Faith First

Before one can come to God, before God can open their heart, as it he did Lydda's the individual must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who seek him and wants to know the truth. That is pretty simplistic because if you did not believe he existed why would you want to do anything. 

 

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 

 

1 Cor. 1:18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of

God. 

 

1 Cor. 1:21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 

 

God will have to hide his eyes from my failures for me to make into Heaven. This is my reason for believing the only responsibility a congregation has is to facilitate, encourage, be cheerleaders for my efforts to accomplish my responsibilities. I forget her name but the one who got the award that Jesus had nothing to do with, she is perishing, she is not seeking, she does not believe God exists, there is nothing anyone can do for her until she decides to believe in something other than herself.