Home > Church Family > Sermon Summaries > 23 Feb 2002, Pr George Porter - Your Type of Faith

Your Type of Faith

23 Feb 2002, Pr George Porter

(George is Thornleigh's Church Pastor)

TITLE: YOUR TYPE OF FAITH

SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 8:40 - 56

INTRODUCTION:

Jesus left Gadara east of Galilee and returned west to Levi Matthew's house. Jairus the Synagogue ruler arrives to speak with Jesus.

LUKE 8:40- Jairus makes a Faith request of the Lord concerning his dying daughter. Jesus left immediately for Jairus's home. The haughty rabbi anxiously followed as the crowd increased and slowed Jesus' pace. The Rabbi became impatient as Jesus was delayed by the many stops to heal the suffering and comfort and pity the sick in the crowd.

Luke 8:43-48 More delay strikes the impatient rabbi as an unnamed women suffering from a twelve year haemorrhage secretly touches her Lord's garment.

Jesus realized virtue had left Him and stopped to asked the woman to publicly declare the faith He knew she had exercised. Jairus presses closer to urge the Lord to move quickly. Jesus lingers. The women was healed by her simple faith in the healing powers of Jesus displayed that day.

Jesus made it clear that the touch was not the agent of her healing but her faith. "Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith has made you whole: go in peace.

By this time a messenger arrives to tell Jairus that his daughter is dead. Jesus heard the message and encouraged Jairus by saying, " Do not worry, believe only, and she shall be made whole." Faith raised the daughter. Jesus obliged the ruler's request and the damsel was resurrected.. The power of Christ in reply to the genuine belief in His power.

THE TYPES OF FAITH

NOMINAL FAITH

This type makes casual talk of religion. It prays without soul hunger for God's power. There is no living faith and nothing is accomplished.

It merely accepts Christ as Saviour of the world but accepts no soul healing.

It is mere intellectual assent to truth without the transforming power.

FAITH UNTO SALVATION

This is not a belief about Jesus Christ but an active belief in Him and His ability to transform humanity.

It is EMBRACING FAITH. It is only faith that embraces Him as our Personal Saviour that benefits the soul. It is Faith that appropriates His merits to ourselves.

It is COVENANTAL FAITH that is a saving faith. It is transaction faith whereby we receive and agree to Christ's contract to restore us to the image of God. It is joining with Him in covenant relationship.

It is GENUINE FAITH. It is living faith that increases in vigour and confiding trust in Christ as Lord of our lives. The soul becomes a conquering power in the daily rounds of life. Genuine faith is LIFE.

Luke 8:46-48 As Jesus made the woman to declare and share her faith publicly so He expects us to witness our faith in Him. Gifts of faith are not to be stored or secured by stealth for self or enjoyed alone in secret.

WITNESSING FAITH - TESTIFIES.

"Our confession of His faithfulness is heaven's agency for revealing Christ to the World." The most effective faith is the testimony of our own experience. We are witnesses for God as we reveal in ourselves the working of Divine power in us.

"Every individual has a life distinct from all others, an experience differing essentially from others. God desires that our own praise shall ascend to Him and to others marked by our own individuality.

"These precious acknowledgements to the praise of the glory of His grace, when supported by a Christ-like life, have an irresistible power that works for the salvation of souls." Desire of Ages p347

We must bear in our persons evidence that Jesus is Messiah. Tell what we know of Him. Tell what we have seen and heard. Tell what we have felt of the Power of Christ. That is what everyone of us can do and must do - if our hearts and minds have been touched by the grace of God.

As Witness for Christ we are to tell what we know what we have seen and heard and felt . If we follow Him step by step we will have something right to the point to tell concerning the way in which He has led us.

"This is the witness for which our Lord calls, and for the want of which the world is perishing. " Desire of Ages p340

We can only impart as we receive from Christ. We can receive only as we impart to others. We continue imparting. We continue receiving. The more we impart the more we receive. We are to be constantly believing, trusting, receiving and imparting. That is Living Faith.

Personal responsibilities must be borne, personal duties must be taken up, personal efforts must be made for those who do not know Christ.

The means in our possession may not seem to be sufficient for the work before us. But go in faith believing in the all sufficient power of God and abundant opportunities and resources will open up before us.

As Psalm 116:12-14 makes clear. In response to all the benefits we receive from the Lord we are obliged to confess them in the presence of the people with whom we make contact daily. Living Faith is a Witnessing Faith. It is Genuine Faith.

Home > Church Family > Sermon Summaries > 23 Feb 2002, Pr George Porter - Your Type of Faith