20/03/2005 Childlike Faith

"Childlike Faith"
Ken Malmin
CityLife Church Sunday 11am

Don't get old in your spirit. There must be the stability of maturity, but also a vitality of youth.

Matt 19:26
Mark 9:23-24
Matt 17:20-21

Simple, childlike faith is:

• Faith in the midst of contradiction.
• Uncluttered, unsophisticated by doubt, busyness of life, being 'too smart'

The results of our faith is not up to us. Our job is simply obey.
We shouldn't strive to control the outcome, but to PUSH: 'Pray Until Something Happens'.
Praying is about God, not us.
"The power of prayer is in the one who hears it, notin the one who says it."

Faith is about:

1. Alignment (Lk 7:1-10, Jas 4:7-8)
   · We need to submit/surrender to God, His authority flows through us.
2. Focus
   · Where is our focus? Are we focussed on God or on the devil?
   · The more we focus on God, the greater our faith becomes.
   · Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, faith looks up.
   · When we worship, we focus on God, we take our eyes off ourselves.
3. Hearing (Rom 10:17)
   · "Faith comes by hearing..."
   · How often do we be still and listen to His faith.
4. Choice
   · "Faith is agreeing with God."
5. Risk-taking
   · We need to step out when God tells us to move.
6. Courage
7. Trust
8. Humility
   · See yourself through God's eyes