Walking In Faith Will this Seed Grow? Mustard Seed Faith Sermon Handout Prepared by Vanessa M. Wilson Pastor Magnolia Road UMC www.magnoliaroadumc.org October 6, 2013
Walking In Faith
Summary Faith is necessary for Christian living Faith charts the course for walking through unseen places Faith grows by planting the Word of God in our heart Faith can change seemingly impossible situations Speaking the Word of God and of outcomes that align with God s Word builds faith Everyone has a measure of faith Some people have the gift of faith Note: Words in purple are for emphasis.
Scripture Luke 17:5-10 NRSV 5 The apostles said to the Lord, Increase our faith! 6 The Lord replied, "If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. 7 "Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, 'Come here at once and take your place at the table'? 8 Would you not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink'? 9 Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, 'We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!'"
Scripture Luke 17:5 Definitions The apostles said to the Lord, Increase our faith! [emphasis added] Increase Verb to make greater, as in number, size, strength, or quality; augment; add to Increase Noun growth or augmentation in numbers, size, strength, quality, etc. produce of the earth. [source www.dictionary.com]
You have faith Romans12:1-8 NRSV The New Life in Christ I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters,[a] by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual[b] worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world,[c] but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God what is good and acceptable and perfect. 3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. 6 We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; 7 ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; 8 the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.
You have faith Romans12:1-8 The Voice Brothers and sisters, in light of all I have shared with you about God s mercies, I urge you to offer your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice to God, a sacred offering that brings Him pleasure; this is your reasonable, essential worship. 2 Do not allow this world to mold you in its own image. Instead, be transformed from the inside out by renewing your mind. As a result, you will be able to discern what God wills and whatever God finds good, pleasing, and complete. 3 Because of the grace allotted to me, I can respectfully tell you not to think of yourselves as being more important than you are; devote your minds to sound judgment since God has assigned to each of us a measure of faith. 4 For in the same way that one body has so many different parts, each with different functions; 5 we, too the many are different parts that form one body in the Anointed One. Each one of us is joined with one another, and we become together what we could not be alone. [Emphasis Added]
You have faith Romans12:1-8 The Voice 6 Since our gifts vary depending on the grace poured out on each of us, it is important that we exercise the gifts we have been given. If prophecy is your gift, then speak as a prophet according to your proportion of faith. 7 If service is your gift, then serve well. If teaching is your gift, then teach well. 8 If you have been given a voice of encouragement, then use it often. If giving is your gift, then be generous. If leading, then be eager to get started. If sharing God s mercy, then be cheerful in sharing it. [Emphasis Added]
Gift of faith I Corinthians 12:7-9 The Voice 7 Each believer has received a gift that manifests the Spirit s power and presence. That gift is given for the good of the whole community. 8 The Spirit gives one person a word of wisdom, but to the next person the same Spirit gives a word of knowledge. 9 Another will receive the gift of faith by the same Spirit, and still another gifts of healing all from the one Spirit.
Faith Hebrews 11:1-3,6 NRSV Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Faith Hebrews 11:1-3,6 The Voice Faith is the assurance of things you have hoped for, the absolute conviction that there are realities you ve never seen. 2 It was by faith that our forebears were approved. 3 Through faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God; everything we now see was fashioned from that which is invisible. 6 Without faith no one can please God because the one coming to God must believe He exists, and He rewards those who come seeking. [Emphasis added] Note: Faith begins as hope and indeed is unseen; so many doubt that it is real. What follows is the proof that faith is a reality that can be trusted.
Faith 2 Corinthians 5:7 NRSV 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.
Faith 2 Corinthians 5:7 The Voice 7 The path we walk is charted by faith, not by what we see with our eyes.
Mustard Seed
Mustard Seed A grain of mustard seed (kokkwi sinapew). Either the sinapis nigra or the salvadora persica, both of which have small seeds and grow to twelve feet at times. The Jews had a proverb: "Small as a mustard seed." Given by Mark 4:30-32 ; Matthew 13:31 in the first great group of parables, but just the sort to be repeated. Cast into his own garden (ebalen ei khpon eautou). Different from "earth" (Mark) or "field" (Matthew.)" Khpo, old word for garden, only here in the N.T. and John 19:1 John 19:26 ; John 19:41. Became a tree (egeneto ei dendron). Common Hebraism, very frequent in LXX, only in Luke in the N.T., but does appear inkoin though rare in papyri; this use of ei after words like ginomai. It is a translation Hebraism in Luke. Lodged (kateskhnwsen). Mark and Matthew have kataskhnoin infinitive of the same verb, to make tent (or nest). [www.biblestudytools.com]
Mustard Seed Small seed Can grow to a shrub or bush Plant grows up to ten feet tall Mustard is an annual herb with seedlings that emerge rapidly, but then usually grow slowly. http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop /afcm/mustard.html
Why Seeds Don t Grow Not sown Study the Word of God; Speak the Word of God to the situation Not planted deep enough Plant the Word in your heart Refresh it daily with prayer and mediation
Why Seeds Don t Grow Soil too hard Ask God to soften a hard that has been hardened by the difficulties of life (Psalm 34:17-18; John 14:27) Ask the Lord for a clean heart (Psalm 51:10) Hybrid seed
Seed is Word of God Luke 8:4-15 Seed = Word Heart = Soil But as for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance. Luke 8:15 NRSV
Mulberry Tree
Mulberry Tree Grows taller than 30 feet and often has an equal canopy spread. The horizontal root structure commonly reaches to the drip line, or canopy's edge, and beyond, http://homeguides.sfgate.com/rootstructure-mulberry-tree-60494.html
Mulberry Tree Represents Difficult situations Wide and deep rooted situations Situations which are likely to recur Example of Circumstance which is very large in comparison to the seed of faith Possible stronghold
Conclusion Mustard seed faith can move a Mulberry Tree; we must be persistent in prayer, obedience and application of God s word. We will continue to discuss faith. Read Luke17:11-19 For more Information Email: Pastor Vanessa Wilson www.welcome@magnoliaroad.org www.magnoliaroadumc.org