HOW TO WIN (WEEK 1) - WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BELIEVE IN JESUS?

Bloom Church Podcast

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT

Faith is what brings meaning to life. God has a sovereign purpose in all things. That as God’s children we must trust that Jesus is who He says He is, salvation is real, the Word of God is true, and that nothing can separate us from the love of God!

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1 NLT

FEAR IS CONQUERED BY FAITH AND FAITH IS FUELED BY TRUST

One day the widow of a member of the group of prophets came to Elisha and cried out, “My husband who served you is dead, and you know how he feared the Lord. But now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves.” 2 Kings 4:1 NLT

1. GOD CARES ABOUT YOUR SITUATION

'The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.' Psalms 34:17-18 NLT

“What can I do to help you?” Elisha asked. 2 Kings 4:2 NLT

Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things. Psalms 81:10 NLT

But no, my people wouldn’t listen. Israel did not want me around. Psalms 81:11 NLT

2. YOUR MINDSET MATTERS

“Tell me, what do you have in the house?” 2 Kings 4:2 NLT

“Nothing at all...” she replied. 2 Kings 4:2 NLT

“Nothing at all, except a flask of olive oil,” she replied. 2 Kings 4:2 NLT

3. WE DO THE GIVING AND GOD DOES THE MULTIPLYING

And Elisha said, “Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors. Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars, setting each one aside when it is filled.” So she did as she was told. Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she filled one after another. Soon every container was full to the brim! “Bring me another jar,” she said to one of her sons. “There aren’t any more!” he told her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing. When she told the man of God what had happened, he said to her, “Now sell the olive oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on what is left over.” 2 Kings 4:3-7 NLT

4. WHEN WE STOP GIVING GOD STOPS PROVIDING

“Bring me another jar,” she said to one of her sons. “There aren’t any more!” he told her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing. 2 Kings 4:6 NLT

WHAT ARE THE PROVISIONS OF GOD?

1.HE GIVES US UNCONDITIONAL FORGIVENESS AND RESTORATION

He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. Psalms 103:3 NLT

This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. 1 Timothy 1:15-16 NLT

2. BY GIVING US AN INHERITANCE

He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. Psalms 103:4 NLT

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him. 1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT

We are Gods children

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12 NLT

We are heirs to God

Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir. Galatians 4:7 NLT

God says we are royalty!

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. 1 Peter 2:9 NLT

We are Chosen, holy, and blameless

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. Ephesians 1:4 NLT

3. BY GIVING US TRUE FULFILLMENT

He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s! Psalms 103:5 NLT

He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you. Luke 22:19-20 NLT