TITLE DEED FAITH
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr.
Kyfingers@aol.com
I ponder today ROTTEN MESSES and Faith.
We must come to realize a problem is but a doorway of opporutnity for God to show His Plan!
I ponder: Can people have faith and never use it?
Are there levels of faith?
How can I learn to release my faith to make a difference?
I want to make a difference at home and that difference grow to touch the world.
I ponder: DOES OUR ENEMY TEST YOUR FAITH? HOW DOES THE ENEMY TEST FAITH?
If we could get wise to his testing procedures and
prepare for the test of faith, we would be better.
A few notes on the tests of faith.
The greatest tests of faith is not just how you feel
towards God, but how you feel toward fellowman.
Faith is tested in crucibles...
severe test, vessels that endures great heat.
Fire tests gold, adversity and patience tests men.
Faith can be tested by your giving.
Luke 17:5 the apostles come to Jesus and ask Jesus
to "Increase our faith."
Is this a fair request?
To be real honest, the apostles never needed to have
an increase --- they just needed to launch out and
use what they already had.
Why should God give you more, when you never
exercise what you already have?
Five books on the shelf, are no better than two
books on the shelf. We need the books off the shelf,
to be read, to be applied, to be taught, to be
practiced.
Some cry more Lord, and they set in pews of do nothing.
Many fear the tests of faith?
Well, can’t you see you are going to be tested no
matter what?
Why not let your faith rule and climb out of the
boat.
Yes, Peter had to hear the invitation of
Jesus ...
Lord, bid me come to you.
Don’t get out without the invitation.
We are not waiting on God, He is waiting on us?
We fear what the boat-sitters are going to say?
We fear about the possibility of sinking?
Peter is in pretty exclusive company, as there are
only records of two walking on water ...
Jesus ... Peter.
Faith will separate the men from the boys.
Some claim they have no faith?
Is this valid?
No! Romans 12:3 ... according as God hath dealt to
every man,(woman), the measure of faith.
What is the standard unit of measurement of faith?
Enough.
God gives everyone enough faith to do what is
necessary to accomplish His Plan in their life.
Nothing will ever occur, but what the believer will have enough faith to sustain and thrive and grow.
You have the FAITH ... use it.
Faith comes by hearing the word of God.
Rom.10:17.
We want to buy a tape, read a book and our faith
grow.
I think I, too, would not be wrong in stating:
Practice makes Perfect. ---
Never use your faith and lose it.
The more you exercise faith the more you faith will produce.
By the way, WHAT HAS YOUR FAITH PRODUCED RECENTLY?
Use your faith today.
I want us to look at Martha’s faith in
John 11: 21 --46.
To really understand my words you need to read God’s
words?
Most will be to busy too read God’s word?
Let’s establish Martha had a measure of faith.
We must also establish Martha’s faith will be
TESTED.
Why has the modern church developed bad attitudes
towards testing?
Every major worker for God had FAITH TEST!
The nerve of us thinking, we shall be exempt from
faith test, when God never exempted His Own Son?
Martha’s faith test that we will study does not
revolve around her, but her brother.
Often your test will involve what you love? ? ?
Abraham’s test was his son?
Widow’s test was her food?
The 7 dips of Naaman were faith test?
Women were Samson’s test?
Washing the mud out of the blind man’s eyes was his
test?
What will be your tests?
Ponder, HOW WILL MY FAITH BE TESTED?
Let’s look at a thumbnail sketch of Martha’s faith
tests?
Martha loved Lazarus.
Lazarus gets sick.
They send for Jesus.
Lazarus gets sicker.
Jesus delays His Coming.
Lazarus dies.
Lazarus stinks 4 days.
Let’s observe the 3 levels of Martha’s faith
and how Jesus’ love propelled Martha’s faith to
enough.
#1 LEVEL OF FAITH, WE WILL CALL TYLENOL FAITH.
Tylenol faith is the easy level.
I will pray and believe for what God can do as long
as it is something a Bayer Aspirin, a Tylenol or a
valium can handle.
John 11:21 ... Lord, if thou had been here my
brother had not died. . .
Tylenol faith depends on the presence of a super
saint?
Tylenol faith sees the limits of circumstances,
feelings, emotions, and personalities.
Also, note: there is a little blame placed on the
Divine Son of God for this:
"ROTTEN MESS WE ARE IN?"
If you had been here Jesus, ---
it is your fault for not coming.
Tylenol faith sees the little picture and glory to
flesh.
Tylenol faith never sees the BIG PICTURE and the
plan.
Martha’s Tylenol faith must be pushed to accept more
than the ability to do the little.
Little faith, little works?
Have you ever seen this level of faith?
Can you identify with Tylenol faith?
Tylenol faith can limit the work of God and
accomplish little.
#2 LEVEL OF FAITH, WE WILL CALL --- HEAD KNOWLEDGE FAITH.
Jesus challenges Martha to:
Come deeper and fan the flame of faith and kindle
hope.
Martha’s words declare,
John 11:24 I KNOW THAT LAZARUS WILL RAISE IN THE
RESURRECTION.
This is wonderful to know, but head knowledge is not
enough faith to accomplish God’s plan.
Jesus stretched Martha’s faith past the Tylenol
stage to the realm of the mind.
But logic and reason must be surpassed.
Jesus says, I have power over life / death, ---
BELIEVE THIS, MARTHA?
Martha must commit deeper than this level.
Jesus wept.
Why did Jesus cry?
The Jews said it was because Jesus loved Mary,
Martha, and Lazarus.
This is true, but I believe the tears went farther
than emotional ties.
I think Jesus cried over the lack of production by
faith.
Jesus saw the big picture and He cried because His
friends were living beneath their privilege.
Part of the tears of Jesus were in regard: ---
that limited faith limited God’s work?
Lord, please teach us to develop our faith to
release your production of your fruit.
#3 LEVEL OF FAITH, WE WILL CALL ACTION FAITH THAT PRODUCES THE PLAN OF GOD.
Jesus calls for real faith, ACTION ...
MOVE THE STONE!
vs 39, the head faith says, but Lord, Lazarus
stinks.
In vs. 40 Jesus speaks personally to Martha,
"Say I not unto thee that IF thou wouldest believe -- thou shall see the glory of God.
Jesus knew to release the action to deal one on one
with Martha.
The if hinges on you...?
Jesus challenges Martha’s faith.
vs.41 Martha’s consent grants the stone to be moved.
Note: Action faith moved the stone, Jesus never
moved the stone, people did.
After the action came a delay, a test of patience.
Jesus yells to his friend. Lazarus come forth.
And a mummy comes walking out, still bound by grave
clothes.
Jesus says calls for more action... Loose him.
Faith demands action, or it is not faith.
Heb. 11: 6, But without faith it is impossible to please HIM: 1) for he that cometh to God 2) MUST BELIEVE that He is 3) and that HE IS A REWARDER of them 4) that diligently seek Him.
What level of faith do you exercise on a daily bases? If you are in a "ROTTEN MESS", release your faith.
God knows how life can make many rotten messes, but God has a plan and He knows how to deliver His people.
Do let circumstances and emotions play games with your faith, move the stone, and TRUST the plan.
His servant,
Wade Martin Hughes, Sr.
Kyfingers@aol.com
