LoveKey Church
Believing Is Seeing
Today we continue our series "Foundation" and our third topic is "Faith". Today's message title is "Believing Is Seeing" https://linktr.ee/lovekeymission info@lovekey.co.za
Locations & Times
John Murray Dance Studio
Urtel Crescent, Triangle House, Firgrove Rural, Cape Town, 7110, South Africa
Sunday 10:00 AM
LoveKey Church
LoveKey Church Website
https://lovekeymission.com
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What is LoveKey Church All About?
Our name comes from the fact that we believe that the KEY to salvation (giving your life to Jesus, becoming a reborn Christian) is the revelation of how much God LOVES you. And the KEY to living the life He has for us is to LOVE him back. That’s why LoveKey Church is a local expression of a part of the body of Christ with a focus on creating a place, opportunity and atmosphere where all people can encounter God, align with His purposes in order to reign in life, and help others to do the same.
ENCOUNTER, ALIGN REIGN, HELP OTHERS DO THE SAME - easy way to remember it.
We believe the Bible is the word of God and we commit to be obedient to it with the leading of the Holy Spirit
We believe that marriage and family is God’s idea and His way of doing it is the right way and the best way. We want to see marriages thrive and families be healthy in Jesus. Because healthy families build a healthy nation - notice I didn’t say “perfect” families, I said healthy - whole in Jesus, reconciled in Jesus, redeemed by Jesus, focused on Jesus.
We stand for unity in the body of Christ - we can be diverse but not divided, and celebrate our different gifts and roles in the greater body of Christ. We really resonate with Jesus’ prayer in John 17 where he asks that the Father will make us all one as He and the Father are one so that the world will know that He sent Him. Our biggest evangelical tool is unity!
We want to help eradicate fatherlessness and shine a light on the crisis of cultural Christianity - South Africa has a physical fatherlessness rate of 62% and other forms of fatherlessness in the remaining percentage - it truly is a huge problem.
Cultural Christianity is where people grow up in a so-called Christian home or culture and believe that that makes them a Christian, when in fact it is very possible that the culture they’re in has adopted a version of God that is convenient, made it apart of their culture and they’re actually worshipping their culture.
We want this to be a multi-generational, multi-cultural church that lives to know Jesus and to make Him known.
ENCOUNTER, ALIGN REIGN, HELP OTHERS DO THE SAME - easy way to remember it.
We believe the Bible is the word of God and we commit to be obedient to it with the leading of the Holy Spirit
We believe that marriage and family is God’s idea and His way of doing it is the right way and the best way. We want to see marriages thrive and families be healthy in Jesus. Because healthy families build a healthy nation - notice I didn’t say “perfect” families, I said healthy - whole in Jesus, reconciled in Jesus, redeemed by Jesus, focused on Jesus.
We stand for unity in the body of Christ - we can be diverse but not divided, and celebrate our different gifts and roles in the greater body of Christ. We really resonate with Jesus’ prayer in John 17 where he asks that the Father will make us all one as He and the Father are one so that the world will know that He sent Him. Our biggest evangelical tool is unity!
We want to help eradicate fatherlessness and shine a light on the crisis of cultural Christianity - South Africa has a physical fatherlessness rate of 62% and other forms of fatherlessness in the remaining percentage - it truly is a huge problem.
Cultural Christianity is where people grow up in a so-called Christian home or culture and believe that that makes them a Christian, when in fact it is very possible that the culture they’re in has adopted a version of God that is convenient, made it apart of their culture and they’re actually worshipping their culture.
We want this to be a multi-generational, multi-cultural church that lives to know Jesus and to make Him known.
Offer to Serve
Offer to Serve Link
OFFER TO SERVE INVITEIf you feel led by God to be a part of this vision and mission, please contact us at info@lovekey.co.za or fill out our Offer to Serve form on the Church Center app, or online:
https://forms.gle/ufM5cD8KYabn365s6
Praise and Worship Scripture
Tithes, Offerings, Generosity
Tithes, Offerings, and Giving
Thank you for partnering with our ministry so that we can: 1. reach more people with the gospel message 2. Positively impact marriages and families 3. Play a role in eradicating fatherlessness 4. Shine a light on the crisis of cultural Christianity 5. Minister Unity to the body of Christ 6. Sow into what we hope to be future social justice projects in our local community 6. Sow into trusted organizations preaching the gospel in Israel to Jews, and helping Jews relocate to Israel.- FIRM Foundation and One For Israel
https://lovekeymission.com/partnerEFT: Banking Details: LoveKey NPC, FNB, Current Account Number: 62824888525, Branch code: 250655
Card Payment link: https://pay.yoco.com/lovekey-npc
PayPal: partner@lovekey.co.za
Card Payment link: https://pay.yoco.com/lovekey-npc
PayPal: partner@lovekey.co.za
Series: FOUNDATIONS
Believing Is Seeing
SERIES: ALIGNING WITH GOD
SUB SERIES: FOUNDATIONS
THIRD FOUNDATION: FAITH
MESSAGE TITLE: BELIEVING IS SEEING
SUB SERIES: FOUNDATIONS
THIRD FOUNDATION: FAITH
MESSAGE TITLE: BELIEVING IS SEEING
FOUNDATIONS CONTINUED
“FRAMING IT” SUMMARY
FOUNDATIONS:
1. REPENTANCE
2. SALVATION
3. FAITH
4. LORDSHIP/OBEDIENCE
5. BAPTISM OF WATER
6. BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
7. SPIRITUAL FAMILY/LOCAL CHURCH
8. DISCIPLESHIP
WHY THESE FOUNDATIONS? WHAT WE ULTIMATELY WANT TO GET TO: FOUNDATIONS LEADS TO/ HOW DOES THIS IMPACT OUR:
1. Identity
2. Marriage
3. Parenting
4. Community
5. Purpose
“FRAMING IT” SUMMARY
FOUNDATIONS:
1. REPENTANCE
2. SALVATION
3. FAITH
4. LORDSHIP/OBEDIENCE
5. BAPTISM OF WATER
6. BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
7. SPIRITUAL FAMILY/LOCAL CHURCH
8. DISCIPLESHIP
WHY THESE FOUNDATIONS? WHAT WE ULTIMATELY WANT TO GET TO: FOUNDATIONS LEADS TO/ HOW DOES THIS IMPACT OUR:
1. Identity
2. Marriage
3. Parenting
4. Community
5. Purpose
So from this it should be clear where our title comes from: “Believing is Seeing”.
But what does it mean, how does it work, and how do I apply it to my daily life?
I want to get stuck in Hebrews 11 today mostly. But before we go into that, I want to talk about marriage in terms of faith, faithfulness and fidelity. Why? Because it’s clear from scripture that one of God’s main aims with marriage is to help us understand how our relationship should be with Jesus as the bridegroom and us, the church, as his bride.
So let’s look at faithfulness in marriage.
When partners stay loyal to each other what do we call them? Faithful, right. Full of faith. Fidelity means faithfulness to a person, cause or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support
When one cheats on the other, steps out on them in some way, what do we call that person? Unfaithful, right. Not full of faith. We talk about infidelity. The “in” before fidelity nullifies the fidelity - so, saying the same thing - unfaithful, not demonstrating continuing loyalty and support.
We say that person is unfaithful, but what we mean is that their partner cannot put their faith in them any longer. In other words, I cannot put my full faith in you.
But what if the word is actually more appropriate than we realize?
Hear it this way: the one who cheats is not full of faith. Or, there is a lack of faith or no faith in them.
And doesn’t it make sense this way around as well? They must have lost faith in their marriage or in their spouse to do what they did, do you agree?
Maybe it was momentary, a weak moment, sure, but for that moment there was a lack of faith.
Remember I’ve quoted this a few times already, Ps Nicky Gumble from Alpha and Bible in a Year says “we swallow a lie about God before we swallow the forbidden fruit”
That’s what an unfaithful spouse does - they believe a lie about themselves or their marriage or their partner that causes what? DOUBT, and that doubt tips the scales in favour of deceit in other ways, and causes an act that goes against a vow made before God and witnesses.
Back to our relationship with God: When we have repented, and got born again and stepped into salvation, became a new creation, it was BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH. So at the point of salvation, we are full of faith, or supposed to be.
We start in the spirit, we’re aware of how much God loves us, we’re in the honeymoon phase of our relationship with God where it seems like nothing can go wrong. - those who are married will know all about the honeymoon phase if you did things God’s way anyway…
Then one day after things have gotten familiar and the euphoria has worn off a bit, we don’t feel exactly the same as in the beginning, and if we are not vigilant to stay in the word and to regularly spend time with God and praise and worship him and get to know his word better, our thoughts can easily start to drift in directions it should not.
Before we know it, the enemy is able to sow a lie and that lie can bring doubt and that doubt can cause us to believe a lie about God which can cause us to swallow the forbidden fruit - sin. When we sin we are then as the bride of Christ unfaithful to our groom, Jesus. Why? Because sin is disobedience and some form of idolatry - trusting something else other than God.
We were full of faith, now we’re empty of faith, or we lack faith. We are unfaithful. There’s infidelity.
That is when faith turns unfaithful.
There is also the situation which we often hear Jesus admonishes the disciples about - having little faith. Oh ye of little faith.
My friend Joe Niemand at his bachelor party after all the men spoke about him and most mentioned how great his faith is, said the following: my faith is not big. Jesus said that if we have faith like a mustard seed we can speak to mountains to move and if we don’t doubt it will happen. A mustard seed is small. Tiny. So it is not about great faith. It is about pure, potential filled faith.
The Greek for that word little faith, actually more accurately means “short burst of faith” - in other words you had faith for a moment, but then was overwhelmed by circumstances and your faith left you. Almost like when Peter walked on water toward Jesus and as long as his eyes were on Jesus, he was walking, as soon as his attention was overwhelmed by the wind and waves, he sank.
So, what is faith, and what is it supposed to look like in our lives?
Let’s read Hebrews 11 together.
But what does it mean, how does it work, and how do I apply it to my daily life?
I want to get stuck in Hebrews 11 today mostly. But before we go into that, I want to talk about marriage in terms of faith, faithfulness and fidelity. Why? Because it’s clear from scripture that one of God’s main aims with marriage is to help us understand how our relationship should be with Jesus as the bridegroom and us, the church, as his bride.
So let’s look at faithfulness in marriage.
When partners stay loyal to each other what do we call them? Faithful, right. Full of faith. Fidelity means faithfulness to a person, cause or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support
When one cheats on the other, steps out on them in some way, what do we call that person? Unfaithful, right. Not full of faith. We talk about infidelity. The “in” before fidelity nullifies the fidelity - so, saying the same thing - unfaithful, not demonstrating continuing loyalty and support.
We say that person is unfaithful, but what we mean is that their partner cannot put their faith in them any longer. In other words, I cannot put my full faith in you.
But what if the word is actually more appropriate than we realize?
Hear it this way: the one who cheats is not full of faith. Or, there is a lack of faith or no faith in them.
And doesn’t it make sense this way around as well? They must have lost faith in their marriage or in their spouse to do what they did, do you agree?
Maybe it was momentary, a weak moment, sure, but for that moment there was a lack of faith.
Remember I’ve quoted this a few times already, Ps Nicky Gumble from Alpha and Bible in a Year says “we swallow a lie about God before we swallow the forbidden fruit”
That’s what an unfaithful spouse does - they believe a lie about themselves or their marriage or their partner that causes what? DOUBT, and that doubt tips the scales in favour of deceit in other ways, and causes an act that goes against a vow made before God and witnesses.
Back to our relationship with God: When we have repented, and got born again and stepped into salvation, became a new creation, it was BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH. So at the point of salvation, we are full of faith, or supposed to be.
We start in the spirit, we’re aware of how much God loves us, we’re in the honeymoon phase of our relationship with God where it seems like nothing can go wrong. - those who are married will know all about the honeymoon phase if you did things God’s way anyway…
Then one day after things have gotten familiar and the euphoria has worn off a bit, we don’t feel exactly the same as in the beginning, and if we are not vigilant to stay in the word and to regularly spend time with God and praise and worship him and get to know his word better, our thoughts can easily start to drift in directions it should not.
Before we know it, the enemy is able to sow a lie and that lie can bring doubt and that doubt can cause us to believe a lie about God which can cause us to swallow the forbidden fruit - sin. When we sin we are then as the bride of Christ unfaithful to our groom, Jesus. Why? Because sin is disobedience and some form of idolatry - trusting something else other than God.
We were full of faith, now we’re empty of faith, or we lack faith. We are unfaithful. There’s infidelity.
That is when faith turns unfaithful.
There is also the situation which we often hear Jesus admonishes the disciples about - having little faith. Oh ye of little faith.
My friend Joe Niemand at his bachelor party after all the men spoke about him and most mentioned how great his faith is, said the following: my faith is not big. Jesus said that if we have faith like a mustard seed we can speak to mountains to move and if we don’t doubt it will happen. A mustard seed is small. Tiny. So it is not about great faith. It is about pure, potential filled faith.
The Greek for that word little faith, actually more accurately means “short burst of faith” - in other words you had faith for a moment, but then was overwhelmed by circumstances and your faith left you. Almost like when Peter walked on water toward Jesus and as long as his eyes were on Jesus, he was walking, as soon as his attention was overwhelmed by the wind and waves, he sank.
So, what is faith, and what is it supposed to look like in our lives?
Let’s read Hebrews 11 together.
Verse 1 is so powerful. My brother Pastor Ade Omoba-Giwa helped me to understand the deeper meaning of this scripture. And I will share with you what God has revealed to us.
Let’s get some context. In chapter 10 we see how Jesus has become the ultimate sacrificial lamb once and for all. We see that through Him we have access to the holies of holies, God’s presence, and his Holy Spirit comes and writes the laws of God on our hearts so that we may know them. We also get the serious warning of what will happen after we have received all of this and then still sin willfully. And it ends with these last verses right before Hebr 11:1 - now remember, the Bible was not originally written in chapters with verses like we see it in our Bibles here today - this is just a referencing system. So, originally these scriptures just flowed as one idea:
Hebrews 10:38-39 - 'Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
The we read, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.”
Are you of the just? Do you believe in salvation? You shall live by faith - so it is important to understand what faith is.
Faith is the substance… of things hoped for… Let’s stop there. What is faith? … The substance… OF things hoped for.
So let me ask you this, “can you then hope without substance?” … No.
So the important next question you should ask yourself is, “what is the substance?”
Faith is also the evidence of things not seen. What is evidence in a law trial? It is physical proof that connects the perpetrator to a crime. So unseen evidence? How does that work?
The world has a saying, “Seeing is believing”. But clearly, from this and our opening scripture in God’s kingdom we have to say, “believing is seeing”.
Back to the first part: The substance of things hoped for. What is the substance?
A bit further down in Hebr 11 we read of Abraham’s faith and how it was counted to him as righteousness. We also see further down in a piece I didn’t read now that he was willing to sacrifice his son. How could he do that? Why was he willing to do that? This verse in Hebrews 11 gives a clue by saying Abraham had hope… so if he had hope, he must’ve had substance, according to Hebr 11:1… so, what was his substance?
The rest will be revealed in the sermon...
Let’s get some context. In chapter 10 we see how Jesus has become the ultimate sacrificial lamb once and for all. We see that through Him we have access to the holies of holies, God’s presence, and his Holy Spirit comes and writes the laws of God on our hearts so that we may know them. We also get the serious warning of what will happen after we have received all of this and then still sin willfully. And it ends with these last verses right before Hebr 11:1 - now remember, the Bible was not originally written in chapters with verses like we see it in our Bibles here today - this is just a referencing system. So, originally these scriptures just flowed as one idea:
Hebrews 10:38-39 - 'Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
The we read, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.”
Are you of the just? Do you believe in salvation? You shall live by faith - so it is important to understand what faith is.
Faith is the substance… of things hoped for… Let’s stop there. What is faith? … The substance… OF things hoped for.
So let me ask you this, “can you then hope without substance?” … No.
So the important next question you should ask yourself is, “what is the substance?”
Faith is also the evidence of things not seen. What is evidence in a law trial? It is physical proof that connects the perpetrator to a crime. So unseen evidence? How does that work?
The world has a saying, “Seeing is believing”. But clearly, from this and our opening scripture in God’s kingdom we have to say, “believing is seeing”.
Back to the first part: The substance of things hoped for. What is the substance?
A bit further down in Hebr 11 we read of Abraham’s faith and how it was counted to him as righteousness. We also see further down in a piece I didn’t read now that he was willing to sacrifice his son. How could he do that? Why was he willing to do that? This verse in Hebrews 11 gives a clue by saying Abraham had hope… so if he had hope, he must’ve had substance, according to Hebr 11:1… so, what was his substance?
The rest will be revealed in the sermon...
Thank you so much for joining us today.