Walking by Faith
Intro.
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1) The other day, I read about a Christian man who began his life as a
Christian in a rather “legalistic” way:
He literally kept a balance book with God.
a) On one side he recorded all he did for God.
b) On the other side he recorded what the Lord did for him:
(1) If a friend helped or cheered him
(2) If he was sick and recovered
(3) If his prayers were answered
(4) All favors and mercies were recorded
2) After a few weeks of this “bookkeeping”, he gave up
a) “It’s no use,” he said, “I can never get a balance.”
b) “I am always hopelessly in debt.”
3) Isn’t that the way it is for all of us? Aren’t we all . . .
I.
Hopelessly in Debt
A. We are in debt to God for the many blessings He sends our way in life.
1. The sunrise, the seasons, the material possessions we enjoy.
2. Our families, our health, even life itself is a generous gift from God.
3. If we tried to record all the Lord’s blessings,
all the paper in the world could not contain the list.
4. Perhaps the song writer expressed it best when he said,
“I am rich! I am saved! I am happy!
I’ve health and prosperity!
I have friends! I have doors ever open!
The Lord has been mindful of me!
The Lord has been mindful of me . . .
He blesses and blesses again!
My God is the God of the living!
How excellent is His name!”
B. We are in debt to God for our salvation.
1. We didn’t deserve it.
2. We have not earned it.
3. Yet, “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have
eternal life.” (John 3:16)
4. While we were still sinners, God let His Son die for us (Rom 5:8)
5. Truly, it is by God’s grace that we are saved (Eph 2:8)
6. How well do we really understand the concept of . . .
II. God’s Grace
A. I heard one of “those” stories the other day which illustrates “Grace”.
1. It seems that an active, dedicated, hard-working church member
passes away after a long and satisfying life.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
As he approached the “pearly gates” he noticed a sign which read:
“Entrance requirement: 1000 points.”
The man asked the one in charge how a person accumulates these
“points”.
“Well,” he was asked, “What have you done and why do you feel
that you should be admitted?”
“Oh,” the man said excitedly, “I was a member of the church for
32 years and I didn’t miss a Sunday for 14 years. Also, I
taught a Bible Class for more than 12 years.
“Wonderful, Wonderful . . . that is worth one point.”
The man gulped and went on anxiously, “I gave liberally to the
work of the church; more than that, I served on the building
committee and mission committee. If there was an activity,
they knew they could count on me. I helped paint the
building, knocked on doors, and led singing in worship.”
8.
He looked up expectantly for a response.
9.
“Fine, fine, that is worth another point.”
10.
The man was perspiring. “Well, I did a lot of personal work and
helped lead several to Christ. I was friendly to everyone, took
the teens to youth rallies and transported several elderly
people to worship each week.”
11.
“That is fantastic . . . now you have three points.”
12.
Futility overwhelmed the man who was clearly flustered.
“That entrance requirement is awfully tough.”
“I don’t see how anybody could possibly get in without the
grace of God!”
13.
“Oh, yes,” said the angel. “But that is worth 997 points.”
B. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no
one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we
should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)
1.
God wants us to do good works, but they do not save us.
2.
3.
How much “grace” does it take on God’s part?
God said, “My grace is sufficient for you.” (2 Cor 12:9)
How much “faith” does it take on our part?
4.
Paul said, “For we walk by faith and not by sight” (2 Cor 5:7)
III. Walking by Faith
A. “Walking by faith” is no great accomplishment in and of itself
1. Every single person does it every single day.
2. Whatever you have planned for after worship is planned by faith.
3. Faith is all bound up in the idea of “trust”.
B. Likewise, there is no inherent power in faith by itself.
1. The value of “faith” is found in its object.
a. A strong faith in an unworthy object will disappoint.
b. Conversely, a small faith in a worthy object will bring
fulfillment and joy.
c. Perhaps this is why Jesus said, “If you have faith as a mustard
seed, you shall say to this mountain, Move from here to
there, and it shall move; and nothing shall be
impossible to you.” (Matt 17:20)
2.
Let’s look a little closer at this text: (Matthew 17:14-20)
a. The disciples were too focused on themselves to achieve
b. Jesus trusted in God and was confident in His power.
3.
Abraham fixed his faith on Jehovah when he offered Isaac (Heb 11: 19)
a.
b.
4.
“He considered that God is able to raise {men} even from the
dead; from which he also received him back as a type.”
How much faith did Abraham have? Maybe just a little.
But his faith was in God; and that makes all the difference.
Even a questioning, struggling faith will be victorious . . .
if that faith is fixed on the God who has revealed Himself in Christ
5.
The size of one’s faith is far less an issue than it’s object.
C. Garrison Keillor, of Lake Woe-Be-Gone fame, made this comment
about faith in troubled times:
“A little faith will see you through. What else will do except
faith in such a cynical, corrupt time? When the country goes
temporarily to the dogs . . . cats must learn to be circumspect,
walk on fences, sleep in trees, and have faith that all this
wolfing is not the last word.”
D. A female missionary to the Congo once told the story of how older men
served as night sentries for Christian workers among them.
1. They were very much the living telephone lines from house to
house, compound to compound.
2. One evening she went to the door to receive a note that had been
brought by a man everyone called Papa John.
3.
There was neither moonlight nor street light at their station, and
she could barely make out his form by the light from his sixinch kerosene lantern with its smoky chimney.
4.
Thinking what a pitiful light he had for such a dark night, she said,
“That lamp doesn’t give you much light, does it, Papa John?”
5.
“No, it doesn’t -- but it shines as far as I can step.”
E. That isn’t a bad commentary on the nature of faith.
1. Trust God for today, though you cannot see the future.
2. He can! And He will guide you in the right direction.
3. He will always give light as far as you can step today.
Concl. 1)
2)
3)
4)
It is true that we are hopelessly in debt to God.
But His Grace toward us is unimaginable.
READ Ephesians 3:14-21
We walk by faith.
a) But if we have the faith of a mustard seed . . .
b) . . . we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength.
(Philippians 4:13)