Where is your faith?

Notes from a sermon heard on 24 March 2013 (pm)

Romans 10 verses 1 – 13, Luke 8 verses 22 – 25

In Luke’s gospel chapter 8 we find the Lord has given his disciples a command, a commission to get into this boat and together they would sail across the sea.  A thrilling episode in the life of the disciples.  The Lord asks a question on this particular day and there was nowhere for them to run – “where is your faith?”  The disciples were terrified in the little boat.  The Lord had retired from them and he was sleeping.  The waves and the wind got up and closed in on the boat and the disciples were very afraid.  They came with their plight to the Lord Jesus Christ.  There is no other place for the lost and perishing soul to go to tonight.  The Lord stands in our midst still.  Stands with beckoning call, invited you to come to him for salvation.  Verse 25 “where is your faith”.  One question but there are many applications in this question.

The Lord scrutinises their faith.  The Lord Jesus is asking them a question not when the sun shining, nor when there were fair blue skie and the sea was calm with no wind blowing.  It is when they were going to perish that he asks this question.  If you were to answer that question where would your faith be?  The man without the Lord is like the disciples on this boat out on this restless sea.  Travelling to and fro distraught, minds don’t know where to turn, felt they were going to perish.  What a place to be in for an unsaved man or woman until we feel that we will never cry out for the Lord Jesus Christ and never ever be saved.  These disciples came.  Is my faith in the finished work of Calvary, on the middle cross of Calvary, on the work he accomplished there for my sin?  That is what the Lord is seeking for.  You cannot be saved any other way.  "Without faith it is impossible to please God for he that believes in God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek God."  That key will open God’s salvation for you.  Only the key of faith.  It is only when I take it that it will open the door of heaven.  You can take the key of works, religious life, creed of good works but they will not turn the lock in God’s door.  It is only childlike faith.  Key is faith.  "Being justified by faith we have peace with God."  It is only when we accept Christ as Saviour and he cleanses us from all unrighteousness that he will put a peace in your heart beyond any understanding.  F B Meyer delivered a message on the quantity and quality of faith.  He took a mustard seed and held it up in front of the congregation.  In his other hand he took a pebble from the church car park.  Comparing them in size and colour he told his congregation "there is only one that has the capacity to bring forth life."  It takes faith the size of a mustard seed, not great faith to save you but a great Saviour to save you.  If we believe that Jesus died and that Jesus rose again.  Remember the 4 who brought the sick man on a stretcher to Jesus. They couldn’t get to Jesus so went up on the roof, pulled the roof back and lowered the stretcher down to Jesus’ feet.  “When he saw their faith”.  Remember when Jesus sat in the house of Simon an immoral woman came in to wash his feet.  She was exercising her faith in the Lord.  The woman with the issue of blood had been cut off from religious society, tried every doctor and no doubt had gone to the priest.  After 12 years she was no better, in fact she was getting worse.  One day Jesus passed by and she thought “if I may touch the hem of his garment I will be made whole.”  Then the Lord said “who touched me?”  There was a great crowd around the Lord on that day.  The disciples were amazed at him “Lord look at the crowd and you ask who touched me.  He knew it was a different touch, a touch of faith.  There are those touching the Lord today.  There are also those who desire and would love to be saved but they want the Lord to take account of their religious acts but he will not do that for them.

The subject of the faith.  “Where is your faith?”  The boat was filling up with water and for a time they felt they could manage.  Today men and women are realising they need to be saved but instead are holding tight to what they have.  They realise the boat of their lives is filling up with water but they are sitting tight.  Our faith can be in many things.  Faith in creed, good works.  You and I need to bring the faith into our hearts right to the feet of the Lord Jesus.  Remember in 2 Kings 5 Naaman was a mighty man, a great soldier who had done many great things for the government of his land, claimed much ground but the Bible says he was a leper.  There was a maid in his household who said to her mistress “if my master would only go down to the prophet he would be healed.  Naaman set sail with all his money in his pockets and people with him.  He went to the king and then realised he was in the wrong place.  Is there one who realises they are looking for salvation in the wrong place?  Maybe you are saying 'I am just going to hold onto it, I cannot be that far wrong.'  If it is not in the finished work of Calvary Christ himself you will be lost for all eternity.  Many have been brought up in church, have heard the gospel, their father and mother have prayed for them, showed them their need of salvation and how they can be saved but the God of this world has blinded their eyes.  They want to hold unto that until the day when they are dropped into a Christless hell.  That is the reality. 

The simplicity of faith is shown.  The disciples ran to Jesus and said “we perish”.  What a prayer.  Faith is simple and honest.  They acknowledged they could do nothing of themselves.  If you don’t do something for us we will perish.  The only one who can do anything for us is Christ.  If you don’t trust in him you will be lost.  Sometimes we miss out because of the simplicity of our faith.  Remember Rahab who hid the spies.  "We have heard so much of your God, promise me I will be safe when you come to your city."  The spies were let down from her window with a red cord.  They told her to hang it on the day they came in to take the city.  The armies came marching and Rahab hung it out of the window.  All were safe behind that cord.  Just stating the simplicity of her faith.  Just like the night of the Passover.  "When I see the blood I will pass over".  Every family was depending on that blood.  Believe the word of God who said “when I see the blood I will pass over.”  Depend on the blood of Jesus to cleanse you from every sin.  “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

The security of their faith.  The master arose and rebuked the wind and the sea calmed.  If you were to come to Christ he forgives your sin, makes you a new creature in Christ, makes you ready for heaven and home.  The Lord wants to save your soul but you have got to come, step out, leave all behind, trust him with everything.  Will you take God’s salvation?