This weeks sermon notes are the second and final installment of the Revive series we started last week. I thought it was important to continue talking about building and reviving our faith in order to reach our purpose this week because I am in a revival stage of my faith walk. I know God is able but sometimes it is easy to lose sight in the chaos that is life. Which is why this series has been both necessary and relative to me these last few weeks.

Being called by God and reaching purpose has a process.

Just because you are in a process doesn't change the plan of God on your life.

"For olives to become oil there is a crushing process"

Without faith, it is impossible to please God.

Daniel 3:14; Nebuchadnezzar said to them is it true Shadrach, Meschac, and Abednego that you refuse to serve my Gods or to worship the golden statue that I set up, I will give you one more chance to bow down and to worship the statue that I made when you hear the musical instruments. But if you refuse you will immediately be thrown into the blazing furnace. Then what God will be able to rescue from my power.

Daniel 3:16; They replied oh Nebuchadnezzar we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we're thrown into the blazing fire the *God who we serve is able to save us**, he will rescue us from your power.* But even if he doesn't we want to make it clear to you that we will never serve your God's or worship the golden statue that you have set up.

How are we going to fix our faith? How are we going to move forward against the opposition?

God has a specific plan for your life. If you would just fix your faith and understand and trust where he is trying to send you it will be easier for you to reach purpose.

Hebrews 12:1; Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles us and let us, run with perseverance the race marked out for use. Fixing our eyes on Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.

1. Fixed faith is challenged

Our faith will be challenged. There will be things that will challenge you and say "What God?"
If our faith is going to be fixed there will be challenges, it is a part of following Jesus.
Opposition does not mean that you are going the wrong way. When your faith is challenged it means that you are going the right way.

2. Fixed faith responds.

So many times we want God to do specific miracles with general prayers.
We have to speak specifically to our situation. As followers of Jesus, we have to have a boldness and a confidence to understand the power that we have when opposition comes our way.
There needs to be some sort of courage and boldness that when the enemy tries to come against your purpose you respond.
Faith is not blind, you can see the facts.

See Facts but Speak Faith.

Ephesians 2; For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him.

3. Fixed faith is decided.

Your feelings can not be the barometer of your obedience. You won't always feel like taking the step of faith that God will ask you to take.
Jesus who is our example for a moment did not feel like saving the world but, he said: "not my will but yours be done".
You have to be anchored.

4. Fixed faith has friends.

Your circle has to be speaking the same things as you.
Are you the friend that sticks around?
Because your faith will be challenged you will need people around you that will be able to push you into God's purpose.
Living life on your own and doing it by yourself does not make you brave.

5. Fixed faith has perspective.

2 Corinthians 4:16; So we're not giving up. How could we? Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart. On the inside where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration he's prepared for us there is far more than meets the eye. The things we can see now are here today, gone tomorrow but there are things we can not see that will last forever.

If your faith is going to be fixed you have to have perspective on your situation.
Even though you can't see how God is working there are still things we can look toward.
Put your situation next to your creator.
When you get perspective, you can get to a place where you say "I know God is able, but even if he doesn't" he's gotten us this far and he will keep moving forward.