By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer
PINEVILLE – Fred Luter challenged students to develop spiritual discipline of faith during Louisiana College’s weekly chapel service Thursday, February 28.
“It doesn’t matter what ministry you are a part of, you must have this trait,” said Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans and former Southern Baptist Convention president. “If you intend to live victoriously in this life, if you intend to live more than you lose in this life, if you intend to be an overcomer in this life, you must have this quality.
“The reason why faith is so critical is because as long as you have blood running in your arteries and veins, as long as you are living in this world, you and I will be confronted with situations that require us to put our faith into action,” he continued.
Drawing from Hebrews 11, Luter said God tested the biblical character Abraham to see if he was willing to be obedient and offer his son as a sacrifice. Much like he put Abraham’s faith to the test, Luter said God does the same for every believer.
“God does not only want to hear obedience from our mouths, He wants to see obedience in our lives,” he said. “Anybody can talk about faith, anybody can preach about faith, anybody can teach and sing about faith, however, there are times in every believer’s life when God wants to look back and see if you have the faith that you preach about, that you sing about, that you talk about. Every now and then God will allow you to get into situations where you really have to depend on God.”
When God tests a believer’s faith, Luter said there is a commandment of faith, confidence of faith, challenge to faith and celebration of faith.
“If God allows you to be tested in an area, God knows that’s an area you can stand,” Luter said. “God will never command you as a son or daughter of God to do anything and not equip you to pull it off.”
Luter encouraged the students to not give up when the test of their faith becomes difficult.
“I know a God that if you trust in Him and never doubt, He will surely bring you out,” Luter said. “But you must have confidence in God.”
Held at the newly renovated Guinn Auditorium, chapel services minister to and encourage students each Thursday at 11 a.m. The schedule includes some dates of additional special chapel services.
The chapel schedule for the remaining spring semester:
Thursday, March 7
Rick Brewer, president, LC
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, March 12-14 (LC Spring Revival)
John Fream, pastor, Cypress Baptist Church, Benton
Thursday, March 21
Bill Britt, evangelist and founder, Compel Outreach International, Haughton
Tuesday, March 26
Richard Blackaby, president, Blackaby Ministries International, Atlanta, Georgia
Thursday, March 28
Jay McSwain, chaplain, Atlanta Braves, and president, PLACE Ministries, Alpharetta, Georgia
Thursday, April 4
Voices of LC concert
Thursday, April 11
Honors convocation
Thursday, April 25
Missions chapel
