Doing God's Will and Growing in Faith

Summary

This midweek service brought several voices around one heartbeat: a life that truly belongs to God will show it. Opening with "by their fruits you will know them," the leaders reminded the church that neighbors, classmates and coworkers recognize God's children not by our words but by the fruit of repentance, holiness and love in us.

The first message centered on the will of God. Everything we have was received from Him, so our only boast is that we know the Lord. Jesus warned that not everyone who says "Lord, Lord" enters the kingdom, but the one who does the Father's will. With a renewed mind filled with heavenly rather than earthly thoughts, we learn to please God daily, like Enoch who walked with Him, and like a retiree jolted from wasting his years on television into supporting missionaries.

A second message taught that faith is essential and must grow: without faith it is impossible to please God, and faith without works is dead. Faith grows by hearing and reading the Word, which then opens our eyes to people in need we can serve. The service closed with the Beatitudes as God's formula for true happiness and a reminder, on the eve of Thanksgiving, that believers are pilgrims who must stay ready for Christ's return.

Key Points

• People recognize God's children by the fruit of repentance, holiness and love, not by our words.
• Everything we have is a gift received from God, so our boast is simply that we know Him.
• Saying "Lord, Lord" is not enough; the kingdom belongs to those who do the Father's will.
• A renewed mind, filled with heavenly things, is what discerns and carries out God's will.
• Faith pleases God only when it keeps growing; faith without works is dead.
• Faith grows by hearing the Word, which then moves us to meet the needs around us.
• As pilgrims awaiting Christ's return, we find true blessedness in the Beatitudes.