WHAT IS FAITH?
- Hebrews 11:1-6
> Hebrews 11:6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.
Over the past several weeks we have looked at the life that pleases God, from several different vantage points. During that time we have started here several times. Especially with this verse. Hebrews 11:6. Read that with me please.
> Hebrews 11:6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.
Last week we looked at one of the primary ways that we go about increasing our faith. But, let me ask you this morning, “What is faith and how do you know you have it?”
Many of you know Jim Elliot. He was a missionary in Ecuador, who with four other missionaries, was killed by Indians while trying to witness to them. He was 28 years old when he died. This past Friday night, my brother-in-law had the opportunity to meet his grandson and also to meet one of the Indians, now in his 80s, who killed Jim, but who also came to know the Lord because of the faith of Jim and his family.
Many of you also know Tim and Bunny Cain, right here in our congregation. Many of you are aware that Tim and Bunny were taken captive by gorillas while serving as missionaries in South America. They were eventually freed.
Let me ask you, “Was their faith any greater than Jim Elliot’s? Is that why they were spared while Jim and the missionaries with him died?”
Look there again in Hebrews chapter 11. Look there at verse 32.
- Read 32-39
Did you see that? These verses begin by describing people who miraculously escaped impossible situations and then went to people who died in the middle of impossible situations. Some lived and some died. Some God miraculously delivered and others He did not. Verse 39, however, tells us that all of these were approved through their faith. **Ask, “How many of them were approved?”
If having faith doesn’t mean that you always get what you want, if it doesn’t mean that God always miraculously delivers you, then what is faith? That’s a rather important question since the Bible says we can’t please God without it.
My friends, faith has more to do with obedience, obedience in spite of the circumstances, obedience in spite of what you see, than it does with anything else.
I. EXAMPLE ONE
Turn with me please to the book of Daniel. Daniel chapter 3 and verse 16.
- Daniel 3:16-17
Many of you are familiar with this passage of Scripture. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednigo have been brought up before the king. The king has erected a giant statue and has said that everyone had to bow down and worship that statue. He said that anyone who did not bow down and worship the stupid thing would be thrown into a furnace; they would be thrown into a fire.
Well, the three young heroes of this story said that they worshipped the true God and that they couldn’t bow down and worship anything or anyone but God. That’s the verses we just read.
So, the king got ticked. He had the fire heated even hotter than usual and order that these three men be thrown into it. The fire was so hot that when these men were thrown in, that the men who threw them in were killed by the heat.
But these men, nothing happened to them. As a matter of fact, someone else ended up being in the fire with them, so there were four in the fire walking around. The king saw them, and called the guys out. That’s normally where we stop telling the story and make the point that if your faith is great enough, that God will deliver you from impossible situations. But that’s not the point of the account.
There are 2 points to this account. The first is that God can deliver if He chooses to. The second is that we are to be faithful; we are to be obedient, even if He doesn’t choose to deliver us at that time.
We looked at Daniel 3:16-17. Now look at chapter 3 and verse 18.
- Daniel 3:18
My friends, when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo stood before the king, they knew God was able to save them, but they were not convinced He was going to save them. But they said, whether He delivers us or not, we will obey.
My friend, that’s what faith is.
Faith is “trusting God enough to obey even when you’re not sure it will work out in the short run.” [Larry Osborne, Contrarian’s Guide to Knowing God, Colorado Springs, CO( Multnomah, 2007), 108].
Ask a soldier what bravery is and he will tell you that bravery is not being without fear; it is doing what needs to be done in spite of your fear. Ask a saint of old what faith is and he will tell you it is “trusting God enough to obey even when you’re not sure it will work out in the short run”.
Did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo have doubts about whether or not God would save them in that particular situation? You bet they did, if they didn’t they never would have said verse 18, but, in spite of their doubts about the short term consequences of their actions, they had no doubt about what God wanted them to do, so they obeyed and were included in faith’s Hall of Fame.
My friends, having faith doesn’t mean you never have doubts about how God will work in the short run. It is acting, trusting, and obeying God in spite of your short-term doubts.
II. EXAMPLE TWO
- Acts 12:1-18
This account begins with the death of James, John’s brother. Herod killed him. After James’ death, Peter was arrested and thrown into prison. It was assumed that the same thing would happen to him that happened to James. On the night before Peter’s trial, an angel showed up in his prison cell. He wakes Peter up. Then as the chains fall off that bind him to the soldiers beside him, the angel tells Peter to get up and get dressed.
Now, if praying with faith means imagining what we pray for is already a done deal, then Peter failed miserably. When the angel wakes him up, Peter doesn’t jump up and say, “I knew you were coming.” No, Peter thinks it’s some kind of a dream or a vision. It’s not until he’s standing in the middle of the street that Peter realizes it’s real.
But notice, when Peter realizes he’s free, he goes to where they’re holding a prayer meeting, praying for his release. He knocks on the door and tells the servant girl that it’s him, that his prayers have been answered. The servant girl goes and tells everyone at the prayer meeting.
How did they respond? Did they start praising God for miracle He did? No. Did they start singing and dancing because Peter is free? No. They doubt it’s really him.
Peter doubted. The people praying for him doubted, and yet Peter was free. You see, the folks demonstrated their faith by obediently praying, even when circumstances said it was a lost cause. They didn’t believe God was going to get Peter out of the situation, but they believed He could, so they prayed.
My friends, faith is trusting God enough to obey, in this case to pray, even when you’re not sure it will work out I the short run.
III. EXAMPLE THREE
- Luke 17:3-5
Jesus tells His followers that if someone sins against them, even as much as 7 times in one day, and then comes and asks them to forgive him, that they must forgive.
“How did the disciples respond to Jesus’ command?”
They said, “Increase our faith!” This is impossible to do right now, but Jesus, if you’ll pump us up, if you’ll make us more spiritual, if you’ll help us see how this is possible, if you’ll help us see how all of this will work out, if you’ll increase our faith, then we’ll do it.”
Look how Jesus responded in verse 6.
- Read Luke 17:6
In other words, Jesus says it isn’t so much a matter of more faith. If you have as much faith as a mustard seed, you can do amazing things. You don’t need more faith; you need to forgive. You may not see how it can work out, but you need to trust Me enough to obey.
My friends, it’s not the amount of faith you have that is important, just a little bit will do; what matters is your willingness to obey and act on the faith you already have.
Your faith is measured by your obedience. Faith is “trusting God enough to obey even when you’re not sure it will work out in the short run.”
My friends, faith is trusting God enough to obey, even when everything in you, says no. Faith is trusting God enough to obey, even when the circumstances and everything around you says it’s impossible.
Faith is a little boy giving up his lunch of fish and loaves, even when he is afraid that it might mean missing a meal. Faith is a widow placing her mites in the treasury. Faith is turning the other cheek, even when everything in you says that person will walk all over you. Faith is going the extra mile, even when you detest the person you’re doing it for, because Jesus told you too. Faith is forgiving that person, even when he’s hurt you several times before. Faith is walking on the water, even though you’re scared to death, because Jesus called you out of the boat. Faith is being honest at work, even when others aren’t and you need to make a sale. Faith is taking a day a week to worship and rest, even though the wolf is at the door and your business is screaming for your attention.
Jesus said it like this:
> John 14:15 If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
** Video clip. **
Faith is “trusting God enough to obey even when you’re not sure it will work out in the short run.” Let me ask you this morning, what has Jesus asked you to do, what has the Father told you to do, that you haven’t done yet?
