BELIEVETH

Sunday Morning - January 14, 1996

Text: John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

"WHOSOEVER"

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth..."

This word is the Greek word "pas" and it is singular in number. It is an adjective describing the one who is believing. A better translation would be "Every one believing".

"BELIEVETH"

The word "Believeth" is a present active participle. A better translation would be "One believing".

1 Peter 1:7 "That the trial of your faith,... though it be tried ..."

1 Peter 1:8 "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:"

BELIEVE FOR A WHILE

Luke 8:13 "They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe [present active], and in time of temptation

James 1:12 "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."

1 Peter 1:6-7 "...now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7. That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:"

fall away [PRESENT MIDDLE].

Matthew 13:20-21 "But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

21. Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth [eimi, present active] for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

Mark 4:16-17 "And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive [PRESENT ACTIVE] it with gladness;

17. And have no root in themselves, and so endure [eimi, present active]but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended."

STRONG IN FAITH

Colossians 2:7 "Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving."

Romans 4:20 "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;"

1 Corinthians 16:13 "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong."

SHIPWRECK OF THE FAITH

Matthew 13:22 "He also that received seed among the thorns is he [PRESENT ACTIVE - DURETH/ENDURE] that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful."

Mark 4:18-20 "And these are [PRESENT ACTIVE - DURETH /ENDURE] they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

19. And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Luke 8:14 "And that which fell among thorns are they [PRESENT ACTIVE - DURETH/ENDURE], which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection."

SHIPWRECK

1 Timothy 1:18-19 "This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, ... war a good warfare; 19. Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:"

DEPART

1 Timothy 4:1 "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;"

ERRED

1 Timothy 6:10 "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

THE WORD IS CHOKED

Proverbs 28:9 "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination."

2 Timothy 4:3-4 "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

TAKE HEED

Luke 21:34 "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares."

HIGHLY ESTEEMED

Luke 16:15 "And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God."

STRONG HOLDS

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 "(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"

BALANCE

Highly esteemed among men - A strong hold.

Financial security - A strong hold.

Human reasoning - A strong hold.

Politics and human solutions - A strong hold.

Animal rights - A strong hold.

Politically correct - A strong hold.

Personal rights - A strong hold.

If it chokes the Word of God - A strong hold.

If it stops your Bible Study - A strong hold.

If it stops your prayer life - A strong hold.

If it stops your fishing for men - A strong hold.

Against the knowledge of God - A strong hold.

STOP IT NOW!!!!

KEEP ON BELIEVING

Matthew 13:23 "But he that received seed into the good ground is he [PRESENT ACTIVE - DURETH/ENDURE] that heareth [PRESENT ACTIVE] the word, and understandeth [PRESENT ACTIVE] it; which also beareth [PRESENT ACTIVE]fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."

Mark 4:20 "And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear [PRESENT ACTIVE] the word, and receive [PRESENT ACTIVE] it, and bring [PRESENT ACTIVE] forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred."

Luke 8:15 "But that on the good ground are they [PRESENT ACTIVE - ENDURETH], which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience."