Sunday Outline – February 19, 2023
Pastor Stephen Shelton, EMIC Young Adults Pastor ministered this past Sunday, “Keeping your Faith Alive.”
James 2:17-18
Faith is now, so what’s the next step?
There is a work that we produce with this ‘uncommon faith.’
Work (Greek: ergon) = function, task, or work
We have tasks along with the tools which are set before us by our Master to use for His service. Our stewardship qualifies us for more.
We need to remember that everything that God gives us are ‘good gifts’ which are given by grace.
Ephesians tells us that we are given gifts by grace and receive them through faith. Faith is the access or delivery system from God. Faith always requires a corresponding action.
We need to recognize that this work does not qualify us to receive from God, as everything we receive is through His grace. But, seeing His faith grow in our life from hearing His Word should compel us to action.
Hebrews 10:24-25
How our faith should work… “The day” is the return of Jesus.
V.24 we stir one another to love, therefore faith and love are connected. It would be ignorance to attempt to put corresponding action to our faith without operating in love.
When there is no love, it is called ‘performance.’
Anytime we are trying to earn our manifestation (gift from God), we have moved from His grace and into our performance.
God’s love is the strongest force in this universe. Do we really understand the power of His love? The Apostle John referred to himself as “the apostle whom Jesus loved.”
Wouldn’t that be cool to have business cards with the phrase: “I’m the Apostle whom Jesus loves.” Remember, Jesus loved them all, just as He loves us all equally, but they were not all walking in that revelation.
Pastor Stephen said he submits a thought for us to consider. Could it be that, When we are demonstrating the love of God to others, that is the accompanying corresponding action that we show the strength of God’s faith within us?
Pastor Stephen used the simile of making chocolate chip cookies.
You combine all the ingredients (the members in the body of Christ) and stir the ingredients together. The stirring transforms the ingredients into something new.
We are told to ‘stir up’ one another.
V. 24 What to do – stir up!
V. 25 How to do it – together.
The enemy wants to take you out of the place where Jesus has placed you, a body of believers that walk-in unity. The sum of unity is best when it stays in unity. It works best when each member (ingredient) recognizes I will be able to function and be fulfilled in Christ only when I work in unity in the body, and not by myself. I’m using the gifts (tools) God has graced me with, and submit them to others to stay combined (unity) and continue to be stirred as He perfects the church.
1 Corinthians 12:12-27 (ESV)
The body is One. We interact as members of the same body. God has placed us, therefore we don’t place ourselves into what we may want to be doing. When you pull yourself out of the body as you are not happy with what you see or experiencing; this affects the whole body.
Pastor Stephen shared one time he had a Roman Candle Firework to celebrate July 4th. The candle fell over after it was lit and was pointed towards Pastor Stephen. He shared he could have let the candle hit is face, but instead used his hands to protect his face. We are all called to do the same thing, each of us are called in the body to protect the face, the voice of our church (our Pastors). Pastor George & Pastor Terri hear from God; and are the voice of direction and leadership for EMIC. We protect them with honor and submitting to their leadership. This is one of the ways in which we protect the anointing as one of our core values.
You are part of the body, and God’s grace gift in you exists for the purpose of functioning with and in the body. As an example, you are called to reach out to the lost, but you still stay connected to the body. If you didn’t stay connected to the local church, and you led an individual to the Lord, what would you tell someone after they receive the Lord? They need to be a part of a body of believers.
1 Corinthians 12:31
I will show you a more excellent way —- love.
“The way” is chapter thirteen. It is the fuel, the blood for the body to perform what you have been called to do. This is the corresponding action to your faith.
Love is the spoon that stirs all the ingredients together into a new sprint – the body of Christ. The opposite of this unity is called strife.
Brother Keith Moore said, “Strife is the manifested presence of Satan.”
Think of your body, you can’t have one of your legs go one direction, and the other leg go in a different direction. It just doesn’t work.
Bring your part, and by faith and love it will multiply and become much in the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (NIV)
- Love is patient
- Love is kind
- Love does not envy
- Love does not boast
- Love is not proud
- Love does not dishonor others
- Love is not self-seeking
- Love is not easily angered
- Love keeps no record of wrongs
- Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth
- Love always protects
- Love always trusts
- Love always hopes
- Love always perseveres
- Love never fails
The church is the bowl where we are stirred and combined, being connected with other believers.
To listen to the full message, please click here.
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