Living Dangerously: Dangerous
2015 Summer Sermon Series
Sunday, July 26, 2015
When I began writing another message on faith, it seemed sort of easy and a little like cheating to start where my nature takes me. What does “faith” mean? What are Bible passages that deal with authentic, powerful, devoted faith? Am I contractually obligated to quote Jesus’ words about tiny amounts of faith? “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can saytothismountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you”(Matthew 17:20). Or in Matthew 21:21, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can saytothismountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.”
It seems impossible to preach about faith and not mention Hebrews 11, where the author defines faith as “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see,”and to note the amazing men and women of scripture who displayed remarkable commitment to God, in spite of incredible odds, at great cost to themselves.
“who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37They were put to death by stoning;[e] they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.” Hebrews 11:33-38.
These great heroes of faith understood that “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.
Along with the promise that I can talk to geological formations and they’ll move, Jesus says one more thing that is difficult or troubling.
“11Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” John 14:11-14.
What works did He do? Jesus preached and taught. Jesus healed. Jesus cast out demons and evil spirits. Jesus performed miracles demonstrating power over all aspects of life. Jesus resurrected the dead, including Himself.
What could be greater than that? What would be greater than that?
Not greater in size or scope; it’s hard to imagine any deeds that would outdo controlling the forces of nature, creation of matter, or reanimating the dead and buried. The works greater than Jesus are those with greater quality after He’s gone into the presence of God through the Holy Spirit. The signs and wonders Jesus did were to display His power and authority. And they were temporary. The 5,000 got hungry again. The wind and waves raged again in Galilee. The healed and resurrected all ultimately got sick again and died. They had no permanency. But the works done by the Spirit have eternal consequences and ramifications.
Praying. Jesus says in Matthew 21:22, “If you believe you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” That promise carries a lot of risk, sacrifice, and danger. God, use ME. There’s the risk and the rub. The promise is that God WILL give us what we ask for in prayer. I have to believe that is ratcheted up when we ask Him to use us. Will you pray the most dangerous prayer, that God will use YOU to bring about His kingdom here on earth?
Teaching and preaching. Calling to mind the words of Jesus. Helping others to see the truth about Jesus. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1 about the foolishness of the gospel. Today, God’s good news is foolish at best. Daily, men and women die for believing and sharing the message of Christ. It is dangerous. Those who stand up for Jesus and speak on His behalf take a great personal risk. Will you speak for God, sharing a life-changing and eternity-changing message with those you meet?
Living a life changed by God. It’s one thing to tell the world that Jesus changes lives; it is another altogether to let them see it. “The righteous will live by faith.” Hebrews 10:38, Habakkuk 2:4. A life prompted by Christ-centered compassion for those in need (Matthew 25), feeding, clothing, caring for them. Will you allow God to continue to change you so that others can see the power of an almighty, loving God?
“I want to be “dangerous” to a dull and boring religion. I want a faith that is considered “dangerous” by our predictable and monotonous culture.” – Mike Yaconelli, founder of Youth Specialties, writer, theologian.
How will you display dangerous, sold-out, Jesus-loving faith this week?
“I want to be “dangerous” to a dull and boring religion. I want a faith that is considered “dangerous” by our predictable and monotonous culture.”
– Mike Yaconelli