Community United Methodist Church

7/17/11

Topic: Put action behind faith extraordinary things happen

Illustration: The Gospel of (Luke 13:12) records that Jesus was teaching in the Synagogue on a Sabbath, behold there was a woman who had a spirit of sickness for 18 years and was bent over she could in no way to raise herself up. Jesus made her straight as he laid his hands on her. Glory to God, I feel that it is significant to spend time in the house of the Lord in his divine presence and anointing. By doing so, the doors and windows of heaven opened and healing is possible.  If that woman did not go to church to worship that very Sabbath (Sunday) she couldn’t be healed. One can make a right decision at the right time.  It is crucial to make a move, one steps forward and  God will help you out in making hundred, thousands steps. Be in motion make a move God watches every step you make in your life.  This is to mention that just one phone call away can change your life and take you into a new situation. I wish we Christians can take God and the Bible seriously and Sunday to be holy. God should be our priority number one on our agenda.  We have to focus on Jesus rather than on “a dollar”, because money can buy anything except your soul. For instance, on Sundays many individuals go to a watch movie and dinner. In some cases when they receive visitors they decide not to go for worship. I think taking your guests to church may be wiser and faithful thing than staying home.

I have learned the greatest scripture in the Bible is found in the Gospel of Mt.“… Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew. 6:33).

Jesus Christ is the healer of our brokenness. 

In another instance, behold  four men brought on a bed or they came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they couldn’t find a way to do this because of the crowd they went up and opened the roof and lowed his mat… when  Jesus saw their faith he said friend your sin are forgiven. (Lk.5: 18-20) 

These four men put action behind faith.  

-If you put action behind faith extra ordinary things, mighty things greater happen

Jesus says to Nicodemus: unless you are born again then you can inherit God’s kingdom.

The Gospels record many times that when Jesus saw a need He was moved with compassion (Mk 1:44). That compassion led him to action despite the obvious lack of food in this instance. 

Exegesis:

The word compassion means: companion of passion or love. The word desert means chaos wilderness. It is when one is in the desert wildness, barren region that God intervene and shows up.  The question Who Jesus is Jesus Christ means J= Jehovah, E= eternal, S= Savior, U= Universe, S= Seigneur, lord, and then Christ means the anointed ones.

Some call Jesus as the Son of David; some call him the morning star, some the Lamb of God who takes away human’s sin, other call him the Lion of Judah. I call him my Savior and Messiah and redeemer of my life 

Transition word:  Jesus came to redeem humanity and give life in abundance.

(Isaiah 61:1) On day Jesus got in the Temple Synagogue read from the prophet Isaiah “the spirit of Lord is upon me”. “Because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to poor”; He has sent me to heal the broken hearted “. To proclaim liberty to the captives; and the opening and opening of the prison to those we are bound. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.*

Jesus came to heal the broken hearted. He came to release prisoners and give freedom to the captives.  Christ was interested to the less fortunate, the last and those living in the margins.  I really don’t know what we are facing right now, I ‘m not aware of which hell you are in now. But, one thing I know Christ is the solution and he can fix any brokenness. It might be in your social life, economic or marital life but Christ is the redeemer. Keep trusting in him and extra ordinary things will happen. The bible says, we may endure pain all night, but joy comes in the morning.

Context 

Jesus went away in a remote area and the Bible is silent, it doesn’t tell why he decided to go in the desert. For instance, in these days of summer time the temperature is very high and hot. As a result, some people plan to go for   summer vacation; some spend time at the beach. Some go for a romantic   vacation to get rest and enjoy every part of it. However, the disciples in this instance were not on any romantic expedition. Nonetheless, they had a specific purpose. The purpose included outreach, care of the needy, healing of the sick as well as the supernatural power of Jesus Christ.

Jesus saw a great multitude of sheep without a leader or a shepherd, He felt compassion for them. As a result, he healed their sick.

Five loaves of bread and two fish were put in a basket. After having blessed the basket, Jesus gave it back to the disciples and the disciples gave them back to the people. Some lost hope because presently there was only seven items in the basket. Miracles transpired and the Bible declares that five thousand individuals without counting women and children ate and they were satisfied. Your basket is coming, the basket of Jesus a basket of hope, and a basket of healing the basket of forgiveness. A basket of promotion, basket of victory is on the way. The Gospel refers to the small basket which the travelers carried along the way. An eight year old who possessed small basket containing five bread and two fish is a hero for me. He was a vehicle for the miracle to happen along with Jesus.  God can use you as an instrument to restore human’s condition and life.

Illustration: I grew up in a very low class family. As a result, most of my friends came from poor families as well. I remember, sometimes when I went out at a play ground I found friends who had spent approximately one or two days without access to a single meal. Each time I went out I managed to convince one or two friends to come to my home and shared the meal with them. In other words I extend radical hospitality to those in need. Obviously, in Africa we share meals, stories during evenings around the flame of firewood. My grandmother was always upset about me bringing friends every day. It seemed that the invitation to strangers destroyed our household’s budget. However, I always felt that I could do something to help someone is a needy situation. I hope my education and my faith may help as a blessing to someone, somehow, somewhere in this world.

Another story, I desperately wanted to advocate for a friend who had some problems at school. However, I failed to advocate for him even though I had a good intention.  My original intervention was to help a friend but the situation turned to worse. Consequently my friend was dismissed from school.  I wonder,   why the disciples said to Jesus “this is a remote area … send the crowd away…. (Mt 14:15)

Application:

The disciples sought to avoid responsibility for the hungry multitude saying send them away. Thus, the disciples thought they were showing compassion. But Jesus replied you give them something to eat.

You got to demonstrate faith behind action.

The book of James says faith without action is dead

God should be our priority, Jesus is number one.  Christianity is not only a religion of faith it is also a religion of action.   Actions speak louder than words. Thus, good deeds are sufficient.

The fruits of faith is hoping in things not seen that can be realistic through posing actions, good deeds, and compassionate work.

Joshua says “choose or yourselves this day whom you will serve, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24: 15).  Upon that pledge God promised Joshua enormous blessings that every place he puts his feet will be blessed even everything Joshua touches will be blessed.

Today we enjoy having highways and we speed crazy mostly nineties and hundred per hour. There are some people (heroes) who laid their lives down so that this generation has access to waylay.

In Africa many people die without fulfilling their dreams and promises. In other words, some individuals are lazy and never had any vision to do something in order to change their lives. However, they expect other nations such as Europeans to come and do everything for them such as building highways and innovation. In fact, Africa is among the richest continents in the world. Nevertheless, some believers die with their promises unaccomplished.

God promises Abraham to be great and blessed as a source of blessing for others. Secondly, God recommended him to sacrifice his only Son Isaac (Gn.12:1-5).

In both case Abraham obeyed and made a move to please God.

It is when you make a right move, at the right time that pleases God that the divine blessings will be realistic.

Moreover, just one phone call away can change your life.

Conclusion

We should give to God our hearts, time, offering, and money. There are supernatural powers in observing these things. In other words, actions can move God to open windows and doors of heaven.

Believers shall be rewarded, given divine crown, eternal life accordingly to our actions.

Every second and minute is counted before God’s sight. We have to invest for the kingdom of God.