Understanding Faith
Life and Teachings of Jesus • Sermon • Submitted
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· 8 viewsIf we keep our eyes on the right Master, we will have enough faith to do what is required.
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Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness. Surely my soul remembers And is bowed down within me. This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently For the salvation of the Lord.
He said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come! “It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble. “Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. “And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.” The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would obey you. “Which of you, having a slave plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come immediately and sit down to eat’? “But will he not say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat, and properly clothe yourself and serve me while I eat and drink; and afterward you may eat and drink’? “He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he? “So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’ ”
I. A Small Matter of Faith
I. A Small Matter of Faith
Introduction:
Tightrope Walker
There was a tightrope walker, who did incredible aerial feats. All over Paris, he would do tightrope acts at tremendously scary heights. Then he had succeeding acts; he would do it blindfolded, then he would go across the tightrope, blindfolded, pushing a wheelbarrow. An American promoter read about this in the papers and wrote a letter to the tightrope walker, saying, “Tightrope, I don’t believe you can do it, but I’m willing to make you an offer. For a very substantial sum of money, besides all your transportation fees, I would like to challenge you to do your act over Niagara Falls.”
Now, Tightrope wrote back, “Sir, although I’ve never been to America and seen the Falls, I’d love to come.”
Well, after a lot of promotion and setting the whole thing up, many people came to see the event. Tightrope was to start on the Canadian side and come to the American side. Drums roll, and he comes across the rope which is suspended over the treacherous part of the falls—blindfolded!! And he makes it across easily. The crowds go wild, and he comes to the promoter and says, “Well, Mr. Promoter, now do you believe I can do it?”
“Well of course I do. I mean, I just saw you do it.”
“No,” said Tightrope, “do you really believe I can do it?”
“Well of course I do, you just did it.”
“No, no, no,” said Tightrope, “do you believe I can do it?”
“Yes,” said Mr. Promoter, “I believe you can do it.”
“Good,” said Tightrope, “then you get in the wheelbarrow.”
The word believe, in Greek means “to live by.” This is a nice story …makes you ask, how often do we say that we believe Christ can do it, but refuse to get in the wheelbarrow?
Source unknown
Faith is grossly misunderstood. In today’s passage, Jesus helps to put faith into perspective for all believers. It is not something we need more of, it is just something we need to act upon.
Pray
Have you ever thought you needed something and then found out you had it all along? That is the way it is with faith. We make it so complex, but it really isn’t. It is very simple and we will see that in today’s passage as we look at “A Small Matter of Faith.”
Jesus is teaching his disciples about stewardship. He uses the parable of the shrewd household manager to help them see that where men of the world use their funds wisely to provide for their earthly kingdoms, as believers we should use our funds wisely to build God’s kingdom.
In the course of this conversation, we find the Pharisees listening in and scoffing at Jesus. The Pharisees are lovers of money and they are critical of Jesus teachings on money, to which Jesus tells the story of Lazarus and the rich man. A very disturbing story revealing the eternal future they face if they do not put their faith in Jesus.
Jesus then turns back to His disciples and continues His teaching. This passage seems confusing and disconnected unless you look at it as an ongoing discussion of the former.
Look with me at .
Jesus said to his disciples, “Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to anyone by whom they come! It would be better for you if a millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea than for you to cause one of these little ones to stumble. Be on your guard! If another disciple sins, you must rebuke the offender, and if there is repentance, you must forgive.
Jesus said to his disciples, “Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to anyone by whom they come! It would be better for you if a millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea than for you to cause one of these little ones to stumble. Be on your guard! If another disciple sins, you must rebuke the offender, and if there is repentance, you must forgive.
A. Do not become a stumbling block to those of weaker faith. (Luke 17:1-3a)
A. Do not become a stumbling block to those of weaker faith. (Luke 17:1-3a)
To better understand the connection in this passage, allow me to paint the scene for you.
Jesus is teaching the disciples about wise use of their finances. The Pharisees are on the out skirts of the group and begun making fun of what Jesus is saying. Jesus addresses their short comings regarding the law and money. Jesus then shares the story of poor Lazarus and the rich man (who represents the Pharisees). After Jesus finishes the story, the Pharisees walk off in anger. The disciples then start making fun of the Pharisees.
Jesus is now turning to them rebuking them for their attitude and cautioning them that their behavior is in appropriate. There are many things that become a stumbling block hindering people from putting their faith in Jesus. For the Pharisees, money is one of them. However, just as their failure to believe puts them in jeopardy of hell, so does an unloving attitude that prevents others from believing.
The disciples unloving attitude towards the Pharisees was a stumbling block of sin for themselves and put them in an even worse jeopardy of hell. As believers they are called to love others and be inclusive, not to judge and be exclusive.
The “little ones” Jesus is talking about are the Pharisees or anyone else who allows sin to create a stumbling block preventing them from taking the step of faith in God. The unbelieving do not know better, but the believer should know better. Such ungracious attitude goes against all that Jesus is teaching them. So they must be on their guard against such poor attitudes.
We see Paul reflecting on Jesus teaching here in on not causing others to stumble.
Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.
Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.
John addresses it in the reverse and our need to not stumble ourselves.
The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
Jesus then continues. Instead of judging the Pharisees, the disciples should...
Instead of judging the Pharisees, the disciples should...
B. Be forgiving ()
B. Be forgiving ()
“Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. “And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”
Luke 17:3-4
The Pharisees were fellow brothers; Jews. They should know the truth. They anguished retorts were difficult to ignore, however, instead of anger and hate, the disciples should speak the truth to their fellow brothers of Judaism. It may be in doing so, one of these would respond by repenting. If this happens, we should be ready to forgive.
but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
E
I believe the word “rebuke” gives us a wrong concept here. We tend to see it in a negative, and angry way. However, the word really means...
Word Studies in the New Testament Chapter 9
21. He straitly charged (ἐπιτιμήσας). The word implies an emphatic, solemn charge; its meaning being, strictly, to lay a penalty upon one, and thence, to charge under penalty.
This can be done in a loving manner that is beneficial to us which Paul addresses in .
As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
Hopefully, our proper attitude will help them to have a change of heart and repent, but if it does not, Jesus tells us we must continue to forgive no matter what. This is difficult to do, but we need to remember that this is not just for their benefit, but for ours also.
If they do not repent and they continue to sin against us, we need to be prepared to forgive them each and every time.
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned.
The disciples, upon hearing all this began to be concerned that they could not do all that Jesus was asking. They know that these things are hard to do. So they literally cry out to Jesus asking Him to increase their faith so they can do these things. Jesus then explains that...
C. We always have enough faith ()
C. We always have enough faith ()
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would obey you.
All it requires is a mustard seed! If you have never seen a mustard seed, it is really small. I would say it is about the same size as a sesame seed, which we may be more familiar with. What makes the mustard seed so relevant is its capacity to grow. From this tiny seed grows a large plant that bushes out taking up a lot of space. It will then spread and overtake other plants easily.
Here is where we get things wrong. We ask for more faith thinking that to achieve what Jesus is saying we need more because it is dependent on us and the amount of faith we have. This is incorrect. We must remember that it is not us, but Christ in us that makes the difference. The power in faith is God’s not ours. All we need is a small amount of faith in God, then His power works to accomplish what needs to be done.
Faith Illustration - water, white vinegar, baking soda.
Baking soda=faith
water=faith in a non-truth (Baal for example)
white vinegar= God
Elijah is a great example of what can be accomplished. Elijah was a man like any other man. He had his ups and his downs. If you are not familiar with Elijah, he was a great prophet from the Old Testament. He seemed to accomplish many fantastic feats. He stood before 850 prophets of the god Baal and called done fire on a sacrifice after their attempts had failed. Another time he prayed for it to not rain and it did not rain for 3 1/2 years until he prayed for it to rain again. Yet, at another point we find Elijah discouraged and depressed in hiding from enemies. As James says in 5:17-18, Elijah was a man like any of us. The things that happened were not based on his faith. He made a choice to take action and God’s power was what brought the fire and the rain.
Now, at this point, our human nature tends to get the better of us. Even if it is God’s power, it is easy for us to get ahead of ourselves with the thought of such power behind us. Jesus knowing and understanding our human nature brings us back down to earth with the following parable.
At this point, Jesus shares another interesting parable that is often misunderstood.
“Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here at once and take your place at the table’? Would you not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink’? Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!’ ”
Luke 17:
Essentially, Jesus is saying this...
D. Do not let the power go to your head! ()
D. Do not let the power go to your head! ()
As God’s servants, we are to be diligent in our duties every day. God provides what is needed when its need for the purpose of the kingdom of God. It does not take away the fact that we are the servant and He is the Master. When those times come that God uses us in such fantastic ways, we need to be careful not to get so caught up in it that we take too much responsibility for it. We need to remember it is God and not get sidetracked from the normal routines of life.
Remember, we started talking about things that become stumbling blocks. One of the things that can become a stumbling block for us is when we take too much credit for powerful things God does through us. We have all seen it happen. We can all name too many pastors who had awesome success and then fell to the common sins of man.
Jesus is using this parable to be a caution that we do not allow ourselves to fall into that trap.
Conclusion:
I am amazed at God’s timing in things. All sermons are pertinent in one way or another to all of us. There are always ways in our Christian walk that we need to grow. But sometimes sermons seem more relevant because they seem to shine on a specific circumstance that is currently happening in our lives. What I mean by that is this. We can all learn and develop in the area of forgiveness. However, teaching on forgiveness means even more to us when we are in a current battle with someone.
The relevancy I see for us today is the issue of faith. We have been praying for God to relieve us of our debt for a long time. Now, we see God at work answering that prayer. Here is where the faith part for us comes in. Several weeks ago, this idea of selling the Bryant Center and buying the Baptist Church began. We stepped out tenuously, not wanting to force our ideas on God. We prayed and asked if this was His will. That was appropriate. However, there comes a time when the evidence is accepted and we acknowledge that God is at work and trust Him to do it. That means we move from “if this is God at work” to “I can see God’s hand in this and trust He will complete it.” We take action in choosing to believe and then trust His power to accomplish it. I believe it is time we move from “if God does this” to “When God finishes this.”
God is at work among us and it is appropriate to be thanking Him and praising what He is doing! However, we need to not get cocky either. We need to trust He will see it through, but there will be hiccups along the way. Hiccups come for two reasons. 1) We get ideas in our head about how He will accomplish it and sometimes He has other ways of accomplishing something than we perceive initially. So we need to allow room for God to do things His way. 2) We have an enemy that will try to defeat us. He will try to discourage us. He will put up road blocks that may at times delay things. In these times, we must have faith and remember that the ability for things to happen do not come about due to the amount of our faith, but due to the power of our God.
In the meantime, we need to be faithful to carry on with the current responsibilities at hand. There are tasks we need to be doing here and now. It can be tempting to think, “when we get moved we will do this or that.” But we cannot give into that spirit either. In the meantime, we remain faithful to the duties at hand.
not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Stand with me and let us sing a song of praise and worship.
To God Be the Glory! (Hymn)
Pray and dismiss