FACING OUR FAITH IN 2015
THE HINDRANCE OF HAVING “LITTLE FAITH”
MATTHEW 6:25-34 "FOR THIS REASON I SAY TO YOU, DO NOT BE WORRIED ABOUT YOUR LIFE, AS TO WHAT YOU WILL EAT OR WHAT YOU WILL DRINK; NOR FOR YOUR BODY, AS TO WHAT YOU WILL PUT ON. IS NOT LIFE MORE THAN FOOD, AND THE BODY MORE THAN CLOTHING? 26 "LOOK AT THE BIRDS OF THE AIR, THAT THEY DO NOT SOW, NOR REAP NOR GATHER INTO BARNS, AND YET YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER FEEDS THEM. ARE YOU NOT WORTH MUCH MORE THAN THEY? 27 "AND WHO OF YOU BY BEING WORRIED CAN ADD A SINGLE HOUR TO HIS LIFE? 28 "AND WHY ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT CLOTHING? OBSERVE HOW THE LILIES OF THE FIELD GROW; THEY DO NOT TOIL NOR DO THEY SPIN,
29 YET I SAY TO YOU THAT NOT EVEN SOLOMON IN ALL HIS GLORY CLOTHED HIMSELF LIKE ONE OF THESE. 30 "BUT IF GOD SO CLOTHES THE GRASS OF THE FIELD, WHICH IS ALIVE TODAY AND TOMORROW IS THROWN INTO THE FURNACE, WILL HE NOT MUCH MORE CLOTHE YOU? YOU OF LITTLE FAITH! 31 "DO NOT WORRY THEN, SAYING, 'WHAT WILL WE EAT?' OR 'WHAT WILL WE DRINK?' OR 'WHAT WILL WE WEAR FOR CLOTHING?' 32 "FOR THE GENTILES EAGERLY SEEK ALL THESE THINGS; FOR YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS THAT YOU NEED ALL THESE THINGS. 33 "BUT SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE ADDED TO YOU. 34 "SO DO NOT WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW; FOR TOMORROW WILL CARE FOR ITSELF. EACH DAY HAS ENOUGH TROUBLE OF ITS OWN.
INTRODUCTION: AS WE BEGIN THIS NEW YEAR, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A FEW WEEKS AND LOOK AT THE “FAITHS” JESUS REFERENCES IN THE GOSPEL. I FIND FIVE DIFFERENT REFERENCES TO FAITH MADE BY JESUS IN THE GOSPEL.
I. THE PERIL OF HAVING A LITTLE FAITH
a. WHAT IS “LITTLE FAITH”?
i. COMES FROM TWO GREEK WORDS; “OLIGO” AND “PISTOS”
1. THE FIRST WORD MEANS LITTLE OR SMALL
2. THE SECOND WORD MEANS FAITH
3. LITERALLY IT MEANS TO LACK CONFIDENCE IN
IN PRACTICAL TERMS, WHEN WE HAVE “LITTLE” FAITH, WE LACK CONFIDENCE IN GOD.
LACKING CONFIDENCE IN GOD OPENS SEVERAL SCENARIOS IN OUR LIVES
b. LITTLE FAITH IS A FORM OF IDOLATRY
i. LITTLE FAITH PUTS OUR PRIMARY FOCUS ON TEMPORAL NEEDS
1. FOOD
2. CLOTHING
3. LIFE SPAN
ii. TEMPORAL NEEDS ARE CONSUMABLE NEEDS
1. THEY NEED TO BE RENEWED EVERY DAY
2. THEY HAVE TO BE SOUGHT OUT EVERY DAY
3. THEY NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON EVERY DAY
iii. AN IDOL IS ANYTHING WE PUT IN FRONT OF GOD!
c. LITTLE FAITH IS A SINFUL FAITH
i. IF WE KNOW CHRIST AS SAVIOR
1. WE HAVE TRUSTED IN HIM FOR OUR ETERNITY
2. WE TRUST HIM IN HIS PREPARATION OF HEAVEN FOR US.
ii. WE DO NOT TRUST HIM FOR OUR DAILY NEEDS
1. DENIES HIS LOVE FOR US
2. DENIES HIS INTEGRITY
3. GOD CANNOT BE TRUSTED TO KEEP HIS PROMISES
a. INERRANCY OF SCRIPTURE – WE BELIEVE WHAT IT SAYS
b. THEN WE WORRY AND FRET OVER FOOD, CLOTHING AND LIFE!
c. CANNOT HAVE IT BOTH WAYS!
d. LITTLE FAITH IS A “WORRY” FAITH
i. WORRY PUTS US ON A DANGEROUS PATH – IT INHIBITS US FROM SERVING GOD!
ii. WORRY KEEPS US FROM SEEING GOD’S CARE AND PROVISION IN HIS CREATION
iii. WE ADOPT THE A WORLDLY LIFE VIEW
1. THINKING LIKE THE WORLD (GET ALL YOU CAN, YOU ONLY GO AROUND ONCE) MAKES US
2. CRAVE LIKE THE WORLD – LIVING OUR LIVES TO OBTAIN CONSUMABLES, WHICH THEN MAKES US
3. WORRY LIKE THE WORLD.
e. LITTLE FAITH IS A FAITH WITHOUT GOD
i. WE CANNOT SERVE GOD BECAUSE WE CANNOT SEE GOD’S PROVISION IN CREATION
ii. WHEN WE DO NOT MAINTAIN OUR CONNECTION WITH GOD IN THIS AREA – OR IN ANY AREA REALLY
1. WE PRODUCE A SPIRITUAL VACUUM IN OUR LIVES
2. SATAN MOVES INTO THAT SPIRITUAL VACUUM
3. SATAN PLANTS DOUBT
4. DOUBT AFFECTS OUR SPIRITUAL CONNECTION WITH GOD ON ANOTHER LEVEL
5. THE PROCESS GOES ON AND ON!
6. THE END RESULT IS
2 CORINTHIANS 10:3-5 FOR THOUGH WE WALK IN THE FLESH, WE DO NOT WAR ACCORDING TO THE FLESH, 4 FOR THE WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE ARE NOT OF THE FLESH, BUT DIVINELY POWERFUL FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF FORTRESSES. 5 WE ARE DESTROYING SPECULATIONS AND EVERY LOFTY THING RAISED UP AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, AND WE ARE TAKING EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST,
HAVING “LITTLE FAITH” IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR THE FOLLOWER OF CHRIST. WE ARE UNABLE TO FULLY FOCUS ON GOD BECAUSE WE ARE SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME FOCUSING ON THINGS WE LACK CONFIDENCE IN THAT GOD WILL PROVIDE.
AND IN DOING SO WE HAVE CREATED A SPIRITUAL DEFICIT IN OUR LIVES
II. THE SOLUTION TO HAVING A LITTLE FAITH
a. WHAT IS FAITH?
i. COMES FROM THE GREEK WORD, “PISTIS”
ii. IT MEANS TO HAVE AN ASSURANCE, FIRM PERSUASION AND TRUST, PARTICULARLY IN RELATION TO GOD. A CONVICTION!
b. FAITH COMES FROM A “FRESHNESS” WITH GOD THROUGH HIS WORD
i. FRESHNESS WITH THE WORD OF GOD PUTS GOD ON OUR MINDS AND OUR HEART
ii. IT PREVENTS SPIRITUAL VACUUM THAT SATAN SEEKS TO FILL AND EXPLOIT
c. FAITH COMES FROM PUTTING GOD FIRST IN OUR LIVES
i. DEVELOPS SPIRITUAL ASSURANCE
d. OUR TEXTS SAYS THAT WE SHOULD, “SEEK FIRST” THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
i. THE KINGDOM OF GOD
1. NOT A PLACE
2. THE WORD MEANS A RULE OR AUTHORITY
ii. NEED TO SEEK GOD’S RULE IN OUR LIVES.
1. WE HAVE PEOPLE ON THE OUTSIDE OF OUR LIVES
2. WE HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR LIVES WHO AFFECT US VERY LITTLE
3. WE HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR LIVES WHO HAVE GREATER EFFECT
4. WE MUST PUT GOD ABOVE ALL OTHERS IN ORDER TO SEEK HIM SINCERELY
iii. GOD HAS BY AUTHORITY ESTABLISHED HIS RULE
1. WHAT IS RIGHT AND WRONG IN HIS EYES
2. SEEKING GOD’S KINGDOM FIRST IS APPLYING GOD’S RULE TO OUR OWN LIVES
HOW OFTEN HAVE YOU TOLD A CHILD TO, “TRY IT, YOU MIGHT LIKE IT.” AND WHEN THEY DID, YOU OPENED UP A WHOLE KNEW TASTE TO THEM.
3. WHAT IS GOD’S DIRECTION. GOD IS FAR MORE CONCERNED WITH OUR WORKING FOR ETERNITY THEN WE ARE.
a. WE WOULD RATHER SEEK OUT OUR CONSUMABLE NEEDS
b. GOD WANTS TO AND PROMISES TO SUPPLY THOSE SO THAT OUR INTENTIONS, PASSION AND ENERGY CAN BE ELSEWHERE
c. GOD PROVIDES WHAT WE NEED SO THAT WE CAN BE ABOUT THE ETERNAL WORK OF HIS KINGDOM!
iv. WE NEED TO SEEK GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS
1. IN OTHER WORDS, AS WE LEARNED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, RIGHTEOUSNESS IS DOING WHAT IS RIGHT BEFORE OTHERS AND BEFORE GOD
2. PAUL SAYS IT THIS WAY IN THE BOOK OF ROMANS,
Romans 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
a. GOD’S KINGDOM IS NOT WHAT WE ARE SEEKING
b. GOD’S KINGDOM IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE SEEKING!
3. DAILY LIVING FOR GOD SHOULD BE MORE PRECIOUS TO US THAN OUR OWN LIBERTIES
4. HAVING A GREATER INTEREST IN SERVING OTHERS IN THE BODY (PEACE) THAN PLEASING OURSELVES.
5. BEING RELATIONALLY CENTERED ON GOD
v. HOW IS THIS DONE?
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
1. IT BEGINS BY NOT CONFORMING TO THE WORLD – HOPE YOU SAW THAT IN WHAT “LITTLE FAITH” SEEKS
2. IT CONTINUES WITH RENEWING OUR MINDS – AGAIN, THE BATTLE FOR FAITH IS NOT WHERE FLESH FIGHTS, BUT WHERE THE SPIRITUAL BATTLES ARE FOUGHT!
3. IT CONCLUDES WITH THE ABILITY TO EVIDENCE WHAT GOD DESIRES – SEEKING AFTER HIM.
OFTEN THE NEW YEAR IS A TIME OF RESOLUTION. IN REALITY, THEY ARE OUR ATTEMPT TO FIX WHAT WE BELIEVE IS BROKEN IN OUR LIVES, WHEN RIGHT IN FRONT OF US, THE REAL ISSUE IS “LITTLE FAITH”.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE “LITTLE FAITH”? JUST ASK YOURSELF, “WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT IN MY LIFE AS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST?”
HOW DO I MOVE AWAY FROM “LITTLE FAITH”? BY PUTTING MYSELF DAILY INTO THE PLACE WHERE GOD CAN BE FRESH IN MY LIFE.
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