Sermon Title
Have Faith In God
By-Evangelist Gary Huckaby D.D.
Our text comes today from the Gospel of Mark 11:22; "And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have Faith In God."
A man in Memphis Tennessee lost his wife to the age old enemy, death. It almost killed him, but he moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee and lived on Lookout mountain where he met another lady and finally married her. When taking her back to Memphis he thought he would change the inscription on his first wife’s tombstone. It was "The light of my life has gone out." He had it changed to, "The light of my life has gone out, But I struck another match."
Today I am striking another match. I want to keep on going for the dear Lord Jesus!
In Luke 17:5, the Bible says, "And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our Faith."
In Romans 10:17, we see, "So then Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God."
In Hebrews 11:1, again we see, "Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen."
Often young preachers ask me what one thing has kept me going for over thirty years of ministry. My answer without hesitation is always, "Faith In God!" If I keep my eyes on the Lord, I can keep going. If I keep His promises in mind, His presence is with me. His power is upon me, and I can rest in Him.
Faithfulness adds strength for any burden, and God’s blessings will be upon us and give us courage.
Pastors, missionaries, teachers, or the average Christian all need great Faith. The Lord Jesus commanded us to "Have Faith In God."
(1)
Faith In God Always Wins
Faith is a winning attitude, Faith is positive, doubt is negative. Faith is the one thing that is necessary for life in this evil world. With Faith in God we are on the winning side. Like the apostle Paul said in 2 Timothy 1:12; "For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."
Faith in Christ makes you a child of God. Do you know Him today? I don’t mean Church membership, or baptism, but have you actually met the Lord Jesus Christ? When you are saved, you are in God’s family, then you can pray, "Our father, which art in heaven."
There are some thirty two thousand promises in the Bible, and by Faith you can have any of them. A Christian can walk the life of Faith, believe God, trust Him, so don’t be a loser! Be a winner! Life is lonely, pitiful, and miserable without Christ. Faith in the Lord changes everything, and makes us winners.
(2)
Faith In God Gives Peace
Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, John, Paul and others had their troubles in life, but they had peace of heart. Jesus said; "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27. There is peace in times of affliction, when the body may be weak. Paul had a thorn in the flesh, but had Faith in God. There are tragedies all around us, but Faith in God will bring one through, no matter what the sorrow may be.
Mike and Francis Wood were missionaries to Africa. He became paralyzed from his waist down after his return to the United States. He again went back to Africa to do mission work in a wheel chair. If you are in poverty, Have faith In God, He will bring you through.
There is Faith in the hour of death. Often this Faith is seen when people come to the end of this life.The late Evangelist D.L.Moody while on his death bed cried out, "If this is death it is wonderful!"
Billy Bray said; "I shall soon see Jesus doctor, may I tell Him you are coming too?" As children of God we should have Faith in God even if death comes for us.
(3)
Faith In God Gives Inspiration
Psalms 23:1, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose."
Faith in God gives inspiration. One can not recite the above verses without a surge of encouragement. Some hours are dark and sad. We all have them. Faith in God inspires us. When the body is weak, or in the hour of temptation, or when all men forsake us, we look to God for inspiration.
Paul said, "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself; so that I might finish my course with joy." Acts 20:24. Paul had a Gibraltar Faith, he was a determined man, a confident man,, a courageous man. Nothing could move him from his Faith in God. Men may fail us but God will never fail!
(4)
Faith In God Moves Me To Obedience
1 Samuel 15:22, says, "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." My faith and love will move me to obedience. It is not true to say we have faith in God and then to not listen to Him or obey Him. In Acts 1:8, the Bible tells us, "Ye shall be witnesses unto me." Not to be a witness would be disobedience, we must obey! A witness tells what he knows, then the fruit will come. The local Church is to be obedient to Christ. Jesus said; "If ye love me keep my commandments." The great commission has been given, we therefore must obey it. Faith moves us to obedience.
(5)
Faith In God Can Change Any Situation
It was an impossible situation for Moses and Israel when at the Red sea they seemed trapped. Pharaoh and his army was approaching, mountains on both sides of them, and the Red sea before them, yet God opened the sea and they walked through on dry ground, but the Egyptians were swallowed up in the waters. All things are possible with God, my friends.
Elijah when contesting with the false prophets on MT. Carmel, soaked the sacrifice and the altar with much water, and when God answered his prayer, the people cried out, "The LORD He is the God!" Faith in God can change any situation and give new hope in times of trouble. In Acts 16, there was a revival in the jail. Faith can change a whole city, read Jonah if you do not think so. Faith can change a lions den into a bedroom of rest. faith can change a slimy pit into an easy chair, read Jeremiah. Faith will change your home, your business, your attitude, and your Church. Have faith in God!
(6)
Faith In God Gives Compassion
Our God is a God of compassion. Take a long look at Jesus Christ and you see compassion. From Genesis to Revelation we have one great theme-a God of Love. He has compassion, He gave His Son to die for us. The world is crying; "No man cared for my soul." Many are wondering what is going on today, but no one will help them to understand. We believers must help them to know Jesus Christ. We must tell them about Jesus dyeing on the cross for them. We must give them a Bible or a New Testament, because if we don’t do it then who will?
Have faith In God!
Do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour today? If today were your last on earth, do you know that you would go to heaven to live with God? The Bible tells us that we can know that we have eternal life. 1 John 5:13, says, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." Pray; Come into my heart Lord Jesus. I repent of my sins. I believe that you died for me, and I believe that you rose from the dead to save me. This I ask in Jesus Name, Amen!
If you have received Christ as your Lord and Saviour after reading this message, please write and let us rejoice with you in this your greatest decision in life. We will send you some Bible helps to get you started in this New Life in Christ.
Huckaby’s Evangelism
P.O.Box 1011
Pine Mountain, Ga.31822
glhuck@earthlink.net
