Faith
1. Have faith. These are two words sometimes say to one another.
2. Though these two words are used, they are usually not explained.
3. What does it mean to “have faith”?
4. How do we know if we “have faith”?
IN THE LIFE OF CHRIST WE SEE SOME VERY INTERESTING USES OF THE WORD FAITH; TONIGHT WE WANT TO LOOK AT THIS WORD FROM THE LIFE OF CHRIST. ALL OF OUR TEXTS WILL BE TAKEN FROM Matthew-JOHN. NEXT WE MAY POSSIBLY LOOK AT THIS TERM AS IT IS USED IN ACTS-REVELATION.
a) The first time we come to “faith” in the gospels is in the Sermon on the Mount.
b) Jesus warned about laying up treasures in heaven (verse 19 of Mt. 6).
c) In verse 21 of this chapter He said where our treasure is there will also be our heart.
d) We cannot serve two masters (God and wealth, verse 24).
e) Beginning in verse 25, Jesus condemned concern that is out of the ordinary.
f) He spoke of worrying over things we cannot control.
g) It is in this part of the discussion that verse 30 occurs – READ.
2) Jesus said there were people who had “little faith.”
3) If the grass in the world could actually possess faith, it would have more faith than some people.
a) In this single verses we find a couple of key points about faith.
b) First, it can be small (limited). There are different amounts of faith.
c) If times are good, faith can seem strong. Let times become difficult, and faith seems to dry up.
d) Second, most people would not want to hear they have “little faith.”
e) We must recognize that such is possible, and there are people even now who have little faith.
f) Because this is a possible state, we would do well at times to see how much faith we have.
g) Just as we might check fluid levels in a vehicle, so we can check out faith.
h) Is it weak, strong or somewhere in-between?
i) In life we are encouraged to get checkups; at various ages certain tests are recommended.
j) Doctors may check our blood pressure, cholesterol, our eyes, hearing, or something else.
k) Based upon what we will see in the gospels, testing the faith is a worthwhile task.
4) Moving from Mt. 6 we turn to Mt. 8; Mt. 8:10.
a) Jesus said He found a man who had faith.
b) This was an interesting case because this man was not a Jew; he was a Gentile.
c) Here is how the text reads – READ.
d) While people who were Jews in Mt. 6 had “small faith,” a Gentile had great faith.
e) This Gentile was a military commander; he had a sick servant.
f) He said if Jesus would say the word the servant would be healed.
g) He did not need Jesus to come to His house; the Lord’s word was enough.
5) This second text also has practical application for our day and time.
a) Is God’s word enough for us as we go through life?
b) A lot of people say or believe the Bible is not enough; we need something else (a supplement).
c) Many want a special “sign” or supernatural event from God.
d) The Bible is good, but many want more—something in addition to the Bible.
e) God has given us His word (we have it in written form).
f) We need to ask ourselves if God’s word is sufficient for us to believe and live the Christian life.
g) At times people say something “is not worth the paper it is written upon.”
6) Some, by their actions, imply that such is also the case with the Scriptures.
7) If God has given us all we need in His word, what need is there for something else?
8) God says His word makes us complete (2 Tim. 3:17).
9) Is not God’s word in written form enough?
10) God says it is; the Scriptures cannot be broken (Jn. 10:35).
11) Jesus said heaven’s word will “never pass away” (Mt. 5:18).
12) The word of the Lord abides forever (1 Pet. 1:25).
13) If we have faith that is true and right, we believe the Scriptures are all we need.
14) One of the ways we have “great faith” is to take all God’s word for what it says and believe it.
15) We accept the Bible for what it is: God’s personal guarantee to us.
16) After Matthew 8 we may turn across the page to Mt. 9.
a) Jesus came to “His own city” (verse 1).
b) There were people who brought a paralyzed man to Jesus for healing.
c) Matthew says Jesus “saw their faith” (READ verse 2).
d) Many times when we think about faith we may view it as something inward.
e) It is true that many times faith is inward; we do not always verbally express it.
f) Faith may also be expressed in a way that is outward.
17) If we show up time after time to worship God, that says something—we have faith.
18) We have faith in God, we have faith in our worship to him, and we have faith in His relationship with us.
19) Our faith may also be demonstrated each day we live the Christian life.
20) We demonstrate faith by producing the fruit of the spirit in our homes and amongst those we meet.
21) Our faith can be living and active and therefore visible to others.
22) What an encouragement it is to look at someone else and “see faith.”
23) Do others “see faith” in us? If not, why not?
24) Another example of seeing faith is found a little later in this chapter.
a) There was a woman who had had a medical problem for 12 years.
b) Jesus was in a crowd and the sick woman thought she would sneak up behind Him and get healed.
c) Women in this day and time were not highly regarded.
d) Her condition would have caused her some social problems.
e) She had enough faith and courage to try and touch the Lord’s clothing, and she did.
f) Mt. 9:22 says she was successful – verse 22 – READ.
25) Faith in the Lord was repaid.
26) The previous 12 years had not been too swell, but this woman’s circumstances changed.
27) This woman’s situation is not completely parallel to ours.
28) She may be compared to us in this way: there was trust in Christ and it paid off.
29) Faith required courage on her part, and perhaps required her to overcome some fear.
30) This women moved forward with her faith and she found a brand new life.
a) In the New Testament there are verses that encourage Christians to “hold to their faith.”
b) Things that would draw the saved away from the faith are discouraged.
c) At the proper time (eternity), our faith will also make us “whole.”
d) We will receive the benefit (reward) of our faith just like she was rewarded.
31) We can look at faith and wonder if it is really all that important.
32) Is God really that interested in our having faith and having a strong faith?
a) Several passages could be given to answer this question, but let’s stay in Matthew.
b) Matthew 23 is where we find the Lord rebuking people like the Pharisees.
c) Again and again the Lord denounced these religious leaders.
d) Most Jews would have probably looked at the Pharisees and thought they had great faith.
e) If these men had faith, it was the wrong type of faith.
f) Jesus specifically commented on the Pharisees and faith in Mt. 23:23 – READ.
33) Today people can get hung up on things they think are really important.
34) Before we hang our hat on certain issues, we need to be sure these are issues that concern God.
35) People like the Pharisees paid great attention to their tithing/offering.
a) As I look at these men they remind me of a pharmacist.
b) Perhaps you have watched someone at a drug store fill a prescription.
c) They pour out some pills and then carefully count out the exact number.
d) Pharisees carefully counted out the exact percentage of what they should give.
e) If they had something like corn, they would have counted the ears – 1 through 10.
f) Every tenth ear was set aside for God and then they started to count again.
g) Care about this area of life was not wrong, but they got so bogged down other things were abandoned.
h) They forgot about the “weightier matters of the law,” one of which was “faith.”
i) God requires faith. Without faith we cannot please Him (Heb. 11:6).
36) It took a while but the apostles got to a point where they really realized the need for faith.
37) Thus, in Lk. 17:5 they said to the Lord, “increase our faith.”
a) Today Christians can have this same wish – “increase our faith.”
b) I have heard people say, “I wish I had as much faith as that person.”
c) Or, “He has more faith than I could ever have.”
d) These statements are not based upon reflective thought.
e) We are not born with faith. Faith is created in every single one of us.
f) There are some things in life which we probably cannot adjust.
g) If we come from a family of short people, we probably can’t do much to affect our final height.
h) We may have limited control of a family history of medical problems.
i) Our level of faith is not predetermined.
j) The apostles were lacking in faith and this deficiency was overcome.
k) When we see deficiencies in faith today, they can be fixed.
l) Acts 16:5 refers to being “strengthened” in faith.
38) We want to have our faith go and grow as each day passes.
39) We also want to strengthen the faith in our young people.
40) A lot of religious groups appeal to children with fun and games.
41) Fun is indeed fun; fun is not always synonymous with faith.
42) God has not told us to bore people to death, but faith instead of fun is what God wants.
43) Think of the religious youngsters who would say to us, “I have fun at services.”
44) Lots would say this; how many of these young people are being led to a true and deep faith?
45) Faith usually begins as a seed and some work to turn it into a mighty tree.
46) Jesus asked a question in Lk. 8:25 that I would not like to answer.
a) He said to His people, “where is your faith?”
b) That question must have stung.
c) Might God still be asking this type of question today?
d) Where is our faith?
e) If our faith is small, how long will be content to leave it small?
f) Is our faith at times visible to others?
g) Have we made faith a kind of secondary issue in our lives?
47) We need faith, and it needs to be an obedient faith.