Quality Characteristics – Faith
Today I want us to begin by reading our focal passage. This is a story that took place with Jesus and His disciples on the Sea of Galilee. It is found in Matthew chapter eight. Follow along with me as I read:
“Now when He (Jesus) got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, "Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?" Matthew 8:23-27 (NKJV)
Today I want us to look at one of the most important quality characteristics that a Christian can have, and that is – faith. We, just like the disciples must decide each day if we are going to walk by faith or if we are going to walk by fear. Are we going to let circumstances run and rule our lives or are we going to have enough to faith believe that God is greater than our circumstances. Each day you and I must decide if we are going to live by faith or live in fear. Each day we need to look at what has control our lives – fear or faith. Are we going to live by faith – or are we going to live by fear? Here is a fact:
God wants you to live by FAITH.
In fact the Bible tells us:
“No one can please God without faith.” Hebrews 11:6 (GW)
Paul said it this way:
“We walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV)
God wants us to walk by faith. In fact God expects His children to live by faith. He does not want His children to be controlled by the circumstances that you find yourself in. God does not want you to be controlled by fear. He wants you to live with the reality that – God is in control – no matter what the circumstances are. You see – circumstances will change. Situations will come and go. But God does not change because of the situations you find yourself in.
Folks, I know that God is leading each of you to something special. It is something that does not look easy and will be filled with obstacles. Circumstances may change from day to day. Sometimes there will be situations that will test your faith. It will take great faith on your part to accomplish what God has in store for you. But God has empowered you so that you can live by faith. Here is what the Bible says in Second Timothy:
“God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (YLT)
The only way you will be able to maximize your potential in Christ is to live a life of faith. Folks, here is another fact:
Life is the testing ground for your FAITH.
Let’s read our focal passage again.
“Now when He (Jesus) got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, "Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?" Matthew 8:23-27 (NKJV)
Folks – let me ask you a question. How many of you have had bad stuff happen to you? Go ahead and raise your hand for a minute. You who have your hand raised look around for a minute. How many people here today have had bad stuff happen to them? Everybody! That’s because bad stuff happens to everyone. It is a part of life. Life is a collection of good stuff and bad stuff – that’s what life is. Sometimes there is more bad stuff than there is good stuff – sometimes there is more good than there is bad. I like it when the good outweighs the bad – don’t you? But the truth is - bad situations will happen to everyone.
A bad situation happened in the story we just read. Jesus and His disciples are out on the Sea of Galilee – and a storm arises. Just like all problems in life – it is unpredicted. It is unplanned. It is unexpected. But it happens. And this is just not your average storm. This is a really bad storm. This is a life threatening storm. This is a storm that had seasoned sailors – fishermen – shaking in their boots. This is the type of storm that had the disciples fearing for their lives.
Did you notice that there were two reactions to the storm? The first reaction we find in this story was that of fear – the disciples feared for their lives. They got all shook up. They cried out, "Lord, save us! We are going to die here!" Because of their circumstances they believed their lives were coming to an end. They feared for their lives.
Jesus, however, did not react that way – did He? No! He was not shook up – He was not afraid – He was calm – so calm in fact, that He was asleep in the back of the boat. How could He sleep through a life threatening storm? I believe there are at least three reasons that Jesus could sleep through the storm.
Today we are going to look at three truths that will help your faith become stronger:
Truth one:
1. God does not get shook up by your STORMS.
I am sure glad that God does not get shaken up by my circumstances – aren’t you? I am sure glad when my world is shattered – God does not get shook up. I am sure glad that when calamity comes there is someone who remains calm. I am sure glad that I can find someone who remains consistent in the face of chaos. The Bible tells us that:
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV)
I am thankful for the fact that Jesus does not change. I am glad that God is God and that He does not get shook up just because there is a storm in my life.
ILLUSTRATION:
A Kansas farmer advertised for a hire hand and only one person applied. So the farmer started asking him some questions. “Have you ever worked on a farm before?” the farmer asked.
“Yep.” came the answer.
“Have you ever worked with livestock?” the farmer asked.
“Yep.” came the second answer.
“What do you think is the best thing you can say about yourself?” the farmer asked.
The hired hand replied, “I can sleep when the wind blows.”
Well, the farmer thought that was a strange answer but because there were not any other applicants – the farmer decided to give the hired hand a chance – so he hired him. Well a couple days latter, in the middle of the night, the wind picked up. The wind was blowing so strong it was rattling the windows. So the farmer decided to get up look around the farm and see how things were. The first place the farmer went was to the hired hands quarters and sure enough – the hired hand was fast asleep. He wasn’t even disturbed by the wind. So the farmer went out to barn and here is what he found. He found that the livestock were all in their places. He found that all the gates were closed. He found all doors were shut and latched and that everything was in was put were it belonged. Nothing was out of place – everything was where it should be. No wonder the hired hand had said, “I can sleep when the wind blows.”
God does not get shook up when the storms of life comes. Jesus doesn’t get rattled by a ruckus. He knows that everything is in order. Look at what the Bible tells us in Proverbs chapter three:
“You’ll take afternoon naps without a worry, you’ll enjoy a good night’s sleep. No need to panic over alarms or surprises, or predictions that doomsday’s just around the corner, Because God will be right there with you; he’ll keep you safe and sound.”
Proverbs 3:24-26 (MSG)
God doesn’t get shook up about the storms of life.
Here is truth two:
2. God is bigger than your CIRCUMSTANCES.
If the bully of the neighborhood wants to fight with you, and your best friend is bigger, stronger and a better fighter than the bully – you do not have much to worry about. You don’t have to be afraid. The Bible says:
“If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31 (NKJV)
The Message Bible says it this way:
“With God on our side like this, how can we lose?”
Romans 8:31 (MSG)
If your best friend is God – you can not loose. He is taller than any mountain. He is stronger than any storm. He is bigger than any bully. With God on your side – how can you loose? Nothing is impossible for Him. No bully can push Him around. No storm will shake Him up. He is the same yesterday, today and forever – and He is my best friend and He loves me – and nothing can keep His love from reaching me. Paul knew this fact when he wrote:
“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!”
Romans 8:38-39 (HCSB)
I can walk by faith because God is bigger than any circumstance I will ever find myself in.
Here is truth three:
3. Walking in faith builds FAITH.
Here is a fact about faith:
The more faith I use – the more I GAIN.
Think about it – Noah was asked to build an ark – even though it had never rained. Noah built it in faith. It rained. Noah’s faith became stronger. Joshua was asked to march around the city of Jericho for seven days – a strange way to conquer a city. Joshua marched around the city for seven days in faith – the walls fell down. Joshua’s faith became stronger. Naaman had leprosy. He was told to take seven dips in the Jordan river. Guess what – he did. He was cured. His faith became stronger. God has never asked you to do the impossible – even though it may seem unreasonable at the time.
Do you think that after the storm was calmed – that the disciples had a different opinion of Jesus? Do you think that their understanding of who He was had changed? Do you think that they had more faith? You bet they did! The scripture says: “So the men marveled, saying, "Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"
Who can it this be? Who is this One? Who is the One who can calm storms? Let me ask you – who is the One you put your faith in? Who is the One you trust with your life? Perhaps a better question is – who is the One you trust with your death? For you see the ultimate storm of life is coming. Death is on the horizon. The storm clouds are forming. For some of us here it will arrive sooner than for others – but it will come. It will arrive. Who is the one you trust with your life? Who is the One you trust with you death? Who is the One you put your faith in?
Is He the One who can change water into wine? Is He the One who can open the eyes of the blind? Is He the One who can make the lame walk again? Is He the One who can raise the dead from the grave? Is He the One who can calm the sea? "Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?" His name is Jesus – do you trust in today. Do you have faith in Him? When the storms of life hit – hit hard – do you run to Him for safety? He can calm the wind – He can calm the waves – He can calm a restless heart. Trust in Him today.
Jesus doesn’t get shook up by the storms of life. Jesus is bigger than any storm you will ever experience. If you put your trust in Him – if you put your faith in Him – He will take what faith you have and help it to grow. Trust in Him today. Put your faith in Him – today!
