Stop Telling God Your Life Story: Shameless, Specific Faith
Dr RJ Sing, 34 min
Originally recorded as “Shameless Faith: What Do You Want?”
Sermon outline
God responds to faith, not pity, so be shameless in pressing through to Him, tell Him exactly what you want, and receive it when He speaks.
Main text
- Luke 18:35-43
Opening
The start of the message is not on the recording. In its true order (the second half of the tape comes first), he is telling the church that only they know where God brought them from, so their praise is not about pleasing the pastor or putting on a show but about gratitude, and he explains why he himself is so excited about God.
Gratitude makes you shameless
Only you know the muck and mire God brought you out of, so you have every reason to praise Him without embarrassment. He is not excited because he is a pastor but because of his experience with God: he has seen families steeped in idolatry turned to Christ and dying people healed. Gratitude is why he will be radical in his faith.
Illustration: There were times they had no food, could not pay the bills, sold things on the street and got up early to pack newspapers into a truck, 'but this God showed up and made a way for me.'
“I'm excited about God not because I'm a pastor, I'm excited about God because I have experience with him.”
Not ashamed of the gospel
Paul was not ashamed of the gospel and boldly told governors about the Jesus he served. Believers must come to the point where they go beyond being shamefaced and do whatever the Holy Spirit leads: weep, worship, kneel, come to the altar, sow a seed or lie prostrate, because the miracle package is in it. Receive correction from leaders the same way: say 'I'm sorry, thank you, I've learned something' and move on wiser.
Illustration: Years ago, facing a challenge, he fasted three days and decided God would answer him that Sunday. In a big, packed church he was the only person who walked up the aisle at the altar call; while the 'people of stature' watched, he knelt, lifted his hands and the power of God hit him. The Lord told him that because of his shamelessness He would give him more than he asked.
“Do what the Holy Spirit leads you to do. Shamelessly.”
- Romans 1:16
He cried so much the more
The blind man by the road to Jericho could not see Jesus, only hear that He was passing, so he cried out, 'Son of David, have mercy on me.' When those in front rebuked him and told him to be quiet, he cried all the more. That is importunity, or shamelessness: 'I respect you, but I have a need and I've got to meet God today.' He made a demand on the ability of God, and Jesus stood still.
Illustration: The ushers and deacons saying 'shh, quiet, take your seat, stay in line' while the man keeps shouting.
“He was practicing importunity.”
- Luke 18:35-40
God is looking for faith, not pity
God will not heal someone out of pity because they are in a wheelchair or on crutches; He has set principles in His Word and goes by them, and He is looking for a man or woman who will exercise faith. That is why the church teaches the Word.
“He's looking for faith, that's a principle.”
What do you want? Be specific
Jesus could see the man was blind, yet He asked, 'What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?', because He wanted the man to say out of his own heart and mouth what he needed. The man did not tell his life story; he was short, concise and precise: 'Lord, that I may receive my sight.' 'God, help me' or 'touch me' is not enough: come to every meeting knowing your precise request.
Illustration: He asks people in pain, 'What do you want?', until they move from 'I want God to touch me' to 'I want the pain to leave my shoulder.' The blind man did not say, 'I live down the street, 23rd Avenue, my father's name is Joseph.'
“Tell God exactly what you want.”
- Luke 18:40-41
Receive
Jesus did not wave a wand and send stars and lights; He simply said, 'Receive thy sight.' He communicated healing with words, so do not look for a feeling, a bright light or goosebumps. When the man of God gives you the word, receive it, and go by what you believe rather than what you see.
Illustration: He prays 'Receive' over several people, who then bend and touch their toes without pain. In a Smith Wigglesworth meeting a woman with a large goitre believed she was healed and testified for a year while it still hung there, until one morning she woke to find it lying on the bed.
“Jesus communicated healing with his words.”
- Luke 18:42-43
Putting it into practice
- Praise God freely, remembering where He brought you from.
- Do whatever the Holy Spirit leads you to do in a service, without embarrassment.
- Accept correction from leaders and learn from it.
- Come to every meeting with a precise request and tell God exactly what you want.
- When the word is spoken, receive it without waiting for a sign or a feeling.
Closing
Having demonstrated by asking people what they want and praying 'Receive', he sums up: number one, be shameless; number two, make a demand and be specific. He has the church ask each other 'What is it you want?' and say 'importunity' and 'shamelessness', tells them that it is the words that carry power, not lights from heaven, and the meeting moves into a song.
Declarations he led
- Importunity. Shamelessness. So I cannot be shameful.
In his words
- “I'm excited about God not because I'm a pastor, I'm excited about God because I have experience with him.”
- “Because of your shamelessness, I will not only give you what you wanted, but more.”
- “It was not the time to talk about life stories.”
- “So sometimes when you have a need it's not sufficient to say God help me. Express what is it you want.”
- “It's by your words. The word carries power.”
Every scripture in this message
- Romans 1:16
- Luke 18:35-43