A Reasonable Faith: Part 2

Hi, this is what you meant, talk radio, podcast admissions to break down the walls of recent nomination, your chosen truth radio broadcast will be starting in just a few seconds. Thank you. This is the Truth Network do you feel like you're on a religious treadmill like Christianity is just a system of rules and regulations, I can do this. I can't do that. Do you feel like your efforts to reach God. Find God, and please God do you feel like your faith is dead or alive today. Pastor Russ Andrews will walk us through Scripture to answer these questions join us on finding purpose of local tribal ministry glorifying God by helping men find their purpose for living.

For more information and to connect with Russ Andrews and finding purpose could visit us online@findingpurpose.net connect with us on Facebook. Now let's listen to Russ Andrews as he teaches us how to be a Christian without being religious. Do you know Wally wrote this account of the life of Christ is because your friend and mine who was having doubts about his own faith and that Fran was a man by the name of Theophilus. We don't know much about the offer Theophilus but he called him he referred to Mr. blood been one of the royal family.

Whatever, whoever he was. He must've had some doubts. Maybe you come in tonight with some doubts. I can't think of a better book to be studying. Then Luke if you come in tonight with questions and doubts about the way God loves questions and doubts particular if your heart is open to the evidence. Look at verses three and four.

Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you been talked.

Listen not only is the Christian faith a reasonable faith is also a sure and certain faith Hebrews 11 one this, use the NIV translation says.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see see Luke was used by God to carefully examine all of these evident.

All these events he was thorough in his research, he was sure and certain in his faith, his life eventually changed as a physician care for people in one of those that he really cared for Theophilus and he wanted Theophilus to experience what he had experienced and I won't fall. He I want you to express what I have experienced ever since I committed my life to Jesus Christ as a young boy you see is what happened and they observe my mother.

She was a very strong believer.

She had a great incredible voice. She could play the piano. She was accepted Juilliard school of music. She sang in every way and then feel just about an incident with your lot. She was, she sang and acquire. I never got so my mother she was always in the choir, but it all took on Sunday mornings when she was pricing she would fill a home with him so that Jesus shipped pictures of Jesus all throughout our house.

If you came in to the front door of my house or the back door through a garage you would enter through the pantry and into the kitchen and she looked huge picture of Jesus there in the kitchen coming out about this big you could message you walk to the DN avoid that. In my bedroom you pass throughout our day in the telecast on a television set and she had a sinner praying hands of the television set.

We won't get to the end of the hall and took a right you outside my bedroom and there on the wash of my favorite picture of Jesus again. Is this big is a picture of Jesus as the shepherd is holding a little white lamb's got a huge smile on his face and a tear coming out of one of his eyes and then you walked into my bedroom and shipped a picture of Jesus might be a I didn't have a chance, but I listen to my mother. She told me that Jesus also listen to my Sunday school teachers like and feel it was my next-door neighbor listen to my minister, Mr. Kenneth Sexton's gonna be with the Lord. Mr. Saxon one Sunday morning in the 11 o'clock service at an altar call church about the size but the size in Houston right back over there with my grandmother and he said if you want to know that you have eternal life in which to get up out of your seat and come down here in the old and I pray with you there were three of us who went for that morning. I don't know who the other two were.

I just know that if there's been a brick wall of the Internet.

I was going through it a listen to Billy Graham to the 1960s whenever he was on television.

I began to read my Bible as a teenager I read books by people like David Wilkerson brother Andrew who was his boat was God's model. He smuggled Bibles into the former Soviet Union. I read books by Cora read a book by court in Boone called a hiding place with a huge use in health issues and Holland and they got called and she went to a concentration camp and were actually escaped. I read a book by John Erickson called simply titled Johnny she broke her neck and she was 17 years old. She became a believer through the process. She's been in a confined in a wheelchair as a quadriplegic for over 50 years is livid over the many. You know what she said. She said when she dies she wants to take a wheelchair to heaven. You know why she want to thank Jesus for this never would've known my Lord and Savior the way I do without his wheelchair and then she said I will give them permission to cast into hell is it allows all these people had been changed and I believe them. Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see the more I read the Bible and the more of these incredible cancer change. Last, the more my faith check them alive changed in the more believable. My fate became sure and certain inverse for legal rights so that you may know the certainty of the things you've been talked. This warden comes from a Greek word that means to know completely to know beyond a shadow of doubt, you won't have this kind of faith, a genuine faith that endures a faith that is sure and certain of faith that brings peace and joy and hope you knew that if Amanda Navajo became live very long. I will taste like a great hug and Emma Bracken how much you have the same hope that I day I know the moment I die I'll be more loud than I've ever been because I'll be in the arms of Jesus.

Do you need hope tonight. Do you have a do you have the sure and certain faith. If not, that is what I want you to do.

I want you to use the God-given mind that he's given me and I want you to take this study God and spend time at it along with God this week and every week is I got it to me at the city open up your Bible is really simple. Do the lesson and before you begin to read about… I got a few of you there. If you are not sure. I pray that you speak to me for your word and I say he will. The more time you spend in it, the more you hear God speak in the more you believe. Remember the Christian faith is a reasonable faith in SF faith is based upon fulfilled prophecy is a face of faith that is built upon eyewitness accounts is a faith that is built upon change lives and I hope all of our lives will be changed this year as we study the gospel of Luke together even though we live on. I will start John chapter 1 verses four and five which says in him was life, talk about Jesus.

In him was life and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness is not overcome it. I remember time and I'm sure you can tell you what I was sitting on the porch of my grandfather's beach house looking out of the ocean is a storm gathered it was very dark Knight pitch black dark and lightning was flashing and thunder exploded from every direction and it was if God was venting his wrath in a world living in rebellion and not of the night was so dark that you couldn't see a single star is. I watch the storm move across the water. A looked way out into the distance.

Literally miles away all the way to the horizon and also one bright light shining like gold. I could not see the source, but I knew it was the moon breaking through a get back In the in the clouds and castanets light across the dark waters broke below, forming a path dousing that before the path all the way to me. It reminded me of the prophet Isaiah. When Isaiah lived. It was a time of great darkness. Israel was a divided kingdom. If you know your Old Testament issue is Isaiah warned Israel that because she'd abandon God. God was about to abandon her gas. Sadly our nation is abandon God. We have so to the win. What should we expect the world when that's right, Jeff.

Isaiah warned Israel that she'd abandon God but Israel did not listen and so God divided the kingdom. He tore the kingdom apart in 722 BC, the Assyrian army marched against Israel defeated the truck the 10 tribes of the north and then carry them back to Assyria as slaves and we never heard from them again. 10 tribes remember the 12 tribes of Israel. They just vanished. And then at 586 BC the southern kingdom of Judah.

You would think they would've learned a lesson from the northern kingdom from their brothers but they didn't. What we hardheaded, they fail to King Nebuchadnezzar's army and the Jews were carried off to Babylon where they remained in captivity for 70 years or so when I read Isaiah chapter 9.

I wonder if the prophet saw something similar to me as he stood on the shore of history and observe the storm clouds gathering oversedation all around him. All Isaac could see was darkness and he heard a thunderous warning from God, in his mind that's what he recorded wasn't in the whole book of Isaiah. These warnings, but then as he looked out towards the horizon horizon six resented the future. Like me he saw bright light shining in forming a path towards him through last week I told you that the Christian faith is a reasonable faith because it's based on what wine. Fulfilled prophecy know the book in the world has fulfilled prophecy on the Bible and one of the prophets that I quoted last week was the prophet Isaiah probably that when Isaiah saw that ray of light breaking through the clouds of darkness on the horizon of the future, but he sat down and he pinned the words we read Isaiah chapter 9 Gettys looking into the future way onto the future. 700 years to be exact a set of people walking in darkness is you talking about the jeeps, the people walking in darkness have seen a great light on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light histone. What great light duty. See in Jesus is known as what the light of the world and in verse six. Isaiah penned these words for to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders and he will be called wonderful Counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of peace – tonight as we go through this chapter of these verses I will share with you truth that we learn from Scripture in one of those truths is that during the darkest moments of history, the light of the gospel always shines the brightest and the darkness cannot overcome it if ever going to a dark room and lit a match what happens to the darkness Joe he would. Jeff said it flees go to mother-daughter maternal I don't use either the darkness just disappear again. Also the Isaiah lived around 700 BC and he prophesied about this coming light.

If you fast-forward to the year 430 BC. We will find the last well not technically but in the Old Testament canon that we have the last prophet appeared on the same and what was his name Malik and when Malachi appeared on the scene. Guess what, the nation of usual was in shambles that they been scattered template been destroyed and there were now a few Jews that will beginning return to the homeland.

Nehemiah and Ezra to rebuild the temple, but they been in slavery for 70 years in Babylon today. It was the darkest. In Israel's history. However, God had not forgotten his word, and so once again, God chose a messenger to speak truth into the darkness in Malachi chapter 4 here's what the prophet writes but for you who revere my name the Sun of righteousness shall arise with healing in his wings, and you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall and then he wrote this, behold, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and awesome day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of fathers to their children in the hearts of children to their fathers.

If I had to pick one truth that I want to detect what tonight it's this one God is faithful. He remembers his word and does the Bible basically is full of nothing but promises when you read to the Bible issues filled with promises.

Some of those are specific to Israel, but some of that of them are to you and me and God's promises never fail. Do you believe that I do through the prophet Isaiah, God promised us in the saving to the world and in 300 years later. For the prophet Malachi, God promised to send a forerunner to announce the coming of the Lord. This forerunner would be a messenger of good news will he say in John 129 behold the Lamb of God who does what takes away the sins of the world for 400 long years but did the doctor between the Old Testament and New Testament, God was silent. Thomas a dog.

When God is silent is dark and God.

God had not spoken. God had not spoken since the last since you asked, but the Malachi, but all that was about to change the long darkness was about to be pierced by a light from the sun SON that brings us to Luke chapter 1, so begin with verse five motion to follow along with me in the days of Herod, King of Judea. There was a priest named Zechariah of the division of abide your and he had a wife from the daughter of Erin and her name was Elizabeth and they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord, but they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years on me 010 is when you read the Bible you notice that when God moves in world history when he wants to basically make an announcement to the world. He tends to find one righteous man like a Billy Graham or one righteous woman like a court in Boone.

If you're not for me with her to read the hiding place. I read it back in the 1960s or this case, a righteous couple like Zachariah and Elizabeth, and he chooses them to bring hope to the world. Yes, interesting to find this amazing that out Zachariah's name Asia Jehovah has remembered and Elizabeth naming God is faithful jumping this coincidence is he God is simply showing us that his word never fails. That's why we sign. Great is thy faithfulness the way King heard it was known as Herod the great. There were a number of Herod's. He was the first Herod. He ruled over the Jews from 37 to 4 BC audit to the birth of Christ, and he was an evil dictator clearly had either nine or 10 while Cindy murdered at least one of them, but he's also the Herod, who in Matthew chapter 2 will send out an order that all the boys in the area of Bethlehem under the age of to be what slaughtered, murdered at the other end of the spectrum you find this righteous couple who live their lives in obedience to God what God's word semantics of the what is it mean that this couple was blameless that they were righteous in God's sight limited what it does not mean it does not mean that they will send us.

It simply means that their lives conformed as best they could to God's laws and commands and one of those commands work. They were to bring a sacrifice to the temple to atone for their sins and they did that, but more important than that God look into their hearts, and what did he see Faith remember in Genesis 15, six.

This is Abraham believed God, and therefore he credited Abraham with righteousness to be credited with righteousness just means that God sees faith in your heart like a thief on the cross and in the courtroom of heaven. He issues an eternal edict over you. He says declare you righteous. And guess what that means man, if you place your trust in Jesus Christ. When God looks at you. He remembers your sins no more. He stopped them into the depths of the ocean, never to be brought up before you Rome as I once is, therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus to do a condemnation comes from the come from Satan you'll come from God's mercy and grace. So the mask you have faith in your heart when God looks into your heart does he see genuine faith.

I want you to notice something here and this flies in the face of all the prosperity preachers that on television. By the way, every day is not a Friday, and this ain't your best life now who my talkative who are talking about. If sigil staying. Others got better hair than me but to just change channels living your life blameless before God does not mean that everything is going to go well in your life. Some people say will come to Jesus in life will be a bed of roses.

That's not true. Come to Jesus and you find it, you got all enemies really out to get you his name is Satan. Satan done really go after nonbelievers is our got them. He's coming after you and me. Look at Zachariah and look Elizabeth, do you think they understood this truth. They will hold an age and she was barren and back then, Baroness was viewed as a judgment from God is a sign of his disfavor exceptional people going behind the list was back to what was she must be doing something wrong. Look at look at her she can have a baby sit. God is faithful what you think.

Elizabeth and Zachariah have been praying for probably for decades.

Lord, please. Best bless us with a child.

Lord, please hear our prayer. You're probably no.

Maybe your wife maybe you don't have any children love you have a daughter who's not is having trouble getting pregnant is rampant and I've seen it in my own family. One of my downloads had trouble getting pregnant. She finally did, but I remember she was in anguish. It killed her.

She was happy for friends. When I got pregnant, but it pained her and so my wife and I we will pleading with God, please give them a child, and God did another truth it with and learn from this tinnitus and that while God was concerned about the nation of Israel was also concerned about this godly humble couple in order to something is still the same today. God is concerned about the world and he's really concerned about our nation but is also concerned about what you're going through now you can you can get the Lord with anything. Here he knows it.

If you had a one son that broke his own. Another sounded just you know messed up a fingernail, you will pay less attention to the sun disheartened over fingernail you come to him with everything. Psalm 34 verse 15 writing says that is of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are tin up to their cry because when you communities and pray God is listening. The righteous cry out in the Lord hears them he delivers them from all their troubles and that in me that you not go through troubles, but he's going to eventually deliver you sometimes at deliverance because because of your death, but he delivers you in the last the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Do you commit a night brokenhearted over something tonight Steve this afternoon at 1 o'clock this place was packed. We have 500+ people here it was because the young man by the name of William Adams who HD at age 23 did not wake up last Friday morning and their parents, Craig and Nancy Adams got that phone call that you never want to get but they're all believers and I've watched a couple of not been with them, this would actually officiate the funeral service.

I watched a couple today who said right there. Yes they have tears in her eyes, but they mourned, but not as those who have no hope Craig, but you they been doing that they been crying out to God in this moment of sadness for his comfort Craig call me this afternoon at about 430 in Sidra, such as almost feel guilty. I have so much peace.

No one should have to bury a son, but initiatives if you have to bear a son or daughter and you won't have God with you or not. I don't know how a person doesn't have the Lord goes through something like that. Do you need to be comforted tonight to what I told the people this afternoon one of my favorite verse in the Bible Jesus is in Matthew 1128 come to me all who are weary and what burden and I will give you rest for your souls.

Do you know there's nothing better than rest for your soul. Your soul is what you get anxious and you get fearful and what you can have depression the so dark you can't find a way of escape, and Jesus is what come to me. See the Americo we think we Manus poster just pick out pickup so that by bootstraps and do the best we can test out biblical that the strongest man in the world is a man that God sees on his knees every morning dependent upon God. Paul said when I'm weak, then I'm strong. Elizabeth and Zechariah will burden, but I need to turn to. And so what they do the credit to God and God was about to not only answer their prayers are more importantly, he was going to show the world that he had not forgotten his promises to both Isaiah and Elijah Shealy Isaiah and Malachi to look back at look with me again. Look at the Ottoman war versus theirs but us begins about a web use the ESV to not not the NIV that while he was serving as priest before God's Zachariah when his division was on duty. According to the custom of the priesthood. He was chosen by lot to into the temple of the Lord and burn incense and the whole multitude of the people were praying outside of the Arab incidents. This was either at noon late afternoon and there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense and Zachariah was troubled when he saw him in fear fell upon him most men in the Bible like I'm thinking of like John the apostle Paul when it when the Lord appeared to him as sale. When an angel appears euros unit unit much.

I don't know what he looked like, but it was in our worldly experience in most of these guys fall down trending for their lives and this is why Mrs. Acra was trouble when he saw me fear fell upon him, but the angel said to him, a Zechariah spun away said don't be afraid, for your prayer has been heard and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name. What John and you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord, and he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb as he said he will be filled.

Even Wallace and his mother's going to see working there without. It's a he knotted it in their making a break.

He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to do what turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the other just to make one ready for the Lord of people being a Christian is not about being religious but about having a dynamic alive relationship with Jesus Christ you been listening to finding purpose with pastor Russ Sanders, a local triangle ministry glorifying God by helping men and their purpose for living. You can discover more about finding your purpose in life by checking out the resources finding purpose.net will connect to finding purpose on Facebook pastor Russ would also like to extend a special invitation for you to join him in over 300 other local tribal men to study God's word together every Tuesday night at 7 PM in downtown Raleigh. Find out more finding purpose.net. This is the Truth Network say what would you do if you were a new Christian and you didn't have a Bible like a Woolworth. By the way, from Bible, the international you probably say well it happened my car and go to Christian bookstore or have one shipped to me one of those word options you sing with him due to the faith.

I mean I need to know what it means to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus, you know, you would pray that someone, anyone would bring you a Bible and that's exactly the way it is for literally aliens are Christians around the world are part of our spiritual family there new to the faith they want to know what it means to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus but God has them planning words very difficult to access the Bible and that's why the Truth Network and Bible league of teamed up to sing God's word to 3500 Bible as believers around the globe. Our campaign is called the world needs the word five dollars and zero Bible $100 since 20.

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