Untitled Sermon (3)

Unchallenged Faith is Underdeveloped Faith

King James Version Mark (Chapter 5)

25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

Here is where most of us give up: Our faith is in tact until things get worse and then we say I know I should not have listened to that preacher; I know I should not have bought into that faith stuff…

Since I have followed the instructions of the preacher read the word, prayed in faith; spoke those things that be not as though they were! I expected things to get better; how can it be getting worse?

This is really a mind attack from your adversary the devil.

Here is what God knows about you and me; if he does not train us, and develop us, and toughen us up; when your faith is really challenged you will not be able to stand....

But Remember: 1 Co 10:13

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

KJV

Mark 5: 27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. 28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

When your faith is underdeveloped you will say things like; I know God is able but i don’t think he will do it for me:

I know Jesus is a healer but I don’t think he can heal me cause the disease I have is so rare:

I dont think he can fix my financial situation because i have been broke and broken so long I think I am beyond repair....

For she said: for she said: she made a declaration; I may not be able to touch him; but if I can touch his clothes; I believe just touching something that’s touching him can get me the victory, the healing, the breakthrough, the deliverance I’m looking for;

She had seen many doctors; tried home made remedies; consulted with specialist but she was still bleeding;

when she heard about Jesus; there are still people who live in your neighborhood that have not heard about Jesus;

there are people who go to the same Starbucks that you frequent that have not heard about Jesus;

there are people who shop in the same grocery store you shop in that still have not heard about Jesus…

The scripture does not say who she heard about Jesus from but it does say that she heard that Jesus was in the area and based upon what she heard she got in the procession and made up her mind I am going to touch Jesus…

if you ever get it in your mind; I am going to touch Jesus; I guarantee you; Jesus will touch you back…

Mark 5: 29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. 33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

Anytime a woman was on her minstrel cycle she was not suppose to come out in public and if she did she had to announce her self; and say out loud unclean / Unclean....

but she took her very life in her own hand and pressed in to touch Jesus… faith that is in the development process will push you to do some things that seem foolish to others;

I have one more story of faith that I want to share with you today;

1 Ki 17:7-16

7 And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.

8 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,

9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.

Now I have read this passage over and over many time and I cannot for the life of me find anywhere in the bible where this woman was expecting company.....

but the passage above plainly says I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee....

her faith was in the development process; God had placed a hope in her spirit even though her situation looked hopeless....

That is what God does for Christians who have hope; he places an expectation in their spirit even though they cant see the solution.... they have a faith; to every man and every woman is given the measure of faith…

Faith is the substance of things hoped for: Heb 11:1

when you are a follower of Christ you dont need to see whole solution all you need is a glimmer of hope....

and that is why you need to hear the preached word; because the word of God is the living word;

Ps 107:20

He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Let me get back to my story:

1st Kings 17:10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.

Now this Woman whom God said I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee; could not sustain herself....

But she need somebody else with Faith to challenge her faith so she could get her life back;

she had faith she just didn’t realize it; she needed Elijah’s faith to push her faith .......

look at somebody and tell them from a social distance; I need your faith to help develop my faith .....

11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.

How will you respond when your faith is challenged????????

1. will you get angry;

2. will you have this look on your face like are you serious right now?

12 And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.

14 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.

15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.

16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.

KJV

So when you find your faith being challenged; don’t buy in to the noise that God is mad at you or that God hates you or that God is punishing you;

when your faith is being developed God is setting you up for some of the greatest blessings and greatest miracles and greatest break through’s of all times…

and so as we prepare to take this communion today: your faith in Gods word;

your faith in Gods ways; your faith in God’s development process is going to increase;

this communion service today is going to activate a new dedication in your life;

as we take this cup and this bread we celebrate Jesus...

Jesus said do this In Remembrance of Me........

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