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IV. IMPORTANCE OF FAITH

IV. IMPORTANCE OF FAITH. No-one wants to admit that lack of miracles is because of their unbelief. False Assumption: Jesus and Apostles could heal anyone, any time. 3 Incidents in ministry of Jesus. Luke 5:17-26 Paralytic at Capernaum

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IV. IMPORTANCE OF FAITH

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  1. IV. IMPORTANCE OF FAITH

  2. No-one wants to admit that lack of miracles is because oftheir unbelief.

  3. False Assumption: Jesus and Apostles could heal anyone, any time

  4. 3 Incidents in ministry of Jesus • Luke 5:17-26 Paralytic at Capernaum • 5:17 “the power of the Lord was present for Him to heal the sick” • 5:20 “when Jesus saw their faith…” (faith of paralytic and his friends)

  5. John 5:1-15 Man paralyzed for 38 years • Many sick people at the pool (5:3) • Why didn’t Jesus heal them all? • Jesus could do only what He saw the Father doing (5:19-20)

  6. Mark 6:1-6 In home town of Nazareth • People were offended – he could not do any miracles, except heal a few (6:5) • Same incident (Matt. 13:58) “He did not do many miracles because of their lack of faith.”

  7. Sometimes Jesus healed ALL • Matt. 8:16 • Matt. 12:14-15 • Luke 6:19

  8. Why didn’t Jesus do miracles for everyone all the time? • His missions was broader than just physical healing and deliverance • He did only what He saw the Father doing • He recognized God-given faith

  9. A Look at the Apostles’ Ministry • Jesus told them: • “Apart from me, you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) • Jesus said of Himself: • “By myself I can do nothing.” (John 5:30)

  10. Peter – Acts 3 – Healing of lame man at Beautiful Gate • “Why do you stare at us as if by our power or godliness we had this man walk?” (3:12) • (3:16) “By faith in the name of Jesus, this man was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him…”

  11. Paul – Acts 14 – crippled man at Lystra • Paul saw that he had faith to be healed (14:10) and called, “Stand on your feet.” • The people wanted to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas as gods— • But Paul said, “We are only men like you.”

  12. 3 times Paul did not heal • Phil. 2:25-27 Epaphroditus almost died • 2 Tim. 4:20 “I left Trophimus sick in Miletus.” • 1 Tim. 5:23 “Take a little wine for your stomach and frequent illnesses.

  13. Why were these not healed? • Are miracles only for evangelism? • Paul raised Eutychus from dead at Troas in a meeting of believers (Acts 20:7-12) • The gift of healing is for edification of the Church (1 Cor. 12:27) • Had miraculous ceased by this time? • Best conclusion: recognize sovereignty of God

  14. Apostles’ inability to cast demon out of boy • Matt. 10:1 Jesus gave disciples authority to drive out evil spirits • Matt. 17:17 “O, unbelieving generation, … bring the boy to me.” • Matt. 17:18 Jesus drove out the demon. • Matt. 17:19 “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” • Matt. 17:20 “Because you have so little faith.”

  15. Importance of Faithfor Effective Ministry • Faith in Christian experience • Heb 11:6 Without faith, cannot please God • Acts 16:31 Believe—and be saved. • Paul uses example of Abraham to show that God declares a person righteous based on faith in Christ (Rom. 3, 4; Gal. 3:1-11)

  16. Saving Faith & Miracle Faith • Saving Faith – trust in Christ which brings us into redemptive relationship • Miracle Faith (gift of faith) is a work of the Spirit that produces absolute certainty that God will deliver.

  17. Tension we must live with • Paul’s words in 1 Cor. suggest that miracle faith is sovereign work of Spirit • Jesus’ words in Matt. 17:20 suggest that believer must exercise faith

  18. Principles from 1 Cor. 12-14 help: • The Spirit gives gifts “to one…to another” as He determines. • There should not be competition, but unity. • 12:27-30 “Do all have this or that gift?” (No is expected answer) • 12:31 can be translated: “You are eagerly desiring the greater gifts” – competition!

  19. More from 1 Corinthians 12-14 • 12:31 goes on “Now I show you the most excellent way” – the way of love, the way of unity, not competition. • 14:1 encourages to desire spiritual gifts while following the way of love • The chapter emphasizes edification and warns against excesses • Come together and use all gifts to edify.

  20. Biblical Principles of Faith • Faith depends on relationship. • Relationship depends on trust and obedience. • Exodus 4:31 • John 3:2; Acts 2:22 • Faith seeks supernatural intervention in submission to God’s will & sovereignty. • Motive will determine God’s answer. • Matt. 16:4; Mark 8:12

  21. God must be the object of faith—not signs and wonders • Faith comes by hearing the Word with spiritual ears. • Faith must be cultivated/nurtured. • The more we hear and listen for God’s voice, the more we grow in faith.

  22. Nobody can give faith to someone else. • Faith is NOT mental assent. • It cannot just be verbally declared. • It is a supernatural work of the Spirit, giving such certainty that we must act on it.

  23. Faith vs Knowledge • Commonly believed that more miracles would bring more people to Christ • Faith is different from knowledge • Knowledge is produced by observation • Faith is a work of the Spirit, giving certainty that what cannot be seen is happening (Heb. 11:1) Seeing miracles does not necessarily bring people to belief in Christ.

  24. Signs and Faith • God does use signs in important ways, but He wants to produce faith in Him, not just knowledge based on observation. • Confidence based on sensory evidence goes away when the evidence is gone—so it is not faith at all. • God creates faith by the Word and Spirit—not easily eroded by circumstances.

  25. Faith is NOT Mental Assent • It is not a condition of mind, but a divinely imparted grace. • It can be received only as imparted by God Himself. • Rather than trying to “work up” faith by declaring “I believe,” nurture a relationship with the Father – so ready to receive the gift of faith when it is needed.

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