Title: The Test of the Next Millennium, “Where is Your Faith?”

 

Text: Luke 8:22-25

 

Introduction:

 

Since everyone from so-called fortunetellers to Television commentators have been making predictions about the future, I thought I’d make a few.

 

One that I know to be true is Jesus is Coming. Exactly When I do not know but I do know how and why. As a personal opinion and desire on my part, I look for Him in my lifetime. But with saying that, I join the ranks of some very great men like the Apostle Paul.

 

So if Jesus should put off his coming say for the next 25 years, here is what I see coming.

 

I see mankind as a race continuing to decline into sin. There will be brief signs of revival but over all, we continue to follow the humanism, paganism, and atheism.

 

I see the pollution of Christianity by modern thought and ideas and compromise of many to the word.  Unless there is a strong revival in this country, I see the Bible as our authority for truth being discounted and relied upon less and less by the “Christian Religion.”  

 

I look for Roman church to drop its stance on Priest marrying, on birth control.

 

I look for the evangelical community of churches to drop denominationalism and embrace a tolerant view toward Catholisms, gay marriages, shacking up, alcohol, legalization of drugs, and although I believe both the Roman Church and the Evangelical Churches will stand opposed to abortion, it will be commonly accepted.

 

And mind you, that I see this with the next 25 years that could well be in my lifetime.

 

Now that is a negatives view of the future, let me true to the positive.

 

I see this a great opportunity to the church that will

1.      Stand Firm in Word.

2.      That will not become distracted with trying to change the world but emphasis the changing of one life at a time.

3.      Will adjust to the Culture where there is no adjustment to word! The church that will make a difference in 2000 will not be the church accepting the worlds way but it will also not be the church that holds to traditions not found in the word. Change will take place and most take place.

4.      The church that will make a difference is the church that walks by faith.

 

Here is why I say that!

 

 

I.                  With Faith Comes Resolve

 

“We can do anything we want to do if we stick to it long enough.”

-- Helen Keller

 

A.     Determination (Jesus)

B.     Purpose (Paul)

C.     Fortitude (John)

D.     Grit (Peter)

 

II.               With Faith Comes Power

 

The disciples were astonished. “What kind of Man is this?”

 

The 21st Century Church needs to see the power of God. I’m not talking about phony television evangelist power – I’m taking about true supernatural power of God that quiets a storm. That changes a life (Luke 8:26-26)

 

Let me share with the reason for this miracle. Yes, it was for healing of man that could not heal himself. Yes, it was so that there would remain a testimony in that land. But, this miracle was so that the disciples so see the awesome radical change that can happen to a man that meets Jesus.

 

III.           With Faith Comes Peace

 

Let me tell you about the peace that is found by faith in Jesus.

 

That peace quiets all storms. Every situation I am it, I hear Jesus saying, “Fear not.”

 

Every dilemma I get into has a way out because Jesus promised “low I am with you always.

 

Every path I travel I know he is with me. Every hurt I feel I know he feels also.

 

Every disappoint I experience, I rest assured that it was meant to be.

 

Whatever the future holds, I am not in fear and I am not without hope because I know the one that knows the future and the one that is the author of real hope.

 

Nations may rise and nations my fall but I know the keeper of nations.

 

Conclusion

 

            How do gain such faith.

 

It’s not a matter of wishing such faith. It is not a matter of how strong you desire to believe. Faith in God is matter of God revealing Himself to you.

 

That faith comes from know the master.

 

Here is the challenge to the church. Know the master. The better you know Him the greater your faith.

 

Here is the challenge to the non-believer. That desire within to believe has been put there by God. He longs that you know him. He longs that you exercise that faith he has put on you.

 

Yes in one sense you choose to believe but only because God had made himself real to you.