Faith That Matters (5) - Confident Faith - Luke 12:22-34 - February 18, 2024

 

Faith that Matters (5) – Confident Faith – Luke 12:22-34 – February 18, 2024

Our focus scripture is Luke 12:22-34

Faith displaces worry.

Our granddaughter and our son were in Israel for a robotics world competition when the fighting started. Needless to say, we were genuinely concerned and let all our brothers and sisters in CHRIST know about it and asked them to pray. We are so grateful and blessed for so many who were praying. The hand of our LORD was evident, and they got back home safely.

One of our granddaughter’s friends asked her if she was scared, she said, “No, because I knew my dad had it.” Those words penetrated my heart like no other words. When troubling times come into our lives, we rest in the arms of our LORD and Savior, JESUS because our Heavenly FATHER has it.

JESUS was teaching HIS disciples preparing them for the time when HE would no longer be physically with them.

I remember the time when I was taking flying lessons and made a horrible landing. My instructor told me to pull the plane over near the end of the runway and got out of the plane. I thought my flying days were over. But to my amazement he told me to take off and fly around the airport and to watch out for a commercial plane that would be coming in a few minutes. I was going solo. I recall those moments lifting off the runway, circling the airport and landing and taking the plane back to my instructor.

When I arrived near the area where my instructor was standing, he approached the plane, opened the door, and said, “Are you wondering why I told you to take your solo flight after that terrible landing? When I saw that you could take care of the plane after a terrible landing, I knew you were ready to fly.”

Our FATHER tests us as we go through life and as HIS Children, we must learn to trust HIM in all situations.

Let us explore!!!

Let’s read Luke 12:22-26:

The Cure for Anxiety

²² Then he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear. ²³ For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. ²⁴ Consider the ravens: They don’t sow or reap; they don’t have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them. Aren’t you worth much more than the birds? ²⁵ Can any of you add one moment to his life span^[d] by worrying? ²⁶ If then you’re not able to do even a little thing, why worry about the rest?

JESUS was teaching HIS disciples to trust GOD, their Heavenly FATHER, to supply their needs. JESUS used examples of GOD supplying the needs of animals that are completely dependent upon GOD to provide for them. How much more are you vital to GOD’S Kingdom? That is not the point, since GOD provides for the animal world for their needs, HE also provides for human needs, not wants, or desires, but needs.

We must trust GOD to provide when we cannot, but we also must trust GOD as we look for how we can supply.

JESUS needed money to pay a temple tax, as we read in Matthew 17:24-27:

Paying the Temple Tax

²⁴ When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the temple tax approached Peter and said, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”

²⁵ “Yes,” he said.

When he went into the house, Jesus spoke to him first,^[n] “What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings collect tariffs or taxes? From their sons or from strangers?”^[o]

²⁶ “From strangers,” he said.^[p]

“Then the sons are free,” Jesus told him. ²⁷ “But, so we won’t offend them, go to the sea, cast in a fishhook, and take the first fish that you catch. When you open its mouth you’ll find a coin.^[q] Take it and give it to them for me and you.”

GOD provides for our needs at the time we need but we may have to look in some interesting places. Are we willing to trust GOD?

A friend of mine needed some money to pay a bill that was due. He prayed and the LORD reminded him that he had hidden some money in their bookcase. He checked and it was exactly what he needed to pay for what he owed.

Many who are reading this will recall times when GOD has provided to you what you needed.

Let’s read Luke 12:27-30:

²⁷ “Consider how the wildflowers grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. ²⁸ If that’s how God clothes the grass, which is in the field today and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow, how much more will he do for you—you of little faith? ²⁹ Don’t strive for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don’t be anxious. ³⁰ For the Gentile world eagerly seeks all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

JESUS used an example of the majestic, beautiful wildflowers that grow where they are planted. We must trust our LORD that HE places us where HE desires for us to bloom.

Notice what is written, “, how much more will he do for you—you of little faith?” Faith is the key. JESUS desires for HIS disciples to have faith in HIM and GOD the size of a mustard seed. Our faith journey begins with our faith in JESUS which opens the door and path that leads to GOD, our FATHER. That is the key that unlocks the door. WOW!!! That which awaits the person who opens that door is beyond any earthly magnificence.

Trust and obey for there is no other way to be happy in JESUS but to trust and obey. It is a magnificent journey.

Where does such a journey lead us? Let’s read on -----

Let’s read Luke 12:31-34:

³¹ “But seek his kingdom, and these things will be provided for you. ³² Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom. ³³ Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make money-bags for yourselves that won’t grow old, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. ³⁴ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Those who desire a real relationship with GOD must come by the way of the cross. All people must place their faith in JESUS and HIS life, death upon the cross, burial, resurrection from physical death by the One True GOD, THE FATHER.

JESUS life, death, resurrection, ascension back into Heaven to take HIS seat at the right-hand of GOD, HIS FATHER, completed HIS redemptive plan for all who will place their faith in JESUS.

Why did JESUS have to die? It was GOD’S redemptive plan kept hidden until GOD revealed it. Thank YOU, FATHER!!! We read in Hebrews 9:16-28:

¹⁶ Where a will exists, the death of the one who made it must be established. ¹⁷ For a will is valid only when people die, since it is never in effect while the one who made it is living. ¹⁸ That is why even the first covenant was inaugurated with blood. ¹⁹ For when every command had been proclaimed by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats,^[d] along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll itself and all the people, ²⁰ saying, This is the blood of the covenant that God has ordained for you.^[e] 21 In the same way, he sprinkled the tabernacle and all the articles of worship with blood. ²² According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

²³ Therefore, it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves to be purified with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴ For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model^[f] of the true one) but into heaven itself, so that he might now appear in the presence of God for us. ²⁵ He did not do this to offer himself many times, as the high priest enters the sanctuary yearly with the blood of another. ²⁶ Otherwise, he would have had to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared one time, at the end of the ages, for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself. ²⁷ And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment— ²⁸ so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but^[g] to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Faith in JESUS is a place holder until our final redemption at our physical death or the second coming of JESUS. WOW!!! JESUS is our guarantee of eternal life which is confirmed by the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT.

That is a guarantee that never expires!!!

Have you asked JESUS to forgive you for your sins and asked HIM to come into your heart? If not, why not now!

Dear JESUS, I ask YOU to forgive me for my sins and to come into my heart. I believe that YOU are the perfect acceptable sacrifice to GOD for all sin for those who accept YOU as their Savior.

1 John 1:8-10: ⁸ If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

Blessings!!!