"Authentic Faith: Faith that Stands the Test of Time"
Exodus 20:12 NKJV
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you."
Ephesians 6:2 NKJV
"Honor your father and mother" (which is the first commandment with a promise)
Matthew 15:4 NKJV
For God said, 'Honor your father and mother' and 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.'
Proverbs 1:8-9 NKJV
Pay close attention, my child, to your father’s wise words and never forget your mother’s instructions. For their insight will bring you success, adorning you with grace-filled thoughts and giving you reins to guide your decisions.
Proverbs 6:20-22 NKJV
My child, obey your father’s godly instruction and follow your mother’s life-giving teaching. Fill your heart with their advice and let your life be shaped by what they’ve taught you. Their wisdom will guide you wherever you go and keep you from bringing harm to yourself. Their instruction will whisper to you at every sunrise and direct you through a brand new day.
2 Timothy 1:5 NKJV
I’m reminded of your authentic faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice. I’m sure that this faith is also inside you.
NOTE: But do we set the same standard of authenticity for our own faith and our walk with God?
Romans 12:9-10 NKJV
"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves."
Love God, Love People, Hate Sin, Live Right Quote Micah Jackson
Signs of Authentic Faith
Display the Beatitudes that Jesus described in Matthew 5:3-12
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Signs of Authentic Faith
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Think with a transformed mind, express genuine love, and respect authority
Romans 12:1-2 NKJV
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will
Romans 13:1-7 NKJV
1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
Romans 13:1-7 NKJV
3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
Romans 13:1-7 NKJV
5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Signs of Authentic Faith
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Overflow with love actions
I Corinthians 13:1-7, 13 NKJV
1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Signs of Authentic Faith
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Display the Spirit’s fruit
Galations 5:22-26 NKJV
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Signs of Authentic Faith
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imitate Christ’s humility and look out for others’ interests
Phillippians 2:1-4 NKJV
1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Signs of Authentic Faith
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Pray without ceasing and give thanks in everything.
I Thessalonians 5:16-18 NKJV
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Signs of Authentic Faith
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Carry out works of faith and compassion, control the tongue, and speak wisdom.
James 2:14-17, 3:13 NKJV
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
Signs of Authentic Faith
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Hold to the truth about Jesus and defend it.
2 John 4 NKJV
4 It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us.
3 John 3,4 NKJV
3 It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
Jude 3 NKJV
3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.
Signs of Authentic Faith
Meekness, empathy, hunger for righteousness, mercy, purity, peacemakers,the mind of Christ, genuine love, respect, displaying the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, long-suffering, meekness, temperance, faith), humility, prayerful and thankful, compassion, wisdom, and commitment to truth.
Being authentic about our faith journey means that we are honest about the fact that we don’t have all the answers.
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But being authentic doesn’t just mean being honest.
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It also means that our faith is genuine.
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It means that there is something about our faith in Jesus that trumps every doubt or uncertainty we ever have.
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It means that we take our walk with God seriously and we choose not to be “fake” with our faith.