The Sunday Sermon

By Faith we Walk

R.P.Woitowitz Sr.

13 And because we have the same spirit of faith,

according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have

I spoken, we also believe, and therefore speak,

18 While we look not on the things which are

seen, but on the things which are not seen for the

things which are seen, are temporal: but the things

which are not seen, are eternal.

The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians

Chapter 4 Verses 13 and 18

First dear friend and reader, read again the above, and let it sink into your heart and mind. We, that is to say you, and me, have the same, the very same spirit of faith, that is given to all those who believe. There is none that is given a little nor any that is given more, we each of us have the same, equal amounts. ( James 1:4-8;) The difference may lie in how we utilize it, but we all have been given by God our Father the spirit that exists in Him. And with that spirit within us we are told by God to see things not as they are in THIS world, but how they are in the world eternal.

In 1989 I was saved. I gave my life over to Christ. Before that, I was an agnostic, neither being able to confirm nor deny God. Basically I went with what I could see with my own two eyes. There is of course the old argument of well you can’t see atoms, however the answer was but we can see electrons, (via microscopes) and as such knowing that they revolve around atoms, we can confirm their existence. But how, I would ask, do you prove God? The answer was always the same, we prove it by faith. ( Hebrews 11:1; )

Sadly, I so resisted God, and His attempts to reach out to me. I recall a Bible study, that was being hosted in my home. One of the participants asked if I would like to join. I, being the cynic I was said no thanks, that I just could not believe in something I could not see. We went around for a bit, and finally in a fit of anger I pulled a dollar out of my pocket, and said rather curtly, “See this? This is God!” The other man, looked at me, and I felt so bad for being so short tempered, yet his eyes were filled with pity. He said, “No Richard, that is the god of this world, and he is speaking through you, but it is not the Living God.” ( 2 Corinthians 4:4; Hebrews 10:31; ) I must admit I was not only shamed by my own behavior, but, now looking back on it, I was put to shame by God, for even doubting. ( John 20:24-29;) However praise be to God that He had not given up on me, and in the course of time I came into His light.

Now, one might ask me what does all this have to do with living by faith?

Friends, I am getting around to that straight away. Suffice it to say, that the man above saw life through the eyes of the spirit and not of the flesh. He walked in faith. Had he ever seen God? No, not very likely. He would have seen the works of God’s hands in his life, the manifestations of following in the righteousness of God, but seen God? NO. So how, how, did he know so assuredly that there was a God? He walked by faith.

As the Author of Hebrews pointed out in Chapter 11, many men obtained a good testimony for following God, based on faith, and belief in God, and His ability to do all that He promised. (Hebrews 11:13:) The author names Abraham, Abel, Enoch, Noah, and other patriarchs whom God had chosen to be shinning examples to each of us.

Now, in order to have that faith, and to be a pleasing aroma to God we must first believe that He exists! ( Hebrews 11:6;) Once we acknowledge that He lives and He exists, we begin to walk in faith. As a pastor once said during a sermon I attended “I know, that I know in my heart that I know He lives.” There is no doubt, no wavering, no hesitation, when we may be questioned about do we believe the answer must always be a resounding yes.

Groucho Marx once quipped in a movie; “ Who are you going to believe me, or your lying eyes?” I submit that God could make the same claim. The difference is the word me, for it is with a capital “M” So I ask you friends, who do YOU believe, God, or your lying eyes of the flesh?

Editor’s note - Suggested additional reading Psalm 116

The Daily Meditation

The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians

Chapter 6 Verse 14

14 Stand therefore, and your loins girded about

with verity, and having on the breastplate of righteousness,

Related Scripture

Isaiah 11:5;

Luke 12:35;

1 Peter 1:13;

1 Kings 3:6;

Psalm 145:18;

2 Samuel 22:40;

Psalm 18:39;

Isaiah 59:17;

Romans 13:12;

1 Thessalonians 5:8;

The Daily Meditation

The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians

Chapter 6 verse 13

13 For this cause take unto you the whole armor

of God, that ye may be able to resist in the evil day,

and having finished all things, stand fast.

Related Scripture

1 Chronicles 28:20;

2 Corinthians 10:4-5;

2 Corinthians 6:7;

2 Corinthians 4:8;

1 Corinthians 16:13;

Galatians 5:1;

Philippians 4:1;

1 Thessalonians 3:8;

2 Thessalonians 2:15;

Deuteronomy 31:6;

Joshua 1:9;

Joshua 10:25;

2 Samuel 10:12;

Ezra 10:4;

Psalm 27:14;

Psalm 31:24;

Isaiah 41:6;

The Daily Meditation

The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians

Chapter 6 Verses 11-12

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may

be able to stand against the assaults of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but

against principalities, against powers, and against

the worldly governors, the princes of the darkness of

this world, against spiritual wickedness, which are in

the high places.

Related Scripture

2 Corinthians 6:6-7;

1 Peter 5:8;

Romans 8:34-39;

Ephesians 2:2;

Colossians 2:15;

Colossians 3:6;

John 12:31;

2 Corinthians 4:4;

The Daily Meditation

The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians

Chapter 6 Verse 10

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord,

and in the power of his might.

Related Scripture

Deuteronomy 31:6;

1 Chronicles 28:10;

Isaiah 35:4;

Zechariah 8:13;

1 Corinthians 16:13;

Psalm 112:7

1 Peter 5:8-9;

The Daily Meditation

The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians

Chapter 5 Verses 22, 25

22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your husbands,

as unto the Lord.

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ

loved the Church, and gave himself for it,

Related Scripture

Genesis 2:22-23;

Colossians 3:18;

1 Corinthians 11:3;

Colossians 3:19;

1 Timothy 3:2, 12;

Titus 1:6;

Ephesians 5:33;

Editor’s thought - Men, let us not abuse our role as head of the household. For what does it benefit us? We invite strife, anger, resentment. Honor your wife, place her high above you. For it is not the role of one who leads to rule, but to serve. Suggested additional reading for men today. Proverbs 31

The Sunday Sermon

That All Should Come to Repentance

R.P.Woitowtiz Sr.

The Book of Ezekiel Chapter 33 Verse 11

The Second Epistle of Peter Chapter 3 Verse 9

11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God,

I desire not the death of the wicked, but that the

wicked turn from his way and live: turn you, turn

you from your evil ways, for why will ye die, O ye

house of Israel?

9 The Lord of that promise is not slack (as some

men count slackness) but is patient toward us, and

would have no man to perish, but would all men to

come to repentance.

Let me say the gist of these two verses combined;

I desire not the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; that all men come to repentance. Again! That ALL, emphasis on the word ALL should come to repentance. The Word does not say some, or just a few, or just a handful. No, no, no, it says ALL should come to repentance.

So often in these times, I hear, even from those who believe, that there is more than one road to Heaven. They say that a loving God would not, or cannot condemn any of his children to the eternal darkness and as such will in the end allow everyone in to his kingdom. But what does God’s Word say?

Again, let me combine parts of the two above verses;

No man to perish, for why will ye die?

God does qualify His Word, by stating that some will not turn and repent. The next question that should come to mind, is exactly who, will not.

In Chapter 5 verses 5-6 of Ephesians we see exactly who shall not enter into God’s heavenly kingdom;

5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, neither

unclean person, nor covetous person, which is an

idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of

Christ, and of God.

6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for,

for such things cometh the wrath of God upon the

children of disobedience.

Here again is the key of both verses, to which one might answer the above statement about a loving God. I quote again, Let NO MAN deceive you. These things will happen, and will happen as are made plain. We see the same again in Matthew 25:32-41, Matthew 7:21-23, and yet again in Matthew 10:32. The point is simply this, not everyone is going to get to heaven. And the only way one will is unless two things happen. One, one must confess Christ as Saviour, without that, all means nothing. Two, one must likewise after confessing repent, and turn from their ways. We are required to put on the new man, the spiritual man, the reborn man. ( Colossians 3:10, John 3:3, 7; 1 Peter 1:23;)

Now understand this, that yes the new man will stumble, and fall along the way, but he will also get up and walk again, and continue onward. We’re sinful creatures by nature, followers of what the flesh wills us, and whilst we do our best to crucify the flesh, sometimes it gets the better of us. (Romans 7:12-24;) This will happen, but in Christ we likewise have a meditator (Romans 3:23; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 2:18; Hebrews 9:15; 1 Corinthians 10:13; ) Someone who will stand before the Father and confess our names as brothers and sisters.

Brethren, it is my belief that the biggest problem facing those folks mentioned before, is the understanding that God, Who is indeed our loving Creator and Father, Who loves us dearly, is also a God of righteousness, and as such, cannot, I say again No, no no CAN NOT, look upon sin, and allow it to enter into his kingdom. ( Daniel 9:14; Ezra 9:15;) We so puff ourselves up these days, with our knowledge in the sciences, and other disciplines. We pride ourselves on our wisdom, thinking that what we know is more than what God knows. And yet, the simple fact is, is that for all our knowledge, intelligence, wisdom, and intellectual abilities, many of us are not able to grasp the simplest of facts, that our wisdom pales in comparison from that which comes from above. However, God, states the simple and obvious in that He takes the knowledge from men, and makes it foolishness, and makes HIS knowledge whom men deem foolishness true wisdom. ( Jeremiah 8:9; 1 Corinthians 2:5; 1 Corinthians 3:19; Ephesians 5:15, 17; Isaiah 55:9; ) It is amazing that so simple a fact escapes them, and others who live in world and follow after it, that God, is righteous. Yet all they need do, is confess Christ as Saviour, ( Philippians 2:10-11; 1 John 4:2; ) and repent of their sins and afterwards do their best to walk in His righteous ways. ( 1 John 1:9; Proverbs 2:20;) It’s that simple folks. That all peoples should come to repentance. That none should perish, and that all should live with our Creator.

Editor’s note - Just a little extra food for thought. In his writings called the The Apology of Socrates, Plato writes;

“I am called wise, for my hearers always imagine that I myself possess wisdom which I find wanting in others: but the truth is, O men of Athens, that God only is wise; and in this oracle he means to say that the wisdom of men is little or nothing.”