The Lunatic and The Lord.
Notes
Transcript
Opening:
Good-morning again Connection Church! It is so good to be with you today. We are at this time going to transition into our time of reading and hearing the Word of God preached. I encourage you to not view this as a passive act. If you think about our time of worship on the Lord’s Day, I believe that the reading of God’s Word to be the most incredible. God is worthy of having praises sung to Him. It is incredible, but it is expected. He deserves this. It is our sacred honor and duty to sing to and about Him. God deserves our giving. He is worthy of throwing everything we own to Him. This is reasonable. Scripture even makes it clear that laying down our very lives for Him is a reasonable act of worship. It makes sense that He would require these things of us. But think about the reading of Scripture. This is the time where God speaks directly to us. This is where we hear the very Word of God. We read it out loud. We hear the Word of God audibly in this time. God condescends Himself so low as to speak to us. This is not reasonable. We do not deserve to hear the very breath of God on page. This is incredible! This is amazing! We have done nothing to earn this! We have done nothing to deserve this! God, in mercy has spoken to us through His Word, and every time we read it, we are reading the very Words of Almighty God, directly inspired by God the Spirit!
Introduction of the Text:
Open to Matthew 17:14-23. Today I am reading from the New American Standard Version of the Bible. As you turn there, I encourage you to seriously ponder the fact that you are about to hear something completely true, directly from God.
Reading of the Text:
Matthew 17:14-23
14 When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus, falling on his knees before Him and saying,
15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic and is very ill; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water.
16 “I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him.”
17 And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.”
18 And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured at once.
19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not drive it out?”
20 And He *said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.
21 [“But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”]
22 And while they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men;
23 and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day.” And they were deeply grieved.
The Word of God, let’s pray.
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for who you are. Lord, we thank you for all you have done. Lord, you have blessed us beyond our what we can even express to you. You have revealed who you are to us through your Word. Thank you. Thank you for your word.
Lord, I ask that you would draw the lost in to hear the gospel. I pray that you would draw their hearts to yourself. Only you can save them. We long to see the lost saved. Use us in this community. Lord I pray that you would be with the Saved here as well. Draw them closer to you. I cannot save the lost or sanctify the saved. So we ask that you would do this through this service.
Lord, even though I cannot save or sanctify anyone, I still ask that you would work through me. Help me to be faithful in this pulpit. Help me to preach your word. Help me not to speak anything that is against you or your word. We ask that your word would move in the hearts of the people here. In Jesus name, Amen.
A Brief Explanation:
First, Some of you are maybe wondering why I am using the NASB this week rather than the ESV we use every week. Well, simply put, I prefer how the NASB lays out and phrases this passage and how it translated the word “lunatic.” The ESV translates it as “he has seizures.” This is a good translation, but I prefer the former because it is more contextually accurate, in my opinion. It speaks to the culture of the day more clearly. We will dive into this further in the sermon.
Secondly, I preach manuscript style. This means that I write my entire sermon and read it from the pulpit. I study through the week and write my entire sermon. Many preachers have notes on main points they wish to make, or an outline, and some preach without any notes. There is no right or wrong way to have your notes or lack of notes. The question is, what method best aids the preacher in staying faithful to the text of the Word of God. For me, I am most aided in preaching to write my entire sermon. To place every word. To think through every phrase. To read it multiple times and edit it with each reading. This is most aiding for me in texts like this one. Many of you know I grew up in a very charismatic church. I grew up under much questionable teaching. Passages like this one were go to passages within the Pentecostal movement. I have heard this passage preached more times than I care to count. Each time, it was preached on that if you have enough faith, you can do literally anything. That healing, miracles, supernatural occurences, wealth, or anything else are within your grasp if you simply muster up enough faith. This is not the correct understanding of this text. However, this meaning is so ingrained in my mind that this passage is even hard for me to read. So I put much effort and time into writing this sermon. I have struggled to ensure that the sermon I have written and am here preaching is true to the meaning of the text. The Word of God is far more important than my thoughts, opinions, or things I have heard others preach. I say this because this text weighs heavy on my heart and soul like a burden. I fear I will come across in a different way than I normally do. I want you to know why.
Now finally, the headings I use are not my own. As I was studying and writing and preparing, I found the headings that John MacArthur gave in his commentary on Matthew were clear and helpful. Rather than simply reword, or rephrase the headings for how I break this passage down, I just quote them.
Therefore, the headings in this sermon are quotes from John MacArthur’s commentary. I say this upfront so I don’t have to stop at each heading and acknowledge the quote. I wish to be intellectually honest as we start. So, As we study this passage, we will see four things. 1. The Pleading of the Father. (14-15) 2. The Powerlessness of the Followers. (16) 3. The Perversion of the Faithless. (17-18) 4. The Power of Faith. (19-21)
Transition:
Let’s begin our study of this passage. As we open, we see first, the pleading of the Father.
1. The Pleading of the Father.
1. The Pleading of the Father.
Explanation:
Jesus, Peter. James, and John are just coming down from the mount of transfiguration. They have witnessed the glory of God on this mountain and are now returning to the other disciples. As they arrive, they find a crowd. Mark’s account goes into further detail on this account. It was not just a crowd around the remaining disciples. The Scribes are there arguing with the disciples. This seems to be quite the gathering. Many people gathered around, witnessing the commotion. The Scribes, arguing with the disciples. The disciples, confused and likely downcast at failure.
Amidst the chaos, a father runs to Jesus. He runs and falls to his knees before Jesus. He then begs Jesus to heal his son. He says, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic and is very ill; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water." This is the cry of the faithful father. One can hear the longing in his voice. He wishes to see his son healed. Luke tells us that this is his only son.
He calls him a “lunatic.” I said at my opening that i prefer this translation. Why? In our day, we hear the word lunatic and think of one who is crazy or mad. Someone says “they are a lunatic,” and images of the mad hatter from “Alice in Wonderland” comes to mind. However, this is not what this is communicating. The word literally means “Moon Struck.” It is a descriptive word. People in that time specifically attributed many sicknesses and illnesses to the lunar cycle. They believed that the lunar cycle would aggravate sicknesses or possessions. The demon would seize the child, likely at specific times and try to kill him. The demon would throw the child into water, attempting to drown him. It would also throw him in the fire to try to burn him. The other gospels reveal that the boy was mute due to this possession as well.
Argumentation:
Imagine the picture of this. This father is seeking aid. He longs for his only child to be free. I must imagine the terror this father had. Could he leave his child alone to sleep? What if a demonic seizure hit him? How terrifying must it have been to have your son seize under the control of a demon and fall into a lake or into the cook fire? This child must have burn scars from his affliction. But the father comes seeking help. He comes as so many had in previous passages. We have seen similar stories. Recently the Canaanite woman came to Jesus pleading for a similar healing.
Accounts like this emphasize the fame of Christ. He has gained a great following. People have heard of who He is and what He can do. They do not recognize who He truly is, but they know what He can do. The gospel of Mark gives beautiful dialogue between the father and Jesus that makes it clear that the man did not know who Jesus was. He was a desperate father, seeking healing for his son.
Application:
I wish that all fathers were so filled with love and care for their children. You likely are not in the same position as this father. Your child is likely not demon possessed, no matter how much it may feel like it at times. However the father of this text brings his child before the Lord. I believe one thing that is fundamentally lacking in homes in our culture and age is parents who bring their children before the Lord. Faithful fathers and mothers bring their children before the Lord in three ways.
First, they teach them. The language of Scripture places the privileged burden of teaching on the home. Parents are to bring their children up, teaching them the things of the Lord. They teach them the truth of the faith. This is an honor that is not reserved for the church or a pastor. Parents are to train up their children before the Lord.
Second, they expose them to sound teaching. The church is to partner with parents in teaching the children. Children need to hear sound teaching. They need to be exposed to the truth from the church, not just from their parents. They are to be loved and aided in growth before the Lord.
Third, they are to be prayed for and over. Children are brought before the Lord through the faithful prayers of their parents primarily and their church secondarily. We pray for our children and we pray over them.
Oh for a generation of Christians who have children and bring them to the Lord! I honestly believe one of the primary ways we see the kingdom come on earth is through the rearing of godly children. And if I may for a moment speak candidly to the fathers here. In this passage we see a father who does not have all the answers. However, he gets one thing right. He brings his child before the Lord. It is a great tragedy of our day that so many children are lacking fathers. And if they have a father in the home, the father is uninvolved or lacks care and interest. Fathers, your children need you. Man up and be a father. I pray that the fathers of this church are godly fathers who bring their children before the Lord. Teach them, train them, pray for them. Take up the godly role you are given and do this. Even if your children are grown, you may still bring them before the Lord.
Transition:
As we continue this passage, we secondly see the powerlessness of the followers.
2. The Powerlessness of the Followers.
2. The Powerlessness of the Followers.
Explanation:
This father did not find Christ immediately. When he approaches, Jesus is still on the mountain. He instead finds the disciples. He begs their help. But as he tells Jesus in verse sixteen, they are unable to cure his son. This is a rather bizarre happening, isn’t it?
Remember back in chapter 10? At the start, Jesus commissioned the apostles and gave them authority to heal. Listen to 10:1. “And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.” So why could they not cast out the demon? One thing that some have postulated is that they could not cast out the demon because Jesus was not with them. This cannot be the case because when Jesus sent them out, they cast out demons and he was not with them.
Jesus will go on and explain that it is their lack of faith that prevented them. He had given them the authority. They lacked faith. Jesus had specifically given them the authority to do this, but they lacked faith.
Argumentation:
Faith is the lifeblood of the Christian. It is the beginning, middle, and the end of the Christian walk. We come to eternal life through faith in Jesus. We walk with Jesus in faith. finally, we die in faith of heaven before us. This is why lack of faith is a crushing blow to the Christian. Lack of faith has caused so many sleepless nights, emotional pains, and more in most Christians. Lack of faith is poison to the Christian.
Transition:
However, Jesus does not dwell on this at this point in the passage. He will go into detail later, but now Jesus moves on to a rebuke. We see third in this passage, the perversion of the faithless.
3. The Perversion of the Faithless.
3. The Perversion of the Faithless.
Explanation:
Verses 17 and 18 says “17 And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me. 18 And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured at once.” Jesus answers the father’s statement and plea with a harsh rebuke! At a glance it may seem that the father is the subject of this rebuke. However, this is not the case. Jesus is here rebuking the crowds. If we look at the other gospels it is even more clear. Perhaps Jesus is rebuking the scribes, or a combination of the lack of faith in everyone present. But Jesus is not specifically speaking to the father.
He is speaking to the generation. The rebuke indicated the crowds. It is also an allusion to language from the Old Testament. Deuteronomy 32:5 says
“ 5 They have dealt corruptly with him; (God)
they are no longer his children because they are blemished;
they are a crooked and twisted generation.
Verse 20 says,
20 And he said, ‘I will hide my face from them;
I will see what their end will be,
for they are a perverse generation,
children in whom is no faithfulness.
God has spoken to the faithless like this before. Jesus rebukes the faithless there. He is angry and asks how long He has to be with them. He then has the child brought to Him and He heals him. Jesus rebukes the demon and it comes out of the child. The child is cured at once.
Argumentation:
So why does Jesus get so upset at the lack of faith? Was it not in the plan of God for people to doubt like this? Is that perhaps why Jesus asks a question?
No. Jesus does not ask this because He is shocked at the people’s behavior. He knows the hearts and minds of men. Christ is mad at their sin. He is there with them and they are not believing in Him. This is wrong and evil. Rejection of Christ is sin. The lack of faith reveals the generation for what it is. It is a wicked and perverted generation. It is sinful and evil. Christ, God the Son, is right there with them and they lack faith in Him. They even reject Him. Even His own disciples have almost no faith.
Here is seen the anger of Jesus. And often if we are not careful, we can picture Jesus as never getting angry. We view Him as media often portrays Him. We picture hippy Jesus who is effeminate and always whispering sweet nothings. However, this is not the real Jesus. We see a brief glimpse of the anger of Christ here. The people’s unbelief is deserving of hell. It is wrong and sinful. And Jesus is mad about their unbelief. It is not because He is shocked or surprised by this lack of faith, but because it is sin. These people do not deserve Him.
We do not deserve Him. Our sin angers God. God is wrathful against all sin at all times. One thing we do not understand about the nature of God is that He is all of Himself at all times. He is not 1% love, 5 % omniscient, and 94% wrath at some times and then 99% love and 1% wrathful at other times. He does fluctuate or change. God is love. God is righteous. God is wrathful against sin. These are just a few of His attributes. But it is not a scale. God is always totally loving. He is always totally righteous. He is always totally wrathful against sin. God is all He is at all times. Now, He displays His attributes differently at different times, but they are always fully present at all times. Here we catch a glimpse of the wrath of Christ against sin. It is not the full brunt of His wrath that will be displayed against those who are condemned on the last day, but merely a rebuke. And it is a harsh and angry rebuke. This is righteous of Jesus to say. It is not wrong to give a harsh rebuke when appropriate. Jesus always knows when it is right and He rightly exercises it.
Transition:
But as we come to the explanation of the disciples inability, we see the next point of this passage. Fourth we see the power of faith.
4. The Power of Faith.
4. The Power of Faith.
Explanation:
As Jesus and the disciples go to leave, the disciples pull Jesus off the the side and ask Him, ““Why could we not drive it out?” This is an apropriate question. They obviously would remember Jesus empowering them, they would remember casting out other demons. So here they come to the question. “What was different? Why couldn’t we drive this demon out?”
Jesus answers them. “And He *said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you 21 [“But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”] Here is the answer of Jesus. He tells them that it is because of the littleness of their faith that they cannot cast that demon out. They lack faith.
Jesus then seems to contradict himself. He says that it is because of the littleness of their faith, but if the have faith the size of a mustard seed they can move mountains! What does this mean? Is this a contradiction? No, this is not a contradiction. Jesus has already spoken about mustard seeds to these disciples. Turn back to Matthew 13:31-32. We covered this a number of weeks ago. It is in the middle of a collection of Jesus’ parables. This would have been what came into the mind of the disciples when Jesus again brings up the mustard seed. Matthew 13:31-32 says, “He presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field 32 and this is smaller than all other seeds, but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that THE BIRDS OF THE AIR come and NEST IN ITS BRANCHES.”
What does Jesus mean by the comparison of their little faith with that of faith the size of a mustard seed? I believe He means two things. First, I do believe He is comparing the mustard seed with this parable. Faith may be small, but like the mustard seed it is to grow. Jesus often compares examples with how He has previously given them. Secondly, from the context of the passage we are in, I believe that Jesus is emphasizing who your faith is in. Faith is not just an arbitrary virtue. Often we think of faith and being a feeling or an emotion. This is not what faith is. Faith is in something. It is a weighted trust in something.
Illustration:
What do I mean? Many of you have heard myself or others use this example, but I will use it again. All of you are sitting in chairs. You have faith in those chairs to hold you up. You are proving your faith by sitting in them. Your faith is in your chair. You may stand next to a chair and believe it can hold you, but faith is believing in that chair to hold you up. This is faith.
Explanation:
Faith is not an arbitrary emotional virtue. Faith is weighted belief. It is belief that holds something. Now this means that faith is not blind. Faith is supported by evidence and by experience. It is tested and tried. But faith is not about faith. Faith is about the object your faith is in. In this case, the disciples lacked faith. They did not lack faith in faith. They did not lack an emotional feeling. They lacked faith in something. They lacked faith in Jesus. You see, Christ gave them great ability and power. He gave them the ability to heal the sick and cast out demons. Whoever they prayed for would be healed. But here, their lack of faith in Jesus is what kept them from seeing this man healed of the possession.
Jesus then emphasized what a small amount of faith in Him can do. Even faith the size of a mustard seed can move a mountain. That phrase, “Move a mountain” or “Moving mountains” is still a common phrase in our day. It has maintained its popularity throughout history because of this passage. But the phrase originated in Jesus’ day. It was a Jewish phrase that emphasized what trusting God could do. It was a hyperbolic phrase that was communicating that nothing is impossible for those who trust in God. And this is exactly how Jesus uses it. He says, with the smallest amount of faith in Him, nothing is impossible!
This is quite the phrase. Nothing is impossible! But what about that next verse? Some of your Bible’s might not have verse 21. It may skip from 20-22. Or perhaps, like the NASB verse 21 is in brackets. Why is that? Well, it is because verse 21 is known as a “Textual Variant .” What does that mean? Well, simply put, it means that some Greek manuscripts of Matthew contain it and some do not. With this particular verse, the earliest manuscripts do not have it while the later ones do. So why is it there? Well, most believe this is a variation of a quote from Mark’s gospel. Some scribe while transcribing the gospel of Matthew likely wrote it in the margins as an allusion to Mark’s account and then the next scribe didn’t know it was just a note and included it in the text. However, translators are honest men and that is why your Bible has a note or brackets that explain that verse.
But why do I include it in my sermon? Partially to explain why some translations are different. But mainly because it is apostolic. Mark wrote that some demons only come out by prayer, so it is not wrong to include this. I believe that Jesus telling the disciples of this is His reinforcement of their need to have faith in Him. Prayer is a posture of faith. It is coming before God and saying, we cannot do this. We need your help. This is the posture of faith. The faithful have well worn knees. Martin Luther has a famous quote that says, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” Prayer is the posture of faith. Prayer also is said by Christ to drive out even the stubborn demons.
Argumentation:
But what do we do with that phrase, “nothing will be impossible for you”? What does that mean? Does that mean that through faith we can always be healed? Does it mean that we can have the home of our dreams? Does it mean that if we just have enough faith, we can have or be or get anything we dream of? Certainly this passage and this verse are used to say those things often. It makes such a catchy sermon to say, “if you have enough faith, you can do and have anything!” It is a great church growth tactic to stand here and take this passage and give you motivation to go accomplish your dreams! Do you want to be free of back pain? Just have faith! Do you want to be free of dept? Just have faith! Do you want that dream home? Just have enough faith! How do you show your faith? You show your faith by how big the checks you write this church are. That is a great way to grow a church. Promise blessing and demand money.
But this is not what this passage is teaching. I love you too much to twist it that way. I love the Word of God too much to twist it that way. This passage is not about you chasing your dreams or this church getting money. It is true that faith makes all things possible! But it is not a promise of health, wealth, healing, or dream chasing. And why not?
Well, this passage is directly addressing the disciples. I have attempted to reinforce again and again that we do not take passages addressing a specific group and automatically apply it to ourselves. We may find it does apply to us, but we discover this through careful study. Remember, Jesus has commissioned the disciples as apostles and given them great power. They will specifically receive even more authority and power on the day of Pentecost when the Spirit comes. The Apostles had incredible authority and power. They were given the right to lead God’s church and even to write and guide the writing of Scripture! After Pentecost, we never read of a failure to heal on their part again. Jesus gave them great power and it would be accurate to describe the ministry of the Apostles as a mountain moving ministry. When we read Acts and the letters, we can see what Jesus meant by nothing will be impossible for them. So we must keep in mind that Jesus is here speaking to the Apostles specifically. We do not rip that out and instantly apply it to ourselves. We often can think, “They did it so we must be able to as well!” You are not an Apostle. Paul was the last Apostle, as one untimely born. John was the last living Apostle. They are long dead and gone. So we must seek to appropriately apply this to ourselves with it in mind that Jesus is speaking to the Apostles not every member of the church.
Why else is this not a promise of constant healing and health and prosperity if you just have enough faith? Why are the faith healers like Benny Hinn, Bill Johnson, and Todd White wrong? Well, for many reasons. But one of the big ways is that they put the faith on the wrong shoes. Men and women like this will pray for healing and if it does not come, they will claim that the person they were praying for does not have enough faith. This is actually the opposite of what this passage teaches! Jesus does not say that the father or the son did not have enough faith. He says the disciples, who were doing the healing, did not have enough faith. So by that clear teaching, if someone ever prays for you and uses this passage to say that you did not have enough faith to receive the blessing of God, tell them that this passage actually teaches that they did not have enough faith. I’m sorry mister Hinn, but the Bible teaches that it is not my little faith that kept me from being healed, it is your little faith.”
Finally, this passage is not teaching health and wealth because that is so small and insignificant. Often men like myself are accused of denying the existence of miracles. I am a cessationist. I believe the apostolic gifts died with the apostles. But cessationists do not deny the miraculous! We have a huge respect for the miraculous. I have seen people’s healings verified. I have heard the doctor reports of cancer patients who have no explanation for the immediate remission after the church prayed. No, we have an exceptionally high view of the miraculous. However, we believe that the greatest miracle is not your checking account being boosted. We believe that the greatest miracle is dead souls being made alive unto salvation for the glory of God! This is the impossible. How do we sit and marvel over the work of God in salvation so rarely? We rarely stop and actually ponder the work of God in salvation.
The most impossible thing is for a sinner to be reconciled to God. We tend to be miracle hunters. And miracles still happen. God still heals. But we hunt the miraculous while missing the greatest miracle right in front of us! God has taken dead souls and brought them to life through faith in Jesus Christ! Faith has made us alive in Christ! Jesus saying that anything is possible through faith is stating that even the impossible will be possible. It is such a waste to read this passage and merely think that it must mean some minor physical benefit. The impossible will be possible. Even sinful men may be reconciled to God.
Therefore: anything is possible through faith; and yet, no: not anything is possible if you have enough faith. “Anything is possible through faith” is a true hyperbolic statement. It is true, but it is true in the clear reading. It is an exaggeration. It is true that the impossible is possible through faith. It is true that the Apostles moved mountains. It is true that the church today still moves mountains. But in the literal sense, not “anything” is possible. So what are the guidelines on what is and is not possible?
Transition:
The most important guide on what is possible is our fifth point. The plan of God.
5. The Plan of God.
5. The Plan of God.
Explanation:
I know I started this sermon by saying I had four points that I got from MacArthur’s commentary. However, I had to add one myself. This passage ends like this. “ 22 And while they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men; 23 and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day.” And they were deeply grieved.” This is the third time we have seen Jesus speak very clearly about His coming death and resurrection in recent passages. He is speaking and teaching the disciples about it repeatedly. And what does this have to do with faith?
God’s divine plan from the beginning was Christ’s death upon the cross. It is the pre-determined plan of God from before time began. Scripture again and again prophesies the coming and the death and the resurrection of Christ. It was always God’s plan. God has no plan b. Jesus had perfect faith. He completely trusted and submitted to the plan of the Father. He came willingly to the cross. He knew it was coming. He knew exactly when and how it would come. He continually prophesied it.
So let me ask you this; If the plea of perfect faith can do anything, why did Jesus die? In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed for God to remove the cup of suffering from Him. Yet, God did not. Christ still went to the cross.
Argumentation:
Why is this? He prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” Many will try to say that if you pray a prayer asking God for something, but end it with “Not my will, but yours be done” you have ruined your prayer. They will teach that if you ask for God’s will, it is not a prayer of faith. Some have blasphemously even accused Jesus of failing in His prayer here. They accuse the divine Son of God of a lack of faith! If Jesus had enough faith, God would have answered this prayer. This is heresy, this is blasphemy against Christ. Jesus did not fail. He exercised perfect faith here.
Beloved, perhaps you are still confused. Perhaps you are wondering, “how does all this fit together? Jesus said nothing will be impossible through faith, but pastor Jonathan seems to be denying this with other scripture! It seems like Jesus stretched the truth here!” Well, do not fear this. Do not wonder these things. Here it is, clearly stated.
Beloved, with faith, nothing is impossible. What I have attempted to break down is the idea that some are so fond of teaching. Faith does not manipulate God into doing anything. Faith is not some magic button that somehow twists Him into our little puppet or genie. If that is what you think faith is, then you are wrong and have a false faith. Faith does not bring God into line with your will. Faith brings you into line with God’s will.
Faith is not what changes God’s mind. God’s mind has been set since before the foundation of the World. Faith changes you! Faith is not a magic trick to get what you want. Faith is trusting in God when you are getting exactly what you do not want! Faith is not what gives you wealth. Faith is what brings you to life! Faith is what begins the Christian walk, faith is what maintains the Christian walk! Faith is what will bring the Christian home into the arms of Christ at the end. Beloved, faith is everything to the Christian! If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, nothing will be impossible. Why? Because your faith is not in you. Your faith is in God.
Beloved, with the smallest amount of faith, all things are possible because of the object of that faith. With God, all things are possible. Faith does not change God, faith changes you. It brings you into the impossible plans of God.
Let’s pray.
Prayer:
Closing Hymn:
Closing Benediction:
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;