TITLE: THE FIVE REQUIREMENTS OF FAITH
SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 12:1-2 / JOSHUA 24:2-3
(The five topical points are from Dr. Charles Stanley with my defining of each)
This morning will be the third installment of our “Faith Walk Series.” Recall with me a few weeks ago we shared the message “Lord, Increase Our Faith” last Sunday Rev. Finley delivered the second installment “Don’t Lose Your Faith In The Fourth Watch.” I present the next message this morning “The Five Requirements Of Faith” This morning I want to begin this message by asking you a couple of questions -
• Are you trusting in the Father in every aspect of your life?
• Do you have confidence that God — the Sovereign Lord of the universe — will do exactly what He says and fulfill every promise He’s made?
Your answers to these questions will greatly affect your life. In fact, if you refuse to trust God, you will undoubtedly miss important blessings He has for you. From the moment you become a Christian, God enrolls you in his classroom of faith because He desires to develop your relationship with Him and show you life at its very best. This is why Jesus said in ST. MATTHEW 7:7 “ASK, AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU; SEEK, AND YOU WILL FIND; KNOCK, AND IT WILL BE OPENED TO YOU.” The Father has awesome blessings for you, but you must know that He cares for you enough to provide them.
Unfortunately, believers will sometimes miss God’s best in life simply because they do not trust Him. We get caught up in our circumstances and wonder why difficulties occur. However, when we realize that ups and downs are a natural part of maturing as Christians, we will continue to grow and progress in our faith.
• ST. MATTHEW 5:45 -- “THAT YE MAY BE THE CHILDREN OF YOUR FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN: FOR HE MAKETH HIS SUN TO RISE ON THE EVIL AND ON THE GOOD, AND SENDETH RAIN ON THE JUST AND ON THE UNJUST”
• ACTS 10:34 -- “THEN PETER OPENED HIS MOUTH, AND SAID, OF A TRUTH I PERCEIVE THAT GOD IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS”
In our text for examination Abraham is known as “The Father of our Faith” because of his inspiring and historic trust in God. Although he grew up in a pagan land and knew nothing about Yahweh, he obeyed when the Lord called him. God said, “GO FORTH FROM YOUR COUNTRY, AND FROM YOUR RELATIVES AND FROM YOUR FATHER’S HOUSE, TO THE LAND WHICH I WILL SHOW YOU; AND I WILL MAKE YOU A GREAT NATION, AND I WILL BLESS YOU.”
• It was an incredibly difficult command
• Abraham was to leave his family and everything he had ever known to go to a place he had never seen
• Has God ever asked you to do something really challenging?
• Has God ever asked you to do something that just did not make good sense to you?
• More importantly, did you obey his call?
• We like to sing that song written by JOHN SAMMIS written in 1887
o When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.
o Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Although Abraham’s faith was severely tried, we know he remained devoted to God even when everything appeared contrary to the Lord’s covenant with him. And the Father blessed him beyond measure — fulfilling every promise. Yes, Abraham failed at times and had doubts like we do. He wasn’t perfect. This is the reason he is an excellent example of what it means to live a vibrant life of faith.
• We all experience faith failures
• But if we pick ourselves up and renew our trust in the Lord, we will see God’s promises to us fulfilled as this patriarch did
• Thankfully, Abraham also demonstrates what is necessary for remaining confident in the Father’s provision
Let’s jump into these ‘Five Requirements of Faith.’ THE FIRST REQUIREMENT OF FAITH – LEARN TO LISTEN TO GOD. The Lord is speaking to each of us individually — just as He did with Abraham. But if we do not learn to listen to Him, how will we ever have a relationship with Him? The first question we should ask is, “how does the Father communicate with us?” He does so primarily through His word and prayer. As we read the Bible daily, He shows us how to handle the issues that concern us. –
• Must develop a Love Relationship with the Bible
• Must get in the practice of reading the Word on a daily basis
• He may also communicate through other People
• Sermons
• Christian books
• Songs
• Circumstances
In fact, He will move heaven and earth to show us His Will when we seek His face. The key is to begin each day by praying, “Father, if You have anything to say to me, please speak — I’m listening.” Then truly listen. Though there may be times when God’s directions do not make sense to us, be assured that He would never tell us to do anything that contradicts Scripture.
• ROMANS 8:28 -- AND WE KNOW THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THEM THAT LOVE GOD, TO THEM WHO ARE THE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE
The promise that God works all things together for good does not mean that all things, taken by themselves, are good.
• Some things and events are decidedly bad - hurtful
• But God is able to work them together for good
• He sees the big picture
• He has a master plan
Neither does the promise that God works all things together for good mean we will acquire all that we want or desire.
• Romans 8:28 is about God’s goodness and our confidence that His plan will work out as He sees fit
• Since His plan is always good, Christians can take confidence that, no matter our circumstances or environments, God is active and will conclude things according to His good and wise design
• With this knowledge we can learn to be content
REQUIREMENT 2 - LEARN TO OBEY GOD. As you and I grow in our relationship with the Father, we learn by trial and error how crucial it is for us to do exactly as he tells us. In fact, once we hear the Lord’s direction, our best course of action is to submit to His commands fully and immediately — no matter what it costs us — because obedience to God always brings blessings. I SAMUEL 15:22 “AND SAMUEL SAID, HATH THE LORD AS GREAT DELIGHT IN BURNT OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES, AS IN OBEYING THE VOICE OF THE LORD? BEHOLD, TO OBEY IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE, AND TO HEARKEN THAN THE FAT OF RAMS.”
• As we mature, we also discover when we attempt to take shortcuts or circumvent God’s plan, we get ourselves into trouble
• This is because partial obedience is disobedience, which always brings terrible consequences
Obedience to God –
• Proves our love for Him
• Demonstrates our faithfulness to Him
• Glorifies Him in the world
• Opens avenues of blessing for us
We obey His commands, not because we have to, but because we want to, because we love Him. We are enabled to obey because, once we believe in Christ and are saved, we are remade. We are not the same people we once were. As Paul wrote in II CORINTHIANS 5:17 “IF ANYONE IS IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATION; OLD THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY, AND ALL THINGS HAVE BECOME NEW!”
• When we obey the Lord, we can live a life of joy, without shame, rooted deeply in the Lord and confident in our eternal hope
• II CORINTHIANS 3:17 “WHERE THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS, THERE IS LIBERTY”
• Our obedience is actually part of our assurance that we truly know God -- I JOHN 2:3
REQUIREMENT 3 - LEARN TO DEPEND ON GOD. - I am working on my fourth book based on this requirement - The more closely we walk with the Father, the more we understand how perfectly He leads us. This is why God will sometimes only show us where to go one step at a time — so we will rely upon Him completely.
• When this happens, we may become frustrated or impatient with our progress and begin to doubt
• However, when we do so, we show that we don’t truly trust and depend on God
• As a result, we begin to feel we must handle things on our own and pull away from Him
• This is always a mistake
• Instead, we must constantly remain in complete dependence upon the Father, which is the position of ultimate safety
Depending on God is basic to the Christian life.
• EPESIANS 2:8-9 - We trust in, or depend on, God for our salvation
• JAMES 1:5 - We depend on God for wisdom
• PSALM 104:27 - In fact, we depend on God for everything
• PROVERBS 3:5-6 - Reiterates - We depend on God in everything
Dependence on God is when we rely on Him to meet our needs.
• It is when we trust in His power and His wisdom
• It is when we allow Him to lead us and guide us
• And it is when we seek His strength in times of weakness
• When we depend on God, we are saying that He is the most important thing in our lives
• We are saying that we need Him more than anything else
REQUIREMENT 4 - LEARN TO WAIT UPON GOD. Time is a tool in God’s hand, and its passing will either strengthen our faith or undermine it, depending on how we respond. Scripture is clear – ISAIAH 64:4 “GOD . . . ACTS IN BEHALF OF THE ONE WHO WAITS FOR HIM.” No matter how many days, weeks, months, or years pass, the Lord will still keep His promises to you. Trust is required of His children.
• PSALM 130:5 -- I WAIT FOR THE LORD, MY SOUL DOES WAIT, AND IN HIS WORD DO I HOPE
• PSALM 39:7 -- “AND NOW, LORD, FOR WHAT DO I WAIT? MY HOPE IS IN YOU
• LAMENTATIONS 3:25 -- THE LORD IS GOOD TO THOSE WHO WAIT FOR HIM, TO THE PERSON WHO SEEKS HIM
• PSALM 33:20 -- OUR SOUL WAITS FOR THE LORD; HE IS OUR HELP AND OUR SHIELD
• ISAIAH 40:31 -- BUT THEY THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH; THEY SHALL MOUNT UP WITH WINGS AS EAGLES; THEY SHALL RUN, AND NOT BE WEARY; AND THEY SHALL WALK, AND NOT FAINT
• PSALM 27:14 -- WAIT ON THE LORD: BE OF GOOD COURAGE, AND HE SHALL STRENGTHEN THINE HEART: WAIT, I SAY, ON THE LORD
REQUIREMENT 5 -- LEARN TO ACKNOWLEDGE, REPENT, AND PROFIT FROM FAITH FAILURES.
• We all make mistakes and fail to rely on God at times
• We run ahead of His timing
• We try to invent our own solutions to the problems we face, or achieve the desires of our hearts in our own ways
• Although there are certainly consequences for this, we must never imagine that the Father gives up on us
• The Lord never turned His back on Abraham, and He will not forsake us either
• HEBREWS 13:5 “…“I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU”
However, God will continue to try our faith until we are able to trust Him with everything we love in life. Therefore, instead of merely regretting our failures, we should acknowledge them, repent of our unbelief, and make every effort to avoid such mistakes in the future. Let me be clear here, The Lord will try our faith not tempt our faith. JAMES 1:13 “LET NO MAN SAY WHEN HE IS TEMPTED, I AM TEMPTED OF GOD: FOR GOD CANNOT BE TEMPTED WITH EVIL, NEITHER TEMPTETH HE ANY MAN.”
ST. LUKE 22:31-32 “AND THE LORD SAID, SIMON, SIMON, BEHOLD, SATAN HATH DESIRED TO HAVE YOU, THAT HE MAY SIFT YOU AS WHEAT: BUT I HAVE PRAYED FOR THEE, THAT THY FAITH FAIL NOT: AND WHEN THOU ART CONVERTED, STRENGTHEN THY BRETHREN. ” Here, we are privileged to eavesdrop on a conversation between Simon Peter and Jesus. This conversation is a good place for us to be nosey. It begins with bad news, namely, that Satan intends to “SIFT EACH OF YOU LIKE WHEAT.” This metaphor suggests that the disciples of Jesus, including Peter, are about to experience trials and testing. they’re on the verge of hard times that will shake their faith. For Peter, in particular, Jesus has prayed that his faith will not fail.
Peter boldly claims that he is ready to go to prison with Jesus, even to die with him. Jesus responds with a chilling prediction - “PETER, LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING. BEFORE THE ROOSTER CROWS TOMORROW MORNING, YOU WILL DENY THREE TIMES THAT YOU EVEN KNOW ME.”
• Luke does not report Peter’s response
• But surely he is distressed, whether he believes Jesus or not
Right after Jesus says that he has prayed for Peter, he adds, “SO WHEN YOU HAVE REPENTED AND TURNED TO ME AGAIN, STRENGTHEN YOUR BROTHERS.” This statement assumes what Jesus reveals a moment later, that Peter will deny him three times. Peter will need to repent, to turn away from his sin and turn back to Jesus. This is something about which Jesus is certain. yet this certainty does not keep Jesus from assigning to peter the task of strengthening his brothers, that is to say, his fellow disciples.
• Jesus sees beyond Peter’s obvious faults and upcoming failures
• He sees that which is good in Peter, his STRENGTH – FAITH - COMPASSION
• He knows Peter will be the one to build up his fellow disciples, in spite of the fact that Peter himself will fail along the way
What an encouragement this can be for us!
• We know our weaknesses
• We know how many times we fail to live up to God’s standards
• We are broken, sinful people
• Yet Jesus sees beyond our faults and failures, much as he did with Peter
• Jesus calls us into his service, not because he has an unrealistic picture of us, but because he sees us truly, as people gifted for and called into his ministry
LEARN TO ACKNOWLEDGE, REPENT, AND PROFIT FROM FAITH FAILURES.
• Our failures in our faith walk don’t destroy us
• Our failures in our faith walk don’t disappoint the Lord
• Our failures in our faith we should profit from and grow
Do you ever discount your value in Christ’s work because of your faults and failures?
• Do you let your shortcomings keep you from serving the Lord in every part of life?
• If you really trusted Jesus as your Savior, what might you do today as one of his disciples?
• That is to WALK BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT
When Jesus chose you to be his disciple, that is to be saved, he foresaw your future failures as sure as he foresaw Peter’s. We may not want to believe that we could deny Jesus by engaging in a sin that contradicts everything we believe. but Jesus knows what is in us. So he exhorts us along with Peter to “WATCH AND PRAY THAT YOU MAY NOT ENTER INTO TEMPTATION. THE SPIRIT INDEED IS WILLING, BUT THE FLESH IS WEAK.”
And when we do fail, and we will along the way, we must remember what Jesus said to Peter before his failure - “I HAVE PRAYED FOR YOU THAT YOUR FAITH MAY NOT FAIL. AND WHEN YOU HAVE TURNED AGAIN, STRENGTHEN YOUR BROTHERS.” Peter was going to sin — miserably.
• But Jesus had prayed for him
• Jesus’ prayer was stronger than Peter’s sin, and it’s stronger than our sin too
• “HE IS ABLE TO SAVE TO THE UTTERMOST THOSE WHO DRAW NEAR TO GOD THROUGH HIM, SINCE HE ALWAYS LIVES TO MAKE INTERCESSION FOR THEM”
--Jesus is the great restorer of failures who repent
--Jesus had said to Peter “WHEN YOU HAVE TURNED AGAIN [REPENTED], STRENGTHEN YOUR BROTHERS”
--There on the beach he again gave Peter the greatest invitation any of us can receive on earth - “FOLLOW ME”
--The failure was to be left behind
--There was kingdom work to do, and eternal life to enjoy
--Peter’s failure did not define him
--And ours will not define us
--They are horrible, humbling stumbles along the path of following Jesus, who paid for them all on the cross
--And Jesus specializes in transforming failures into rocks of strength for his church
