Looking for Faith

Luke 18:1–8 NIV84

1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ 4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’ ” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

1. Faith makes the invisible a reality

We speak things into existence

2 Corinthians 4:13–14 NIV84

13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.

Faith speaks of things in the future

Fear reminds you of the things in the past

2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV84

18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Fear focuses on what you can see

Faith speaks about what is unseen

Faith speaks about the eternal

Your pain is temporary, your healing is eternal

2. Faith believes before it understands

There are many things that you will not be able to understand

The blind man was asked whether Jesus was a sinner, the man said, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I know. I was blind but now I see!”

The religious people admitted that they didn’t know where Jesus came from

They had a problem because they did not understand

The blind man admonished them when he said, “Remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes.”

God doesn’t need people’s approval to work miracles

Before you pray, you must believe

Romans 12:12 NIV84

12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

We need to be patient in affliction and faithful in prayer

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 NIV84

16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

We need to learn that joy is not contingent on what happens to us

Joy is not an occurrence, it is an attitude

Prayer is not an event, it is a lifestyle

Faithfulness is not temporary, it is a life of obedience

3. Faith is about building our relationship with our Lord

Like in a marriage, your faith in each other grows because of your relationship

You learn to trust your spouse because of your faith in your spouse

You have faith in your spouse because he/she has been there with you

Through sickness and in health

Your faith in God grows as you continue to walk with Him

You will see God’s faithfulness in your life and your faith in Him grows

4. Faith while expecting is the breeding ground for miracles

Before you pray, believe

Matthew 21:22 NIV84

22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Mark 11:24 NIV84

24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

You must believe that God is able to protect you

If you are ill, you must believe that God is able to heal you

Let the weak say, “I am strong”

He become poor so that through His poverty you might become rich

God calls things that are not as though they were

I used to be a not and a “Nut”

I was a nobody but He made me somebody

5. Jesus is looking for the faith of authentic believers

Don’t let negativity rule your world

Fill yourself with His Word

Keep showing up, the miracle awaits an appointed time

Be consistent

Be persistent

Be faithful

Stay on course

Don’t let fear take you off the track

Will you have faith in the midst of a trial

A little faith can move mountains

Your faith heals you

Your faith makes the impossible possible