The Results Of An Active Faith

THE RESULTS OF AN ACTIVE FAITH

LUKE 17:5-6

I. INTRODUCTION

AN ACTIVE FAITH IN THE LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN IS A BLESSING THAT IS UNPARALLELED IN ALL THE WORLD. THE FIRST CENTURY CHURCH WAS A POWERFUL CHURCH BECAUSE THEY FAITHFULLY DEMONSTRATED THEIR PASSION TO THE LORD BY BEING OBEDIENT TO HIS WORD. WHENEVER THERE IS OBEDIENCE THERE IS POWER. LACK OF OBEDIENCE DEMONSTRATES A LACK OF TRUST ON THE PART OF THE BELIEVER IN THE AMAZING AND AWESOME CAPABILITIES OF OUR GOD.

THE BIBLE IS REPLETE WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO EXERCISED AN ACTIVE FAITH IN GOD. BY FAITH, GOD USED MOSES TO SEND THE PLAGUES UPON EGYPT. BY FAITH GOD USED JOSHUA TO CAUSE THE SUN TO STAND STILL. BY HEZEKIAH’S FAITH, GOD DISPATCHED AN ANGEL AND KILLED IN ONE NIGHT 185,000 MEN IN SENNACHERIB’S ARMY. BY FAITH ELIJAH PRAYED AND IT DID NOT RAIN FOR 3 ½ YEARS, BY FAITH HE PRAYED AND THE RAIN FELL. BY FAITH, THE HEBREW BOYS WERE VICTORIOUS IN THE FIERY FURNACE. BY FAITH DANIEL MADE PILLOWS OUT OF PASSIVE LION. YES, MY BROTHERS AND MY SISTERS, IF WE WANT TO SEE REAL POWER, MOUNTAIN MOVING POWER, SOUL CHANGING POWER, LIFE CHANGING POWER, WE MUST DEMONSTRATE OUR OBEDIENCE TO GOD IN LIVING LIVES THAT ARE PLEASING UNTO HIM. AN ACTIVE FAITH CAN OPEN DOORS THAT NO MAN CAN SHUT, AND SHUT SOME DOORS THAT NO MAN CAN OPEN.

II. THE TEXT.

JESUS USES A COMMON ILLUSTRATION TO ELUCIDATE A PROFOUND POINT CONCERNING FAITH. THE DISCIPLES ASKED JESUS TO INCREASE THEIR FAITH. ALLOW ME TO MOCK TIME MOMENTARILY AND SAY THAT THE LORD WILL NOT INCREASE WHAT YOU ARE ALREADY USING. CHAPTER 16 TALKS ABOUT THE UNJUST STEWARD WHO WASTED HIS MASTER’S GOODS, AND JESUS MAKES THE POINT OF TEACHING THAT IF YOU ARE UNFAITHFUL WITH A LITTLE, WHO WILL GIVE YOU A LOT? IF YOU ARE NOT USING THE FAITH YOU HAVE NOW, WHY SHOULD GOD GIVE YOU MORE?

JESUS TEACHES THAT MUSTARD SEED FAITH CAN HAVE A POWERFUL EFFECT IF IT IS USED. THE MUSTARD SEED WAS A SMALL SEED THAT PRODUCED GREAT TREES. MUSTARD SEED FAITH IS BETTER THAN NO FAITH AT ALL. THE TEACHING POINT OF JESUS’ LECTURE WAS THAT AN ACTIVE FAITH MOVES THE UNMOVABLE, AND MAKES THE IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE.

FAITH IS MORE THAN JUST A PROFESSION FROM OUR LIPS, IT MUST BE A POSSESSION OF OUR SOULS. FAITH IS MORE THAN MERE BELIEF, IT’S THE WAY THAT WE LIVE ON A DAILY BASIS. THE REASON THAT SOME CHRISTIANS ARE MORE POWERFUL THAN OTHERS IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE DEVOTED THEMSELVES TO GOD. ACTIVE FAITH DOES NOT LIE DORMANT, BUT CAN BE SEEN IN THE LIFE OF THE BELIEVER. DORMANT FAITH IN ESSENCE, IS GOOD FOR NOTHING. IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW MUCH SHOUTING, SINGING, AND PRAISING THAT GOES ON, ON SUNDAY MORNING, IF THERE IS NO ACTIVE FAITH, WE HAVE ONLY HAD RELIGIOUS ENTERTAINMENT, WHICH WILL LEAVE US HUNGRY, HURTING, AND HELPLESS.

III. ACTIVE FAITH/CONCLUSION

ACTIVE FAITH RESULTS FROM HUMBLE SUBMISSION TO THE MANDATES OF GOD. DEUTERONOMY 32:20, "AND HE SAID, I WILL HIDE MY FACE FROM THEM, I WILL SEE WHAT THEIR END SHALL BE: FOR THEY ARE A VERY FROWARD GENERATION, CHILDREN IN WHOM IS NO FAITH.” PAUL SAYS IN GALATIANS 3:11, “FOR THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH,”MEANING THAT WE ARE TO STRIVE TO LIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATUES OF ALMIGHTY GOD. FAILURE TO LIVE BY FAITH IS SIN, ROMANS 14:23 TEACHES, “FOR WHATSOEVER IS NOT OF FAITH IS SIN.”

ACTIVE FAITH IS DEMONSTRATED AND DISPLAYED IN THE GOOD TIMES AS WELL AS THE BAD. IT IS NOT TO BE USED AS A GOOD LUCK CHARM, IN THE TIME OF DISTRESS AND DISASTER. IF WE LIVE BY OUR FAITH, IT WILL MAKE ITSELF VISIBLE IN THE MIDST OF CALAMITIES. DANIEL 3:16-18, “SHADRACH, MESHACH, AND ABEDNEGO, ANSWERED AND SAID TO THE KING, O NEBUCHADNEZZAR, WE ARE NOT CAREFUL TO ANSWER THEE IN THIS MATTER. IF IT BE SO, OUR GOD WHOM WE SERVE IS ABLE TO DELIVER US FROM THE BURNING FIERY FURNACE, AND HE WILL DELIVER US OUT OF THINE HAND, O KING. BUT IF NOT, BE IT KNOWN UNTO THEE, O KING, THAT WE WILL NOT SERVE THY GODS, NOR WORSHIP THE GOLDEN IMAGE WHICH THOU HAST SET UP.” ACTIVE FAITH SAYS THAT I AM GOING TO TOTALLY TRUST GOD EVEN IF IT MEANS THAT I MIGHT HAVE TO DIE. JOB SAYS IN CHAPTER 13:15, “THOUGH HE SLAY ME, YET WILL I TRUST IN HIM.”

YOU CANNOT HAVE AN ACTIVE FAITH WITH ONE DOLLAR WORTH OF GOD. LIKE THE MAN THAT WENT TO HEAVEN’’ DEPARTMENT WIDOW AND SAID I’’ LIKE TO PURCHASE ONE DOLLAR WORTH OF GOD PLEASE. NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE ME CARRYOUT HIS WORD, BUT JUST ENOUGH TO MAKE ME FEEL GOOD. BUT MY BROTHERS AND MY SISTERS, A DOLLARS WORTH OF GOD WON’T GIVE YOU PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING. IT WILL NOT GIVE YOU JOY UNSPEAKABLE JOY. IT WILL NOT GIVE YOU STRENGTH IN THE MIDST OF WEAKNESS. AND I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE LIVING ON A DOLLARS WORTH OF GOD.