Untitled Sermon (9)

When Faith Fails

The Rich Ruler

18 And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’ ” 21 And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24 Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” 28 And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” 29 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

The Rich Young Man

16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 27 Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

The Rich Young Man

17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ ” 20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” 28 Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

A Question to be considered

What must I do to inherit internal life? In Matthew he ask what one good deed must I do to inherit eternal life? This is a question for all of us today. What must I do to inherit internal life?

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Is that the only thing we must do? This if a profession of faith. makes it clear on how faith is manifested 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

So the question for all of us is do we have the faith to believe. This Faith is not just lip service. It real belief. This young rich ruler came to Jesus hoping to be justified and receive the promise of eternal life but he found out as good as he was. He lacked one thing.

He had kept the commandments. He has confident he had done what was required. In Matthew he himself ask the question after Jesus list the commandments 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ I done all that what else do I lack?

Many times we don’t know what we lack. It’s not until we are tested do we see our deficiency! This young man had come face to face with where is heart really is.

Its the same for us. What do we really lack? Yes I know we have confessed our hope in Christ but do we really have faith in him. Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. said its impossible to please God without faith!

A future to be Cherished

Your faith will allow you to cherish the future the Lord has planned for you. Consider the young ruler and the decision that was before him. Jesus said you lack one thing. Sell all you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven. Jesus did not say sell all you have and give to the poor period. He said and you will have treasure in heaven.

We often hear the words of Jesus in my fathers house are many mansions if were not so I would have told you.

Jesus talk in Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

He went on to say No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

The young ruler made a choice because he didn’t have enough faith. In his mind his earthly treasures were more than the heavenly treasures Jesus spoke of. Those of us with faith know that this cant compare to our future glory. When we have trust in what we see than what is to come we are not operating by faith. We walk by faith not by sight! I told you some folks will throw away a million dollar future for a nickel of right now! Yes this man had wealth and having wealth is fine as long as you don’t trust in your wealth more than you trust in God. He is our provider, He is our sustainer.

One thing you lack. You lead a good life. You are an upstanding citizen! one thing you lack. Faith! His faith failed him. He literally left the presence of the Lord sorrowful.( Perilypos). This word means deeply grieved. He was in mourning. I am still trying to figure why he was so sad. He made the choice. As much as he wanted eternal life he knew it was out of his grasp because he lack that one thing. Whats you one thing? Is it so important that you would trade it for eternal life? Mark said Jesus looked on the man and love him knowing what he lacked and knowing what he was not willing to let go. Yes Jesus loves the lost and the unlost.

A THOUGHT TO PONDER

Jesus said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. This statement of the impossible helps us understand how the rich puts their trust in their wealth and not God. The statement is such an impossible statement that the dicisples are astonished by his words. Mark said they were they were exceedingly astonished! They asked the question well who can be saved? Than God we did not save ourselves.

Yes these things which are impossible with man are possible with God. This is why I love God because He is the God of impossibilities! From him speaking and it was! To him opening the red see to allow a million Israelites cross on dry land to him keeping the children of Israel 40 years in the wilderness. Whether him turning back the hands of time to provide Joshua time to defeat his enemies. Whether its him visiting the firery furnance and saving the 3 Hebrew boys.

Just the mere fact of his arrival on earth through the womb of a virgin is mind blowing!

Peter makes a state Lo, we have left all and followed thee. Yes have you ever had the thought i have left friends and family for Jesus. I sure hope this is real. Then your faith reassures you Yes God is real and his promises are for real.

I have the faith that sees the invisible expects the incredible receives the impossible faith, that can conquer, anything faith, that uproots my problems faith, to know god can solve them faith, to envision my freedom I, I have faith, that can conquer anything faith, to reach the unreachable faith, to fight the unbeatable faith, to remove the unmovable faith, that stands the invincible faith, that can conquer anything Ooo, faith, to reach the unreachable faith, to fight the unbeatable faith, to remove the unmovable faith, that stands the invincible faith, that can conquer anything oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh faith, that stands the unbeatable faith, that moves the unmovable faith, faith, that can conquer anything thing!

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.