God said..."You Already Have Enough"
Illus.
A man fell off a cliff, but managed to grab a tree limb on his way down. “Is anyone up there?” he cried out. “I am here, I am the Lord, do you believe me?” the voice said. “Yes, Lord I believe, I really believe, but I can’t hang on much longer.” “If you really believe you will be alright, I will save you, just let go of the branch.” The man paused for a moment then said, “is there anyone else up there?”
Isn't that just like human nature...God has given us His word and promised time and time again to take care of us...and human nature still looks for an alternate route...
When the only thing we have to do to receive His care...is trust God that He will do what He says He will do..Amen??
Romans 12:1-3 NKJ
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which isyour reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God
3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith
Luke 17:5-6 NKJ
5 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
6 So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
Here we see two references to faith… The first one says that God has dealt, or given us a measure of faith..and that includes everyone,
no one a larger measure, or a smaller amount...everyone the same amount, a measure..
What is a measure? to ascertain the extent, dimensions, quantity,capacity, etc., of, especially by comparison with a standard:
A measure what ever amount it is...is Gods standard of faith!
and one thing we know about God He never short changes His Children...
He always supplies more than enough to complete the task at hand.
So a measure is more than an ample supply...amen?
The second one says… If we just have the tiniest amount of faith (mustard size faith) that we can do miraculous things, that we could command a tree to be physically thrown in the lake and it would have to obey us.
A measure of Faith… Is not the same amount, or the same size as a mustard seed. It's clearly more, a whole lot more.
Mark 11:22-24 NKJ
22. So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.
23. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
24. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
I don't believe anyone has a problem talking to the mountain… Its the doubting in the heart, that creates a problem for us.
And let's be truthful here, the thing that we doubt in, is our ability....not Gods. Right?
Because Gods Ability is Awesome...
Gods Ability knows no Limits...
There is nothing out of the realm of God's ability…
But the thing most people fail to realize and remember is this.....
He's already equipped us with a measure of faith which is more than enough to get the job done....
however...there's a catch?
that measure involves believing in and trusting in His ability and not our own...
TBS. but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says...
So if we believe, even with just a tiny amount of that measure of Faith God has given to us...those things will come to pass!
When we read of the amazing stories and parables in the Bible and the great accomplishments and things that were done through the men and women of God...
we realize that it was always God who did those things, not the men and women who asked him to do those things....
but their faith in His Ability...that He would do them when they asked Him to do them!!
And God clearly wants to still do things for his children… If they will only believe!
I want you to know this morning… That there is no need that you may have, great or small, that God does not want to see met and exceeded,
because Our God is always a God of more than enough...and He cares about His Children!
The accuser on the other hand, doesn’t want to see any of you’re needs met,
that’s why he tries to make mountains out of all the molehills of life...
For most, 99 times out of 100, he doesn’t succeed...But the one time he thinks he’s on to something, he’s going to do all he can, to turn it into a mountain.
Its those times, TBS. we need to have faith in God...Not in ourselves!
It's in those times that we say Lord I believe… But help my unbelief. That's why he gave us verse 22....
He says to us don't rely on you, rely on me... Remember the measure of faith I've already given you...
it's about my ability not-your ability...if you are willing to rely on me, you can count it as being done.
Vs. 22. So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.
Jesus didn’t just say Have faith, or to be having faith,” but “Have faith in God.”
Your measure of faith is only active or activated...when you depend on God for the outcome...
That's why most people say I just don't have enough faith…
It's because they're not hooking up their faith with Gods Faith...And it's sad, because God has lots of faith…
You can't give away something until you possess it... And God is the source of all faith! Amen??
We have to overcome the reliance on self… Because self would tell you how hard can it be to come up with the minuscule amount of what God has already given us…
Self says...how hard could it be to obtain a mustard size portion of faith...
No matter how hard we may try...
How many tears may get shed in the process...
Man’s faith in the natural, is never going to remove the mountain by itself....
Only the supernatural capabilities of God, can remove the mountain and cast it into the sea.
When all of the disciples were in the boat, all of them had faith...but it was in the boat‘s capabilities and their experiences as fisherman...
But only Peter, had faith in the source...that could make his request happen, and that source was Jesus.
The world is not your source...
Your ability is not your source...
Know who your source is...
Jesus is your source...
Matt 14:28-33 NKJ
28. And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”
29. So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.
Everyone in that boat...could've been walking on water that day… But only Peter decided to exercise his Mustardseed size faith...
Everyone who is here this morning can have their needs met as well… If you are willing to step out of the boat and exercise your Mustardseed size seed of faith too!!
But Pastor you just don't know all the details and everything that is involved in the size of my need and what needs to be done....
The problem I have is huge…
The need I have is impossible…
The condition I have is rare…
The doctor says my problem can't be cured by medicine…
Those are all things that take your focus off of Jesus… Just like we read about in Vs. 30 And how Peter was walking on water and doing the impossible and became distracted...
30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32. And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”
Why did he doubt?
Circumstances will make you doubt...
Surroundings will make you doubt...
Nay Sayers will cause you to doubt...
The moment that he took his eyes of Jesus and noticed the wind and the storm, he began to sink and get scared!
At that moment, he only saw what he was capable of in the natural...instead of what he had just been able to accomplish through his faith in Jesus, in the supernatural!
That’s when Jesus stepped in and saved him and said “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
In other words, why did you start having faith in faith, instead of having “Faith in Me”..that's the same question that I'm sure He still ponders today with us?
When you focus on the problem, instead of focusing on the problem solver, when you let mountain your facing...get in your line of vision....
that’s when your faith becomes little or small, that’s when it becomes only about your ability, instead of God’s Amazing Ability!
I know it's hard to imagine… But that's when our faith becomes smaller...than a mustard seed…
It becomes inactive and useless..and its a trick of the accuser!
I'll tell you something else this morning… It's contrary to Scripture. Because the Bible says He has given all a measure of faith!!
Thank the Lord for his faithfulness to us… Amen??
Ephesians 2:1-12 MSG
It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, whichever doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.
7-10 Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.
Just like Peter showed everyone in that boat.....exactly what God was capable of,
He wants you to realize the same thing...
there are so many things to be done for the kingdom… So many things that seem impossible in the natural...
but once you step out of the boat and trust Jesus and his ability… Not one of them cant be overcome
Don’t limit Him, by what you think He’s capable of...realize what you have been given.
If God be your partner, don't be afraid to step out where ever He tells you
Knowing that he will always be there right by your side… Seeing you through every step of the way
Praise God!!
Lets pray
