Will He Find Faith

Sermon October 20 2013    Will He Find Faith

Old Testament – Jeremiah 31:27-34

The prophet Jeremiah lays out a new vision of how things will be for the people of Judah and Israel. Sin and accountability become personal, which contrasts the old understanding of the sin of the father being cast upon the children. (Ezekiel 18).

As it is today, we are responsible and accountable for our actions, regardless of the sin of generations before or our understanding of the original sin of Adam.

There will be a new covenant  that is different from the covenant of Exodus.

There will be a theological DNA of belonging that is an inherent part of the kingdom people.  God’s people know in their hearts that they belong to God.

Even those without spiritual teaching long for something more in life, and they ask, “Is this all there is?”  It is a naming and a belonging: “I will be their God, and they will be my people” (V. 33).

Psalm 19

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

The biggest enemy of Christians is their mouth. Jesus said: Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  When trouble comes as it often does you can find out how close a person is to God by what comes out of their mouth. 

If we are not talking Faith usually we are talking Fear.  Fear belongs to the family of doubt, fear , and unbelief.

The bible clearly tells us Without Faith it is impossible to Please God.

Listen to what comes forth from your mouth each and every day.  The news media bombards us with fear every day.  We hear negative words from our neighbors and most of the people we encounter.  We hear : I’m afraid,  that just scares me to death,  Billy if you don’t sit down and be quiet I am going to kill you. These are just examples but you know what I am talking about.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Another reading for today from the Message….

Epistle  2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.

For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away from myths….

Folks we have arrived to this point in history that the above scripture is true. We see it. We hear it. We know that it is true.

Society has changed the word of God so that it is of none effect. Preachers preach stories and not the Word of God. There is a hunger and thirst across this nation for Bible Preaching and seminaries are putting out “good story tellers” but not bible preachers.

Our guest today from the Gideons can testify how much things have changed in just giving away FREE Bibles to those that want one.  Schools prevent them from going in the classroom anymore. I am sure he could tell you things that would make the hair stand up on the back of your neck.

We need to sing the childrens song more and more::   The B .i. b. l . e….yes that’s the book for me.

Gospel Luke 18:1-8

And yet, when the son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that this nation has fallen far from being the Christian nation that it used to be.

Just in the Methodist clergy gatherings I have been to in the last few months I struggle with this:

WE don’t talk about Jesus.  We don’t get on our knees and pray for the churches.  If the bible is used its more for “good words’  than for repentance. 

It is different When I join the Bible Believing Pastors in Great Falls for prayer.

This text opens with this statement:

Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray  always and not to lose heart.

This woman pounds and pounds on the door of a rotten politician who could care less about her plight, until finally he sticks his head out the window and shouts, “alright, already!  Knock it off! I will give you whatever you want if you will just shut up.

The crowd laughs because they know this woman. She always gets a raw deal, because she has nothing – no husband, no inheritance, no social standing.

They know this judge too, the one who is only out for himself.  No public servant, this one, so they guffaw at the idea of one of their own, this powerless woman, annoying the guy everyone loves to hate until, finally, he does something good in spite of himself.

Good story!  They laugh and then they sigh, and they remember that Jesus told them that this is what prayer is like.

How many times have you heard people say I have prayed and prayed and prayed and have not received an answer.  Jesus is saying :  Don’t give up.  Pray always and don’t lose hope.

We are reminded, once again that the life of faith is not only about telling God what is on our wish list but constantly lifting up every joy and concern, every fear and doubt, every lament and plea to the ONE who hears and answers.

The God of Isaiah reminds us, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways” (55:8)….Yet it is hard, however, to take the long view when we are praying our hearts out, bruising our hands with our continual pounding on heaven’s door.

May his coming in glory find us ever watching in prayer, strong in truth and love, and faithful in the breaking of bread.

We are faithful to Jesus instruction too whenever we pray: “Your kingdom come.. your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). Once again, Jesus makes it clear that faith is actively hoping eagerly anticipating the coming reign of God, never ceasing in our prayers for others, for the world, even for ourselves.

When, there is an active faith at work, Faith that is lived as we strive toward the coming reign of God, then hope remains alive, and we can sing even if our voice falters…..O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, our shelter from the stormy blast and our eternal home. (UMH 117 O God our Help)

It saddens me to see what is happening.  I cringe to hear ministers say they don’t believe the Bible is the infallible word of God. We need a great revival in this nation.  We need to turn back to the Bible and Prayer.  At the rate we are going…..Will He Find Faith when He returns?

Prayer:

O Lord, prayer is the language of the Spirit.  Prayer is our connection with you O God.

Prayer nourishes us, comforts us, and strengthens us. We need prayer as we need the air we breathe.

Speak to us daily Lord about our Prayer life.  Keep us in tune with you through prayer. Amen.