From Gary.... WHY BELIEVE IN GOD ?

WHY BELIEVE IN GOD ? 

Bible Reading: 1Pet. 3:15

SONG: WONDERFUL WORDS OF LIFE

INTRODUCTION

A. What causes our concept of GOD to 

     waiver, flicker ???

B. What we believe about GOD is tested at that time.

C. Why do we believe in GOD anyway ??

     1. Because he is real, not a figment of our 

         imagination.

     2. Because we need GOD !

D. WHY BELIEVE IN GOD ?

1. Faith is needed - Laura ingalls (little house 

                                   - prairie) encounter With 

                                      GOD - MOUNTAIN

2. Faithful need to remember

    a. Beware of Satan's unreal tools

    b. Be armed with the sword of the spirit - 

        Heb. 4:12

3. Find comfort in 1 Peter 1:3-9

BODY

A. GOD PROVIDES FOR OUR REAL NEEDS 1:3-4

1. NOT OUR GREEDS

    a. God knows our need - to serve

    b. GODLY CONFIDENCE = d/n worry Matt. 6:19-34

    c. Greed will eventually be punished Acts 5:1-11

2. NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE 

    ETERNAL

     a. To have GOD as our father (Jesus for us) 3

     b. To be given mercy and not justice 3

     c. To be born again 3

         1) Christ came for this

         2) Consider heaven John 3: 3-5

     d. To have a LIVING hope 3

        1) 100 years - what has value? hope Jesus

        2) 1 saying that is true - living without hope is not 

             living - suicide

      e. To receive a special inheritance.... 4

          1) IMPERISHABLE means permanent

          2) UNDEFILED means PURE Lev.  18:27

           3) UNFADING precious (crown of glory)1 Pet. 5 : 4

            4) RESERVED put aside Jn. 14 , 1Pet. 1:18, 

                                                      Acts 20:28

B. GOD PROTECTS US BY HIS POWER...5

    1. Protection and scripture = faith

        a. Hebrews 11:12 ...BY IT (FAITH) THE MEN OF 

                                          OLD GAINED APPROVAL.

         b. Isaiah 40:28-31; Jer. 1:18; 2 Cor. 11:24-33

         c. US ???!!! Mustard seed Matt. 17:20

     2. Protected to be SAVED!!!....5

C. GOD PROVES OUR FAITH BY ALLOWING TRIALS / 

     SUFFERING 6-7

      1. Suffering can glorify God 2Cor. 1:3--6

      2. Suffering can perfect us BITTER / BETTER ??? 

          Job 1:7-12

      3. Simple, eternal, proven = praise, glory, honor

      4. Sight of God wavering now ? 1Cor. 10:13;  heb 13:5 

                                                                Ro. 8:28

D. GOD PRESENTS US WITH SALVATION FOR OUR 

     SOULS...8---9

      Because....

      1. We love, though unseen = faith

      2. We BELIEVE , though unseen = faith

      3. We have faith, we rejoice = Salvation

CONCLUSION

A. WHY DO WE BELIEVE IN GOD ?? Because HE

     PROVIDES PROTECTS PROVES PRESENTS

B. WHY NOT BELIEVE - HAVE GOD BECOME REALITY  

                                        FOR YOU ?