This morning we are returning to the theme of faith as we note some further very important and significant and practical details that are brought to our attention through the scriptures. We will be looking first of all at 2nd Corinthians chapter 1. and in particular the final verses of the chapter. But you will remember or note that we have previously considered in our brief study thus far that faith is essential to our knowing God. And we discovered that when reading through Hebrews chapter 11. And if you If you want to just glance at that for a moment, you'll find in verse 6 of Hebrews chapter 11, we read, Without faith it is impossible to please Him. For he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is are a warder of those who diligently seek Him. And we note up in the latter part of verse 5 in relation to Enoch, before he was taken he had this testimony that he pleased God. So faith is essential to our knowing God. Faith is also essential to our pleasing God. And in Ephesians chapter 2, verses 8 to 10, we also noted that faith is essential to salvation. We cannot really please God, we cannot really know God until we are born again of the Spirit of God, until we are saved by God's grace. And we are saved by grace through faith. So salvation becomes the first step in our understanding of God and in our pleasing God. Faith is essential to our walk with God. Now this morning we want to simply take up the concept of the continuing necessary action of faith. Last Sunday morning we noted that faith refers to our embracing with full conviction and determination, being thoroughly persuaded in the rich and gracious promises of God. We take that step of faith and we lay hold upon God's promise as He draws us into the confidence of his word and into the blessing of his presence. Now in that affirmation of faith there are three other biblical examples of what it means to be a child of God and to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to the saving of the soul. And the first of these you'll find in our reading, the final verse, verse 24 of 2 Corinthians chapter 1. And this text comes at the conclusion of Paul's great argument in relation to the necessary integrity of the words as well as the works of God's people. And coming down into verse 24, he writes this to the church. Not that we have dominion over your faith. Paul is saying, we don't govern what you believe. We cannot. We do not have dominion over your faith. But our fellow workers for your joy. Therefore we encourage your faith, we support your faith, we endeavor to build up your faith. But then he brings in this thought, for by faith you stand. By faith you stand. So the first thing we note about true biblical faith, or believing, is that we stand by faith. Now looking back over the preceding verses from verse 17 and coming through into verse 24, you'll find that the Apostle Paul is expressing his own personal and individual integrity in relation to his plan to visit the church at Collins. The Apostle Paul is open and above board in everything he does. He is transparent in terms of his honesty. We discover that when we read through the first epistle and find that the Apostle Paul has written rather sternly as he objects to behavior, as he exposes wrong doctrine, and as he encourages a return to truth, both in their practice and in their theology. But now he reveals to them that it was an honest, earnest desire in his heart that he spend a little time with them face to face, But often a letter can be misinterpreted, misunderstood, wrongly construed. It's much better if we have issues to deal with those face to face, where we can exercise the concerns and the real expressions of fellowship within our hearts. And so Paul expresses his personal integrity in his plan to visit the church at Corinth. And in verse 18, you will note, As God is faithful, our word to you was not yes and no. Now we know that there are some times when an answer to a question would be, well, yes, And no, because there can be two sides to the answer. But when the Apostle Paul is dealing with his revelation of desire to come to Corinth, he is here indicating when we said to you that we were desiring to come, our desire was honest. And we weren't just being pleasant or nice or trying to make the blow that was given in the first epistle a little softer in its application. It was an honest, genuine, true desire that we come and spend some time with you. And then in verse 19, He lays as it were the foundation of our faith. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, by me, Silvanus and Timothy was not yes and no, but in him was yes. In other words, our preaching was also marked by integrity. Our preaching was on the affirmation of Scripture. It was not some kind of concocted story or man-developed theology. We spoke to you from the heart the true things of God. Sometimes there is a danger and a fear that we shy away from the truth of God when we feel that the truth may conflict with our own opinions or the attitude or opinion of others. But Christ was full of truth and grace. And we need to learn how to speak truthfully, but also with grace in our hearts. We cannot run the risk of denying the Word of God by not confronting the real issues of a carnal nature, or a disobedient heart, or a rebellious spirit. But as we speak, we speak the truth in love. And so in verse 20, Paul lays this foundation even more. For all the promises of God in him are yes and in him Amen to the glory of God through us. We can trust the word of Jesus. We can read his promise enthusiastically and with submission in our heart. For we know that the promises of God are yes And amen, so let it be, so shall it be. Why? Because it is the Word of the living God. And you and I as the people of God, as His ambassadors, need to ensure that the words that we speak have that same sense of integrity that we see in the Word. of God. How do we know that God's Word is trustworthy? Look at verse 21 and 22. Paul gives us this demonstration in practical terms. Verse 21, In our heart God has already not only pledged His promise, but He has performed His promise. Verse 21, He has anointed us. Now, He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God. Why did God anoint us? Because He promised that He would. Verse 22, not only has He anointed us, but He has sealed us. Who has also sealed us? Why has God sealed us? Because He's promised to seal us by His Spirit. And then the latter part of verse 22, the third is that He has given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. Now, if you want to understand this more fully expressed, you'll read of this thought in the first chapter of Ephesians, as the Apostle Paul takes us through this whole concept. How we are born again of the Spirit of God. How we are sealed by the Spirit of promise. How God has given us the earnest of our inheritance, the guarantee that just as our inheritance is being kept for us in heaven, so we are being kept for that inheritance by the power of God. God has promised. And He performs. His Word is trustworthy. What then is the result of this sure Word of God? This sure Word of promise? Verse 24, For by faith you stand. As a child of God, you stand upon the Word of God, the promises of God, the sure Word. And even when it would be under attack and under assault, and many would try to discredit the Word of God and water down its truth, We stand upon the Word because we stand by faith. Turn with me to Ephesians chapter 6. Ephesians chapter 6. And note in verse 10 and 11. The Apostle Paul has walked us through the corridors of truth. And as the glory of God and of Christ have shone out from every corner, we have seen the glistening of grace in every page. Now he comes to the conclusion, and in chapter 6, verse 10, he writes, Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. How can we be strong in the Lord and the power of His might? We can be strong and stand in the power of His might because God has given us assurances, promises, covenant promises, unbreakable promises. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to Stand against the wiles of the devil. How does this work? Look at verse 13. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, Take up the whole armour of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand. The word withstand gives the impression of the gale that is blowing in the forceful intent of the storm. And you stand there and you withstand the storm. And in verse 12 we are told of the forces and powers of evil that often are hurled against the child of God. But we learn to withstand the assault and then to stand. And the thought there is to remain standing. Verse 14, therefore, stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness. And so we stand by faith. Let's go to Matthew chapter 7. And in Matthew 7 verse 24 to 27, Jesus again brings a concluding thought to his teaching, which is linked in to the Sermon on the Mount. And note with me in verse 24, Therefore Jesus said, Whoever hears these sayings of mine and does them, that is, he who believes in them, he or she who is assured by them, and therefore they being fully persuaded, apply those truths into their heart and into their life. Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of mine and does them, I will liken them to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it did not fall because it was founded on the rock. That's what it means to stand by faith. But not only do we stand by faith. Come with me to 2 Corinthians 5. And notice in verse 7, the Apostle Paul in this great passage is referring, of course, to glory. He speaks of the day of glorious resurrection in verse 1 through to verse 5. In verse 6, he speaks of a confidence that is ours, knowing that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. And then in verse 7, For we walk by faith, not by sight. While we live in this life, we are absent from Christ. But we live as though He were here, and He is. But we also live as though we were already there. And we are. Because we are already seated in the heavenly places. Not only in the heavenly places, but in the heavenly places in Christ. For nothing can separate us from His love. Not life. Not death. Not principalities, nor powers. We are forever in Christ and Christ in us. So Paul, in context, addresses the concept and reality of death for the believer. And to look at verse 5, he brings this glorious truth. Now he who has prepared us for this very thing is God. who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. The word literally means a down payment. Or in the King James Version, an earnest, a forerunner, an exclusive benefit that shows us in a small measure what the greater benefit is going to be. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God. So why do we stand confidently upon this truth? Because God has promised. God's Word has declared. Remember in John chapter 14 and verse 2, Jesus said, to His disciples, let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God. Believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." And now in verse 5 of 2 Corinthians 5, Paul writes, Now he who has prepared us for this very thing is God. So Jesus said, I have prepared a place for you. And now I am preparing you for that place. We stand upon the promises of God. He then raises in this passage the question of faith by reminding us that God has guaranteed His promise. Therefore, We understand why God has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. In verse 7, for we walk by faith, not by sight. We don't need to see the evidence because we have the promise. And remember what we read in Hebrews chapter 11 and verse 1. Let's just return for a moment. Hebrews 11. And verse 1, and here we read, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. We know that one day we will see, one day we will receive the substance of all we have looked forward to and longed for. But here and now, the earnest, the promise is already in our heart. We don't need to be in heaven to know it's real. We don't need to see Jesus to know He's real. We have the earnest in our heart. We know, we feel, we sense that God is here. And we are already receiving a foretaste of heaven. The Holy Spirit confirms the unseen evidence in our heart. Look at verse 8-10 of Hebrews 11. By faith Abraham obeyed. when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out not knowing where he was going. He knew that God had promised and he went on the strength of the promise of God. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country. dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. For he waited for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God." Abraham believed the promise. He lived in the conviction and the strength of that promise. But he knew that while God was leading him into an inheritance, It was but a foretaste of his real enduring inheritance in glory. Look at verse 17 to 19. By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. And he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten Son, of whom it was said, In Isaac your seed shall be called. Concluding that God was able to raise him up even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. He believed the promise. Why? Because he was walking by faith and not by sight. And so we stand by faith regardless of what the world may hurl against us, we withstand the tempest because we are firmly planted upon a solid rock. We not only stand by faith, but we walk by faith. In the daily normal duties of our lives, we stand upon the promises of God. But in closing note, In Galatians 3 and verse 11, we also live by faith. Galatians 3 and verse 11. But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident. For the just shall live by faith. Those who live by the law never receive a guarantee of their salvation. They will always lack real assurance that they're right with God. Trusting in works laying hope in our own righteousness to never bring deep peace to a troubled heart. We may hope that we're all right. And we may even convince ourselves that when we get to heaven we will not be turned aside. But we can never have a real assurance. Because God will only give the guarantee, the earnest the assurance to those who are his. The just shall live by faith. We don't live with our trust or confidence in the law. Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica. Turn with me to 1 Thessalonians 1. 1 Thessalonians 1. And verse 2 to 4, We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of our God, and father, knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God." So, verse 3 brings the confirmation of their calling. You'll notice there are three standout features of their lives recorded in verse 3. Work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope. Now what does this mean? Well, look at verse 9. For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols. That's their work of faith. The second part. To serve the living God. That's their labour of love. Verse 10. And to wait for His Son from heaven. That's their patience of hope. How then is this evident to others? Look at verse 7 and 8. so that you become examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything." Their work of faith had turned from God to idols. What a testimony! Their lives changed, transformed by the grace of God. How did this happen? We are saved by grace through faith. Their labor of love to serve the living and the true God. How can a sinner be so transformed so that they might become an instrument of righteousness? A servant of the living God? by faith, that saving faith into which we are called and into which we are brought, that enables us to stand, to walk, and to live as those who have been changed by God's grace, brought into His family, made ambassadors for Him, And as we live, we have a certain and glorious expectation that one day we will be with Him. And so they live by faith. And you and I today stand by faith, walk by faith, we live by faith. And our faith is not in our faith. but our faith is anchored in the rich and precious and glorious promises of God. But we need to be saved by grace through faith in order to stand, walk and live by faith. Let's pray. Our loving Father, we thank you today for reminding us in your Word of that activity of faith whereby we are enabled by your grace and spirit to lay hold, believingly, upon the promises of God. And to see that promise worked out in the practical nature of transformation as sinners are brought to Christ. We thank you that in a world that is so often revealing its wickedness and rebellion, and which intimidates the people of God from many angles. It's a roaring lion. It's an angel of light. Forces without and within. Yet you enable your people to stand by faith, to walk by faith, and to live by faith in the assurance that a day is coming when faith will give way to sight. And we will see the reality of heaven and of Christ. And know that all the promises of God which are yea and amen in Christ Jesus. These great and glorious promises have given us the very nature of Christ. And we are His. Lord, teach us how to believe. Lord, we would say with one of old, we believe. Help our unbelief. And draw us to Christ. In His name we pray. Amen. Amen. We conclude our service this morning as we turn to the lovely hymn 537. 537. The sands of time are sinking. The dawn of heaven breaks. the summer morn I've sighed for, the fair sweet morn awakes. Dark, dark hath been the midnight, but day-spring is at hand, and glory, glory dwelleth in Emmanuel's land." We'll stand to sing.