John Wesley graduated Oxford, joined the ministry, went on a Missions trip and all the while, new about Jesus, but did not know him… Of his unfruitful missions trip he said, “I went to America to convert the Indians; but, oh, who shall convert me?”
A man of religion but no relationship. He was incomplete.
Disciplined in spiritual matters. He and his brother , Charles Wesley, established a “Holy Club” . The fellowship were branded as “Methodist” by their fellow students because of the way they used “rule” and “method” to go about their religious affairs.
John Wesley was almost in despair. He did not have the faith to continue to preach. When death stared him in the face, he was fearful and found little comfort in his religion. To his friend, he confessed his growing misery and decision to give up the ministry. His friend counseled otherwise. “Preach faith till you have it,” he advised. “And then because you have it, you will preach faith.”
On May 24th, 1738, about 18yrs after he entered Oxford to enter the ministry, he reluctantly attended a church meeting. Someone read from Luther’s Preface to the Epistle to Romans. About 8:45 p.m. “while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.”
He was ordained, preached, taught, wrote, and even gave himself to missionary work—all to no avail. He had not Christ, or rather, Christ did not have him. He lived by good works, but not by faith but then God showed up.
And when he did, He was no longer A man of religion but now had a relationship with Jesus. He no longer trusted his incomplete works but had complete faith “in Christ and Christ alone for salvation”
Incomplete Works or Complete Faith?
Apollos, Read vs. 24-25
- Baptism of John
- “Repent, Bear fruits in keeping with repentance.”
- 2 stages of the spiritual life.
- #1. Realize you are short, try hard, and see you can’t do it.
- #2. Come to God who did it for you
- Apollos hadn’t come to that point. He was still at #1.
- Vs. 26 “more Accurately” or completely
- Still trusting his Incomplete works but is about to be shown that what is needed is complete faith?
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, Romans 3:21–24
Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness. Romans 4:4–5
- Even as Christians we fall back into the same things.
- Galatians is a whole book about it!
Incomplete works or complete faith?
- Vs. 28 “power” Power to live this life by faith and be a witness
Acts 1:8 “You shall receive POWER when the Holy Spirit comes upon you…”
- Now a days it’s like, who’s that? Who is this Holy Spirit you speak of?
- Read vs. 19:1-3
- These guys were not saved. Same boat as Apollos. They were incomplete, trusting that there “fruits in keeping with repentance” was enough.
- Paul opens up his 4 spiritual laws track and leads them through the ROMANS ROAD
- Read 4-7
- Order of how this works…
- Faith in Gospel, Holy Spirit enters in
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:13–14
AND THEN HE GIVES US GIFTS!
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 1 Corinthians 12:4–7
And the very things you were trying to use to get you to heaven, your piety and good works… yeah, they are the fruit of simply trusting in Jesus alone, COMPLETE FAITH in his completed work.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22–23
Spirit helps us to stay focused!
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. John 16:13–14
- This is the “POWER” to live! Why you have gifts, Why the Spirits lives in us, to remind us of our faith in Christ alone!
- INVITE BAND UP, INVITE DEACONS and CG LEADERS up for Prayer.
- Lead into communion
Stop trying to complete your faith with incomplete works, but have complete faith in the completed work of Jesus’ life death and resurrection.
Benediciton
- May you have complete faith in the completed work of Jesus and be filled with the Spirit to live to the Glory of God and your joy!