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| SERMON #151 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? MAT 6:30. In this portion of the Sermon on the Mount, MAT 6:24-34, the Lord is dealing with the issue of faith. He is teaching us that we are not to be anxious about tomorrow; we must trust Him. Jesus uses the fowls of the air as an example of where our confidence ought to be; then He shows us our frailty using the grass as an example. He is building the foundation for the message of faith. He is teaching us to look to the Father, who takes care of the lesser things in His kingdom; therefore, how much more will He take care of the greater? Now He comes to the point of our text, "Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?" MAT 6:30. If God takes such care to clothe the grass of the field, and knows we are nothing but grass which is here today and gone tomorrow, He will certainly clothe us. When we look within ourselves, our faith falters because we are not looking outside of self unto the righteousness of Christ. Therefore, the Lord Jesus says, "O ye of little faith." If we see our spiritual nakedness as a result of sin, we will see how much we need the robe of Christ's righteousness. Outside of Christ's robe of righteousness, we see how we stand before God, "...wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked," REV 3:17. In a previous sermon the distinction between unbelief and faith was explained. The Lord Jesus is not admonishing us for unbelief in this verse; here He is speaking of faith. The admonition in "O ye of little faith," is that we are still looking at ourselves. If we come before the mirror of the law and see how totally naked we are in the eyes of God, we will see our need to turn to Him to be clothed in His blessed robe of righteousness. Our text says, "...shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?" He wants us to look away from ourselves and look to Him and His robe of righteousness As Jesus admonishes against anxiety about the things of this life, He teaches the need for becoming established in the faith to see the faithfulness of our heavenly Father in His tender Fatherly care for all His creatures. When He gives us to see all of this tender care, the admonition is to look to the Father in the face of the Lord Jesus Christ to find the clothes we need for a naked soul. With special attention on His heavenly bride, the church, He says, "...shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?" Has He not taken care from eternity to provide the white linen for our soul? Are we to spend our sojourn here always looking into self to see our sins and miseries and nakedness as a result of the fall? No! We are to look away from ourselves and see the precious garments which He has prepared wherewith He will clothe those who have little faith. When Jesus said in MAT 6:26, "Are ye not much better than they?", He was looking to those who shall indeed reflect the true image of God throughout eternity. The birds die and their existence expires, but when you and I die, if we are one of those to whom faith was granted, we will reflect the perfect image of God throughout eternity. That's why Jesus says, "Are ye not much better than they?" The Lord sent His own Son, under the covenant of grace from eternity, to take away the penalty of our sins and provide Christ's perfect righteousness to clothe our naked souls. Should you not believe then that He will clothe you, "O ye of little faith?" When Jesus said, "O ye of little faith," He did not admonish for unbelief! It is not a reproof for unbelief. He recognized the existence of true living faith, but in its infancy. Let's talk about faith in its infancy and what it means to become established in faith. When the Lord gives faith, it is genuine faith, not unbelief, but it is not yet a mature faith. As we grow in faith, we grow in our dependency upon God. When we are walking in unbelief, in our human nature as a result of the fall, we have no need of God; we do not feel our dependency upon Him. Those who are of little faith are still anxious about those things which God has promised to provide. They see the desirability of the things God has promised, but they are living in anxiety because they are unable to grasp them with the hand of faith. They cannot lay hold on the things God has promised because their faith is still in its infancy. Those who have truly become fathers in grace understand what Jesus said in MAT 18:3-4, "And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Such fathers in grace understand what it is to become as a little child, eating daily out of the hand of the Lord who will provide every necessity of life. This is why they have no anxiety; they have that childlike faith in their heavenly Father's providing hand. Verse 4 continues, "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Those are the fathers in grace who are established in faith. It is against all human reasoning, but as we grow and become established in faith, we become as a little child. We come to the point where we can look to the Father for all of our provisions. Then we understand what Jesus is saying in our text; we have no anxiety about the things of this life because we trust in the Lord. Those who are still in their infancy in faith need the admonitions Jesus gives about being anxious about those things we should entrust to our heavenly Father's care. If we are still anxious, it means we are not fully established in the faith; we are still "of little faith." Those who are still in the infancy of their faith need to be admonished. MAT 6:31-33 says, "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Those who are established in the faith understand what it is to seek first the kingdom of God. It is to serve the Lord, to do the will of God, and to know that if we walk under the kingship of Christ and in His service, He will add all these necessities of life. We will have no anxiety about our needs. Let's consider three places in the New Testament besides our text where Jesus used the term, "little faith," as a loving rebuke for losing the single eye concept, letting faith be overcome by circumstances instead of overcoming circumstances by faith. If we are established in the faith, faith overcomes the circumstances. If we find ourselves being tossed around by circumstances, we need to be more firmly established in faith. Let's consider the instances where circumstances overcame faith. Then we will look at instances where faith overcame the circumstances. Jesus used the term, "little faith," as a loving rebuke for letting faith be overcome by circumstances in MAT 8:24-26, "And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? [Jesus reproved them for allowing the circumstances to overcome their faith.] Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm." The lesson we must learn in our daily life is that the Lord leads us into circumstances to build our faith. Even when it seems humanly impossible, beyond every imagination of human reasoning, we must never let the circumstances overcome our faith. Jesus used the term, "little faith," when Peter lost that single eye concept, looking at circumstances instead of Christ. Stop and picture this; Peter had faith enough to step out of the boat and out upon the water to walk unto Jesus, but he allowed the circumstances to overcome his faith. We are talking about what was seemingly established faith. MAT 14:30-31 then says, "But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" So why did he doubt? He saw the boisterousness of the wind and waves and became afraid. How often do we come into circumstances which overcome our faith? Do we allow circumstances to make us afraid and become filled with anxiety? Established faith will overcome the circumstances. Jesus also used the same term as a loving rebuke in MAT 16:6-12, "Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. [This refers to turmoil in a spiritual sense rather than a natural sense.] And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? [Why did Jesus point to their 'little faith'? See what He asked them.] Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees." Jesus rebuke was like saying, "How long can you remember something?" They had just taken up many baskets of leftovers. Now He is talking about unbelief. They had seen Jesus feed five thousand with five loaves, and now they were worried about bread for the next meal. Jesus taught them a lesson of faith; now they understood that they were to beware of the doctrine of the Pharisees. They must look away from themselves and unto Christ. That doctrine of the Pharisees puffs up like leaven; they wanted to be seen on the street corner or standing in the temple thanking God that they were not like other men. The doctrine of the Pharisees exalts self; Jesus is saying that they should be careful of this self- exalting doctrine. MAT 16:6 is talking about a doctrine of self-denial, death unto self and sin and the world which is walking in the way of the cross. Jesus wants to know why they didn't understand that He was speaking of the spiritual leaven when He said, "...Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees." They were still concerned about temporal things, food and all the things He said He would supply. Their faith was not established because their eye was still on such temporal things when it should have been focused on spiritual things. "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Don't be so concerned over temporal things! Established faith will overcome the circumstances. Jesus' admonition in our text again teaches how the lesser establishes the greater. Little faith sees God's hand in greater things. Established faith sees God's hand in the smallest things. An atheist was selling a refrigerator, telling the customer it was guaranteed against everything except an act of God. When questioned about what he meant by an act of God, he replied, "Well, lightning or a tornado." Those were things he saw as an act of God. Once when the Lord had just been dealing with me about His tender, Fatherly care in my own life, my father brought to my attention two little birds in the grill of my car. My immediate response was, "It was the Lord's good pleasure that two sparrows fell to the ground." My faith at that time was such that I could see God's hand in the smallest things! Jesus said in MAT 10:29, "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father." When our faith is established, active, and the Lord is working with us in His love, we can see His hand in the smallest things. ZEC 4:10 says, "For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth." When we can come before the Lord and thank him for the smallest things, it is evidence of established faith. Our text is an exhortation to become established in faith. We may not remain infants. The Apostle Paul admonishes these infants of their need for growth in HEB 5:12, "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat." He is reproving them for becoming stagnant, for not going forward, for not growing in faith. They should be teachers, yet they needed to be taught again. Even though Paul was well established in the faith and had many experiences, he said of all his attainments in PHI 3:7- 8, "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ." Regardless of how established we are, we may not sit and become stagnant. We must go forward and grow and press toward the mark. Paul never taught complacency; he was always pressing forward for further maturity in the faith. Watch what we see in PHI 3:12-14, "Not as though I had already attained [We must understand here that Paul had actually ascended into the third heaven and heard things not lawful to repeat. You and I cannot compare our experiences with his experience.], either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended [We do not come to the point to where we have obtained fruition in the flesh.]: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before [We may not come to a point where we feel we have attained; we never rest content. We must keep reaching forward, growing in grace and faith.], I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Paul continued to strive, to go forward; there was no resting on the faith he already possessed. There was a continual pressing forward. We will not find a place where we may say, "I have faith, and I am saved; therefore, I can rest." Little faith is enough to see the mountains of sin, but not enough to see that Sun of Righteousness which shall arise over them. We may take notice of people who are mourning over their sins, but they have never come to a deliverance in Christ. Why? It is because they have little faith; they are not overcoming the circumstances by faith; the circumstances are overcoming their faith. They do not have the faith to see the Sun of Righteousness who arises with healing in His wings. MAL 4:2 says, "But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall." Those who have raised calves will understand this example. Newborn calves are so small and weak they often need help to get up the first time. They are infants, but they grow up to become mature, full-grown animals. Our faith must grow the same way; it must come to maturity. We may not remain in our infancy. The little faith of Elisha's servant was enough to see the host that compassed the city, but the established faith of Elisha saw the horses and chariots of fire round about him. Little faith saw the obstacles, but established faith saw the security against the obstacles. In 21KI 6:15-17 we read, "And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? [He had faith enough to see the fearful situation presented by the Syrians.] And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. [That is established faith.] And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." This is what Elisha had seen in his established faith. All the servant saw in his infant faith was the Syrians. How often do you and I see only the problem, the circumstances, which overcomes our faith so we begin to doubt. Then anxiety and fear enters the picture. The Lord Jesus is teaching us to look beyond the circumstances; established faith will overcome the circumstances. Then one stops looking inside and begins looking outside of themselves. Becoming established in Christ is to see the host of Satan encamped about us, yet growing up as the calves of the stall in the faith and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ that we may see that, "...they that be with us are more than they that be with them." In our faith it is necessary to see the host that is coming against us, but with established faith we will also see the greater host that is with us. If we had no faith, we would see neither one. It is necessary to see the enemy that we might flee for refuge into the clift of the Rock. 2PE 3:17-18 says, "Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. [Here is another reason to see the dangers.] But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." Do you see the admonition that Peter gives that we might continue to grow? We may never become stagnant and sit still; we must strive and "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Little faith is love in its infancy. Never forget that faith cannot be separated from love. Infant love needs to be confirmed often because its hope lies in its feelings. A little child, like infant faith, needs reassurance very often. Infant faith needs to be reassured often of the love of God, of His overshadowing power, and if that isn't there, we immediately begin to fear. When feelings are warm, hope is high, when feelings are cold, hope is in despair. If that is your case, you have little faith. Little faith is filled with courage today, but tomorrow it is discouraged. There is no stability or foundation; we are infants who try to walk, but stumble. Consider how often a small child learning to walk stumbles. That is how one with little faith learns to walk. JAM 1:6 says, "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed." Here is another example of little faith. Those who have little faith are driven by circumstances, instead of overcoming the circumstances through faith. Little faith has its anchor of hope cast in its own ship, i.e., in its own frames and feelings, experience, and prayers, but established faith has its anchor hidden in Christ. Do you see the importance of this? Little faith is cast in ourselves, but established faith has its anchor hidden in Christ who is the anchor of our hope. HEB 6:19 says, "Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;" that is established faith. We are not looking to see if we are cold, or if our emotions are high, or if we have this feeling or that feeling; our hope and faith is "that within the veil." In Hebrews 11 the monuments of established faith are listed to urge us on to mature in faith. The established faith of Moses saw over those mountains of earthly pleasure and honor, he saw the SUN of RIGHTEOUSNESS with divine healing in His wings. HEB 11:24-26 says, "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward." These monuments of established faith are called to witness to our need to grow in faith by looking unto the faith of Jesus Christ as the Author and Finisher of our faith. We must look at Scripture in its context. The entire eleventh chapter of Hebrews points to the monuments of faith and what they did through established faith. Next, in HEB 12:1-2 we see, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith [All these monuments of faith died without receiving the object of their faith. Their faith was centered in Christ. The testimony of all these witnesses teach us to look to Jesus as the Author and Finisher of our faith.]; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." The tremendous faith of Christ Who was able to overcome the circumstances even when He was being betrayed, cursed, denied, and even crucified is set before us. Satan was turned loose against Him and the Father had forsaken Him; all these circumstances He overcame. How? By faith! Jesus' established faith saw the joy before Him; this was the recompense of reward that Moses saw which enabled him to overcome the power of sin, cf., HEB 11:26. "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us," HEB 12:1. It is necessary to grow in faith so our faith overcomes whatever circumstances are set before us. Beloved, it is such a consolation that Jesus sees us when we are struggling. The love of Jesus Christ is unmovable; He sees those of little faith rowing in their own strength. MAR 6:48 says, "And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea...." In the darkest part of the night, in the darkness within themselves, they were not able to get to land in their own strength; they'd perish. They were so concerned and filled with anxiety in their toil. Jesus came walking on the waves to teach them that He had brought the circumstances. When their eyes of faith were opened to see that SUN of Righteousness rising over those mountains of difficulties, there was healing in His wings. It was the Son of God who walked upon the waves, and He had brought those circumstances for the trial of their faith. V:50- 51 continue, "....And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased [It was in the darkest part of the night, i.e., in the darkest part of their trial their eyes were opened to see it was Jesus who was walking upon those boisterous waves; then the trial was over.]: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered." The blessed part is when our faith becomes established, and the Lord comes on board our ship (the ship of our life journey across the tumultuous waves), then the trial is over and the wind ceases. Little faith can only see that tumultuous sea, but established faith sees Jesus walking on those waves. Every time a set of circumstances rears up around us, we must overcome it by faith, seeing that it is Jesus who walks upon those waves. Jacob did not see that Joseph was on the throne when he said in GEN 42:36, "Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me." Jacob was not speaking from established faith; he did not know. He did not see Joseph on the throne. Our heart experiences this during a trial when we let the circumstances overcome our faith. Jesus' rebuke in our text to those of little faith is that they focus more on the difficulty than on the deliverer. "Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?" MAT 6:30. Jesus is reproving us for having little faith. As faith grows, the anchor of our hope is cast more and more out of self and into Christ, "...both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil." The more our faith is established, the more circumstances the Lord will bring upon us for the purifying of our faith. More and more we will be able to overcome trials because our anchor is more firmly cast "within the veil." That veil which separated us from God's presence was removed by the death of Christ as we see in LUK 23:45, "And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst." As one's faith, i.e., his love for God's will grows, he is building upon the ROCK! The process of all these circumstances is like the purification of the gold and silver which is used to remove and clear away all the dross. The refining of silver is used in Scripture repeatedly to symbolize the work of sanctification to remove sin; it is an example to teach us to walk in the ways of the Lord. The purpose of these circumstances is for the purification and cleansing of the soul. As one's faith grows, he is building on the Rock because his love for God's will is growing in his heart, mind, and soul. LUK 6:46-49 says, "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock [Building on the Rock is doing God's will through the exercise of saving faith]; and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great." Casting our anchor upon the Rock is the work of purification when the gold of our faith is being purified in the furnace of circumstances. We begin not only to hear but also to do His sayings. That is building upon the Rock. Those who hear but do not do the will of the Lord will suffer great ruin; they are like the man who built on the earth, on temporal things, not on the revealed will of God. David, a man after God's own heart, found that his salvation, yea his very life, was found in not only hearing but in doing the will of God! It is so important that we understand that that is salvation; it is life to hear and do the will of God. PSA 119:173-176 is a precious message, "Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts. [Choosing to do the precepts of God means desiring to do His will.] I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight. Let my soul live..." What is salvation? What is it to live? We must understand this to understand the gospel! If you rightly understand the whole of Psalm 119 you will see that David's definition of life is to serve the Lord. To receive salvation and life eternal is to be brought from under the bondage of sin to serve under the yoke of Christ. Jesus says to you and me, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light," MAT 11:29-30. To live is to serve God, to love Him, and to have a desire to do His will; this becomes the greatest delight of our heart which comes under both tables of the law to love God above all and to love our neighbour. David says he longs for salvation. What is salvation? MAT 1:21 says, "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." What is sin? It is transgression of the law. 1JO 3:4 says, "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." David says, "Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts. I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight. Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments." He wants to serve the Lord. How does he do that? It is done by doing the will of God, building upon the Rock, casting his anchor within the veil, which is building upon Christ. Now see the beautiful harmony there is between this and what David said in PSA 119:176, "I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments." What is David saying here? He can see how short he comes in loving his neighbour and in serving God from a motive of love , i.e., to love God above all, with all of his heart, soul, and mind. He had gone astray like a lost sheep. Who are the sheep? Many teach that the lost sheep are those who first learn to see that they are unrepentant sinners. That is absolutely wrong. David is not talking about lambs. When people are first born again, they are lambs. He is talking about sheep; they are the ones who are established in faith but have strayed away. The lost sheep are those who are in the fold, an established member of the fold. David sees how grievously he has strayed away from God's blessed will. That's why he says, "...seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments." David's heart's desire was to do the will of God, but he was not able to do so. He was looking to Christ and His righteousness and His blessed atonement to take away his failures. David asked the Lord to look upon him in the blessed, finished work of Christ. See how Jesus concludes His exhortation to those of little faith in MAT 6:31-33, "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." When we learn to see the nakedness of our souls, we will learn to see how short we come in ourselves. We are admonished not to keep looking in toward ourselves, but by faith we are to look beyond ourselves to the blessed Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Gentiles are always seeking things of the earth, the things they can see. All the necessities of life, which are the things the Gentiles seek, will be supplied if we first seek to enter into the kingdom, or service, of God. Amen. |
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