Real Christianity is about loving God, which is a different agenda than the rest of the world lives by. Three aspects of the character of this relationship with God
1. Dependence on God
Proverbs 3:5, Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
2 Corinthians 1:8-10, We were crushed and completely overwhelmed, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we learned not to rely on ourselves, but on God who can raise the dead. And he did deliver us from mortal danger. And we are confident that he will continue to deliver us.
2. Delight in God
Psalm 37:4, Take delight in the Lord and he will give you your heart’s desire.
Psalm 43:4, I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight.
3. Devotion to God
2 Corinthians 5:15, Those who receive this new life no long live to please themselves. Instead, they will live to please Christ, who died and was raised for them.
Ray Steadman, in his book Authentic Christianity, listed five characteristics of such a faith…
Unquenchable optimism (2 Corinthians 2:14a)
Unvarying success (2 Corinthians 1:14b)
Unforgettable impact (2 Corinthians 2:15-16)
Unimpeachable integrity (2 Corinthians 2:17)
Undeniable reality (2 Corinthians 3:1-3)
God is not interested in turning you into some outrageous, unreal, artificial person. He wants to give you a more and better life (John 10:10). He doesn’t want to be distant and dreaded by you. He wants to be your loving Father. Will you take the step to become real today?

Having a Biblical worldview that enables you to discern the issues of life from a perspective of divine truth
Hebrews 5:14, Solid food is for those who are mature, who have trained themselves to recognize the difference between right and wrong and then do what is right.
Morally Pure: Living a life of holiness and purity that honors Christ.
Colossians 1:10, Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and you will continually do good, kind things for others.
Financially Generous: Sharing freely and liberally of your resources to extend God’s work on the earth and to bless others.
2 Corinthians 8:7, Since you excel in so many ways…now I want you to excel also in this gracious ministry of giving.
Family Commitment: Maintaining divine order in your home and active covenant with the People of God, the Church.
1 Timothy 3:4, He must manage his family well, with children who respect and obey him. If a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church?
Socially Responsible: Responding compassionately to the poor, the outcast, the abused and neglected.
Jeremiah 22:16, ‘He made sure that justice and help were given to the poor and needy, and everything went well with him. Isn’t that what it means to know me?’ says the Lord Evangelistically Bold: Giving witness to the Gospel of Christ in word, deed, and life-style.
Acts 1:8, When the Holy Spirit has come on you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere…

This aspect of spiritual maturity if fundamental to all the others. If there is not spiritual passion in our lives, nothing else will happen. When we lack passion, out heart becomes hollowed out. The Christian life seems more like a job than an adventure. The Ephesus Solution (Revelation 2:4-5)…
1. Remember
2. Repent
3. Renew

Then King Jehoshaphat went and stood before them and prayed aloud. (v. 5)
Remind yourself of who God is. Are you not the King of Heaven? You rule over the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. (v. 6)
Remind yourself of what God has done in the past. Did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before the people of Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham, your friend. (v. 7)
Ask God to do it again.
Will you not judge these armies? (v. 12)

We have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. (v. 12)

We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you! (v. 12b)
God spoke through one of the priests (Jahaziel) Listen. This is what the Lord says, ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged by this vast army. The battle is not yours, but it is God’s I(v. 15)
You don’t hold up God. He holds up you. Some of you may be ready to give up. GREAT! That is what God has been waiting for.

You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you. (v. 17)
God has never lost a battle!
“Stand firm” is a mental attitude of quiet confidence. We stand firm on two things:
(1) Who God is.
(2) What he has said.
Listen to me…Have faith in the Lord your god and you will be upheld. Have faith in his prophets, and you will be successful. (v. 20)

Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise Him…as they went out at the head of the army. (v. 21)
A unique battle plan was put into place. The choir led the army singing “Give thanks to the Lord for his Love endures forever.”
Praise is verbalized faith.
The results: The miracle came (v. 22)…The valley of defeat becomes the valley of blessing (vv. 25-28)…The world took notice and the fear of the Lord comes on them (v. 29)

God wants you to get concerned about the situation before he does anything about it. By this time it was late in the day, so the disciples came to Him…But he answered, “You given them something to eat.”
John 6:6, Jesus already had in mind what he was going to do. Jesus doesn’t act until we admit: “I’ve got a problem.” The disciples displayed three common reactions to a problem.
1. Procrastination
By this time it was late in the day…
2. Passing the buck
Send the people away…
3. Worry
You want us to spend a fortune…

God waits on us to do what we can with what we have before he acts. Notice the attitude of the little boy who gave his lunch.
1. He gave what he had.
2. He gave all he had.
In the face of our problem, why don’t we do this?
We worry that we might end up going hungry.
We think “What’s the use?”

God specializes in the impossible.
Jeremiah 32:17, …Nothing is too hard for you.
Luke 18:27, What is impossible with man is possible with God. God always responds to our faith.
Matthew 9:29, According to your faith, it will happen. Not only was the multitude fed, there were 12 baskets left over.
Who got the baskets? The Little Boy!
Jesus could have done this miracle without the disciples and without the little boy, but he didn’t. Why? Because God
likes to do miracles through people!