Sermon Notes

A Community of Faith
Grace Church
Bob Yandian
1/24/2007

There is a a community of faith but there can also be a community of unbelief. A community is the environment or the influence that you hang around.

Mat 13:54
(54) And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

Why where they astonished? They knew Jesus and they could not understand how He had grown up to be what He was. They had a disdain for Him.

Mat 13:55-58
(55) Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
(56) And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
(57) And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house.
(58) And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

They were surrounded by a community of unbelief. They were so familiar with Him that Jesus could do no mighty miracles there. There were times when Jesus healed that they were told not to tell what had been done, others they were told to. Why? How strong is their faith? Those who needed time to let it sink in would be told to not to because others could talk them out of their healing.

It is possible to overcome a community of unbelief but it is hard. Unbelief will not keep you from receiving but makes it harder for you to make your way through it. Unbelief comes from listening to the community instead of listening to God. The power to heal is always there, unbelief makes it harder to receive it.

Mar 7:13
(13) Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

Religious traditions can often keep you from believing in the things of God. Traditions are not on the same level of the Word of God. Some traditions:

• Healings died with the last apostle
• Jesus only healed when he willed it to happen, if it is not His will, you will not be healed
• Sickness is God's will to teach you a lesson... would you do that you your own kid, be a child abuser

Jam 5:14-16
(14) Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
(15) And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
(16) Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Is any sick? Not just some, any! Not just some specific disease, any! Call the elders and they can pray. The prayer of faith will heal them. There can be a community of belief as well. This is instruction on healing for the Church age. Go to church and expect to be healed. Church is a community of faith. You are out in the unbelief every day, this should be a time to live in belief. Listening to sermons and CDs are not the same as being in the corporate anointing that is present when it is live.


Psa 133:1-2
(1) A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
(2) It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;

Oil represents power of the Holy Spirit. There is Holy Spirit power when believers gather together in a corporate gathering. You cannot replace being in a meeting. If being alone is what God wants for you, why is there a heaven? Books, CDs and the like are supplements. Would you take vitamins but not real food?

Mar 16:17-18, 20
(17) And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
(18) They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

(20) And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

The signs follow them, a group, that believe. Jesus heals one at a time, but the greatest healings came in group settings.

Act 2:1-2
(1) And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
(2) And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

Act 4:31-32 KJVR
(31) And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
(32) And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

Persecution should draw you to a community of faith, not away from it.

Unless otherwise noted, all scriptures are King James version.