Real Faith

Prayer

Introduction

Tell about self and give thanks for the opportunity

Illustration

Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the prince of preachers, telling about his grandfather in one of his sermons, said: "He had a large family and a very small income, but he loved his Lord, and he would not have given up his preaching of the Gospel for anything, not even for an imperial crown. He has told me often how the Lord provided for him. He had a little farm to get his living upon it, and he had a cow which used to give milk for his many children, and one day when he came up to the cow it fell back with the staggers and died. Grandmother said, `James, how will God provide for the dear children now? What shall we do for milk?' `Mother,' he said, `God said He would provide, and I be­lieve He could send us fifty cows if He pleased.'

"It so happened that on that day a number of gentlemen were meeting in London, persons whom he did not know, were sitting as a committee for the distribution of money to poor ministers, and they had given it to all who had asked for it. My grandfather had never asked for any; he liked to earn his own money. He did not send in any petition or appeal. Well, after the gentlemen had distributed to all who had asked there was five pounds over, and they were considering what they should do with this balance.

"'Well,' said one, `there is a Mr. Spurgeon down at Stambourne, in Essex, a poor minister. He stands in need of five pounds.' `Oh,' said another, 'don't send him five pounds. I will put five to it. I know him. He is a worthy man.' `No,' said another, 'don't send him ten pounds. I will give another five pounds if somebody else will put a fourth five to it.'

"The next morning came a letter to grandmother with ninepence to pay! Grandmother did not like to pay out ninepence for a letter, but there was twenty pounds in it; and as my grandfather opened it he said, 'Now, can't you trust God about an old cow?"'—Rev. James E. Naylor, in The Watchman-Examiner.

39 Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

43 After the two days he departed for Galilee. 44 (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.) 45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast.

Jesus Heals an Official’s Son

46 So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” 49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. 51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household. 54 This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.

Real Faith Is Not Spiritual Curiosity But Actual Commitment

Real Faith Is Not an Emotional Feeling but an Informed Belief

Real Faith is Not a Single Decision but a Growing Dependence

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’