Do You Believe I Can Do This?
The Counselor • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 5 viewsNotes
Transcript
I’ve been warned to quit taking kitchen utensils, but it was a whisk I was willing to take.
Were the dinosaurs scared when they saw the meteor coming? They were petrified.
Storm—Why Are You So Afraid?
Ongoing problem—Do You Want to Be Well?
Spiritual doubts—Why Do You Doubt?
Miracle. Touch from God—Problem too big to handle on your own.
Do You Believe I Can Do This? (Matt 9)
Jesus was teaching—a synagogue leader fell at feet. Daughter died.
Jesus went to house—not dead (sleep)—laughed—news spread.
two blind guys heard about it and we will pick up their story here
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”
27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”
The fact they called him the son of David, lets us know that they believed that he was actually the Messiah, which would have infuriated the pharisee's... now if you read in the English translation, calling out... the greek word means to cry with an animalistic cry...same word used in rev 22, when talking about a woman screaming out in labor during childbirth... a scream I have heard 7 times in my life.... men, some of you know what I am talking about... you know what this is like... these men have heard what Jesus has been doing and they are desperate.. they're following him…
28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied.
29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”;
30 and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.”
28 When (Jesus) had gone indoors, so there is no indication that he wanted to stop to hear them...the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. 29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; 30 and their sight was restored. Matthew 9:27-30
It was according to their faith; Not according to social standing, income, ref, good works—faith.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Encouraging scripture teaches us without faith it is impossible to please God....so its a faith building story....—Confusing. and disheartening sometimes because some people will tell you things didn't happen in your life because you didn't have the faith... and all too often things good happen and god doesn't get the credit but when they don't happen God gets the blame
So—I prayed and God didn’t answer—must not have enough faith. Laura’s dad about his own mom
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What is the biggest hindrance of faith? (Worry, Doubt, Fear)
The familiar is the enemy of faith: Accepting what is—could be.
Always been blind. Headaches. Struggled financially. Avg student.
Dated wrong type. Bad relationship with dad, Spiritual doubts.
Takes faith to step away from familiar.
WHAT KIND OF FAITH HONORS GOD?
FAITH THAT BELIEVES WHEN IT DOESN’T SEE.
1 Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Heb 11:1 NLT
28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied.
28 When (Jesus) had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. Matt 9:28
Ask you same question today: Do you believe I can do this…
Heal marriage - the familiar thing to do is be stuck and think its never going to get better - he/she will never get better it will always be the same old thing… and that is the enemy of faith. Sometimes our thoughts and inner speech is what kills what is going on in the world of faith
Miracle in body - the familiar thing to do would to know that it has been that way for so long and doctors have told you it would never get better so it is just as easy to believe it and not worry about just let go… and live with it.
Heal from past hurt - and this is a big one, there are some of us that have some trauma from our past and the enemy would like you to believe you can never live in freedom from it… and we start to think that its familiar…we have come to learn how to accept that type of pain… but that is the enemy of faith… and I have seen some people that go to good counselors… Men need to do this more often… I have actually seen a lot of people get a lot of help from groups like celebrate recovery… but we allow that to stay in the familiar…
Forgive - maybe the hardest thing… and we have been told so often you can forgive but not forget and we get stuck
Conceive a child - we have tried hard for so long and it just isnt happening and the doctors can tell you that its not going to work, and the pain of that is pretty familiar and we get stuck and then Jesus would ask us this question this morning…
Do you believe he can answer? The churchy thing to do is just say yes... but our actions and our words betray us.... because our actions and our words do not line up... in fact we say things like
All we can do now is pray! God likes that... you've tried everything else and all you have left is me?
Deer panteth…ugly. Water is all that will do it
Question... in last seven days what have you been praying for faithfully everyday? Not much?
What you pray about faithfully shows what you believe about God... it shows that you don’t believe God is active... don't believe he is involved…
If you pray about big things it shows that you believe God is involved... or say it this way...
The size of your request reveals the strength of your faith. I used to love the saying, if people don’t laugh when you tell them your god sized prayer requests you’re probably not praying big enough. This doesn’t mean pray for those lottery winnings, or maybe it does as long as you give ten percent.
We pray small things…
Keep us safe travel… most of the time you will get their safe anyway...
god says give me a good one... try me out...
bless this food... that's not a big one... well for some of you it is... some people be making some nasty food...
Do you believe that God is able to heal...an addiction... name of Jesus bigger than cancer... all things possible with god? a faith that believes even when it does not see?
And hear me out here, I’m not trying to tell you everything you will pray for is going to happen, this isnt some name it and claim it message, but what I can assure you is if you aren’t praying it probably won’t happen.
What kind of faith honors God? A faith that believes when it does not see... what else...
FAITH THAT PERSISTS WHEN NOTHING CHANGES.
Jesus didn’t answer immediately— they're screaming at him with everything they have....but he did answer… and they just keep doing whatever they can to get to him... Goes indoors.
Follow Hybels to van not approved by man… name tag
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
2 Be persistent in prayer, and keep alert as you pray, giving thanks to God. Col 4:2 GNT (Devote to prayer, be diligent)
Luke 18—Persistent widow kept coming and wanting justice…
it was driving him crazy...finally gave it to her... how much more would a loving father…
Bill Hybels—Woman crying after baptism: “I almost gave up.” 22 years.. . voice said god doesnt care…
I know some of you have been praying about something for a long time and i am here to tell you that an answer is coming... a faith that persists when nothing changes honors and moves the heart of god...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thirdly FAITH THAT WORKS WHEN IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE.
Diff between hope & faith. Hope is a desire. Faith is a demonstration.
Abraham offered Isaac…
22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
22 You see that (Abraham’s) faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. James 2:22
his faith and actions were working together
blind guys...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some people are so focused on the problem we magnify it—can’t see the answer.
I’m so blind...they would have lived under shame and embarassment...
Didn’t focus on what they couldn’t do—what they could do.
Can’t see—but I can hear, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of god...yell, jesus have mercy.... walk, follow Jesus.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don’t know what you can’t do—Focus on what you can do.
Can’t pay bills today—Keep seeking Jesus—sell everything but kids.
Can’t change my spouse—love them as they are—believe for miracle.
Can’t heal cancer—change diet, best doctor—small group pray.
Can’t get myself pregnant - keep praying - keep trying….
Maybe its just something that Burdens you: human trafficking, unborn, under-privileged kids.
Can’t do everything—do something—believe big—start small.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Do you have Enough faith? Not just having faith in faith— but faith in the faithfulness of God
I believe God can, believe he will—Even if he doesn’t—I still believe.
You have blind faith!
I’d rather be blind with faith that God can heal…
Than see and have no faith!
4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.
4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ… 2 Cor 4:4 NLT
Krazo—woman screaming in the pains of childbirth (Rev 12:2).
Anointing oil
Noah built a boat before he saw a rain cloud! (Or anointing oil)
Abraham & Sarah believed God for a child before saw any reason.
People of Israel marched around walls for 7 days before saw anything.
