Faith Should Be Spelled R-I-S-K

A single traveler... had hiked for many miles ... across the desert ... His water supply was gone, ...and he knew .... if he did not find water soon... he would surely die.

In the distance ... he saw what looked like... an abandoned cabin, ....and when he arrived......he discovered an old rusty pump.... near the back door.

Then he noticed.... a tin can tied to the pump, ...with a note inside.

The note had the following inscription: ...Dear Stranger: ...The well has never gone dry, ...but the pump needs to be primed in order to bring up ...the water.

Under the white rock, ...I buried a jar of water, ...away from the sun.

There is just enough water in the jar.... to prime the pump.

Pour half of it into the pump ...to wet the leather.

Wait, .... then pour in the rest of the water ......and begin to pump.

When you are finished, ...please fill the jar ...and put it back as you found it ......for the next traveler ...who comes this way.

Have faith, ... and believe. (Long Pause)

Beloved.... If you were a lonely traveler in the desert... what would you do?

Will you dig the water jar from the sand... and drink it?

Or will you believe... and in believing ... follow the directions ... and pour .... Every drop of water, ...into pump?

Will you take the risk, ...both for yourself ....and for the next weary traveler ... that may pass that way?

What ...would you ... do? (Pause)

That story possesses an interesting question... for each of us.

Do you believe ... Do you trust ... do you have faith ... faith to act ... on that ... which is written?

Now in much the same way ...... God has laid before us...... a written note.... A note that we call ... the Holy Scriptures.

They are our words ... words of salvation ... words of life.... Words of living water... to quench the thirst of our souls ... in this desert.... called life.

They are ...the source of life, ... they point to eternal life .... Eternal life found only.... in Christ Jesus.

A Living water ... from which we will thirst ....no more.

Do you believe God's word?

Do you have faith in God's word..., are you ready to follow in his steps ... in the way of eternal life?

Or Is it all about.... your way?

Jesus is our salvation ...in the desert of life ... He is our source of life ... life ... on both sides of eternity.

Do you believe in Jesus, do you have faith in him ...or are you going... your own way?

Have you ignored .... The written word of God?

Have you ignored.... The promises of God?

Our lesson this morning from John's Gospel... calls us to believe ...It calls us ... to a life in Faith.

Hear God's Word.

Someone in the crowd asked Jesus, BIBLE "What must we do ....to perform the works of God?" Jesus answered them, ... "This is the work of God ...that you believe in him ... whom he has sent." Then Jesus goes on, "I am the bread of life; ... Whoever comes to me... shall never hunger, ...whoever believes in me ... shall never thirst." END (John 6:24-35)

We are called to believe...and to act on this belief ...through ... Faith.

Everyone ... each of us......daily expresses faith.... in something.

No one can live a single day ... without exercising faith.

When you rise in the morning ... and go into the bathroom ... you flip a light switch... and ... have faith ...... that it will work.

When you enter your car...... you turn the key ...and have faith ... that it will start.

When you mail a letter ...you have faith ...... that the postal system ...will deliver it ....to the right address. ...... Someday!

Every time you walk into a building ...you are expressing faith ... faith in the architect... faith in the workmen.

In each instance ... there was an action.... To substantiate ......your faith.

You flip a switch ... you turn a key, ... you mail a letter... you walk into a building. (Pause)

The measure of our faith ....is Not... our "talk".

It is not what we say... we ... will do!

Beloved ... the measure of faith.... Is... our "walk".

Faith is what we do. ......It is not ......what we say ...we ... will do.

(Chair Illustration)

(Point at Chair) I believe this Chair... will hold my weight.

(Step on chair) but this is Faith... Faith that it... will indeed ... hold my weight.

You see, ...faith is never something ...to just proclaim.

It is something that must be demonstrated ...in the way ... that we live our life. (Pause)