Luke 18:8 (NIV) When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" John 11:40 (NIV) Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?"
Examples 1. The Woman with the issue of blood. Matthew 9:22 (NIV) Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the Woman was healed at that moment. 2. The Roman Officer(Centurion) Matthew 8:10 (NIV) When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, "Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. Matthew 8:13 (NIV) 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that moment.
3. Two blind Men Matthew 9:29 (NIV) Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith let it be done to you."
Faith hears before it sees.
4. The Canaanite Woman whose daughter was demonized and suffering. Matthew 15:28 (NIV) Jesus said to her, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed at that moment.
5. A desperate Dad. Mark 9:20–25 (NIV) 20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?" "From childhood," he answered. 22 "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." 23 "'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for one who believes." 24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."
We don't need great faith. We just need faith that is committed to growth.
A Growing Faith Matthew 17:19–20 (NIV) 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" 20 He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
Matthew 13:31–32 (NIV) 31 He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches."
1. Identify where your faith is. "Vulnerable trust is bold faith."
We all have a measure of faith. Romans 12:3 (NIV) 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
2. Become a person of the word. Romans 10:17 (NKJV) So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
We grow our faith by growing in the word.
"Our faith grows by listing to, meditating upon, living in line with, and boldly declaring the Word of God!"
3. Be filled with the Spirit of God. The Spirit identifies us as God's. Romans 8:15 (NLT) So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father."
Pray in the Spirit Jude 20 (NLT) But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit.
4. Rest with yielded spirit.
God isn't looking for strength. He is looking for Surender.
Independence is opposed to trust.
Don't trust yourself.
______ Psalms 46:10(NIV) Be still, and know that I am God!
Blessed attitudes: The Sermon on the Mount: Matthew 5-7
Matthew 5:1–13 (NIV) 5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them. He said: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecutedbecause of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
"Blessed"
Makarios: happy, blissful, to be enlarged.
Deep Joy of the soul: A vibrant spirit.
The spirit of the age: self-promotion and self-preservation. Self-priority is a vice not a virtue. Proverbs 11:25 (NIV )A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
The Blessed Attitudes. 1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "If we lose our dependence on God, we lose his blessing."
2. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Psalm 51:17 (NIV) My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. "When we lose the sorrow over sin, we lose sight of the joy of our salvation."
3. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Meekness is strength under control.
4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Philippians 3:13–14 (NLT) … I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
5. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. When we sow mercy, we reap it! Colossians 3:12–13 (NLT) 12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
Not only forgiveness but blessing those that oppose us. Matthew 5:44–45 (NLT) 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be actingas true children of your Father in heaven…
6. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Purity of heart: morals, motives, and methods.
Hebrews 12:14 (NIV) …Be holy; without holiness, no one will see the Lord.
7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. We are bringing a message of reconciliation with God.
Romans 12:18 (NLT) Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
8. Blessed are those who are persecutedbecause of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.
Matthew 5:13–16 (NIV) 13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 14 "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 1:18–23 (NLT) 18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. 20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: 23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’ ”
The Spirit of Christmas 1. A Promise fulfilled Matthew 1:22 (NLT) “… All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet….’
Matthew 1:1, 17 (NLT) This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham… 17 All those listed above include fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile, and fourteen from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah.
2. A Purpose revealed Don't miss the purpose of Jesus. “Jesus didn’t come to meet a human agenda; He came to reveal Heaven’s agenda.”
Matthew 1:21 (NLT) She will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. Luke 19:10 (NLT) For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
John 6:44 (NLT) For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me… John 16:8 (NLT) When he comes, he will convict the world of its sin…
3. Presence pronounced Matthew 1:23 (NLT)…They will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’
John 14:26–27 (NLT) 26 When the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. 27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart…
4. Power provided The Holy Spirit is a person, not a force.
Jesus revealed how humans filled with the Spirit of God should function. Acts 10:38 (NIV) God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. John 14:12 (NLT) “Anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.
John the Baptist Luke 1:15–17 (NLT) 15... He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. 16 And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. 17 He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”
After Mary conceives…. Luke 1:39–42 (NLT). 39 A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town 40 where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Receive the gift of the Father: Acts 1:4–5 (NLT) “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. 5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
