The Virtuous Kingdom: Evidence of the Reign of God in the Human Heart
The Virtue of Faith
Mark 11:20-24
Sermon concept: Faith is only as good as what you place your faith in; Jesus says “Have faith in GOD!”
Supporting Scripture: Psalm 20:7; Proverbs 3:5-6; Hebrews 11:1-6
Series Intro:
We are looking at Mark chapter 11 for the next few weeks. We have chosen to look at it from specific vantage points … to look at some of the Kingdom virtues God has imparted to the believer. The chapter shows our sovereign King making His way into his Holy City and temple for an official inspection. In doing so, He declares His reign.
“The Virtuous Kingdom: Evidence of the Reign of God in the Human Heart” is an appropriate title for such an event.
We have looked at three virtues already.
† In verses 11:1-11 we discovered the power and importance of living a lifestyle of worship
† In 11:15-17 we praised God for the great gift of prayer. There are so few parameters with prayer and so many blessings! We dare not neglect such a privilege.
† In 11:12-14 & 20-21 we sensed the need to take spiritual inventory and make sure that our spiritual fruit gives evidence of spiritual life.
In coming weeks we will look at forgiveness and submission.
But today we will look at Mark 11:20-24.
20In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!"
22"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. 23"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ’Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
I think that is enough of the story for today. We will pick up right here next week.
Sermon Intro:
Vickie and I were visiting my daughter and son-in-law in Ithaca a few weeks back. I am an early riser so instead of disturbing everyone I slipped out of the house, found a small diner at the top of the hill, and had breakfast. I got there before the newspapers arrived. When I asked the waitress she said she too was waiting on the newspaper because she “hadn’t read her horoscope yet.”
Time passed.
Other patrons arrived, asked for newspapers, and received the same comment.
After my meal she returned with a pot of coffee and asked if I’d like anything else. "Only a newspaper" I said with a smile.
Again she reiterated that she hadn’t read her horoscope and was anxious for the papers to get there too.
"Well, I can tell you your horoscope." I said. She waited curiously.
“The living and loving God says: For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11).
His son, Jesus, says, ’I have come to give you life, and give it ’to the full.’” (John 10:10).
"Yea, I know." She responds, "But I need something for today. Something … more specific.”
End of conversation.
Now I know those verses about the future are not highly individualistic. They do not say "on such and such a day ..." But they are certainly specific and "for today" ... not to mention accurate, trustworthy, and true.
Have you ever read a horoscope? You might as well read a fortune cookie!
Here are a few (without the astrological sign attached); please tell me how these are more trustworthy or pertinent for today than the words of Jesus.
• "Lucky for you, you’ll get a great opportunity for a ’do over’ today -- you will finally get your chance to take the advice of friends and associates …."
• "You’re finally ready to move on in your life, so take the bull by the horns and get going!"
My point is that this young lady, like millions of people the world over, is trusting something faulty and unreliable. She is looking for answers to life in all the wrong places. When we do that we get all the wrong answers for living … not to mention dying.
You heard me quote Psalm 20:7 earlier in the children’s sermon: “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”
That’s what Jesus is encouraging His disciples to do. They were surprised to see the fig tree had indeed withered and Jesus response was simple and succinct. "Have faith in God."
For Jesus, that made complete sense. When we boil it down and eliminate all our sophistry this what the Christian faith hinges on … The just shall live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4; Hebrews 10:38).
The concept is simple. The impact is mind-boggling and earth shaking. Jesus said it can remove mountains.
Removing mountains was a common rabbinical figure of speech. You can find it in writings of rabbis that Jesus (and his followers) would have been familiar with. By using it Jesus was speaking in terms they understood. It was a metaphor that meant … “any thing is possible.”
The issue in Jesus’ mind is NOT a physical obstacle (a dirt mountain) but the moral obstacles to kingdom’s reign.
There are mountains (obstacles) which oppose our faith and make it difficult for us to live under the King’s rule. Having faith in God first and foremost means we choose to follow Him instead of all the other value systems competing for our allegiance.
I am not suggesting that the alternatives are not formidable and powerful. I am just suggesting that, in the end, they fail you.
1. FAULTY OBJECTS OF FAITH ACTUALLY CREAT DOUBT AND FEAR RATHER THAN COMFORT AND SECURITY
• Look at how many people have bought into the lie that status or power insulate you from life’s struggles.
• Look at how many people have bought into the lie that beauty brings acceptance.
• Look at how many of them found that all it did was bring more anxiety not less.
• Look at how many people have bought into the lie that money brings happiness.
• Look at how many of them have discovered that all it does is give them more money to carry on a ceaseless search for real significance.
2. FAULTY OBJECTS OF FAITH ACTUALLY CORRUPT ONE’S CHARACTER RATHER THAN CLEANSE IT.
• Look at how many women seek out sources like “People Magazine” or “Cosmopolitan Magazine” or “Teen Magazine” in a hope to find the secret to love and acceptance?
• Look at how many men look to “Playboy” or “GQ Magazine” thinking that something in these magazines holds the secret to satisfaction or success?
• But all they do is sully the soul and set us up for heartache and disillusionment.
• Maybe Jesus’ words will help (Matthew 7:24-27):
"Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
So, how is Faith in God any different than any of the other alternatives? What does real faith look like?
Those are fair questions. They are questions that Jesus did not shy away from because they possess truth and bring authentic freedom.
1. FAITH IN GOD GIVES HOPE
• Faith in God does not eliminate problems.
• It means we trust God to walk through problems with us.
• Faith means we trust God to “open and close doors” … to make the path clear and discernable.
• It means we trust God to see “through” the problem, “around” the problem, “inside” the problem -- to know what we cannot and to bring good (to us) and honor (to Himself).
1. FAITH IN GOD GIVES STRENGTH
2. FAITH IN GOD GIVES STRENGTH
• Faith is God is not a short-cut to success and happiness.
• It may very well mean we walk through the valley of the shadow of death knowing “thou art with me.” (Psalm 23)
• It may very well require me to abandon myself and do the hard work in order to see life turn around.
• Let me go over what I call “THE APOCALYPTIC WORLDVIEW” and “THE PROPHETIC WORLDVIEW” with you. I know I have shared this before but it is fundamental to how so many Christians operate that it bears repeating.
† Option #1: Some Christians operate from an “APOCALYPTIC WORLDVIEW.”
> This is taken from portions of Scripture like The Revelation and Daniel. It is, keep in mind, the exceptional literary genre in Scripture not the norm.
> However, some Christians have made it their normal way to operate in life.
> But life proves it really isn’t typical.
> Simply put, it suggests that God will sweep down into every heartache and problem and miraculously right all wrongs and make things easy and just.
> They *think* this is faith – but it really isn’t. It is a fairy-tale more closely linked to “The Wizard of Oz” than it is akin to how God interacts with humankind. Christians don’t get to click their heels are return to a safer time. It is wishful thinking. It is self-deception.
> The consequence is they either live with a make believe God-concept or they become disillusioned.
† Option #2: Is what I call the “PROPHETIC WORLDVIEW”
> I believe this is the more Biblical worldview.
> It comes from the prophetic passages of Scripture which inform the Bible’s overall theology.
> It is how Scripture understands God to typically work in human history.
> The “PROPHETIC WORLDVIEW” suggests that God shows us the path to life and wholeness and then expects us to turn our ways and conform.
> It says that if we do so, we will find blessing. If we do not, we will find heartache.
> It is the “reap what you sow” principle.
> This concept, my friends, evidences REAL faith in God. Because it requires our faith to have works.
> Proverbs 3:5-7 (KJV) says: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.”
† I talk with people all the time that think God is going to dissolve their financial problems, or their marriage problems, or their problems with their children, or whatever.
> But life tells us that is not what God usually does. Yes, there are times God comes and miraculously heals (apocalyptic style). I thank Him for those and I believe He does it.
> But more times than not, God has already revealed how to solve the problems; we are then expected to live in accordance with His requirements. After all, what is more faith-full and honoring to God; for you to live a life based on His precepts or for Him to come and bail you out when you live foolishly?
> Faith says “I know God is right and I will obey and act accordingly.”
> Faith does NOT say “I will just wallow in my despair until God swoops it away.”
> Which is more honoring to God? A believer walking in spiritual victory by trusting and applying God’s word to their lives daily or God having to play the role of Emergency Rescue? There is something about God dwelling within us that suggests the former is the more honoring lifestyle.
1. FAITH IN GOD GIVES STRENGTH
2. FAITH IN GOD GIVES HOPE
3. FAITH IN GOD REQUIRES A RESPONSE
• Faith is costly and demanding. It is an action verb.
† Read Hebrews 11 … it is a treatise on action. It is a treatise on hard work and risky behavior in response to the precepts and callings of God.
• Faith means that as we discover our life conflicts with God’s Word we surrender to His authority and wisdom.
† Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25 say “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”
† It means we obey … we act upon truth.
† As James 2 says, “faith without works is dead.”
Wrap-Up
1. FAITH IN GOD GIVES STRENGTH
2. FAITH IN GOD GIVES HOPE
3. FAITH IN GOD REQUIRES A RESPONSE
4. FAITH IN GOD OVERCOMES SUPERSTITION
Some read this chapter’s words on faith and think Jesus is giving some kind of formula for miracle working. But if you read this in connection with all the other events of this chapter you will have a different conclusion.
JESUS IS NOT TELLING US HOW TO MOVE MOUNTAINS OR CURSE FIG TREES – JEUS IS TELLING US HOW TO LIVE SO THAT WE ARE NOT CURSED!
Faith is about a relationship. Jesus is showing us what it means to trust the reigning King. It is the evidence that God’s rule has come to the human heart. It shows we have transferred our way of living over to the King’s authority. It is a dependence on the living and loving God who gives wisdom, guidance, protection, provision and empowerment.
As we receive Communion today lets do so as a testimony to our faith in the living and loving God!
This sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
Potsdam (New York) Church of the Nazarene
www.potsdam-naz.org
CHILDREN’S SERMON
Faith
Okay it is time for our children’s sermon so I’d like to invite all my young friends to come and join me up here.
I could not help but notice that none of you chose to set in that chair. It is okay with me if you set there. You don’t all have to set on the floor. In fact, it is a big enough chair that two of you could share it if you want to.
Maybe you two can share it … do you want to set in it while we have our children’s lesson?
No?! You’d rather set on the floor? Why?
Of course! I see now! The chair is obviously broken and you know that by setting in it you are going to fall and maybe even get hurt.
You know, there a lesson in that on faith.
Faith is a word we use in church that really means trust or confidence. If we have faith in something it means we have confidence in its ability to do what it is designed to do. It means we think we can trust it to be reliable.
What you showed me this morning when you came and sat on the floor is that you don’t have confidence in that chair. You don’t think it’ll hold you up.
The Bible tells us that if we want to have a relationship with God that it must begin with faith. We must believe that He is reliable and that we can count on Him.
Listen to this (Psalm 20:7): “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”
Do you know what I have discovered? That we can trust God! He never lets us down. I have discovered that by watching God work in people’s lives, reading the Bible, and watching God work in my own life.
Sometimes we try and trust in other things other than God and they fail us. It is as big a difference as setting in a strong chair like I am in or setting in that broken one.
For example:
Some people think that being good will help them get to heaven. They are trusting in their own goodness, their own ability to behave, to please God. Every time we do that we end up failing … we discover that our own goodness is a broken chair.
It is much wiser to trust in Jesus to get me to Heaven that it is my own goodness.
Let’s pray.
God, we know that you are strong and trustworthy. You are not like this broken chair. We know that we can pray to you and trust you when things happen because you will never fail us.
Thank you for being so good!
Amen.
This sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
Potsdam (New York) Church of the Nazarene
www.potsdam-naz.org
