Jeremy Utley - Persisting In Opposition And In Abundance

Jeremy UtleySeptember 26, 201617mWatch on YouTube

Speaker: Jeremy Utley Title: Persisting In Opposition And In Abundance Date: 09-25-2016 Our Goal as Christians is this: To be an exact reflection of Jesus, the Son of God (Romans 8:29) We do this individually by growing in purity in our personal lives (1 John 3:2-3) We do this corporately by becoming fully functioning members of a local Church (Ephesians 4:11-16)

Summary

Jesus defines the faith he hopes to find upon his return as one characterized by persistent, continual prayer and crying out to God day and night. The speaker illustrates this through the examples of the Syrophoenician woman and Bartimaeus, emphasizing that true faith endures opposition, remains humble despite rejection, and refuses to accept anything less than God's goodness.

Outline

The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.

What kind of faith will Jesus find?When Jesus asks if He will find faith on the earth upon His return, He is pointing us to a specific definition and example of faith found in Luke 18.Luke 18:1–8

Crying out day and nightJesus describes the faith He is looking for as praying at all times, continually coming to God, and crying out day and night for His justice and promises.

The Syrophoenician woman's great faithThe Syrophoenician woman demonstrated immense persistence, refusing to let Jesus' silence, apparent refusal, and harsh words stop her from asking for her daughter.

Bartimaeus cries out louderWhen Bartimaeus was told to be quiet while seeking Jesus, he did not stop; instead, he shouted all the more until Jesus healed him.Mark 10:47–52

Refusing to believe anything less than God's goodnessWhen we face opposition and do not get what we want, we must refuse to be discouraged and continue crying out to God with humble faith.

The greater deception of receiving what we wantThere is a greater danger when we finally get what we want, as success can lure us into thinking we no longer need to cry out to God.

Elisha's persistence after receiving the mantleElisha provides a picture of persistence not in opposition, but in abundance, refusing to stop following Elijah even after receiving the prophetic mantle.1 Kings 19:19

Blessings should produce a holy hungerGod's blessings ought to produce in us a ravenous hunger for more of Him rather than a false sense of self-satisfied rest.

The danger of easing up in a blessed churchBecause we are so richly fed on Sundays and through fellowship, we face the temptation in our private lives to stop crying out desperately.

Still thirsty after the feastJesus stood up on the last day of the feast and called out to anyone who was still thirsty, showing that spiritual feasting should leave us more desperate for God, not complacent.

A continual cry for moreWhether we face opposition or abundance, our ongoing attitude should always be to raise the cup of salvation and ask God for more.

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Jeremy Utley - Persisting In Opposition And In Abundance

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