Welcome to the Kerwin Baptist Church broadcast today. Our desire is for the Word of God to be spread throughout the world.
So that all may know Christ. Join us now for a portion of one of our services here at Kerwin Baptist Church, located in Kernersville, North Carolina. Yeah. Look, if you would at 2 Thessalonians chapter 1. Paul and Sylvanus and Timothius.
Under the church. of the Thessalonians and God Our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Wow, what a mouthful. Look at verse 2. Grace unto you.
By the way, that ought to be our attitude to every one of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Amen. How many of you know verse two didn't say judgment to you? Uh gossip to you. Criticism to you.
It didn't say that. It said grace to you. And peace from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 3: We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith. groweth exceedingly and the charity of every one of you all toward each other.
I bound it.
Now, it's been a little while, but I believe that today for us to understand this passage, and I certainly understand the kind of busy day we have, and I'm excited about tonight. And listen, God's honored us with good weather. God's honored us with good weather. Let's honor Him back. And I've had people from the community actually tell me, hey, here you have in Church Park, we're planning on coming.
And so, listen, it would be horrible for the community to come and our own people not to.
So I hope that you'll be there tonight. But I want to talk about faith, and our subject today is faith that grows exceedingly. I don't know about you, I want my faith to grow exceedingly. But what does that mean? And so we've got to have a real quick crash course in faith.
It's been a little while, probably, since we've dealt with that, so I think it's good every year, at least, and a couple times, we ought to really make sure everybody understands faith. I want you to notice first the Greek definition of faith.
Now, this word faith in verse 3 is the word pistis. It means literally persuasion, moral conviction. especially reliance upon assurance, belief. Believe? Literally faith.
Fidelity.
Now, I want you to notice secondly the dictionary definition of faith.
Now, we don't Go to the dictionary all the time for our doctrine, okay? But I want you to understand what the dictionary definition is: complete confidence and trust in something. Every one of you that are here this morning in front of me. You exercised faith. This morning.
You say, why is that?
Well, where are you sitting? Yeah. Well, we're in you're on a chair. You committed everything you are. To that chair.
Most of you probably didn't get under, check the screws and the bolts.
Some of you should have, but most didn't get under and check the support system. You had complete. confidence and trust. In that chair. I have learned at my size not to always exercise that kind of faith in a chair, especially outdoor chairs, especially the dollar store $8.
plastic outdoor chairs. I have left many of those as victims in my past. But these I trust.
Okay, so you exercised faith.
So that means this from the Greek and from the dictionary, we get a little bit of an idea of what faith is. And let me just give you a couple things first. Faith is what you're persuaded of. According to the, obviously the Greek definition, faith is what you are convinced of. Faith is what you rely on.
Faith is what you are sure of. Faith is what you believe in. Faith is complete trust and confidence in something.
So far, so good. Say amen. But that is not the Bible definition of faith. It's part of it. But it is not the complete definition of faith.
In the Bible.
So, if we're going to talk about today a faith that exceedingly grows, if we're going to look at this church of Thessalonica and literally how faith impacted their church, we've got to understand what Bible faith is.
So, let me give you, if I can, just real quickly some verses, because you've got to have this. This is kind of a teaching time so that we can apply this thing. Notice if you would first, Hebrews 11. This is the Bible definition of faith. Hebrews 11:1.
Now, faith is. the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. He proves his point. Verse 3, through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God. You agree with that?
Say amen. I didn't see God create everything. I wasn't there. But I believe exactly how it happened. Because I have complete trust and assurance.
in what the Word of God says he did. Everybody got that, okay?
Now, 2 Corinthians 5, verse 7 says, For we walk by faith. Not by sight.
So the Bible definition of faith is literally that in our life we do not function by what we see. We function by what we believe. Do you get a little bit of a light bulb if you're not real sure what faith is? Faith means that my life is not controlled by what I see. My life is controlled by what I believe.
I don't walk by sight. I walk by faith. Things might look one way. But if the Bible says they're different, I'm going to believe the Bible. Listen, if a person is saved and trusts God and is a believer and they die and we have their funeral, there's a casket many times with the body, and to the world that might look like they're dead.
But the Bible says they're not.
So we don't function by sight. We function by faith. By what we believe. All right, we're getting there. Notice the third verse is Romans chapter 10, verse 17.
So then faith cometh by hearing. and hearing by the Word of God.
So we're understanding kind of what faith is. And now we understand how faith starts in the first place. Faith starts by hearing the word of God. Got it.
Now, 1 Corinthians chapter 2, verse 4. And my speech, Paul says, and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith. should not stand in the wisdom of men. but in the power of God. Are you with me?
So he said, preacher, what does that mean? It means I need to take this men out. I'm about choking on it.
Okay, hair ball.
So according to the Bible, what do we have?
Now notice this closely. Faith begins. With reading. Hearing. Believing and trusting the Word of God.
That's how it begins. Faith grows. when our trust in God's word grows. It's not rocket science, folks. My faith grows when my trust in God's word grows.
It's that simple. Get this. Faith becomes real. When our trust turns into action. That little word action is what is missing from the world's and the dictionary's definition of faith.
Bible faith has been a very important thing. has two parts. Notice this. Faith in the Bible has two parts. belief And Action.
Just to believe in something doesn't mean in the Bible you have faith. when you believe it enough to now obey it. When you believe it enough to do something about it, that's when it becomes biblical. Faith. Everybody got it.
Let me give you the verses. James 1:22. But be ye doers of the word, not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. What do you mean deceiving your own selves?
Well, if all you do is believe something, You think you have faith.
Well, I believe the Word of God teaches this. I believe it this. I believe that Jesus is coming back. I believe that Jesus judges sin. I believe whatever.
You can believe that all you want to, but if that doesn't make you do something. You have deceived yourself. You think you're a person of faith, but you're not. You're a person of belief. but not in action.
You're all looking at me like a calf in a new gate. This is logical, common sense. Are you with me?
Say amen. Let me give you another verse: James 2:26. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith is dead. Without works is dead. Can I give you an illustration?
What good is it for you to believe that it will rain? and you don't take an umbrella. It means that I believe what the meteorologist said. I believe what the map said. I believe what the website said.
I look down and I believe what the sky is hinting at. I believe it's going to rain. and you walk out of the house without an umbrella. What good did that belief do you? That belief.
Accomplish nothing. in your life. Look at me, Kerwin. You can believe everything in here. But if that doesn't make you spring into action, you're not people of faith.
I can sit here and say, as I illustrated before, I believe that chair will hold me. I believe it's strong enough. But if I don't actually sit in it. Yeah, tell us. Amen.
Are you getting this?
Okay. Listen to this. Please get this. Faith. grows extremely.
When we hear more, Trust more. and obey more. It's that simple. That's what biblical faith is. I hear the Word of God more, I trust it more.
and I spring into action. I obey it. More. May I say something? A lot of times we have God's people that will listen all day long to radio.
They'll pull up podcasts all day long. They're hearing it. and they might even be believing it. But if it doesn't spring you into action. then it's really a faith that's dead.
It's good for that.
So now that we know what it is. Let's revisit just briefly. What we're talking about today. This church. They had faith.
that exceedingly grew. Yeah. And that's the kind of church I want.
So what does it mean? I want you to notice number one. When our faith grows, our charity grows. Yeah. In this Thessalonica, that Paul was writing and complimenting.
And notice what is connected to faith: these three things. Notice first, look at verse 3. We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly. What's the result? And the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth.
As your faith abounds, your charity abounds. Notice what it says toward each other.
So faith is connected to charity. May I say something? Remember, Jesus said. The way people are going to know you're my disciple. Is by a set of rules that you follow.
Jesus said, This is how people are going to know you're my disciple, if you love one another. We live in a very confusing time in history and politics, and this is the time. to show people charity. Amen. This doesn't mean we cower down, we don't fight for anything, we don't stand for anything.
It's not what it means. But the Bible says, speak the truth in love. If you can speak it and there's no love involved, it didn't help anybody. You can spit out truth. Truth, what you believe is truth, all you want to.
But if love is not what is centered on it, if love is not the motivation of it, then it doesn't do anybody any good. He says, when your faith grows, so does your love for others. How's your love for others? May I say this?
So, my faith has to grow for my charity to grow. The growth of my love toward others is a proof. that my faith has grown towards God. Look at me. My love towards others is proof that my faith has grown toward God.
I can tell you're not buying this. It is called the word of God, people. Whether we like it or not. Faith is connected to charity. When my faith grows, my charity grows.
Notice secondly what he says about this wonderful church. When our faith grows, our patience grows. Look at verse 4.
So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure.
So now, not only is charity connected to faith, patience. Patience is connected to faith. When your patience runs low, it means your faith is running low. Your faith and patience. Patience doesn't exist without faith.
You say, well, what do you mean patience here?
Well, he explains it in verse 5, 6, and 7. Notice first, he says, patience in the righteousness of God. Which is a manifest token your patience. Your endurance is a manifest token of the righteous Judgment of God. It means this: that when my faith grows in God, I believe He's righteous and I believe He's doing right.
And I'm not going to doubt every time a circumstance tells me different. I'm going to be patient and I'm going to endure, not because I enjoy it, not because I like it, but because my faith has grown, my trust has grown, and I believe and trust and act. upon the righteousness of God. Listen. When God and I differ, he's right and I'm wrong.
Okay, notice secondly, patience in the judgment of God. What does the verse say? He says, it's a manifest token of the righteous judgment. Of God. How many of you believe the Bible says that whatever God does, God does all things well?
When God makes a decision, it's the right one. When God makes a judgment, it's the correct one. God knows what he's doing. Guess what that means when something happens in my life that I don't think makes sense and I don't appreciate and I don't think it should have happened if God allowed it. I trust in the righteous judgment of God.
That means I'm going to endure this tribulation. We've got a lot of Christians that are not enduring anything. They get offended by the least little thing, man, they're out of here. Listen, I'm not trying to point it out, but more of you need to do what I just did to Andrew. I love him, he loves me.
But can I tell you something?
Sometimes we have bad days, we have whatever. But you know what happens? You and I need to understand that, you know what, God is righteous, God has righteous judgment, and a lot of times we're wrong. We get offended, we run off, we leave, we get this, and we get bent out of shape, and all kinds of things. And Satan knows it takes so little now.
To get us been out of shape. Let me tell you something. We patiently endure because we trust in the righteous judgment of God. Notice, thirdly, patience in the vengeance of God.
Now, this is good. You need to get a hold of this. Look, if you would, at verse 6. Seeing it is a righteous thing, there's that word righteous again. Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you.
Can I tell you what will help you get, you know, to stop getting bent out of shape about everything going on? God's going to take care of this. God's going to avenge this. Yeah, but they're troubling me. They're wrong.
They're abusing me. What did the verse say? God's going to take vengeance. God's in control of this. Quit running around your life feeling that you're the victim and somebody needs to do something about it.
God's going to take care of it. But if you decide you're going to, you're going to make a mess of it.
So, how do I patiently endure? This is what Paul said to this church, even though everybody is doing these things. I wish I had time to go through all with Thessalonica and all that, and I don't. But he said, all these things going on. Let me tell you, your faith has grown and it has produced patience.
And now your faith, your trust. In God's righteousness, your trust in God's judgment, your trust that God will avenge this has given you patience. Notice last, patience in the coming of Christ. Look at verse 7.
Now we're talking about notice in the first verse five six The judgment of God.
Okay, but look at verse 7. And to you who are troubled, I love this. To you who are troubled, Rest with us. We need to produce a new ministry here at Kirwan Baptist Church. I might feel led to lead it.
Yeah. Every day from two to three o'clock. We're going to have nap time here at the church. We're gonna have beds set up. It's been a stressful day.
We're going to have peaceful music playing. Not bluegrass or anything like that. You're getting nervous. No, no, no, well, some nice spa music. Hero E.
What do you want to? Aborigine music is over here. We're going to have beds set up. We're going to give you nice little things to put over your eyes. We're going to have them all set up like this.
Just come on in from 1 to 2 o'clock, every one of you. Come into church, and the ministry is going to be called Rest With Us. I love it. Those of you who are troubled, This is what Paul says. Rest with us.
Yeah. Stop getting been out of shape. Stop with the anxiety and the Look what he says. Look what he says. Rest with us.
When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven. with his mighty angels. This is what Paul said. You believe, Thessalonica, you have believed the Word of God so much. that you believe.
Jesus is coming. Yeah. Amen. Amen. Would you notice third and last?
In this passage in verse 11 and 12, he says, When our faith grows, Here's Power grows. Look at verse 11. Wherefore also we pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling. Notice this, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness and the work of Faith. With Power.
No power in your life. It's because there's no faith in your life. What did he even say about praying? You want power in your prayer? Believing, you shall receive.
A prayer that doesn't have faith has no power. A Christian that has no faith has no power, and a Christian that has no power is low on faith. He says, I love this. Look at this. Faith with power.
Yeah. Power for what? Notice first, power to accomplish God's pleasure.
So we see that charity is connected to faith, patience is connected to faith, and now God's power is connected to faith. God's not going to do it unless you believe and are assured that he can. I did a whole year of devotions at this church, a whole year of video podcast every day on I am persuaded that he is able to something. And I didn't even scratch the surface in God's word over 300 days of something I'm persuaded that God can do. That's faith.
I'm persuaded. And the more you are persuaded that God can, He will. Notice first, what do we need power for? To accomplish my agenda? No.
What do we need power for so people can say, well, that's a powerful Christian. No. Look if you would look at the verse look at verse 11 First is power to accomplish his pleasure. That our God would count you worthy of this calling. Notice this verse, and fulfill all the good pleasure.
of His goodness. God gives you power to serve him. God gives you power to do what he's called you to do. Notice secondly, he gives us power to glorify God. Verse 12, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you and ye in him.
Listen to me real close and we're almost done. I want you to see this. A faith that grows exceedingly. Shows love to those who have never shown love back. A faith that grows exceedingly learns to love others through God's example, not our emotions.
We don't love people because we feel like it, but the more our faith grows, the more our charity grows.
So I now don't love people based on what I see. I love people based on what I believe. You're a child of God. You're a creation of God. Listen to this: a faith that grows exceedingly exercises patience.
through trials. Because that faith believes that God is righteous. And judges rightly, and will make things right in his time. Vengeance is mine, God says, saith the Lord. A faith that grows exceedingly lives life based on believing that Jesus is coming.
Again. Mac, can I tell you something? Let me tell you what'll. Build your faith immediately if you live with eternity in mind, not the now in mind.
So what did he say? Your faith has grown? And I believe that you have his power. And your faith has grown, and you have this power because you believe that he is coming again. A faith that grows exceedingly accesses the power of God for the purpose of serving God.
and glorifying God. with your Life. Paul says, Let me tell you something, church. Your faith. has grown exceedingly.
Has yours. Has mine. How's your charity? How's your patience? How's your power?
It might be that you don't necessarily have a charity problem, or a patience problem, or a power problem. It might be we have a faith problem.
Okay, preacher, how do I fix it? What does the Bible say? Faith cometh by Hearing. and hearing by the Word of God.
Let me tell you how you start building your faith, growing your faith. Get into God's word more. Believe it more. trust it more. and start obeying it more.
Do you know a lot of times to obey what the Bible says, you're going to have to exercise faith?
Well, this doesn't look like this is going to make sense, but God's word says to do it. Forgive a person 70 times 7? That doesn't make sense, but I'm going to do it. And the more you do it, guess what's going to happen? All of a sudden, your love for people is going to grow.
And all of a sudden, now you're going to endure through trials. Every little thing's not going to get you bent out of shape and offended. And guess what's going to happen? You're going to start seeing and feeling and experiencing the power of God in your life. I don't know about you, it's what I want.
Tonight we have Church in the Park. We are getting out of these walls. Getting into the community. Maybe a place where some of us haven't been much. We need prayer tonight.
We need God's blessing tonight. We need your presence tonight. But here's what I have found: something like tonight is only going to be blessed of God if our faith grows. And our faith needs to grow so that we can love this community more. He says, Your faith has grown exceedingly in that.
Your love abounds. One toward another. Look at me. Look at please get this. We need to start loving each other more in this building.
And we need to start loving the people outside of this building more. And this is our chance. to do it tonight. I'm asking. Let's be a church tonight.
That shows that The greatest news that anyone can receive is the news of the free gift of salvation found in Jesus Christ. It is our desire for you to know him personally. Would you take a moment to hear this today? Every man is born with a sin nature. Romans three twenty three says For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
No matter how hard we try, we're not good enough to obtain God's glory. or to get to heaven. Because of that, sin carries the penalty of death. Romans 6.23 says, For the wages of sin is death. But the gift of God is eternal life.
through Jesus Christ our Lord. The wages of our sin, or the payment of our sin, only equals death and separation from God. But it's only through God's gift salvation through Jesus Christ that we can accept him as our Saviour. Jesus Christ paid for your sin debt. The Bible says in Romans 5:8, but God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
All you have to do is receive Christ. by faith as your Saviour. Romans ten nine says That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Verse 13 continues, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. It's as simple as admitting that you're a sinner believing that Jesus is the only way.
and calling upon his name. Bible says whosoever that's anyone can call upon the name of the Lord to be saved. Have you accepted Christ as your personal Savior? There is no greater day than today to take care of this. Would you accept Christ as your Savior?
If you have any questions, please give us a call at 336-993-5192 or visit our website at Kerwin Baptist Church. Dot com. or visits that person at one of our three service times. We hope you have a great rest of your day. God bless you.
Mm-hmm.
