Take God Seriously

I. EXORDIUM:

Are you taking GOD seriously?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To show that we need to remove unbelief in our hearts and practice our faith in every way we can.

IV. TEXT:

Matthew 17:20 (The Message)

17:20 "Because you're not yet taking God seriously," said Jesus. "The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, you would tell this mountain, 'Move!' and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn't be able to tackle."

Matthew 17:20 (New King James Version)

17:20 So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

V. THESIS:

Praise, worship and thank You very much LORD JESUS, for there is no unbelief in my life because of Your faith that it is in me and the things you allow in my life that will lead me to pray and depend on You. I both trust GOD, and You to make it all happen in my life all Your good purposes.

VI. TITLE:

Take GOD seriously

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: Matthew (also called Levi)

B. Date written: 60 A.D.

C. Purpose: To show that Jesus of Nazareth was the kingly Messiah of Jewish prophecy.—Thompson Chain - Bible Book Outlines

D. To whom written: Jews

E. Main Theme: Jesus is God's promised anointed Messiah, the King of the Jews.—Thompson Chain - Bible Book Outlines

F. Keywords: Fulfilled

G. Key verses:

Matthew 16:16-19 (The Message)

16:16 Simon Peter said, "You're the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God."

16:17 Jesus came back, "God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn't get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am.

16:18 And now I'm going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.

16:19 "And that's not all. You will have complete and free access to God's kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven."

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. The size of faith is irrelevant

""Because you're not yet taking God seriously," said Jesus. "The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed,"

"So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed,"

John Gill described the apostles as:

"...but their faith was very low, and their unbelief very great."

[Source: John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible]

Combine great unbelief and very low faith and what do you get? No miracles.

Unbelief or "apistia" in Greek meaning:

1. faithlessness

2. disbelief, unfaithfulness (disobedience)

Faith or "pistis" in Greek meaning:

1. persuasion

2. moral conviction of truthfulness of GOD

3. reliance upon CHRIST for salvation

4. assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity

Grain or "kokkos" in Greek meaning: kernel of seed, grain. Kernel - The edible substance contained in the shell of a nut. The central part of any thing; a small mass around which other matter is concreted; a nucleus.

This is their generation and our generation as well. People of this world will believe everything: superman, batman, spider-man, iron-man but they won't believe JESUS.

Matthew 17:17 (Amplified Bible)

17:17 And Jesus answered, O you unbelieving (warped, wayward, rebellious) and thoroughly perverse generation! How long am I to remain with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to Me.

Even the spokesman of the Apostles, Simon Peter have a hard time to believe the WORD of the LORD JESUS:

Matthew 14:30-31 (Amplified Bible)

14:30 But when he perceived and felt the strong wind, he was frightened, and as he began to sink, he cried out, Lord, save me [from death]!

14:31 Instantly Jesus reached out His hand and caught and held him, saying to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt?

The Jews after they were Exodus by Moses, all of them (1 million plus people including men, women and children) did not enter GOD's salvation because of unbelief.

Hebrews 3:19 (Amplified Bible)

3:19 So we see that they were not able to enter [into His rest], because of their unwillingness to adhere to and trust in and rely on God [unbelief had shut them out].