The Extension of Faith

The Extension of Faith

Steve W. Reeves

steve@wsschurch.net

stevesermons.blogspot.com

 

INTRODUCTION:

A. Have you ever used an “extension” ladder?

    1. An extension ladder has adjustable lengths. You can store it at a normal size. When

    you need the additional length you slide the two sections apart and it will double in

        length.

    2. The word “extension” means “to lengthen.” An extension cord lengthens the cord.

        An extension on a loan lengthens the term of the loan.    

    3. Have you ever thought about the extension of your faith?

B. Many of the difficulties we encounter in life are the result of weak faith.

    1 Rather than following God’s agenda by faith we pursue our own agenda and end up

        mired in difficulty.

    2. As I view the church in the midst of today’s western culture, I believe our greatest

        need is for the extension of our personal faith.

C. God wants you to grow. Growth is His will for your life.

    1. Most people love babies. We expect babies to grow. In fact, if a baby does not grow

        it is cause for great concern.    

    3. The Bible uses the word “grow” 124 times. Eighty of those are in the Old Testament.

        Forty-four of them are in the New Testament.

    4. Jesus often compared a person’s faith to the growth of a seed planted in the ground

        (i.e. Parable of the mustard seed in Mark 4:32).

    5. The book of Acts contains references to the Gospel’s growing influence throughout

        the world, “But the word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied (Acts

        12:24).  “So, the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing” (Acts 19:20).

    6. In the letters of the New Testament there are numerous admonitions for Christians

        to grow spiritually.

        a. Ephesians 4:15-16, “But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects

            into Him who is the head, even Christ, ¹⁶ from whom the whole body, being fitted

            and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of

            each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in

            love.”

        b. Colossians 2:19 –  “from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together

            by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.”

        c.2 Thessalonians 1:3 - “We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren,

            as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one

            of you toward one another grows ever greater.”  

        d. 1 Peter 2:2 – “Like a newborn babe desire the sincere milk of the word that you

            may grow thereby.”

        e. 2 Peter 3:18 – “Grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

D. Why is spiritual growth difficult?  It requires change.

    1. You need to change. I need to change.

    2. If you say, “I’m not going to change,” have you considered what you are saying?

    3. There is only one alternative to change. It is death.

    4. A person who is over 100 years old is constantly changing. Cells are dying and being

        replaced by new ones. If this process stops they are dead.

    5. If spiritual growth is not occurring in your life or in the life of a church, it is not merely

        stagnant. It is dead.

E. What does the extension of our faith require?

 

I. THE EXTENSION OF FAITH REQUIRES FOUNDATION.

    A. In 1 Corinthians the apostle Paul wrote to Christians who had become spiritually

        stagnant. They were not being led by God but by their fleshly lusts. In chapter 3:1-3

        Paul wrote, “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to

        men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. ² I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you

        were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, ³ for you are

        still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and

        are you not walking like mere men?”

        1. What was the issue? They were not building their lives on the proper foundation.

        2. Paul continued in verses 10-11, “According to the grace of God which was given

            to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it.

            But each man must be careful how he builds on it. ¹¹ For no man can lay a

            foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

    B. You cannot extend your faith if it is not properly grounded.

        1. A man in this city once told me, “It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you

            believe something.”

        2. Although this may be the consensus of our culture nothing could be further from

            the truth. The foundation upon which you build your life is going to affect

            everything you do in your life.

    C. Recently, in the city of New Orleans, a Hard Rock hotel under construction collapsed

        killing several workers. There was obviously something wrong with the way the

        structure was being built. In similar fashion, how many lives have collapsed

        because they were not built upon the solid foundation of the Son of God?

 

II. THE EXTENSION OF FAITH REQUIRES FOCUS

    A. You have a choice to make.

        1. You can choose complacency and dry up like straw or chaff that is blown along

            buy the wind (Psalm 1:4). 

        2. You can choose to be like the tree planted beside the water that bears fruit in its

            season and whose leaf does not wither (Psalm 1:3).

    B. What makes the difference? It’s a matter of focus. What are you going to set your

        mind to do? What is your focus going to be?

        1. The focus of Jesus’s life was to do the will of His Father.

            a. John 5:30 – “I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My

                judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who

                sent Me.”

            b. Luke 19:10 – “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which  

                was lost.”

            c. Hebrews 5:8, “Although He was a Son yet He learned obedience through the

                things which He suffered.”        

            d. Jesus was passionately focused on doing God’s will.           

        2. The apostle Paul was focused on Christ.

            a. In Philippians 1:21 he wrote, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

            b. Later in Philippians 3:12-14 he said, “Not that I have already obtained it or have

                already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which

                also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. ¹³ Brethren, I do not regard myself as

                having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and

                reaching forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize

                of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus, “

    C. Tom Brady is the oldest football player in the NFL. He is 42 years old and has won

        6 Super Bowls. What is it that keeps him in such good physical condition and at

        the top of his game? He is entirely focused on what he is doing. Each day he is

        focused on keeping himself in shape and being mentally and physically prepared to

        play. It’s this type of focus that followers of Jesus must have if we want to extend our

        faith.                

 

III. THE EXTENSION OF FAITH REQUIRES FORTITUDE

    A. You have to stick with it. May I say some things to you lovingly and plainly?

        1. You will never grow spiritually if you are a hit and miss Christian. 

       2. If you’re here one week and gone the next week or two weeks or more and then

            here a week and gone again, how could you expect your faith to grow? What

            would result in your physical health if you only received nourishment a few times

            a month?

        3. How will your children’s faith increase if they do not see your faith in action and

            recognize what your priorities are?

    B. Why has the church become stagnant in so many places?

        1. Have you compared us to the church in the book of Acts?

        2. In Acts 2:42 we read, “They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine,

            fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayer.” Note the word, “steadfastly.”

        3. Your fortitude not only affects others. Every time your children see you put the

            world ahead of worship to God they are going to think it is perfectly acceptable.

            After all, “Daddy and Mama did it.” When they see your faithfulness, even when

            times are difficult those children will grow up and remember the example you set.

    C. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-31, Paul’s fortitude is expressed with these words, “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. ²⁵ 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. ²⁶ Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in

        such a way, as not beating the air; ²⁷ but I discipline my body and make it my slave,

        so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. “

 

IV. THE EXTENSION OF FAITH REQUIRES FELLOWSHIP

    A. It is hard to extend your faith without the strength and encouragement of other

        believers. There are aspects of spiritual growth that come only through interaction

        with others.  

        1. We need encouragement and strength in difficult times.

            a. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, “Two are better than one because they have a good

                return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion.

                But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.

                Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be

                warm alone?”

            b. Galatians 6:1-2, “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who

                are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to

                yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. ² Bear one another’s burdens, and

                thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”

            c. As I watch your faithfulness I am encouraged to become more faithful myself.

        2. We need each other for accountability.

           a. Did you notice how Paul said, “If one is overtaken in a fault you who are spiritual

                restore him”?

            b. I need to understand that life is not all about me. I need to learn to meet the

                needs of others, to share my belongings and to care for others. I cannot do that

                without fellowship.

    B. A group of Boy Scouts were hiking one day when they came across an abandoned

        stretch of railroad track. They each tried to balance themselves on the rail to see

        who could walk the longest distance. Two boys said they could walk farther than the

        others. Each of them stood on a rail, held out their arms and steadied each other.

        By doing this they walked twice as far. 

        1. God does not want you walking this spiritual journey of faith by yourself.

        2. This is why he established the church. In the church we support and care for one

            another as the body grows together in love.

 

CONCLUSION:

A. Although I am your preacher I am also your friend, your brother and your fellow traveler

    along life’s journey.

    1. May I appeal to you personally to recommit yourself to extending your faith and

        growing in your relationship with God.

    2. If you have become complacent or stagnant may I warn you about the danger of

        your condition. Remember, Jesus told the lukewarm Laodiceans that He would

        “spew” them out of His mouth (Revelation 3:16-17).

    2. May I appeal to you, lost sinner, to repent and turn to God? Will you confess your

        faith in Christ (Romans 10:10) and be buried with Him in baptism (Romans 6:3-5)?

B. We extend to you the invitation of Jesus Christ. Please come to Him.

 

Essentials of Faith

 

The Essentials of Faith

Steve W. Reeves

steve@wschurch.net

stevesermons.blogspot.com

 

INTRODUCTION:

A. If you ever watched the animated Disney movie, “Jungle Book,” you may remember a
    popular song sung by Phil Harris entitled, “The Bear Necessities.”  The chorus
    contained the words, “Look for the bear necessities, the simple bear necessities,
    forget about your worry and your strife.”
    1. All of us are concerned about the necessities of life. Clean air, water, food, etc.”
    2. Have you considered the necessities of your relationship with God?
B. There are two essential necessities that we must have in our spiritual life.
    1. Grace.
        a. Our English word “grace” is derived from the Greek “charis.” This word is found
            156 times in the New Testament. In its early use it meant “sweetness” or
             “attractiveness.”  It later came to mean, “favor,” “goodwill,” or “loving kindness.”
            Grace is never attained by one’s own efforts, but is a gift received from nother.          
        b. Grace means, “God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense.”
    2. Faith.
        a. In Ephesians 2:8 Paul wrote, “For by grace are you saved through faith. These
            are the two components of salvation. 
        b. Grace is God’s ability. Faith is our responsibility. Grace is God’s action. Faith is
            our reaction. Grace is God’s gift. Faith is our reception of that gift.
C. There is no aspect of your spiritual life in which faith in not essential.
    1. Peace with God comes through faith according to Romans 5:1-2, “Therefore,
        having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
        Christ, ² through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this   
        grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.”
    2. We  are justified (made right before God) by faith.
        a. Romans 3:28, “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works
            of the Law.”
        b. The theme of Romans is found in 1:16-17, “ For I am not ashamed of the gospel,
            for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first
            and also to the Greek. ¹⁷ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith  
            to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.” (Paul was
            quoting Habakkuk 2:4).
    3. According to Acts 26:18 we have been “sanctified by faith.”
    4. In 2 Corinthians 4:7 Paul wrote, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
    5. In James 1:2, we read that in the midst of trials it is the testimony of our faith that
        produces endurance. Later, in verse 6, James says if anyone lacks wisdom he
        should ask God, “in faith,” without doubting.
    6. John adds in 1 John 5:10, “the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar,
        because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His
        son.”
D. It was a lack of faith that led Adam and Eve to sin. It was a lack of faith that caused
    the nation of Israel to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. It was the lack of faith by
    the people of Nazareth that kept Jesus from doing mighty works there.
    1. A lack of faith is a serious matter.
    2. What are the essentials of Biblical faith?
     
I. THE OBJECT OF FAITH
    A. The most important aspect of your faith is the object of your faith.
        1. In what or who are you putting your faith?
        2. It is far better to have a weak faith in the right object than to have a strong faith
            in the wrong object.   
        3. Faith is no better than its object. It’s not the size of your faith. It’s the size of the
            object of your faith.  
    B. What was the object of the faith that Paul preached? In Romans 10:8-11 he wrote,
        “the word of faith which we are preaching, ⁹ that if you confess with your mouth
        Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you  
        will be saved; ¹⁰ for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness,
        and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. ¹¹ For the Scripture says,
        “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”
        1. The object of Paul’s faith and preaching was Jesus.
        2. In 1 Corinthians 2:2 he said, “For I determined to know nothing among you
            except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.”
       3. In 2 Corinthians 4:5 Paul wrote, “For we do not preach ourselves but Christ
           Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.”
    C. We hear a great deal today about “distracted driving.” There is a greater danger
        facing every Christian. It is “distracted faith.”  
        1. Like Peter walking on the water in Matthew 14:22-32 we tend to become
            distracted.
        2. We become distracted by the voices of culture, the allure of wealth and riches,
            and the detours of discouragement.
        3. Notice what the writer of Hebrews wrote following his great admonition about
            faith in Hebrews 12:1-2, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses
            surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so
            easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
            ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set
            before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the
            right hand of the throne of God.”
        4. Notice the phrase “fixing our eyes.” This word means to turn away from
            distractions to fix our sight on an object. If faith is going to make a difference in
            your life you must be willing to “turn your eyes upon Jesus.”
 
II. THE ORIGIN OF FAITH
     A. Where do you find faith? From what source does it come?
        1. Is your faith a “hand-me-down” faith? We should be thankful for those who have
            helped us develop faith. Consider Paul (2 Timothy 1:5) who had been taught by
            his mother and grandmother (Eunice and Lois).
        2. Is your faith a “borrowed” faith from a friend?
        3. It is important that you own your faith. No one can take your place before God.
    B. In Romans 10:17, Paul wrote, “ Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of
        God.” The “word” in this passage is the Greek word “Rhema” which refers to
        “things that have been revealed.” Thus, Paul is saying that faith comes by hearing
         what God has revealed. The Bible is the original, “Faith-book!”
    C. What does the Bible reveal about faith?
        1. In Hebrews 11:1 we read, “Faith is the assurance or substance of things hoped
            for and the conviction or evidence of things not seen.”
        2. Do you have to see something to believe it?
            a. Have you ever flown on a commercial airliner? Did you see the pilot and co-
                pilot? Did you see the air upon which the principles of aerodynamics are
                based? Did you see the air traffic controllers telling the pilot where to take off
                and land? Chances are you didn’t see any of these and yet you had faith the
                plane would fly and get you to your destination. 
            b. Have you been to a physician to receive a prescription? Could you read what
                he wrote on the script pad? Did you see the pharmacist put the medicine in
                the bottle? Did you see the technician type up the instructions? You many not
                have seen any of these things but you take the prescription with the faith that
                it has been properly selected, manufactured and filled.
    D. God never asks us to believe anything for which he has not given us evidence.
        1. The creation of the world.
        2. The reliability of the Bible.
        3. The life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
        4. The importance of possessing faith in Him.
E. Once again may I ask, “From where does your faith originate?”
 
III. THE OBJECTIVE  OF FAITH.
    A. Does faith really matter? It matters more than anything in this world.
        1. Everything this life offers is temporary: your body, your money, your house…
        2. “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not
            seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not
            seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).
    B. It is through faith that we receive God’s love and grace. It is through faith that we
        receive His offer of pardon. It is through faith that we understand our purpose.
 
 
IV. THE OPERATION OF FAITH
    A. How does faith work?
        1. Is it mental agreement with certain truths?
        2. Does faith stand apart from our actions and work?
    B. James addressed this subject in his letter…
        1. Faith is not merely belief. “What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has
            faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him” (James 2:14)?
        2. “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself” (James 2:17).
        3. “You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and
            shudder” (James 2:19).
        4. James used the example of Abraham who was justified by faith. However,
            Abraham’s faith was demonstrated by actions. This is why James concludes by
            saying, “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone” (James
            2:24).
    C. Biblical faith means trust and obedience.
        1. Suppose a child is trapped on the second floor of a burning building. The child’s
            father is on the ground urging the child to jump into his waiting arms. The child is
            reluctant. The father says, “Do you believe I will catch you?” The child may say,
            “I believe,” but unless they trust enough to jump they will perish.
 
CONSLUSION:
A. In Hebrews 11:6 the Bible says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”
    1. The person who does not possess faith is insulting the integrity and character of
        God because they are rejecting who He is.
    2. There are many things we can do to please God but none of them means anything
        without faith.
B. How about your faith? May we encourage you to consider your relationship with God.
    Consider the evidence. Search the Scripture. Be honest and responsive. If you are
    ready to receive Christ into your heart, repent of your sins and be baptized into
ist, we encourage you to