Where is your faith

[아브라함]

[Introduction]

Luke 8:25 “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.

He wants to see our faith more than anything else.

Luke 5:20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."

Luke 18:8 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?"

He rebuked mainly the demons and sometimes his disciples for lack of faith or love.

Mark 16:14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.

Mark 8:33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."

Luke 9:54-55 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" But Jesus turned and rebuked them.

[Why Faith]

1.      Faith pleases God

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

1Peter 1:7 These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

2.      Faith saves the soul.

1Peter 1:9 For you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

어떤 회사에서 물만 부으면 되는 케익용 가루를 시판하기 시작했습니다. 회사측에서는 그 제품에 상당한 기대를 걸고 있었으나 기대 이하로 그 제품의 인기도는 너무나 저조했습니다. 이에 고심을 하기 시작한 회사측은 수많은 여론조사 끝에 드디어 그 원인을 알아냈습니다. 그것은 케익을 만드는 방법이 너무 쉽다는 것이었습니다. 회사측에서는 부랴부랴 제품의 내용물을 바꾸어 물과 계란을 넣으면 되는 케익용 가루를 만들어 내놓았습니다. 그러자 그 제품이 불티나게 팔리기 시작했습니다

3.      Faith gives us the victory over Satan and the world.

Ephesians 6:16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

1John 5:4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

Ephesians 4:14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.

4.       Faith is the key to God’s power and possibility.

Matthew 9:29 Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you";

James 5:15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.

Mark 9:23 "'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."

강영우 박사

[What Kind of Faith]

1.      Faith with profession

Luke 12:8 "I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God.

2.      Faith with action

James 2:17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Step ahead by faith.

나폴레옹이 유럽을 침공했을 때 휘하 군대가 오스트리아의 국경 도시인 펠드리히를 포위했다. 펠드리히 시는 비상의회를 소집하고 사태를 논의했다. 미리 항복하자는 의견이 나오자 한 사제가 일어나 말했다. “우리의 힘을 의지한다면 질 수밖에 없습니다. 그러니 부활절인 오늘의 예정대로 교회 종을 치고 예배를 드립시다. 그리고 나머지 문제는 모두 하나님께 맡겨버립시다”

그 사제의 말에 시의회 의원들은 모두 찬성하였고 펠드리히 시에는 우렁찬 종소리가 울리고 기쁨에 찬 찬송소리가 퍼져나갔다. 이 소리를 들은 프랑스군 진영에서는 오스트리아의 구원병이 온 것이 틀림없다고 판단하여 군대를 돌려 다른 곳으로 퇴각하였다. 펠드리히 시민들은 하나님만을 전적으로 신뢰함으로 막강한 나폴레옹의 군대를 맞아 승리할 수 있었다. 하나님만을 의지하고 그분께 모든 것을 맡기는 믿음은 이런 위대한 역사를 이루어낸다. 당신은 누구를 의지할 것인가?

3.      Faith with patience

Acts 14:22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said.

2Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Luke 8:13 Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.

4.      Faith with growth and influence

Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of `you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.

1Thessalonians 1:8 The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia--your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it

[How to Develop Faith]

1.      Through the Word of God

Romans 10:17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

2.      Through the fellowship

1Thessalonians 3:10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.

Hebrews 13:7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

2Timothy 2:17-18 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.

3.      Through the obedience

John 7:17 If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.

Luke 22:35 Then Jesus asked them, "When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?" "Nothing," they answered.

Where Is Your Faith_2013.2.3.doc