Where Is Your Faith?—part I

WHERE IS YOUR FAITH-I?—Luke 8:22-25

Jesus unveiled the location of His disciples’ faith.

Christian faith is to have a specific focus.

Where does Christian faith take us?

1—Christian Faith takes us to

THOSE IN NEED(:22)

—Explanation:(:22) The Other Side

:22—“Now it came about on one of those days, that He & His disciples got into a boat, & He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” And they launched out.”

“He & His disciples”-

Mk. 4:36—“And leaving the multitude, they took Him along with them, just as He was, in the boat; & other boats were with Him.”

“Let us Go over”—

Effort made to meet Gentiles spiritual needs.

We must also “Go” to those who do not know Salvation in Christ.

“The other side”(of Galilee)—

Eastern shore of Galilee.

:26—“...To the country of the Gerasenes...”

“Gerasenes/Gadarenes”—Gentile—Remnants of the Canaanites Girgashites?

—Argumentation:

Rev. 22:15—“Outside are the dogs & the sorcerers & the immoral persons & the murderers & the idolaters, & everyone who loves & practices lying.”—At that time it will be too late!

Good Samaritan—

Jn. 4:3-4—“He left Judea, & departed again into Galilee. And He had to pass through Samaria.”—Thus He led a woman to faith in Him who went to her people & led others to Jesus.

Jn. 17:16—“They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”—Jn. 1:10-11—“He was in the world, & the world was made through Him, & the world did not know Him. He came to His own, & those who were His own did not receive Him.”

We must support our missionaries & We must BE missionaries in our own communities.

—Illustration:

Saturday morning outside Cairo/House on fire in trailer park/Need help/Not part of our church/Not Christians/They need to hear & experience truth in action/THOSE IN NEED

—Application:

?Your faith taken you into THOSE IN NEED?

?Where is your faith?

2—Christian Faith takes us to

PHYSICAL EXHAUSTION(:23a)

—Explanation:(:23a) Recuperation/Exhaustive Concern

:23—“But as they were sailing along He fell asleep;...”

“He fell asleep”—Maintaining health

God made our bodies with a rhythm—Sleep is necessary.

Burning the candle at both ends—Lack of sleep negatively effects our cognitive abilities.

1Cor. 9:24-27—“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I buffet my body & make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.”

—Argumentation:

2Cor. 12:15—Paul to Corinth—“And I will most gladly spend & be expended for your souls. If I love you the more, am I to be loved the less?”

Eph. 5:28-30—“....No one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes & cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body.”

—Illustration:

When I need sleep/My naps/15 minutes—Makes all the difference in the world/PHYSICAL EXHAUSTION

Spouse hospitalized/Concerns about spouse, & careers/Energies expended for sick spouse/Weigh heavily/PHYSICAL EXHAUSTION

—Application:

?Your faith taken you to PHYSICAL EXHAUSTION?

?Where is your faith?

3—Christian Faith takes us into

PERIL(:23b)

—Explanation/Argumentation:(:23b)

:23—“...& a fierce gale of wind descended upon the lake, & they began to be swamped & to be in danger.”

“Swamped/Filled”—sumplhrow— ‘With fullness’—To fill completely/entirely

“Danger/Jeopardy”—Real danger of losing their lives.

Go into protection mode.

We learn to trust God rather than flesh.

Heb. 5:8—“Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.”

Jas. 1:2-4—“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect & complete, lacking in nothing.”

—Illustration:

Xtreme Sports/Push to the limit/ Snowboarding—Racing— Football—How close we can get to death & survive(by own strength)/PERIL

*Christian faith is an extreme sport. Tests your reliance on God.

—Application:

?Your faith taken you into PERIL?

?Where is your faith?

4—Christian Faith takes us to

Calm(:24a)

—Explanation:(:24a) Rescue

:24—“And they came to Him & woke Him up, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And being aroused, He rebuked the wind & the surging waves, & they stopped, & it became calm.”

Did all they could in their own strength. Came to the end of themselves. Emotions at their highest.

“Rebuked”—That which was against them. Sin is against you. Only Jesus’ actions on the cross can remove the sting of death(sin) & the power of sin(law).

“They stopped”—Ceased

“Became calm/Was a calm”—Stillness

?Who brings the CALM?—Jesus!

The disciple’s reliance on Jesus’ ability.