Kevil First Baptist Church
Faith, Not Common Sense. Sunday 4/5/2020
Notes for Sunday 4/5/2020
Locations & Times
Kevil First Baptist Church
986 N 1st St, Kevil, KY 42053, USA
Sunday 11:00 AM
FAITH, NOT COMMON SENSE.
2 Kings 5:1-19
"I know you have faith, BUT, God gave you common sense"
Are our decisions to follow God based upon common sense or faith?
Are our decisions to follow God decided by us analyzing the situation based upon our own cautious behaviors, self preservation and logical analysis?
In the context of our relationship with Jesus and what he has commanded us to do in accordance with the Scripture, it is imperative that we walk by faith and nothing else.
1 Corinthians 2:5-“So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God”…
To follow God defies common sense.
A few examples: Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Esther, Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah, Daniel, Hosea, Mary, the Apostles, Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:7, “ for we walk by faith and not by sight…”
So where does common sense fit in?
‘wisdom’ and ‘knowledge’ are the terms used in the Bible.
The book of Proverbs is dedicated to wisdom.
We must be careful and not confuse God’s wisdom with man’s interpretation.
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would draw near to Him must believe that he exists and the he rewards those that seek Him. Hebrew 11:6
*You should exercise common sense in many practical areas of life but when common sense stands in the way of us following God, it is sin. We are living a disobedient life.
Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
"Faith IS NOT receiving from God what you want...Faith IS accepting from God what he gives." (Adrian Rogers)
2 Kings 5:1-19
"I know you have faith, BUT, God gave you common sense"
Are our decisions to follow God based upon common sense or faith?
Are our decisions to follow God decided by us analyzing the situation based upon our own cautious behaviors, self preservation and logical analysis?
In the context of our relationship with Jesus and what he has commanded us to do in accordance with the Scripture, it is imperative that we walk by faith and nothing else.
1 Corinthians 2:5-“So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God”…
To follow God defies common sense.
A few examples: Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Esther, Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah, Daniel, Hosea, Mary, the Apostles, Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:7, “ for we walk by faith and not by sight…”
So where does common sense fit in?
‘wisdom’ and ‘knowledge’ are the terms used in the Bible.
The book of Proverbs is dedicated to wisdom.
We must be careful and not confuse God’s wisdom with man’s interpretation.
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would draw near to Him must believe that he exists and the he rewards those that seek Him. Hebrew 11:6
*You should exercise common sense in many practical areas of life but when common sense stands in the way of us following God, it is sin. We are living a disobedient life.
Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
"Faith IS NOT receiving from God what you want...Faith IS accepting from God what he gives." (Adrian Rogers)
1. A strong faith comes from HEARING the word of God
Naaman heard the words. Elisha said go wash seven times in the Jordan…
Romans 10:14-17
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
After Jesus taught he often followed it with this phrase “let him who has ears, hear.”
He is calling for his people to listen to pay attention.
2. A strong faith comes from BELIEVING the word of God.
Naaman had to get past is own arrogance and prideful behaviors in order to believe and
Naaman’s servants had a better grip on what Elisha said than Naaman did, v. 13, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you: will you not do it?”
1 Thessalonians 2:13
13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.
It is not enough just to hear it we must believe it.
Naaman had to get past is own arrogance and prideful behaviors in order to believe and
Naaman’s servants had a better grip on what Elisha said than Naaman did, v. 13, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you: will you not do it?”
1 Thessalonians 2:13
13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.
It is not enough just to hear it we must believe it.
3. A strong faith comes from OBEYING the word of God.
Naaman finally did what he was instructed.
Partial obedience is disobedience.
Romans 16:25-26
25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—
The gospel is proclaimed in order to bring about obedience.
James 1:22-25
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
Matthew 7:24-27
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
This story is not about Naaman being healed from his disease-it’s about him being obedient.
Does God still heal people? YES
Does God still perform miracles? Absolutely
But faith is about being obedient even if things don’t turn out the way we want.
Naaman finally did what he was instructed.
Partial obedience is disobedience.
Romans 16:25-26
25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—
The gospel is proclaimed in order to bring about obedience.
James 1:22-25
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
Matthew 7:24-27
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
This story is not about Naaman being healed from his disease-it’s about him being obedient.
Does God still heal people? YES
Does God still perform miracles? Absolutely
But faith is about being obedient even if things don’t turn out the way we want.
4. A strong faith comes from RESTING in the word of God.
A strong faith doesn’t demand proof.
V11. Naaman was looking for a show, some kind of cosmic display of power.
People with a lack of faith demand signs, wonders and proof.
Psalm 37:5-7
5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!
Theres never been a time in my life where I’ve witnessed so many people that profess to be Christians that are absolutely miserable.
They are so busy and involved with life….
Pulled in every direction….
They are gripped with fear, worry, stress and depression…why???
They don’t know how to rest
It’s a lack of faith and not knowing how to rest in the Lord.
Matthew 6:25-34
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
We are programed by the world to not rest.
The Sabbath is more than a physical day that God created for rest….He is the Sabbath…We are to rest physically because our bodies need it (Jesus himself took naps) but more importantly we need to rest spiritually…and that rest comes by trusting in God…knowing that He is more than capable of taking care of us.
The sabbath points us to the rest we find in Jesus...it’s so much more than physical rest but it’s about spiritual rest.
Matthew 11:28-30
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
A strong faith doesn’t demand proof.
V11. Naaman was looking for a show, some kind of cosmic display of power.
People with a lack of faith demand signs, wonders and proof.
Psalm 37:5-7
5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!
Theres never been a time in my life where I’ve witnessed so many people that profess to be Christians that are absolutely miserable.
They are so busy and involved with life….
Pulled in every direction….
They are gripped with fear, worry, stress and depression…why???
They don’t know how to rest
It’s a lack of faith and not knowing how to rest in the Lord.
Matthew 6:25-34
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
We are programed by the world to not rest.
The Sabbath is more than a physical day that God created for rest….He is the Sabbath…We are to rest physically because our bodies need it (Jesus himself took naps) but more importantly we need to rest spiritually…and that rest comes by trusting in God…knowing that He is more than capable of taking care of us.
The sabbath points us to the rest we find in Jesus...it’s so much more than physical rest but it’s about spiritual rest.
Matthew 11:28-30
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Conclusion.
There is a spiritual application to our text:
1. We are all spatially unclean/dirty (sin)
2. Jesus washes away our sins.
3. We are saved by faith in Jesus redemptive work on the cross.
Without faith you cannot come to Christ. You cannot be saved from your sins. It’s only by faith that we can be made right with God.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9.
There is a spiritual application to our text:
1. We are all spatially unclean/dirty (sin)
2. Jesus washes away our sins.
3. We are saved by faith in Jesus redemptive work on the cross.
Without faith you cannot come to Christ. You cannot be saved from your sins. It’s only by faith that we can be made right with God.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9.