-
Having Faith In The Father Series
Contributed by Jerry Gatson on Jun 23, 2005 (message contributor)
Summary: Although it sounds elementary, Jesus said it. So, it must be necessary. We have to have faith in God.
- 1
- 2
- Next
Having Faith in the Father
Intro – Last week we learned that the father of Jesus Christ is our father too. God is our Father. The model prayer that Jesus taught his disciples starts off “Our Father.” His Spirit resides within our spirit and cries “Abba Father.” We’ve gone through a name change and a nature change because we’ve changed father figures. The devil is not my father anymore. God is my Father. I’ve gone through the adoption process. I’ve received His Son, Jesus Christ. When Jesus Christ was baptized in the Jordan River, John the Baptist took Him down. He came straight up out of the water. The Holy Spirit came down. The heavens opened up and the voice of the Father came out and said “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” And when I receive His Son in whom He is well pleased, then He is pleased with me. If I receive His Son, then He receives me and then He has two sons in whom He is well pleased. It’s the adoption process. God is my Father. God is your Father too and before this year is through, I going to make a believer out of you. I want you to develop faith in the Father.
TEXT - Mark 11:22
I know it seems rudimentary. I know it seems elementary. But if Jesus said it, then saying it must be necessary. Have faith in God. The Father is the object of my faith. Faith in anything or anyone else will cause a faith failure. The Father is the object of my faith. Pleasing the Father is the objective of my faith. And the objectivity of my faith is that I will do what He tells me to do, no matter what. I have to put my faith is in my Father, because it’s not my faith to keep. It’s borrowed faith. My Father gave it to me for me to invest it in Him. It’s borrowed faith.
Romans 12:3 -
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
God has given to me the faith I need to invest in Him. My Father is a business man and faith is the commerce of the kingdom of God (Hebrews 11:6). He’s giving it to me for me to invest it in Him. Romans 10:17 - So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Every time the preacher preaches to you the word of God, your Father is giving you faith for you to invest it in Him. Every time a teacher teaches you the word of God, your Father is giving you faith for you to invest it in Him. It’s borrowed faith. Tell your neighbor “Put that back where you got it from”. Your heavenly Father is a businessman. He’s is looking for you to make an investment because His looking for a return.
Matthew 25:14-30
14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, F49 to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.