FORTHRIGHT FAITH
Luke 2:15-20
(Heb 11:6)  "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

Introduction:     Faith pleases the Lord and energizes life with purpose. It is faith that brings the blessing of God on your life. These shepherds were blessed with this angelic visitation because unlike the religious leaders of that day they had pure faith! There are some insights here about forthright (pure, genuine, honest) faith that need to be examined because there is such a thing as false faith; faith that is dead (James 2:20 ; 26) "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" (26) "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." Pure forthright faith has “works” (works = fruit – Illus: An apple tree is healthy if it’s producing apples…pear tree…pears…orange tree…oranges). A Christian is real if he is producing the fruit of the Spirit which is love, and joy, and peace, and kindness. Works (in James) needs to be understood as not toil or labor, but as fruit (Gal.5:22-23) it is the manifestation of the life of Jesus Christ through my human flesh. What does the Bible teach about pure forthright faith?

I.          ACTS DECISIVELY (VV.15-16)
These men heard the message and then they acted. To act decisively you must:

            A.        Receive God’s Word
Pure faith claims the promise and trust God to bring it to pass. The Word of God can’t help you unless you receive it.

            B.         Respond To God’s Word
After you hear the Word of God is the critical moment. What will you do after receiving the Word of God? “Haste” = urgency. Notice the results - “Found” = to locate after a search. Forthright faith doesn’t five up; it is not stopped by obstacles.

II.         SPREADS CONTAGIOUSLY (VV.17-18)
Negativism is contagious, but so is positive, pure, forthright faith! We need an infection of this faith. It produces a:

            A.        A Conviction to Tell

            B.         A Convincing Testimony

III.       GROWS QUIETLY (V.19)
How do we grow this type of faith? The shepherds illustrate for us pure faith; Mary shows us how to grow pure faith and where that faith grows. Faith doesn’t just grow in my intellect, it grows in my heart. To have fertile soil in your heart for faith to grow takes 2 things:

            A.        As A Result Of Retention – “kept all these things”
“Kept” = to guard; to cherish. She grabbed hold to and held on to these truths. (Illus: too busy to grab hold to the truths of God).

            B.         As A Result Of Meditation – “pondered them in her heart”
“Pondered” = to mull over. This is where faith grows in the heart; when the Word of God comes to you and you mull it over and hang on to it. (Illus: meditation is worry in the positive).

IV.       CHANGES TOTALLY (V.20)
These shepherds returned to the same job…their circumstances didn’t change, but they were changed!

Conclusion:       Faith pleases the Lord and energizes life with purpose. It is faith that brings the blessing of God on your life. (Jer. 29:11-13)