Hebrews 11:6 KJV) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

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It is more than belief

(James 2:19 KJV) Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

It isn't enough to glibly say I believe.

Faith is demonstrated through action.

(James 2:14-18 KJV) What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? [15] If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, [16] And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? [17] Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. [18] Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.

Allows you to accept what God offers.

What is God offering.

God is offering salvation.

God is gracious in making it available to all who call upon him.

It will be granted to those who are willing to fulfill their side of the covenant relationship.

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Allows you to do what God asks

What does God ask of us.

God asks us to love one another.

To love our enemies.

Faith is a word we use to describe a relationship with God as with a person well-known; the better you know him the better the relationship may be.

This is what made it possible for people to found a community that would last.

Here we are celebrating 150 years.

We are in danger of losing all that we have worked so hard for.

We are fragmented.

We are conflicted.

We are in moral and ethical danger.

The only thing that can save us is faith and faithfulness to God.

If enough individuals stand tall and strong the community can be strong.

If we do not it won't.

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