Covenant Church - Shepherdstown, WV
Message by Pastor Terry Crawford
Note 1
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God isn’t looking for perfection, He’s looking for an obedient faith.
Bible Reference 1
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Deuteronomy 13:4 (NIV84)
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It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.
Bible Reference 2
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John 14:15 (NIV84)
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“If you love me, you will obey what I command.
Bible Reference 3
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Hebrews 10:1 (NIV84)
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The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming–not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.
Bible Reference 4
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Matthew 23:27 (NIV84)
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“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean.
Note 2
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Outward perfection may hide inward disconnection with God.
Note 3
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Obedient faith out of a heart of love for God pleases him.
Bible Reference 5
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Hebrews 11:6 (NIV84)
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And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Note 4
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Faith is more about persistence and perspective than it is perfection.
Bible Reference 6
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Hebrews 11:1-3 (NIV84)
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Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
Question 1
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What moves you? Is there a people group you ache for? Is there an area in your community that you can’t stop thinking about? Is there a ministry you’ve wanted to start, but keep talking yourself out of because you are “in your mind” a nobody and how could God use you? Do you have God’s perspective or yours? You don’t have to be perfect, just obedient.
Bible Reference 7
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Hebrews 5:7-9 (NIV84)
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During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him
