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Living By Faith

Luke 9:1-11Luke 9:1-11

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11 July 201011 July 2010

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A Practical Message

• Often we have sermons that teach us

information.

• But some things can only be learned by

doing.

• Living by faith can only be learned by living

by faith.

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Scripture text:

1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

One definition of faith is “seeing the unseen.”

Hebrews 11:1Hebrews 11:1

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Faith Is Seeing the Unseen (1)

• Faith is being “certain of what we do not see.” (1)

• The universe “was not made of what was visible.” (3)

• Enoch “could not be found.” (5)

• Noah “warned about things not yet seen.” (7)

• Abraham “did not know where he was going.” (8)

• Abraham “was looking forward to the city… whose

architect and builder is God.” (10)

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Faith Is Seeing the Unseen (2)

• “All these people [the descendants of Abraham]… did

not receive the things promised; they only saw them and

welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that

they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say

such things show that they are looking for a country of

their own.” (13-14)

• Moses’ parents “hid him for three months after he was

born, because they saw he was no ordinary child.” (23)

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Faith Is Seeing the Unseen (3)

• Faith is not presumption.

• People of faith see the unseen.

• They see what God is doing, and they join in.

• Most of us have to “dive into” a life of faith.

• Jesus knew that.

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Jesus Sends the Twelve

• Jesus needs to spread his message.

• So he sends the twelve out.

• They have to learn to depend upon the

Father.

• So he sends them out without proper

provisions.

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Scripture text:

1 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases,

2 and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

3 He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic.

4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town.

Luke 9:1-10 (1)Luke 9:1-10 (1)

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Scripture text:

5 If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them.”

6 So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.

10 When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done…

Luke 9:1-10 (2)Luke 9:1-10 (2)

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The Commission

• Drive out demons.

• Heal the sick.

• Preach the Kingdom of God.

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Jesus’ Instructions (1)

• Don’t prepare for your journey!

• No staff

• No bag

• No bread

• No money

• No extra tunic

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Jesus’ Instructions (2)

• No staff – needed for long walks

• No bag – don’t carry provisions for your journey

• No bread – you must depend on others

• No money – don’t take any resources along

• No extra tunic – for keeping warm or change of

clothing

• And, yet, God takes care of them!

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True Confessions

• Sometimes I feel foolish.

• Am I being “responsible?”

• Sometimes I complain to God.

• But I try not to…

• I’ve seen God’s faithfulness in my life.

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Scripture text:

25 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Matthew 6:25-34 (1)Matthew 6:25-34 (1)

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Scripture text:

28 And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.

29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Matthew 6:25-34 (2)Matthew 6:25-34 (2)

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Scripture text:

31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’

32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:25-34 (3)Matthew 6:25-34 (3)

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If You Walk By Faith…

• You will look foolish.

• How do you explain your calling to someone else

when you’re trying to figure it out yourself?

• Abraham – “I’m going to the land God will show me…”

• Abraham – “I’m going to sacrifice Isaac…”

• Phil Davis – “What are you going to do after you get

your Ph.D.?”

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Those Who Walk By Faith

• See God work through their lives.

• See God provide for their needs.

• The disciples reported on what they had

accomplished.

• “But I’m not an apostle!”

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Scripture text:

1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.

2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.

3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.

Luke 10:1-12, 16-20 (1)Luke 10:1-12, 16-20 (1)

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Scripture text:

4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

5 When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’

6 If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you.

7 Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

Luke 10:1-12, 16-20 (2)Luke 10:1-12, 16-20 (2)

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Scripture text:

8 When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you.

9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’

10 But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say,

11 ‘Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.’

Luke 10:1-12, 16-20 (3)Luke 10:1-12, 16-20 (3)

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Scripture text:

12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

16 He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

Luke 10:1-12, 16-20 (4)Luke 10:1-12, 16-20 (4)

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Scripture text:

19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Luke 10:1-12, 16-20 (5)Luke 10:1-12, 16-20 (5)

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The Seventy Two

• They went, preached, healed the sick, and

cast out demons.

• They stayed in people’s homes.

• They saw God work and supply their needs.

• They came back rejoicing.

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The Harvest (1)

• The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are

few.

• There’s so much that needs to be done.

• It was true in Jesus’ day.

• And it’s true today.

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The Harvest (2)

• People around the world need to hear about Jesus.

• Missionaries are needed who can

• Evangelize

• Preach and Teach

• Fix Things

• Fly Airplanes

• Work in Hospitals

• Etc.

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Jesus’ Teaching Method

• Jesus puts his disciples in an extremely

vulnerable position.

• They learned to depend upon their

heavenly Father.

• The disciples reported back.

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The Call (1)

• If Jesus wants to send you

• You will be placed in an extremely vulnerable

position.

• You will look foolish.

• You will sometimes feel that you’re being

irresponsible.

• People will place you on a pedestal.

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The Call (2)

• But if Jesus is calling you

• He will provide for you.

• You will see Him work through your life.

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Questions

• Is God calling you to do something

extraordinary?

• Are you willing to step out in faith?

• Will you go?

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Things to Do

• Internalize the promises of God.

• Spend time with people who live by faith.

• Listen to the Holy Spirit.

• Dare to take a leap of faith.

• There is no security outside of God’s will.