LORD, STRETCH OUR FAITH!
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
I did this lesson in two parts, it could be done in one part, just move quickly from point to point.
I have a huge rubber band and we discuss the flexibility and stretch that the rubber band has.
1. The rubber band has a potential to stretch beyond where it is.
2. At some point the stretch has limitations. The rubber band will not stretch any more, it will break.
3. If the rubber band had feelings ---? What might it say as it is stretched?
4. The rubber band has a comfort zone?
5. If the rubber band is not used and stretched from time to time it will dry rot and loose it’s elasticity.
STRETCH:
To draw to a greater size or length --- To thrust out
To extend --- Expand, broaden, spread, reach, continue
KVJ
Matthew 9:29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
LIVING
Matthew 9:29 Then he touched their eyes and said,
" Because of your faith it will happen."
MESSAGE
Matthew 9:29 He touched their eyes and said,
"Become what you believe."
I. IF IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST LITTLE WORDS I KNOW.
JESUS HAS TO STRETCH A LITTLE MAN’S FAITH!
IF: Conditional, with reservation.
A. The child’s father said:
1. JESUS, IF THOU CAN DO ANYTHING ---
2. HAVE COMPASSION
3. AND HELP US.
Mark 9:21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
B. It appears the father has the IF in the wrong place.
JESUS SAYS A MEAN ANSWER? IF YOU CAN BELIEVE ....
C. The bottom line is clear:
YOU CAN NEVER ARISE IN PUBLIC ABOVE WHAT YOU ARE IN PRIVATE.
D. YOU DON’T NEED A MOUNTAIN OF FAITH TO MOVE A MOUNTAIN.
E. Jesus has to move IF to the proper place to OVERCOME
the OBSTACLES.
II. ALL REAL FAITH WILL BE TESTED AND TRIED.
HOT FAITH MUST AVOID THE ARTIC BLAST OF THE NEGATIVE CROWD. CYNICISM, FEAR AND DOUBT ARE SELF-FEEDING AND WILL TRY TO FREEZE OUT THE WORD OF GOD AND THE WORKS OF GOD.
A. MIDGET FAITH CRIES OUT, I DON’T WANT TO FACE ANY TESTINGS.
B. Smooth sailing ships on smooth waters are wonderful, but FAITH’S REAL TEST will come when the winds are howling and the waves are dashing.
The fixed guidance stars are hidden from view.
1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
C. Faith gives food and water during the drought and famine.
D. TRIED FAITH WILL ALWAYS BRING TRUST AND EXPERIENCE.
E. FAITH WILL INCREASE WHEN THE RED SEA IS IN FRONT OF YOU AND PHAROAH’S MIGHTY ARMY IS RAISING DUST BEHIND YOU.
F. The greater the intensity of the TEST OF FAITH the GREATER THE STRETCH OF THE FAITH.
III. WE CAN NEVER BE CONTENT WITH WEAK FAITH.
We need Faith that launches great PEACE and JOY.
A. We must know a FAITH that kills FEAR, DOUBT and WORRY!
Luke 17:5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
B. Let faith grow, increase, be constant,
FIRMLY BELIEVE THE PROMISES ARE MINE.
IV. JESUS LOVED LAZARUS, MARTHA AND MARY. JESUS KNEW HE WAS GOING TO HAVE TO STRETCH THEIR FAITH.
A. THERE WAS A DISTANCE BARRIER THAT JESUS HAD TO STRETCH THEIR FAITH. Distance means nothing to God.
John 11:1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
John 11:3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
B. JESUS IS GOING TO STRETCH THEIR FAITH BY THE POWER OF DELAY...
They expected Jesus to drop everything and come running, Jesus had a plan ... IT IS CALLED DIVINE TIMING ...
John 11:6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
C. THERE WAS A NEGATIVE CROWD THAT DID NOT WANT JESUS TO COME... JESUS HAD TO STRETCH THEIR FAITH TO OVERCOME THE RELIGIOUS CROWDS OPINIONS ... Jesus had to demonstrate that the NEGATIVE CROWD COULD NEVER HINDER THE MIRACLES HE WAS GOING TO DO!
John 11:8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
D. Jesus had to stretch their FAITH beyond IGNORANCE.
John 11:12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
E. THOMAS JUMPED TO THE CONCLUSIONS AND MOVED IN PRESUMPTIONS, JESUS HAD TO TEACH THAT FAITH OVERCOMES STUPIDNESS.
What are you saying Tomas? What?
John 11:16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.
F. JESUS HAS TO STRETCH THEIR FAITH BEYOND BOUNDARY LINE FAITH THAT WOULD DEFINE AWAY THE MIRACLE THAT IS COMING THEIR WAY.
John 11:21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
BOUNDARY LINE FAITH KNOWS JESUS CAN HEAL THE SICK,
NOT KNOWING ABOUT THE DEAD?
G. HEAD KNOWLEDGE FAITH... Faith can only work within my defined brain, thinking ability.
I KNOW --- truth is not always enough...
John 11:24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
Jesus has to get faith the longest distance in the world, the 18 inches from the head to the heart.
H. JESUS HAD TO STRETCH MARY AND MARTHA’S FAITH TO THE N’TH DEGREE. Jesus you were late, our brother stinks...
John 11:39 Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
I. JESUS HAD TO PRESS AND STRETCH THEIR FAITH TO THE PERMISSION STAGE --- THEIR FAITH HAD TO STRETCH TO THE ACTION PHASE.
The ladies knew the stone had to be rolled away.
John 11:39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone.
V. FINALLY, JESUS STRETCHED THEIR FAITH TO THE POINT THAT MANY BELIEVED, NO WONDER JESUS CRIED.
A. WHY DID JESUS CRY?
DID JESUS CRY BECAUSE LAZARUS WAS DEAD?
The Bible says Jesus knew what he was going to do...
JESUS CRIED BECAUSE THEY RESISTED THE FAITH STRETCH.
John 11:35 Jesus wept.
B. What will have to happen to stretch our faith?
We have doubting Preachers? Doubting church members?
John 11:40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast
heard me.
42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.
VI. EXTENSION CORD FAITH, MAY THE POWER REACH A GREATER DISTANCE! SEEK LOVE, FAITH AND GRACE TO BE EXTENDED, FAITH MUST REACH EVERY THOUGHT, WORD AND DEED!
(I use an extension cord here!)
A. FAITH MUST BE LIKE LAY’S POTATO CHIPS: BET YOU CAN’T EAT JUST ONE. ONE WILL NEVER DO YOU.
JUST A CLOSER WALK --- CALLS FOR A CLOSER WALK...
B. TO KNOW GOD, SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE UNDERSTANDS THERE IS A GOD THAT WILL STRETCH YOUR FAITH.
There is new ground, new heights, new hope that can come ONLY BECAUSE WE KNOW GOD!
Daniel 11:32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and
do exploits.
C. TO KNOW GOD AND TO KNOW GOD’S WORD WILL FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE GREATER LOVE AND GREATER FAITH!
D. IS IT POSSIBLE TO HOPE FOR A THING THAT YOU HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF --- FAITH IS NOT ALWAYS A MICROSCOPE...
FAITH MAY OFTEN BE A TELESCOPE LOOKING BEYOND WHERE I AM TODAY... ?
E. CAN YOU HAVE A VISION BEYOND TODAY’S PROBLEMS AND DEFEATS?
VII. WILL THE BOX OF PAST DEFEATS HINDER TOMORROWS SOWING?
A. Ministry can kill FAITH. Ministry can become cumbersome. Much serving can be defeating.
B. YOUR HEAD, YOUR HEART AND YOUR HANDS MUST OPERATE WITH JOY AND LOVE.
Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
2 Thes. 3:13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
C. WE ALL FACE A TERRIBLE MONSTER CALLED DOUBT AND UNBELIEF.
Doubt makes a Christian hold on to their SEED.
SEEDS never planted can never become developed ROOTS?
NO ROOTS? NO FRUITS?
D. DOES THE WORK YOU ARE DOING HINDER YOUR FAITH AND BLOCK YOUR COMMUNION WITH JESUS? DON’T SO WATCH PEOPLE THAT YOU LOSE SIGHT OF YOUR SPIRITUAL HEALTH.
E. Can your heart see the difference between FREE and FREE INDEED?
While we seek mercy, GIVE MERCY.
Faith must not fall in the cracks of doing GOD’S WORK.
GOD’S WORK MUST BRING FAITH!
CONCLUSION:
Have you heard Jesus bid us come into the deeper waters?
LAUNCH OUT! Sure you have fished all night, but faith launches deeper and will once again throw out the net.
HOT FAITH MUST AVOID THE ARTIC BLAST OF THE NEGATIVE CROWD.
CYNICISM, FEAR and DOUBT ARE SELF-FEEDING AND WILL TRY TO FREEZE OUT THE WORD OF GOD AND THE WORKS OF GOD.
Jesus is trying to STRETCH YOUR FAITH? Will we submit?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Help me? Tell another of my work? Pass it on?
