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The Size of Your Faith

 

Scripture: Matthew 8:5-10; Hebrews 12:2

 

Intro: Faith according to scripture is the essential ingredient of the Christian life that pleases God when His people exercise it. (Heb. 11:6)

 

1. Faith is the means to justification. (Ro. 5:1; Eph. 3:17; 2:8-9)

2. Faith is the manner the just live by. (Ro. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38)

F – Forsaking           F – Faithfulness

A – All                     A – Attitude

I – I                       I – Involvement

T – Take                 T – Testimony

H – Him                  H – Hospitable

 

I.                  Faith That Is Little. (Mat. 14:3)

A.     Failure to believe God can supply your needs. (Mt. 6:30-33)

1.      Need for physical care. (Mt. 6:30)

2.      Need for spiritual care. (Jas. 1:5-6)

B.     Fearful in battle God sends us into. (Mt. 8:24-26)

1.      Some deny the faith. (I Tim. 5:8)

2.      Some deviate from the faith. (I Tim. 6:10)

3.      Some depart from the faith. (I Tim. 5:12; 4:1)

Heb. 11 Roster – Faith

1.      Abel – saves

2.      Enoch – separated

3.      Noah – secured

4.      Jacob – served

5.      Joseph – suffered

6.      Sarah - strengthens

 

II.               Faith That Is Weak. (Ro. 14:1-2; 18:19)

A.     Neglectful of God’s Word = “The Faith”. (Ro. 10:17; I Cor. 2:1-5; II Thes. 1:3)

1.      Stand fast by standing faithful. (I Cor. 16:13; I Tim. 1:19; I Pet. 5:9)

2.      Staggering at God’s promises. (Ro. 4:19)

B.     Neglectful in God work = “The fight”. (I Tim. 6:12)

1.      Faith that fails to produce faithfulness is stifled = dwarfed. (Jd. 20)

2.      Faith that fails to promote fellowship is shortened = deficient.

Illustration: Radio announcer once asked Leo Durocher, manager of the NY Giants, “Barring the unforeseen, Leo, will your club get the pennant?” Reply, “There ain’t gonna be no unforeseen” 

 

III.           Faith That Is Strong. (Ro. 4:20-21)

A.     Perfect faith of Abraham. (Jas. 2:22)

1.      This is a faith that works for God. (Jas. 2:19-22) (105 years)

2.      This is a faith that waits on God. (Ro. 4:20-21) (10 years)

B.     Powerful faith of a centurion. (Mt. 8:10; 15:28)

1.      Takes God at His own word: Authority. (Mt. 8:5-10; Acts 6:5)

a.      Overcomes the world: Doubts, weakness, etc. (I Jn. 5:4-5; Heb. 10:22)

b.      Overturns the world: Devils, wickedness, etc. (Jd. 3)

2.      Makes God’s work a priority. (Ro. 5:15; 1:11-12)

a.      The prayer of faith. (Jas. 5:15)

b.      The work of faith. (I Thes. 1:8; Heb. 6:10)

c.      The trial of faith. (I Pet. 6-7; Heb. 10:23)

Illustration: William Penn was liked by the Indians and once told by them he could have all the land he could walk around on foot in a single day. Early morning to late evening he walked. When he later went to claim his land the Indians were surprised, for they didn’t really think he would take them seriously. Today that large area is a part of the city of Philadelphia. It would be good if we seriously took God at His word.