Faith That Pleases God…..
The parable six blind men and an elephant
◦They came up on a man riding an elephant.
◦They wanted to go back and tell the other villagers what an elephant looked like. ◦All the blind men touched and stroked the elephant. ◦They returned to their village to report their experience. ◦The first man, who had felt the animals' side, said, "An elephant is like a great thick wall." ◦The second man, who had felt the elephant's tusk. "He is rather short, round, and smooth, but very sharp. I would compare an elephant not with a wall but with a spear!" ◦The third man, who had touched the ear, differed with both of his friends and said, "It is nothing at all like a wall or a spear. It is like a gigantic leaf made of thick wool carpet. It moves when you touch it." ◦The fourth man, who had handled the trunk. "I can tell you that an elephant is like a giant snake." ◦Then, the fifth man shouted his objection. He had touched one of the elephant's legs and concluded, "An elephant is round and thick, like a tree." ◦The sixth man had been allowed to ride on the elephant's back, and he protested, "Can none of you accurately describe an elephant? Clearly he is like a gigantic moving mountain!" ◦The parable ends by saying that, to this day, the six men continue to argue, and no one in the village has any idea what an elephant looks like.
Like these men, most people struggle, to define “concepts” that are bigger than we are. We grope around in the dark in our attempts to explain things, that are our five senses do not allow us to perceive. One such concept is 'Faith'.
Since we cannot please God without faith,
it is vital, that we as believers, have an accurate understanding, of what faith is.
I. Some Misconceptions About Faith,
A. Some people mistakenly define faith as
some kind of magical potion or power.
1. They would have us believe that if we could just muster up enough of this substance or feeling,
2. We could do anything for personal gain. (Jet/no gas)
3. We could, faith, our way through life, with no trials, tests, tribulation or responsibility. (Cancer free cigs)
4. We could perform all sorts of amazing
“feats of wonder” in “order to be famous” (miracles)
5. But that isn't faith! That’s Selfishness & Pride.
B. Other's think of faith, as positive thinking.
1. If I just think good, positive thoughts, I could
change the world. (Faith/ bring peace/middle east)
2. It is all in the mind! Mind over matter.
3. But, that isn't faith either! That’s ignorance.
C. All of these attempts at defining FAITH, fall
far short of an accurate definition. PS 37:4…
Give what YOU desire, Give you what TO desire.
Hebrews 11:1-6 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. 4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it, he being dead, yet speaketh.
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation, he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith, it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder
of them that diligently seek him.
II. Faith Is...Believing When You Don't See It.
A. Real faith anticipates. 1. It visualizes the future in the present. 2. It sees in advance...so it is being sure, even of what you don't, yet see. B. The example of Noah. Heb 11:7. This verse reminds us that Noah embraced this aspect of faith. 2. Remember, he was warned about an impending flood. 3. He had never even seen rain before, much less enough water to flood the world, but he was so sure of this future event,
that in faith, He built the ark just as God instructed.
(450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high)(by hand)
True faith does not SEE and then BELIEVE ....
True faith “BELIEVES and then it SEES.”
C. How is it possible for us to have this much faith?
1. The answer lies, in the object of our faith.
2. When it comes to genuine faith, it is not quantity that counts. 3. Jesus said you only need have the faith of a tiny mustard seed....so quantity is not that significant. 4. It is the QUALITY of faith that is important and the quality of faith comes, from that
which faith is fastened to, or, the object of our faith.
5. So, our faith can be strong, if, the object of our faith is strong, and God is strong. 6. God is not only strong,
He is powerful---He is also wise and loving----and He promises to guide us through life---so we can follow Him, even though we don't see where He is leading us.
III. Faith Is. Obeying When You Don't Understand It.
A. The example of Abraham. Heb. 11:8
1. Abraham's faith, motivated him to obey God, even when it meant leaving his homeland and heading off for some unknown destination----a trip that didn't make any sense. 2. But many times, God's commands, don't make sense. (Prov 3:5) "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." 3. The fact that God's instructions, didn't make sense to Abraham, didn't stop Him from acting on his faith. 4. His example teaches us, that authentic faith, is always characterized by action.
B. Real faith is doing something NOW, in view of,
the future.1. Faith is not passive...it is dynamic...and forceful. 2. Faithful people actively obey God, in the now. (James 2:18) "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works."
3. People know what we believe, by the way that we behave. 4. Because,,, genuine faith is OBEYING,
even when you don't understand it.
IV. Faith Is ...Giving When You Don't Have It.
A. The example of the Macedonian believers.
1. 2 Cor. 8:1-3 2. They gave even though they had very little. 3. When we give in this sacrificial way,
we force ourselves to trust God. 4. These givers were paupers...not knowing where their next meal would come from and yet Paul said that "Out of the abundance of their joy...they gave beyond their power." B. The example of the widow of Zarephath.
1. What Elijah asked may have seemed cruel and selfish, but his outrageous request was actually,
a service to her. 2. Because it gave her an opportunity to give in a way that would allow her to see God provide. 3. And, God did provide, during all the years of that famine, her flour bin was always full, and her oil jar never ran dry, no matter how much she took from it. 4. Giving all that she had, gave her access, to God's unlimited supply. Phil 4:19 My God shall supply
C. The purpose of giving is to learn to trust God on a deeper level. 1. Giving helps us learn that we can rely on God...we can lean on Him for our needs. 2. When we follow God's leading and give beyond our ability to do so,, then our faith grows and we, increasingly learn that we can trust God. (1 Pet 5:7) "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."3. Real faith is giving in a way that causes us to be more dependent
on God. (2 Cor 9:6) "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully."…… Believing when I don't see it... Obeying when I don't understand it... Giving when I don't have it...???
Is that a picture of our faith? Do we really have faith?
Are we living it, or just talking about.
Faith is ...1.Believing When I Don't See It…
2.Obeying When I Don't Understand It…
3.Giving When I Don't Have It…
I. Faith is ... Persisting When You Don't Feel Like It.
A. Faith and Feeling. 1. Our culture says, "Base everything you do on how you feel." 2. In other words, if you feel like doing it, do it. 3. If you don't feel like doing it, don't do it. 4. This is a guaranteed formula for failure and its immature faith ...because immature people build their lives on feelings rather than on commitments. 5. When we live our lives based on how we feel, we end up being manipulated by moods.
B. Feelings are Fickle, Faith is Function, (Action)
1. Successful people do what most people don't FEEL like doing. 2. They develop habits that unsuccessful people don't feel like developing, like using their time wisely or being consistent and persistent. 3. Ask an Olympic Gold medalist, if they felt like getting up and practicing hour after hour; day after day. 4. They would likely say, "No, but you don't get to the Olympics by doing what you feel like doing."
C. Faithful example of Moses 1. Note: Heb. 11:24-27 Prince of Egypt to the back side of the desert, alone.
2. Godly men and women don't get persistent, just by feeling like it. 3. They become godly by persisting
at doing God's will even when they DON'T feel like it.
(Heb 11:27b) "… for he endured, as seeing him who
is invisible."4. What made Moses persistent? It's that last phrase. 5. He SAW Him who is invisible. 6. Moses had his eyes on God. 7. This is the key to persistence.
a. If we keep our eyes on Jesus, He will give us the strength to persevere. b. We, keep our eyes on Jesus,
by spending time, studying His word and talking with Him, through prayer, by BEING WITH HIM!
c. Looking at our invisible God, will give us the strength to keep on going, when we feel like quitting!
(Gal 6:9) "And let us not be weary in well doing:
for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."
II. Faith Is …Thanking Him Before You Receive It….
(Heb 11:30) "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days."
A. The example of Jericho. Cf Joshua 6:2-5
1. God's people, had come to conquer the land, that
He had given them, and they found a barricaded city.
2. Understand, they had been slaves for four hundred years. 3. They had almost no training as an army.
4. They had few weapons. 5. Now they face the walled, barricaded city of Jericho, and God said, "Here is the plan. Put the priests and the musicians in the front of the line and “everybody” march around the city and praise Me and thank Me.” They believed for the city's destruction, BEFORE it happened, and the walls fell.
B. The example of Jehoshaphat. Cf 2 Chr. 20:17-24
1. The people asked for God's help, in dealing with the invading armies of the Moabites and the Ammonites.
2. God instructed them to form a choir and put the choir in front of the army as it marched into battle.
3. As they marched, the choir sang, "Give thanks
to the Lord, for His love endures forever."
4. When they arrived at the battlefield,, all they saw, was the bodies, of the dead soldiers, of the enemy.
5. They had embraced a genuine faith by thanking God even before He answered their prayer.
C. We are to praise God before He blesses us.
1. We thank Him before it happens.
2. One preacher put it this way, "If God tells you to go after Moby Dick in a rowboat, you better go,
and don't forget to take the tartar sauce."
3. Faith is thanking God before you receive it.
III. Faith Is Trusting Even If You Can’t Touch It
Heb. 11:39-40
A. Here we see… Examples of the Faithful
1. They were all commended for their faith, yet,
none of them saw the promise, the Messiah, Jesus.
2. God had planned something better.
3. All these godly men and women had faith in something they never saw or touched, in this life.
4. All of these people were great people of faith because they believed that God would give them
what He had promised, even though they never saw it,
in this lifetime, or touched it physically.
B. God is not like a vending machine.
1. At Wal-Mart, there is a drink machine.
2. Put in $1, push a button and you get a drink.
3. God calls on us, to invest our lives, by faith…
even if we don’t see a quick return on our investment.
4. Some give up on God, when He doesn't answer
just exactly, when, where and how they want Him to.
5. That isn't faith…that is foolishness!
C. We are eternal beings.
1. God didn’t create us, just for here and now.
2. He created us for eternity. 3. If we just, live for now, we will miss the ultimate purpose of creation.
4. God uses our present, to mold and shape our future usefulness, here on earth and in eternity. 5. We need to make sure we are investing our life, time, resources and faith, in things that are lasting, in God’s kingdom.
(Mat 6:20)
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt,
and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
(Heb. 11:6)
But without faith it is impossible to please him:
for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and, that he is a rewarder, of them that diligently seek him.
So what’s the kind of faith that pleases God?
It is a faith that:
•...Believes when we don't see it....
•…Obeys when we don't understand it....
•...Gives when we don't have it....
•…Persists when we don't feel like it...
•…Thanks before we receive it...
•…Trusts when we can’t touch it...
That’s the kind of, “Faith, That Pleases God”.
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