Dealing With A Faithless Generation

Marcus Peters

Midland SDA Church

October 30, 2010

Lack of Faith during Jesus ministry on earth

Jesus' frustration with his generation can be summarized in three words: lack of faith.

Matt 6:30        “O ye of little faith”

Matt 8:26        “O ye of little faith”

Matt 14:31      “O ye of little faith”

Matt 16:8        “O ye of little faith”

Matt 17:17      “Faithless generation”

No different now

Faithlessness is not only unique to Jesus' time on earth; it will also be prevalent at the time of His the 2nd Coming. Luke 18:1, 8

Three Reasons for Lack of Faith

1) Ignorance on what faith is

“The just shall live by faith” Heb 10:38

“It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” Matt 4:4

It’s either there are two ways to live or these two things are one and the same i.e to live by faith is to live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Definition of Faith from an Adventist Pioneer:

“Faith is expecting the word of God itself to do what is says, and depending upon that word only to do what it says” A.T. Jones, Lessons on Faith

Biblical Support. Matthew 8:5-10

– Speak the word only (vs 8)

– Great faith surprises (pleases) Jesus (vs 10)

– Non-believers manifest more faith than believers do (10)

– Lack of faith impacts our salvation (11-12)

2) Lack of knowledge of the Word of God. Rom 10:17

- spend more time on FB than in God's word

- TV, internet, iPads, iPhone can serve as distractions

- too busy with work

3) Having the knowledge without the experience. Hebrews 4:2

the word was not mixed with faith

had a belief but lacked the trust. No different than the devils. James 2:19-20

“Every failure on the part of God's people is due to their lack of faith.” PP657

Faith of Our Fathers

1. Abel – Heb 11:4

- Excellent sacrifice – gave God his best. No lame sacrifices. Mal 1:7-8, 13-14

- More excellent sacrifice – in comparison to Cain he offered what God required.

- Implication for us

            - Living sacrfice – Rom 12:1-2

- Praise – Hebrews 13:15; Ps 40:1-3

2. Noah – Heb 11:7

- being warned of God, he prepared and ark to the saving of his household

- business as usual. Luke 17:26-29

- parents have a sacred responsibility

            - kids know about the Lakers than the 12 disciples

            - the year Jordan won his 6th championship but not 2300 day prophecy

- parental failures in scripture: Lot, Eli (1 Sam 2:12-17), Samuel (1Sam 8:1-5), David,

            - Hezekiah's failure with Manasseh

3.  Abraham – Rom 4:16-21

- God calls those things which be not as though they were

- he considered not his own boddy no dead

- neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb

- staggered not at the promise

- was fully persuaded

"Never allow yourself to talk in a hopeless, discouraged way. If you do you will lose much. By looking at appearances and complaining when difficulties and pressure come, you give evidence of a sickly, enfeebled faith. Talk and act as if your faith was invincible. The Lord is rich in resources; He owns the world." Christ's Object Lessons pg 146

Conclusion. Heb 12:1-2

- Lay aside every weight

- Sin that besets

- Run with patience

- Look to Jesus

- We are the answer to Jesus' question. Luke 18:8 & Rev 14:12