Faith Developed | Philip Anthony Mitchell | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

Faith Developed

Philip Anthony Mitchell

2819 Church • Aug 24, 2020 • 53 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

In the midst of difficult seasons and shifting circumstances, believers cannot rely on stale, past faith to survive current trials. Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell explores how faith must be intentionally developed, nurtured, and grown through the Word of God, prayer, and obedience. Through the biblical examples of Moses and Peter, this teaching shows that God allows seasons of sifting not to destroy us, but to remove unusable traits so our faith endures and reflects His power.

Themes

Faith DevelopmentSpiritual EnduranceSifting and TestingGod's FaithfulnessPower of the WordActive Faith

Pastor's Points

1.

Faith must be activated

2.

Faith must be spoken

3.

Faith must be moved to action

Key Points

1.
Faith must be activated through continually hearing, consuming, and feeding upon the Word of God.
2.
Faith must be spoken out loud through prayer and bold declarations that align with scripture rather than fear.
3.
Faith must be moved to action, because genuine faith without corresponding works is dead.
4.
Relying on the faith of a past season is insufficient to endure the trials and rigors of a current season.
5.
Faith cannot remain static or stagnant; it must be intentionally developed, nurtured, and guarded.
6.
God allows seasons of sifting to strip away unusable traits like unbelief and poor character so that true faith remains.
7.
The enemy attacks the things we are emotionally attached to not to possess those items, but to shipwreck our faith.

Sermon Moments

“The story of a college professor warning students to look left and right, illustrating how the rigors of a difficult season will overwhelm stamina if faith is not developed.”

“Moses' transformation from an insecure, excuse-filled man in Exodus 3 to a courageous leader parting the Red Sea in Exodus 14 after walking with God.”

“The observation that the faith of a former season is often not enough to endure the trials of a current season.”

“The imagery of sifting wheat on a threshing floor and violently shaking a sieve so that unusable dust and rocks fall out.”

“Jesus praying for Peter—not that trials or sifting would be removed, but that Peter's faith would not fail.”

“The insight that Satan has no personal use for your money, home, or car, but attacks what you are emotionally attached to in order to shipwreck your faith.”

“The tragic illustration of Jesus' hometown of Nazareth, where unbelief handcuffed the expression of God's power.”

“The analogy that faith is like a muscle that stays the same size until it is worked through action.”

This Week

Consistently consume and meditate on God's Word daily to feed and activate your faith.

Speak biblical promises out loud over your circumstances instead of giving voice to fear or doubt.

Take a tangible step of obedience this week toward a goal or calling God has placed on your heart.

Refuse to rely on past spiritual victories, pursuing fresh personal revival in your daily walk with Christ.

Identify areas of poor character or unbelief that God is sifting out through current trials and submit them to Him.

Guard your heart against emotional disillusionment when facing loss, keeping your focus on Jesus as your ultimate constant.

Reach out to encourage and strengthen a brother or sister in Christ who is going through a difficult season of sifting.

Remember This

Your faith cannot remain static; it must be intentionally developed, activated by God's Word, spoken in prayer, and demonstrated through action so that it will not fail during life's trials.

A Challenge for You

In all that you're going through and in all that you may go through, I am praying one thing for you: that your faith will not fail you. It can't stay where it is; that faith needs to be developed. Activate it with the word, speak it boldly out of your mouth, and demonstrate it with action.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.