FAITH REDEFINED: OBEDIENT FAITH

Sermon Notes, October 18, 2015

Rev. Garry McGlinchy

            Rev. McGlinchy’s sermon was titled “Faith Redefined: Obedient Faith.”  He reviewed a scripture from last week, 1 Corinthians 13:13, which tells us “…these three remain: faith, hope, and love.  And the greatest of these is love.”  He said God gave him his next three sermon series from that verse.  The first series, starting today, will be on Faith Redefined: Obedient Faith; Miraculous Faith; and Tested Faith.  The next series will be on Hope Restored; and in time for the Advent season will be a series on Love Revealed.

            In Genesis 12, just after the Tower of Babel when language was confused and the people were scattered, there remained a remnant who served the Lord.  Abram was called to move from Ur to Haran, and from Haran to Canaan.  He obeyed, uprooting his family and all the flocks and herds they’d gained in Haran.  Abram was one who continued to believe. 

Then in Matthew 4:18-22, Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James and John to follow him.  These four were ready to leave everything behind immediately, and follow Jesus.  They knew the scriptures.  They’d heard Jesus, and seen His miracles.  Their obedience came from something that was already at work in them.

Pastor Garry told of his call to the full-time ministry.  He was already ministering to youth, but felt the Lord calling him to be a senior pastor.  He obeyed the call, and God began to work out the details, providing a church to pastor, a job for Beccy, ways and means to get to Virginia from California, and a family home once they arrived.

These people stepped out in faith and obeyed God’s call.  Real faith starts by God’s speaking.  His children listen. We’re in the habit of asking God to bless our plans instead of forming our plans around Him.  We need to stop talking and start listening. 

            Faith requires our full obedience.  Sometimes we have to surrender.  Sometimes we have to sacrifice.  As Abram, the disciples, and Pastor Garry obeyed God’s call, the Lord began the work.  Abram did become a great nation.  Peter, Andrew, James and John did become fishers of men, leading God’s church.  And Pastor Garry did become a senior pastor, leading our church in Culpeper.

            We all have choices.  Do we have the obedient faith to follow Him fully?  Stop talking.  Start listening. Don’t be afraid.  Be obedient.