TCA-YWAM Austin  DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING COURSE August 20, 2017 Topic: Building FAITH like Jesus’ Mother Mary had.  (Compiled by Jon Dorris) (Permission granted for anyone to use freely) Intro Would you like FAITH that works? Let’s check out Bible Characters to see why their faith worked and others did not.  MARY vs. ZACHARIAS (What were the results?) JOSHUA & CALEB vs the 10 spies (What were the results?) King DAVID’s Faith – (Why did it work?) Look for at least 1 ACTION STEP you want to take to build your faith.  -Write it on your paper and we will discuss in groups at end and pray.  MARY vs. ZACHARIAS (What were the results?) -Lets read the story – just listen  Zacharias: -Luke 1:5-25 (Jon Reads) Q-Did he believe the angel of the Lord?  -Luke 1:18 (doubt and unbelief) Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain? For I am  an old man and my wife is advanced in years.” Q-What was the angel’s response? -Luke 1:19-20   The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.” Q-Did Gabriel’s prophetic announcement come true? YES -Luke 1:22, 24-25 22 But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute. 24 After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, 25 “This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men.” MARY: -Luke 1:26-38 (Jon Reads) Q-What is different about Mary’s response vs Zacharias’?  -Zacharias responded with DOUBT, UNBELIEF and SKEPTICISM.  Q-Didn’t Mary do the same? 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” No- She asked a CLARIFYING  question how this would happen.  Gabriel responded: 35 The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. 36 And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” Q-How did Mary respond? 38 And Mary said, “Behold, the bond slave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. -Mary responded in belief AND action which = FAITH -Zacharias tried to reason it and understand it intellectually versus trust and obey God. Remember John 7:17  17 If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself. Q-Which way do you want to respond to God? Mary or Zacharias? Listen to the rest of the story’s outcome Q-Did Zacharias come into faith? YES -As I read, Notice the statements that indicate the FAITH of Mary and Zacharias.  Luke 1:39-80 (45, 51,  (SIDE NOTE: The “Rich man” – Q-will he enter Kingdom?  Luke 1:50-53 (Jon Read) Matthew 19:24 24 Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” -Explain EYE OF A NEEDLE in the wall of Jerusalem for late night entries.  -So it is NOT impossible for a rich man to enter, just harder.  -It’s all about HEART ATTITUDE – humble or prideful.  Q-Where do you stand in HEART ATTITUDE towards God? Humble or prideful? (Remember last week: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble) Q-Did Zacharias REPENT? Yes: Luke 1:59-65 (Jon read) Q-What was the result of his repentance?  =Zacharias filled with Holy Spirit and prophesied: Luke 1:67-80 (Jon read) JOSHUA & CALEB vs the 10 spies (What were the results?) -Joshua & Caleb stayed close in relationship with God -Joshua was very diligent to stay with Moses from His youth on up  -Josh and Caleb TRUSTED GOD, and knew ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD.  Daniel 11:32b (KJV) but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. Daniel 11:32b (NASB) but the people who know their God will display strength and take action. Daniel 11:32b (MSG) but those who stay courageously loyal to their God will take a strong stand. -But the other 10 spies did not cultivate relationship with God  -Therefore they did NOT have the FAITH to flow with God’s supernatural  -Listen to the story for the difference between Joshua and Caleb versus the other 10 Numbers 13:1-2 :16-20 :25-33       14:6-10 :28-33 -Q-What differences did you see? 10 SPIES JOSHUA & CALEB Negative, fearful report Believed all things possible with God Believed impossible circumstances Believed God & His promises Feared, & rebelled against God If we please God, He will give us victory Grumbled against God Honored God by living out faith in God All died in the wilderness Given the chance to enter Promise Land NO Inheritance Inherited the PROMISE LAND -Q-Which side do you want to be on? -Q-Are you willing to change your lifestyle and work on aligning with God? (I am going to ask this again at the end and have those who want to stand) King DAVID’s Faith – (Why did it work?) (I’m just going to briefly introduce David’s life. Later we will go deeper into David and Joshua’s life story.) -God said, David is a man after my own heart who will do all my will. (But didn’t he commit adultery, lie and kill to cover it up?) -Yes (and all of us make mistakes), BUT David kept pursuing God with ALL HIS HEART in spite of all the mistakes he made.  -God was pleased with this.  -David began by regularly spending time with God.  -He talked to God a lot, about everything.  -He thought about God a lot and pondered His ways.  -He set His heart to seek God all his life.  -He found out that he could trust God at all times for everything.  (even though he made many mistakes along the way).  -We see all this in the Psalms where he wrote close to 100 of the 150 Psalms.  -Because he built close friendship relationship with God, he ended up doing mighty exploits for God.  -Let’s look at one main one.  -THE Story DAVID & GOLIATH. -1 Sam. 17:26-37,       :45-47      :48-51 -Q-Can you see yourself living a lifestyle with God like David did? CONCLUSION -The Body of Christ recently entered the 3rd and final Reformation before Christ’s 2nd coming. -God is wanting to do very power, amazing, and supernatural things during this time.  -BUT He is looking for people who He can do it through. -John 14:11-14 (MSG) 11-14 “Believe me: I am in my Father and my Father is in me. If you can’t believe that, believe what you see—these works. The person who trusts me will not only do what I’m doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I’ve been doing. You can count on it. From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I’ll do it. That’s how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son. I mean it. Whatever you request in this way, I’ll do. -It will take people who grow intimately close with God so their FAITH in God can get to where they believe ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE FOR HIM WHO BELIEVES. Q-Do you want to be this kind of person who sets out on the journey with God to grow close in KNOWING HIM ITIMATELY and therefore do great supernatural works with God in bringing His Kingdom on Earth as it is in Heaven? It does not have to be dramatic like David killing Goliath. But we can let God love the people around us THROUGH US. Small Groups Share at least 1 ACTION STEP you want to take to build your faith.  -Write it on your paper and we will discuss in groups at end and pray.  Invitation If you want to pursue this kind of lifestyle, then stand and I will pray for us.