WEBVTT

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 Okay guys, let's wrap the conversations up. Sorry to cut it short. And let's talk about faith.

00:00:11.960 --> 00:00:15.660
 Gotta have faith. Alright, I'm not going to see you going.

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 Okay, full house. So good to see all of you guys.

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 Here we go. So, Watermark Church, we've just been discussing. What might it look like if we as individuals, if we as a church as a whole, had genuine, strong faith?

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 As Niels pointed out at the start earlier, as ambassadors for Christ, and as Oscar mentioned, I like that phrase, we have mission impossible in front of us.

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 We're completely dependent on God. And as Oscar followed, the catalyst he uses for that, the power, is the Holy Spirit.

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 Moving on from that, if not one of, if not the most important things the Spirit gives us for this dependent mission, is faith.

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 The Spirit not only implants faith in our hearts, but it also grows our faith, both individually and cooperatively.

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 We'll spend the next 15 minutes or so looking at what faith is, why we need it, what it may look like to grow in faith.

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 So, what is faith? In our discussions, we were actually discussing that. It's kind of a vague term often in Christian circles.

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 The core text we're going to look at is Hebrews chapter 11. We're not going to read the whole chapter, but we're going to look at a few verses.

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 The very first verse, Hebrews 11 verse 1 says,

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 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

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 Super clear, right?

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 The assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

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 It's not irrational. Our faith is not irrational by any means.

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 But it is an undergirding confidence that what the Bible says is true.

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 About ourselves, about God, about the world.

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 Even in the absence of what we would define today as 100% concrete physical evidence.

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 Let me unpack that a bit.

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 It might actually help to look at what faith is not.

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 The Bible actually mentions a few different kinds of faith.

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 The Pharisees, for an example, have a type of faith.

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 They believed and had faith in the Old Testament Scriptures.

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 They lived by it.

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 But they certainly did not believe that Jesus was the one they pointed to or will fulfill them.

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 I remember a friend in university, a close friend of mine.

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 He was a brilliant ancient history academic.

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 He knew more than anyone else I knew about the Bible.

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 But he did not have any faith in Jesus.

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 Then there is the type of faith where one may actually comprehend that Jesus is who he says he is.

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 But they still do not take the step to believe in Jesus and trust in him.

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 In Matthew chapter 8, for example, Jesus encounters two demon-possessed men.

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 The demons possessing those men acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God and that he has authority to drive them out.

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 They understand who Jesus is.

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 They comprehend who he is.

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 But they certainly do not have any faith in Jesus.

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 There is even a temporary faith mentioned in the Bible.

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 The parable of the sower in Matthew chapter 13.

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 A shallow faith that even though it may flourish for a short period of time, the troubles or persecution that can accompany the Christian life quickly wither the faith away.

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 I think of previous examples, even a watermark of people who have seemingly come to faith, even shared their testimonies on stage, only to have fallen away soon after when hardship has come.

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 All of these examples of faith, all equally fall short.

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 They do not save.

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 They do not stand up to scrutiny.

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 They do not stand the test of time.

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 What is the key ingredient missing here?

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 When the Bible talks about faith, genuine faith, it is talking about saving faith.

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 That is trusting and resting in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone.

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 As communicated in the Bible, for salvation.

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 It begins with knowing and comprehending the facts, but continues to deep heart conviction and faith.

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 We didn't see Jesus die on the cross, yet we believe.

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 We haven't seen the glory of his future promises when he returns, yet we are assured of these things.

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 It's more than just believing in God.

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 It's believing God.

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 It is admitting we are helpless and dependent on God.

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 Further to this, we often stop there when we think about faith, right?

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 But further to this, when we are first saved by faith, and we have faith, I think it's fair to say that we have a relatively weak faith, actually.

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 It's not that our salvation is somehow less guaranteed or less valuable.

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 We are saved.

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 There is no uncertainty in that.

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 But it is that our faith is not necessarily as experienced, battle-tested, as someone who has been a Christian for a long period of time,

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 who has trusted and held on to God through the ups and downs of life.

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 Faith that grows over time.

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 That's what we should be striving for.

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 A strong faith.

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 It resolves from action.

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 The words of surrender and promise we made when we first became Christians, we make them daily.

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 What might it look different?

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 What might look different in our lives if we had this strong faith?

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 What might it look different about Watermark if we collectively as a church had this strong faith?

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 We'll touch on that soon.

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 But let's look at an inspiring example from Hebrews 11 first.

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 Let's look at Abraham.

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 In verses 8 to 10 of Hebrews chapter 11, we read,

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 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance.

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 And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

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 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land,

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 living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him for the same promise.

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 See, Abraham's faith resulted in him being willing to go and leave what he knew for this unexpected inheritance.

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 He didn't even know the location of where he was going.

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 It's just wild to think of that kind of response.

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 We also know that Abraham's faith resulted in him waiting at an already old age with a barren wife

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 for his promised biological offspring, Isaac.

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 On top of that, Isaac is born.

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 He matures into a young man.

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 In verses 17 to 19, we read,

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 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac.

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 And he who had received promises, Abraham, was in the act of offering up his only son,

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 of whom it was said,

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 Through Isaac shall your offspring be made.

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 He considered that God was able to even raise him from the dead,

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 from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

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 God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac.

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 As we know, God didn't make Abraham go through with it,

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 but Abraham's faith still resulted in him being willing to give up that which was most precious to him.

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 Abraham is just an ordinary guy.

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 He is by no means perfect.

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 He is by no means extraordinary in and of himself.

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 He had his doubts.

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 He even tried to short-circuit God's promise of natural offspring

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 by agreeing to procreate with and then marry his mate.

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 And yet he still is seen as a hero of the faith,

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 included and highlighted here in Hebrews 11.

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 You see, strong faith is not perfect faith.

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 Strong faith is consistent faith in our perfect God.

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 And why is it important to have this strong faith?

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 There are many reasons,

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 but we'll focus on one from the text again.

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 Hebrews 11 verse 6 says,

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 And without faith,

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 faith, without faith,

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 it is impossible to please him.

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 For whoever would draw near to God

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 must believe that he exists

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 and that he rewards those who seek him.

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 Faith enables us to please God.

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 We see the examples of Rahab and Esther

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 exalted in their respective stories.

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 Faith so strong that they were willing

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 to prioritize God over their own personal safety.

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 Rahab, who's mentioned in Hebrews 11,

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 willing to hide and protect Israelite spies,

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 even in the face of the king's question

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 and the king's scrutiny.

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 Esther, willing to literally put her life on the line

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 in the king's presence

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 for the rescue of her people.

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 It is not that the things we do

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 in and of themselves

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 are what pleases God.

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 It is that the motivating factor

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 behind those actions.

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 The faith that we have

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 that God is who he says it is,

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 he is, no matter the outcome.

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 Don't we want to be a church

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 that pleases God?

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 Because we're a church with strong faith.

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 How can we increase this faith?

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 We'll look at three main ways.

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 The first thing always,

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 and that's a common theme,

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 I think,

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 appearing over this weekend,

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 is pray.

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 Simon's going to speak about it

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 in more detail.

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 But prayer,

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 I remember Neil's sharing this with me,

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 prayer is essentially

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 just our faith being verbalized.

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 If we believe

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 God is who he said he is in the Bible,

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 that we are fully dependent on him

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 for absolutely everything,

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 we cannot but pray

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 to him

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 to give us more faith.

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 Guys, we have the corporate prayer times

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 once a month.

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 For those of us who can make it,

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 I know that not all of us can,

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 my wife for example,

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 we need to be prioritizing this.

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 These times are crucial

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 to us growing in faith individually

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 and as a church.

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 Now I know not everyone can make it,

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 that's okay.

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 But find other times,

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 find other structures

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 that work for you,

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 which can accommodate

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 with you praying with others.

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 The point is,

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 the picture of a dependent church

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 is a church that not only

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 prays individually,

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 but prays together.

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 Secondly,

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 community also plays a role

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 in growing our faith.

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 If we talk about,

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 if all we talk about

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 when we get together

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 are the surface level events

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 that are happening in our life,

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 which are easy to do,

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 I suffer from this all the time,

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 that is not going to grow our faith.

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 We need to be going deeper,

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 helping each other

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 see the areas of our lives

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 where we do struggle

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 and lack faith,

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 sharing the burden,

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 praying with each other there.

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 Conversely,

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 we may be flourishing

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 and where we are flourishing

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 and have faith,

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 we should rejoice with each other

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 and encourage each other in that.

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 We can ask simple

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 and direct questions

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 that can be helpful

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 to go deeper,

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 like,

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 what's on your mind

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 more often than not recently?

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 What's been a real pleasure

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 and joy recently?

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 What's been hard

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 and painful recently?

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 Perhaps we can think

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 of those questions

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 for ourselves.

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 Having an answer

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 to these questions

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 first,

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 before asking the question

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 of others,

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 can help as well.

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 I was going to

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 have a last point,

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 but actually,

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 in our group discussion,

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 David made a great point,

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 I think,

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 so I'm just going to

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 kind of go with the flow

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 here a little bit.

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 He said,

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 a church that has strong faith

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 is a church that doesn't bend

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 to the message

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 and to the culture

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 of the world.

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 It's a church that continues

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 to preach the gospel,

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 even in the face

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 of what the world says

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 perhaps is the opposite

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 or goes against the grain

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 of culture,

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 whether it be our own

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 ethnic culture,

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 whether it be the general

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 culture of society.

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 A church that has strong faith

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 is a church that believes

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 God who he says he is,

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 believes God is who he says he is,

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 and holds true to the Bible

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 and what it teaches.

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 Thank you, Dave.

00:12:43.280 --> 00:12:43.800
 That was great.

00:12:43.799 --> 00:12:47.719
 Fourthly and lastly,

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 take risks.

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 An essential practice

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 to grow our faith

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 is to take risks.

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 I wonder how many of us

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 are naturally risk-taking

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 people here.

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 It's definitely not myself.

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 You know,

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 taking risks implies

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 that we are facing

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 the unknown,

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 putting ourselves

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 in situations

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 where something

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 is on the line.

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 We could lose something,

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 and we depend on God

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 no matter what the outcome.

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 In some ways,

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 if we have strong faith,

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 a life of risk-taking

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 is really the only

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 logical outcome, right?

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 We have God on our side.

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 If we are unsure

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 where to start in this,

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 we don't need to be

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 like Abraham.

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 We don't need to just

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 pack up and leave

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 and go somewhere

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 we don't know

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 where we're going.

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 But it's also important

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 to be reminded

00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:37.400
 that we learn

00:13:37.400 --> 00:13:38.500
 how to live by faith

00:13:38.500 --> 00:13:40.060
 by living by faith.

00:13:40.059 --> 00:13:41.579
 Just do it.

00:13:42.199 --> 00:13:42.979
 Don't feel like

00:13:42.979 --> 00:13:43.639
 you have to wait

00:13:43.639 --> 00:13:44.799
 until you have enough faith.

00:13:45.379 --> 00:13:46.219
 It grows.

00:13:46.899 --> 00:13:48.059
 And you can start small.

00:13:48.859 --> 00:13:49.659
 Find someone here

00:13:49.659 --> 00:13:50.919
 who seems more mature

00:13:50.919 --> 00:13:52.319
 in their faith than you.

00:13:52.399 --> 00:13:53.139
 Oscar mentioned

00:13:53.139 --> 00:13:55.399
 people in his talk before

00:13:55.399 --> 00:13:56.539
 who have shown faith

00:13:56.539 --> 00:13:57.439
 and taken risks.

00:13:57.899 --> 00:13:58.459
 Speak to them.

00:13:59.459 --> 00:14:00.000
 Ask them

00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:00.719
 what has increased

00:14:00.719 --> 00:14:01.319
 their faith.

00:14:01.979 --> 00:14:02.799
 Read God's Word.

00:14:03.059 --> 00:14:03.679
 Hebrews 11,

00:14:03.779 --> 00:14:04.279
 for example,

00:14:04.739 --> 00:14:05.879
 and the related stories.

00:14:06.459 --> 00:14:07.439
 Your faith will grow

00:14:07.440 --> 00:14:08.560
 through these real life

00:14:08.560 --> 00:14:10.560
 and testimonies

00:14:10.560 --> 00:14:11.300
 through God's Word.

00:14:12.860 --> 00:14:13.780
 Practice things.

00:14:14.200 --> 00:14:14.800
 Small things,

00:14:14.880 --> 00:14:15.720
 like initiating

00:14:15.720 --> 00:14:16.360
 saying sorry

00:14:16.360 --> 00:14:17.120
 to someone else

00:14:17.120 --> 00:14:18.360
 or reaching out

00:14:18.360 --> 00:14:18.880
 to reconcile

00:14:18.880 --> 00:14:19.400
 with someone

00:14:19.400 --> 00:14:20.280
 we've not been seeing

00:14:20.280 --> 00:14:21.040
 eye to eye with.

00:14:21.560 --> 00:14:22.640
 We may be unsure

00:14:22.640 --> 00:14:23.280
 of the outcome

00:14:23.280 --> 00:14:24.360
 and we're often unsure

00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:24.940
 of the outcome,

00:14:25.380 --> 00:14:26.360
 but we have faith

00:14:26.360 --> 00:14:27.240
 that our sins

00:14:27.240 --> 00:14:28.240
 are forgiven in Jesus.

00:14:28.740 --> 00:14:29.320
 We are actually

00:14:29.320 --> 00:14:30.400
 secure in His love.

00:14:31.300 --> 00:14:32.340
 As God guides

00:14:32.340 --> 00:14:33.040
 and protects you

00:14:33.040 --> 00:14:33.820
 through these things,

00:14:34.140 --> 00:14:35.160
 your faith will grow.

00:14:35.159 --> 00:14:37.120
 That's individually.

00:14:37.740 --> 00:14:38.199
 But what about

00:14:38.199 --> 00:14:38.839
 as a church?

00:14:39.959 --> 00:14:40.719
 A watermark

00:14:40.719 --> 00:14:42.039
 with strong faith

00:14:42.039 --> 00:14:42.799
 may look like

00:14:42.799 --> 00:14:43.299
 watermark

00:14:43.299 --> 00:14:43.819
 as being

00:14:43.819 --> 00:14:44.939
 stretchingly generous,

00:14:45.379 --> 00:14:45.860
 increasing

00:14:45.860 --> 00:14:47.039
 or even starting

00:14:47.039 --> 00:14:47.719
 to tithe

00:14:47.719 --> 00:14:48.799
 and give charitably,

00:14:49.480 --> 00:14:50.600
 giving money away

00:14:50.600 --> 00:14:51.699
 even when we feel

00:14:51.699 --> 00:14:52.159
 the pinch

00:14:52.159 --> 00:14:53.759
 because we have faith

00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:54.959
 that God will provide

00:14:54.959 --> 00:14:55.839
 what we need

00:14:55.839 --> 00:14:57.000
 when we need it

00:14:57.000 --> 00:14:58.079
 as He's proven

00:14:58.079 --> 00:14:59.019
 in His Word.

00:15:00.339 --> 00:15:01.059
 It will look like

00:15:01.059 --> 00:15:01.459
 watermarks

00:15:01.459 --> 00:15:02.480
 stepping out as a faith,

00:15:02.799 --> 00:15:04.039
 stepping out in faith

00:15:04.039 --> 00:15:04.699
 as a church.

00:15:05.159 --> 00:15:06.360
 Starting second service,

00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:06.980
 which we've done,

00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:08.159
 eventually looking

00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:09.039
 to plan the church.

00:15:09.539 --> 00:15:10.240
 It will be committing

00:15:10.240 --> 00:15:11.019
 to a permanent

00:15:11.019 --> 00:15:11.779
 venue search

00:15:11.779 --> 00:15:12.459
 for the church

00:15:12.459 --> 00:15:14.419
 and moving steadfastly

00:15:14.419 --> 00:15:15.159
 towards that,

00:15:15.860 --> 00:15:16.839
 committing financially

00:15:16.839 --> 00:15:17.439
 and in prayer.

00:15:19.339 --> 00:15:20.379
 It could look like

00:15:20.379 --> 00:15:21.199
 watermark as being

00:15:21.199 --> 00:15:22.179
 more bold in mission,

00:15:22.799 --> 00:15:23.759
 whether it be locally

00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:24.559
 finding ways

00:15:24.559 --> 00:15:25.399
 to share our faith,

00:15:25.459 --> 00:15:26.100
 as Oscar said,

00:15:26.159 --> 00:15:26.839
 with our friend

00:15:26.839 --> 00:15:27.419
 or neighbour

00:15:27.419 --> 00:15:28.339
 or co-worker,

00:15:29.220 --> 00:15:30.120
 or internationally

00:15:30.120 --> 00:15:31.079
 raising up

00:15:31.079 --> 00:15:32.159
 more formal missionaries

00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:32.699
 and support

00:15:32.699 --> 00:15:33.980
 from within the congregation.

00:15:35.159 --> 00:15:35.980
 It can look

00:15:35.980 --> 00:15:36.860
 very,

00:15:37.199 --> 00:15:39.059
 it has varied

00:15:39.059 --> 00:15:40.480
 outcomes,

00:15:41.240 --> 00:15:41.579
 watermark

00:15:41.579 --> 00:15:42.240
 being a church

00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:42.679
 of faith.

00:15:44.279 --> 00:15:45.219
 Watermark Church,

00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:46.459
 out of all

00:15:46.459 --> 00:15:47.000
 the Christian

00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:47.860
 virtues,

00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:49.439
 it is not love

00:15:49.439 --> 00:15:49.980
 that saves,

00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:51.439
 it is not joy

00:15:51.439 --> 00:15:52.079
 that saves,

00:15:52.659 --> 00:15:53.339
 it is not peace

00:15:53.339 --> 00:15:53.939
 that saves,

00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:55.059
 it is not hope

00:15:55.059 --> 00:15:55.579
 that saves,

00:15:56.159 --> 00:15:56.939
 it is faith

00:15:56.939 --> 00:15:57.899
 that saves.

00:15:57.899 --> 00:15:58.959
 it is only

00:15:58.959 --> 00:15:59.539
 by faith

00:15:59.539 --> 00:16:00.319
 that we are saved.

00:16:00.919 --> 00:16:02.000
 And it is only

00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:02.639
 with faith

00:16:02.639 --> 00:16:03.740
 that we can grow

00:16:03.740 --> 00:16:04.519
 and flourish

00:16:04.519 --> 00:16:05.740
 into spiritual maturity,

00:16:06.379 --> 00:16:07.459
 both individually

00:16:07.459 --> 00:16:08.600
 and as a church,

00:16:09.120 --> 00:16:09.899
 pleasing to God.

00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:12.120
 Whatever that looks like,

00:16:12.679 --> 00:16:13.620
 let's be a church

00:16:13.620 --> 00:16:14.759
 known for its deep

00:16:14.759 --> 00:16:16.299
 and increasing faith

00:16:16.299 --> 00:16:17.659
 for the glory of God.

00:16:17.659 --> 00:16:21.879
 and why

00:16:23.199 --> 00:16:24.199
 let us ép library

00:16:24.199 --> 00:16:24.659
 my taught

00:16:24.659 --> 00:16:25.659
 i

00:16:25.659 --> 00:16:25.899
 and

00:16:27.139 --> 00:16:27.899
 the

00:16:27.899 --> 00:16:28.000
 university

00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:28.459
 that

00:16:28.459 --> 00:16:29.339
 benefits.