Sermon 18 Gift of Faith
By Rev. Mark Vatcher
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the
gift of God (Ephesians 2:8)
The dictionary defines faith as a confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a
person, idea, or thing. Christians believe our faith is a secure belief in God and a trusting
acceptance of God's will. By His holy grace we were chosen, for His glory, and faith is one
of the many gifts we received when He chose us.
Jesus taught us, through a parable about a simple mustard seed, all about faith. The
apostles wanted Jesus to give them more faith, (Luke 17:5-6)” The apostles said to the
LORD, "Increase our faith!" He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you
can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you. A
mustard seed is a very tiny seed, so was Jesus telling us that we only need but tiny faith to
do mighty things. Well yes, conviction in faith is required, but you need only a little faith. If
faith is a conviction, how can it be small? You are either convinced or you aren't, aren't
you?
As many Christians will be able to tell you, it is one thing knowing the truth and it is another
thing acting to on it. You can be fully convinced of something, but when "evidence" mounts
up or difficulties or uncertainties arise, sometimes the reaction is doubt not faith. So when
Jesus said "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree,
'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you," what I believe he was saying
was, "Yes, you will have doubts. You will also have faith. But if you act in faith, no matter
how great the doubts, you will get what you ask for." How about that, just a tiny bit of faith
moves our LORD to give you what you desire. This is Gods love for us all, when we hold
firm in our faith in Him. Furthermore “without faith it is impossible to please God, because
anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who
earnestly seek Him”. (Hebrews 11:6)
Our daily walk with the LORD, (praying, doing good, reading the Word daily), all these
things builds our faith in the LORD and likewise His gift of faith to us grows. Jesus even
tells us in (Mark 11:22-23) "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if
anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his
heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Imagine that
brethren to have that kind of walk with the LORD that you could obtain such a faith through
Him. I say that is what we are to strive for as Christians, to have such a strong conviction of
our faith, God will do anything for us. It’s not magic friends, for God can do all things and
we can do all things through Jesus Christ. If we would just seek Him diligently with the gift
of faith He has already given to us. This blessed gift of faith bestowed to us not by our will
but because of His love for us, “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I
pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the
saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this
love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of
God”. (Ephesians 3:17-19) So remember His loving promise to you in (Mark 11:24)
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and
it will be yours”. Now let us pray for our faith:
LORD Jesus, help us to grow in our faith. We don’t wish to move a mountain but we do
wish to glorify You always with steadfast faith. A faith that others will see and want to
have with You in there lives. I feel Your love in me and I know I can do anything through
You LORD. Keep us strong, for we are weak without You. For You LORD are why we are
anything in life, and we wish to glorify You with our faith we have in You. Help us do Your
good works with our lives, and serve you now and forever. In Jesus name we pray. Amen
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