James 02:14-20 – Jesus Finds Great Faith

Old - G E L N D J J R 1S 2S 1K 2K 1C 2C E N E J P P E S I J L E D H J A O J M N H Z H Z M
New - M M L J A R 1C 2C G E P C 1Th 2Th 1T 2T T P H J 1P 2P 1J 2J 3J J R - Topical - All - Archive

Text: James 2:14-20

Introduction

A. Do you have the kind of faith that Jesus would be impressed with?

B. How would He know your level of faith?

1) James tells us that even demons believe…and tremble!

2) Demons do not act upon their faith as we should.

C. Our faith, however, must work.

Body

I. Faith is essential.

A. Faith is described as the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).

B. Faith comes from hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17).

C. Faith pleases God, when we come to Him (Hebrews 11:6).

II. Jesus commended some for their great faith.

A. A centurion asked Jesus to just speak the word, and his servant would be healed; Jesus said He has not found such great faith in Israel (Matthew 8:5-10; Luke 7:2-9).

B. Faith of the blind led Jesus to heal them.

1) Blind men came to Jesus, and He healed them according to their faith (Matthew 9:27-30).

2) A blind beggar named Bartimaeus sat near Jericho and cried out to Jesus, and his faith made him well (Luke 18:35-43).

C. Jesus saw the faith of those that brought a paralytic to Him (Matthew 9:1-2; Mark 2:1-5; Luke 5:17-20).

D. Jesus described the faith of the Canaanite woman as great (Matthew 15:22-28).

E. A woman with an issue of blood was made well because of her faith (Matthew 9:20-22; Mark 5:25-34; Luke 8:43-48).

F. A renown sinner was saved because of her faith (Luke 7:37-50).

G. Jesus told the thankful leper that his faith made him well (Luke 17:12-19).

III. Jesus wants us to have as great a faith.

A. Jesus told the disciples if they have faith as a mustard seed, nothing will be impossible for them (Matthew 17:20; Luke 17:5-6).

B. Paul taught the Romans that through Christ he received the apostleship for obedience to the faith (Romans 1:5-6).

C. Paul commanded Timothy to pursue faith with those that call on the Lord with a pure heart (2 Timothy 2:22).

D. Paul sent to know the faith of the Thessalonians, and was encouraged by Timothy’s good report of it (1 Thessalonians 3:5-10).

Conclusion

A. Would Jesus say of you, “Great is your faith”?

B. Are you coming to Him, doing His will?

C. Are your works evidence of your faith?

D. Is there a good report of your faith?