Disciples of Jesus Show Faith

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Faith is the conviction that something is true even if you cannot perceive it by your natural senses.

Disciples show faith in God.

It is essential that disciples show faith in God.

Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and He rewards those who seek Him.

Without FAITH is it IMPOSSIBLE to please God!

The fact that it is impossible to please God without faith makes it necessary for anyone who would follow Jesus and be His disciple to have faith in Him.

Faith involves three components of relating to Jesus.

The first is believing Jesus.

John 2:11
This, the first of His signs, Jesus did at Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory. And His disciples believed in Him.

Belief from a biblical viewpoint is not: I think it is true or I sure am hoping it is true. Biblical faith is total conviction that something is true.

So what does it mean to believe?

It means you know beyond doubt that Jesus is who He claims to be. And Jesus claims to be God.

John 10:30
I and the Father are one.

Jesus claimed to be God. Disciples of Jesus believe He is God and relate to Him as such.

When Jesus asked His disciples who the world said He was, they said that the world said He was: John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets. Now those were very impressive concepts. They were saying Jesus was a great man.

Then Jesus asked the disciples who they said He was. Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” The disciples saw and related to Jesus as not just a great man, but as the One True God.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about believing that Jesus is God.

The second is obeying Jesus.

John 14:15
If you love me, you will obey what I command.

Obeying Jesus shows we love Jesus.

Acts 5:29
But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”

Obeying Jesus shows we value Him and His approval more than anyone else.

John 3:36
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Obeying Jesus allows us to have life and escape the wrath of God.

John connects belief and obedience because he knows that belief has to lead to obedience to make following Jesus a reality.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about obeying Jesus completely without anything held back.
The third is sacrificing for Jesus.

John 11:16
So Thomas called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”

Thomas even today is not noted as a great man of faith. Many times he is called Doubting Thomas. Even Thomas was willing to sacrifice his life to continue to follow Jesus.

Revelation 12:11
And they conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

In the middle of great persecution these disciples of Jesus overcame the enemy because they were willing to sacrifice their lives for Jesus.

Jesus does not require that His disciples become martyrs.
Jesus does require that His disciples die.

Luke 9:23
Then He said to them all: “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”

Our cross is not the burdens we carry (we don’t have to carry burdens; we can give them to Jesus).
Our cross is not our past mistakes and sins (we don’t have to hang on to them; we can put them on Jesus).
Our cross is a place for us to die.

Die to:
Sin
Selfishness
Self-Focused Desires
World Influenced Viewpoint
Our Own Will

We die to our will and our sin so that we can come alive to Jesus and His life in and through us.

Our belief in Jesus leads to obeying Jesus and obeying Jesus leads to sacrificing for Jesus.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about sacrificing our lives so the world can see Jesus.

Disciples have faith in Jesus.
Disciples live out their faith in Jesus.
Disciples allow their faith in Jesus to change them.

Jesus uses the faith of His disciples to change the world.

Acts 17:6
These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also.

With Faith in Jesus Raising the Roof and Removing the Wall
Joe