Let’s Go Shopping!

 

 

READING FOR STUDY GUIDE: II Corinthians 5: 7

 

Sunday	1/29	Proverbs Ch. 29; II Samuel 23: 1-39
Monday	1/30	Proverbs Ch. 30; Galatians 5: 1-26
Tuesday	1/31	Proverbs Ch. 31; John 4: 1-42
Wednesday	2/1	Proverbs Ch. 1; John 6: 25-70
Thursday	2/2	Proverbs Ch. 2; James 1: 1-27; James 3: 13-18
Friday	2/3	Proverbs Ch. 3; Matthew 21: 18-22; Luke 15: 11-31
Saturday	2/4	Proverbs Ch. 4; Romans 7: 7-25; Romans 8: 1-39

 

Text: II Corinthians 5: 1-9

 

Thesis: The very familiar passage, “We walk by faith and not by sight” reminds believers to operate in a knowledge that all we need God has provided! It’s ours for the taking!

 

1. II Corinthians 5: 7 – “We live by faith and not by sight.”
   1. God’s words are an invitation to the believer to come and receive provision from God.
   2. Our Heavenly Father possesses an unlimited supply for us to receive from. He calls on us to “make groceries!”
      1. Galatians 5: 21-22 – The fruit of the Spirit
      2. John 4: 10-14 – Springs of living water welling up to eternal life
      3. John 6: 33 – The bread of life
      4. James 3: 13-18 – A harvest of righteousness
      5. Matthew 21: 18-22 – “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Very often, what we receive from God is only limited by what we expect to receive, not what God has waiting for us.

 

When faith goes shopping, it always takes a basket!

 

2. II Corinthians 5: 7 – “We live by faith…”
   1. To live by faith is to live in complete trust or confidence in God Almighty.
      1. Luke 15: 31 – The brother in the story of the “prodigal son” needed to be reminded by the father that “…everything I have is yours.” Neither he, nor his brother had to earn it. It was given by grace!
      2. Everything the Father has belongs to those who have complete trust and confidence in Him.
      3. Whenever you experience feelings or concerns that you are lacking anything, God is present; reminding you “…everything I have is yours.”

 

When faith goes shopping, it always takes a basket!

 

3. II Corinthians 5:7 –“We live…not by sight.”
   1. Hebrews 11: 1 “…faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (NIV 1984)
      “…faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (NIV 2010)
   2. Romans 8:24b-25 – “But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”
      1. We go to the supermarket when we are in need of something.
      2. The time for us to operate in faith is when we do not have something.
         1. What are you in need of today; your family; a loved one; your business; the church you attend?
         2. Instead of concentrating on what you don’t see, speak God’s word of provision regarding that need.
         3. Affirm God’s word, expressing complete trust or confidence in God regarding the matter, appropriating God’s promises into your circumstances.
      3. The more we need, the bigger the basket we use.

 

When faith goes shopping, it always takes a basket!

 

4. James 1:16-18 – “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
   1. God is the same today as He was 2,000 or even 4,000 years ago. He hasn’t changed. He is still the same.
      1. The nature of God hasn’t changed. He’s still the same.
      2. The promises of God haven’t changed. They’re still the same.
      3. The power of God hasn’t changed. It’s still the same.
      4. The love of God hasn’t changed. He’s still the same.
   2. God gave His Son as a gift to save us from destruction, how much more will He give us provision. It’s a gift.
   3. Knowing this, what are you now ready to put in your basket?

 

When faith goes shopping, it always takes a basket!

 

INVITATION TO CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP