How’s Your Faith
Mark 4:40, Mtt 17:20, Mtt 15:28, Mtt 8:10 (NLT)
Intro: It was autumn, and the Indians on the remote reservation asked their new Chief if the winter was going to be cold or mild. Since he was an Indian Chief in a modern society, he had never been taught the old secrets. When he looked at the sky, he couldn’t tell what the weather was going to be. Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, he replied to his tribe that the winter was indeed going to be cold and that the members of the village should collect firewood to be prepared.
Also, being a practical leader, after several days he got an idea. He went to the phone booth, called the National Weather Service and asked, "Is the coming winter going to be cold?"
"It looks like this winter is going to be quite cold indeed," the meteorologist at the weather service responded. So the Chief went back to his people and told them to collect even more wood in order to be prepared.
A week later, he called the National Weather Service again. "Is it going to be a very cold winter?"
"Yes," the man at National Weather Service again replied, "it’s definitely going to be a very cold winter." The Chief again went back to his people and ordered them to collect every scrap of wood they could find.
Two weeks later, he called the National Weather Service again. "Are you absolutely sure that the winter is going to be very cold?"
"Absolutely," the man replied. "It’s going to be one of the coldest winters ever."
"How can you be so sure?" the Chief asked.
The weatherman replied, "The Indians are collecting wood like crazy."
. Be careful in who and what you put your faith in.
. Today’s sermon was placed on my heart last Sunday night at choir practice.
. The choir practiced the song Move Mountain that they opened our service with today. The song is based on one of our scripture references this morning in Matthew 17:20 where Jesus says that our faith will allow us to move mountains.
. Jesus talks much about faith during his three year ministry. He mentions three types of faith and I want us to look at these three types of faith this morning.
. He speaks of those that have No Faith, He speaks of Little Faith and He speaks of those who have Great Faith.
. Let’s look at what Jesus calls:
NO FAITH
. Mark 4:40
. Jesus has been teaching by the lake shore standing in a boat on the lake so the water could act as an amplifier for his voice so the people could hear him.
. He taught them in stories called parables.
. That night, He was alone with his disciples explaining the meaning of the parables to them. It was getting late and Jesus said that they needed to get to the other side of the lake.
. They got into the boat and set out across the sea of Galilee.
. There on the Sea of Galilee, fierce and violent storms can come up suddenly. It is the lowest freshwater lake on Earth and it is nestled in between four very steep hills. The winds come off these hills and can cause waves up to 10 feet high right there on that fresh water lake.
. It was in one of these storms that Jesus and the disciples found themselves in.
. Jesus was sleeping in the back of the boat. Apparently He was a very sound sleeper.
. The disciples got scared and they went back and woke him up.
. Look at their conversation here in Mark 4:39-40
39When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!”Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.
40Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
. Now these guys had seen Jesus drive out an evil spirit from a man in the synagogue, He had just healed Simon Peter’s mother in law.
He set up camp there in Simon’s house and Mark writes that Jesus healed many sick and demon possessed people.
. They had seen the paralyzed man let down through the roof of a house because they could not get him to Jesus for healing because of all the people surrounding Jesus.
. They had seen all these things yet Jesus says that they have no faith.
. Why?
. These guys were not yet saved is why they had no faith in Jesus.
. They had really just met Jesus and they had heard about him and seen him but they really didn’t understand who He was.
. They knew that He was special and they hoped beyond hope that He was the Messiah, the one to come and free them from the iron grip of the Romans.
. They were still looking for a political leader, one that would help them right then.
. Even though the scriptures had foretold the messiah being beaten and killed for their sin, the concept seemed foreign to them.
. They made sacrifices for their sin, they needed a leader, not a savior.
. They knew a lot about Jesus but they didn’t know him in a saving way.
. They were in along for the ride there in the boat, wanting to be part of the in people when Jesus came into power if in fact He was the messiah.
. Our churches today are filled with people just like these guys.
. They have heard about Jesus, they give Him lip service but deep down, they are just along for the ride.
.They do not know Jesus in a personal and saving way.
. They have their own agenda when it comes to church.
. Maybe they come to make their husband or wife happy.
. Maybe they come because that is what you do on Sunday. You go to church. That’s what they have done their whole life.
. Maybe it’s good for business. Church is a place to network and further ourselves in the business world.
. No matter what your motivation is, if it is not driven by your saving relationship with Jesus Christ, by your acceptance of what He did for you on the cross, by your commitment to Him then you are just like these men on the boat.
. Jesus would look at you and say;
“Do You Still Have No Faith”
. How’s your faith this morning?
. Next Jesus addresses:
. Little Faith
. Matthew 17:20
. Jesus and his disciples were traveling and they got to the foot of a mountain and a huge crowd was there waiting for Him. A man came and fell at Jesus’ feet and told him that his son was possessed with a demon and he had brought the boy to the disciples for healing but they could not drive the demon out.
. Jesus showed irritation with the disciples stating that He didn’t know how long He was going to have to put up with them.
. He said “bring me the boy”
. They brought the boy to Jesus and He rebuked the demon and he went out of the boy.
. A little later on, the disciples asked Jesus why they could not heal the boy. This is what Jesus said to them.
. Matthew 17:20
. 20“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them (NLT)
. He replied, “Because you have so little faith.” (NIV)
. And Jesus said unto them, “Because of your unbelief” (KJV)
. Jesus says your faith is not strong enough.
. You have been with me, you know who I am by now yet your faith is still not strong enough.
. You still want to go your own way. Do things your own way.
. These men had obviously tried to drive out the demon in their own strength. They had not depended on their faith to accomplish the task they wanted.
. I believe that most Christians today are little faith Christians.
. We realize that we need Jesus for our salvation. We accept what He did for us on the cross but He doesn’t need to be part of our lives other than that.
. Jesus is for Sunday morning and possibly Sunday night but the rest of the time we can make it on our own.
. Jesus may be able to save me but that’s all I need him for.
. Deep down, we really don’t believe that He wants to be involved in our day to day lives and we place our faith in other things.
. Our jobs, our family, our friends and relationships we have with others.
. We work much harder at our relationships with others and our jobs and families than we do with our relationship with Jesus.
. That little bit of faith will save us but little faith keeps us from being all that we can be in Jesus.
. Little Faith restricts how God can use us to fulfill the purpose of our existence. To glorify God.
. Little faith Christians just exist for themselves and never allow God to use them in the way He wants.
. We move from no faith to little faith and from there we need to move into great faith.
. Jesus seems to contradict himself here in the next verse.
. He had just told the disciples that the reason they had been unsuccessful was because of their “littleness of faith” then He says this.
“I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”
. Wait a minute Jesus, you just rebuked us for our little faith and now you tell us that id we have faith as small as a mustard seed we could move a mountain.
. What’s up with that.
. Jesus is using the mustard seed analogy as a starting point.
. He had told them before about the mustard seed back in chapter 13 of Matthew.
. Look at what He says about mustard seed faith and growth in 13:31 &32
. 31Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field.
32It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.”
. He is reminding them that this small faith they have can flourish, just like a mustard seed and it can become great.
. If they allow it to grow like a mustard seed, there are no limits to what God can do through them.
. They can move from little faith to:
. Great Faith
. Jesus only talks about people with great faith twice in his ministry and surprisingly they were both Gentiles.
. Lets look at them real quick.
. The first is found in Matthew 8. It’s the story of the Roman Soldier who had servant, that he must have cared a lot for, that was in terrible pain and was paralyzed.
. He went to Jesus and told him about it and Jesus said ok, I will come with you and heal him.
. The soldier told Jesus that he was not worthy of Jesus even entering his house but he had faith that if Jesus would just speak the word, his servant would be healed. He said I know this because I believe that you have the power and the authority over everything.
. Just say the word Jesus. I believe you can do anything.
. When Jesus heard this, look at what He said in verse 10.
. 10When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!
. 10 When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no not in Israel.' (KJV)
. 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. (NIV)
. Great faith believes that Jesus has authority and power and can do miraculous things.
. Great faith is more than a Sunday morning faith.
. Let’s look at the other person of great faith real quick.
. Matthew 15:27,28
. Jesus and his disciples had left Galilee and traveled north to the region of Sidon. There were Gentiles living in that region and one of the women came to Jesus begging Him to heal her daughter from demon possession. Jesus was ignoring her believe it or not and the disciples were trying to get him to tell her to go away.
. Jesus looked at her and finally told her that his immediate ministry was to the Jewish people. There were Jewish people here that needed to be healed. They would be healed first.
. Jesus compared this to taking food away from children and feeding it to the dogs.
. The woman showed great wisdom and faith when she said this in verse 27.
. 27She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters’ table.”
. When Jesus heard this He was amazed at her faith and said this:
. 28“Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed.
. Your faith is great because you believe that I can do anything and everything.
. Christians our faith is great when we believe that Jesus has authority and power over all aspects of our lives.
. Our faith can move from as small as a mustard seed and grow into the biggest plant in the garden if we just accept the fact that Jesus has all authority.
. That we can depend upon him in all aspects of our lives. Not just a little bit on Sunday morning.
. I ask you this morning, How’s Your Faith?
.Invitation
*** To my Christian brothers and sisters, thank you for taking the time to read this sermon. I ask that you take another second and score this for me. I am always open to feedback so that I can continue to grow in the proclamation of God’s word.
May God bless you as you continue to strive to walk worthy of His calling.
Sources The Holy Bible, NLT, INV, KJV
Illustration from sermon central
