Building A Bridge Of Faith Series

Building A Bridge of Faith

Where is your faith? It can be in someone else, something else or in you. We have placed our faith in things that have not disappointed, and things, which have. The Canadian pairs of David Pelletier and Jamie Sale had faith in the scoring of Olympic judges until what has become a scandal in the Winter games send them into second and a loss of faith by viewers around the world in the fairness of the judging system.

Investors had faith in Enron as they poured millions into the company investing life savings, pension funds and money market accounts but that faith came plummeting to the ground when the energy giant filed for bankruptcy.

And we hear stories of people who put their faith in ministers, politicians, business people, neighbors and friends who walk away from the experience jolted from the experience.

How do we build a bridge of faith? Who can we put our faith in and not have it turn sour?

I want to share a faith experience with you, one you can trust in, and one that will not leave you feeling empty but enriched. I want to show you why it is important not to put your faith in anything, but to put your faith in the One who can turn your sorrows into joys, and take you to greater heights in your life. Put your faith in Jesus Christ.

Mark 5:21-34 in the Message, After Jesus crossed by boat, a large crowd met him at the seaside. One of the meeting-place leaders named Jarius came. When he saw Jesus, he fell to his knees, beside himself as he begged, “My dear daughter is at death’s door. Come and lay hands on her so she will get well and live.” Jesus went with him, the whole crowd tagged along, pushing and jostling him.

A woman who had suffered a condition of hemorrhaging for twelve years—a long succession of physicians had treated her, and treated her badly, taking all her money and leaving her worse off than before—had heard about Jesus. She slipped in from behind and touched his robe. She was thinking to herself, “If I can put a finger on his robe, I can get well.” The moment she did it, the flow of blood dried up. She could feel the change, and knew her plague was over and done with.

At that same moment, Jesus felt energy discharging from him. He turned around to the crowd and asked, “Who touched my robe?”

His disciples said, “What are you talking about? With this crowd pushing and jostling you, you’re asking, “Who touched me?” Dozens have touched you!”

But he went on asking, looking around to see who had done it. The woman, knowing what had happened, knowing she was the one, stepped up in fear and trembling, knelt before him, and gave him the whole story.

Jesus said to her, “Daughter, you took a risk of faith, and now you’re healed and whole. Live well. Live blessed! Be healed of your plague.”

Paul said in Hebrews 11:1 faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

How do you and I build a bridge of faith, which will not collapse, with the passing of time?

I. Identify your need.

There is no question of this woman’s need. For twelve years she had suffered under a medical condition, which had zapped her of all our resources. Financially she was at the end of her rope. Physically her body had taken a toll, and emotionally she was at wits end. Have you identified your need, not your wants and wishes, but you real need?

Here is a story of faith and need from a monastery in Europe which is perched high on a cliff several hundred feet in the air. The only way to reach the monastery was to be suspended in a basket, which was pulled to the top by several monks who pulled and tugged with all their strength. Obviously the ride up the steep cliff in that basket was terrifying.

One tourist got exceedingly nervous about halfway up as he noticed that the rope by which he was suspended was old and frayed. With trembling voice, he asked the monk who was riding with him in the basket how often they changed the rope. The monk thought for a moment and answered brusquely, "Whenever it breaks."

I think at this point in the ride, it was a need for prayer.

After you have identified your need, you need to…

II. Identify your Resources

The woman had a need and she immediately went about seeking a resolve. She went to the doctors for healing. I know there are people who think it is not exercising faith to seek a physician for help. Quite the opposite. It takes faith to go, for when a doctor sets up a medical business, they call it a practice. You exercise your faith by letting them practice on you.