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Following Jesus – Living With FAITH! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the May 4, 2025 sermon, “Following Jesus: Living With FAITH!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Matthew 15

 

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”  
Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

As one called by Jesus to “Come, follow me”, Matthew gives us great teaching on what it looks like to live a life which follows Jesus.  As we make it to chapter 15, we find Jesus preparing people to live with . . .

  • Focus:  Matthew 15:1-3

    • Living with faith requires that we live with an accurate focus on the actual things of God rather than our tendency to be sidetracked by making our likes and dislikes the things of our life’s focus.  We must keep our eyes on Jesus because He is the beginning of our faith and the completion of our faith.  Even our traditions must be evaluated by how they serve God’s purpose in bringing people to a growing faith.  When we live with faith, we understand the need to live with a focus on God. 

  • Acceptance:  Matthew 15:4-9

    • Living with faith requires that we have a complete acceptance of Jesus being Lord, therefore He is in charge of all things.  Far too often we can become guilting of having ears which do not hear and eyes which do not see, simply because we don’t want to hear and see truth.  This is not an acceptance of all things being equal, or of any way being as good as any other.  No, it is the acceptance of the teaching of Jesus being that with all authority.  When we live with faith, we live with an acceptance of Jesus being King and Lord of our life.

  • Instruction:  Matthew 15:10-20

    • Living with faith requires that we live with, and according to, the instructions of God’s Word.  as Jesus prepared to ascend back into heaven, He left us with the command to make disciples.  This process involves us going, it involves people being immersed into Christ, and it involves teaching everything Jesus commanded.  Faith should always lead us to do what God says even when, and especially when, we don’t fully understand.  When we live with faith, we live according to the instruction of Jesus.

  • Trust:  Matthew 15:21-28

    • Living with faith requires that we live with complete trust of the One we place our faith in.  In this section of Matthew 15 (which I did not actually read during the sermon) we find a Gentile woman whose faith led her to trust Jesus could heal the sick . . . even a sick Gentile.  While all the reasons were stacked  against her, and even Jesus seemed reluctant to help her, it was her faith that drew the attention which not only gained the healing needed, but it resulted in a commendation from Jesus regarding her great faith.  When we live with faith, we live with a trust in a God who can, even when it seems impossible.

  • Hope:  Matthew 15:29-39

    • Living with faith results in a life of hope which surpasses all the world’s reasons not to hope.  As Jesus cares for people and ministers to their needs, He once again is filled with compassion for their physical needs as they had been with Him for three days with nothing to eat.  It was hope for real help that sustained the people even more than a hope for temporary help ever could.  As Jesus takes a few loaves and fish to once again feed a multitude, it was the power of God evident in His compassion which filled the people with great hope.  When we live with faith, we live with a hope which the world cannot take away because this hope is placed in, and fulfilled by, Jesus.

Today, how will you live with FAITH?