Dealing with Faith Failure
Griffith Baptist Church – 1/18/09
A.M. Service
Text: Hebrews 11:27-29
Key verse: Exodus 14:12-13 - 12Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. 13And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will show to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
Premise: Sometimes our faith is weak and fails, and God teaches us three wonderful truths from Moses life that will help us get back on the faith track.
The Introduction
It is said that Thomas Edison performed 50,000 experiments before he succeeded in producing a storage battery. We might assume the famous inventor would have had some serious doubts along the way. But when asked if he ever became discouraged working so long without results, Edison replied, “Results? Why, I know 50,000 things that won’t work.” Today in the Word, August, 1990
It is not easy to deal with failure, especially in regards to our faith.
Well. we have talked a lot about the success of faith but what about when your faith failure?
What about when it wanes or experiences shaky moments?
These can come for a lot of reasons:
o Not walking close to God like you once were
o Sin has entered your life
o Preoccupation with other areas of life that distract from the spiritual
o Problems that seem insurmountable
The truth is that all of these can lead to or even come from a faith failure. James 1:5-8 says - 5If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
No one likes to be known as unstable, but that is exactly what happens when we don’t believe God 100%. Maybe that is why we are sometimes so powerless in our Christian life.
There are three wonderful truths from Moses life that will help us get back on the faith track.
Body
1. Remember God’s Presence – 27
A. Moses didn’t tremble at the power of Pharaoh, even though it was great
i. Pharaoh was the most powerful ruler at that time
ii. Moses caused quite a stir with Pharaoh but went in the confidence of God
iii. This was boldness and courage in the face of human power and danger
B. 24 year old Danny Simpson was sentenced to 6 years in jail for robbing a bank. Danny got 6 years in the clink for stealing $6,000. But the gun he used in the robbery ended up in a museum. The .45 caliber Colt semi-automatic turned out to be an antique made in 1918 by the Ross Rifle Company. His pistol was worth up to $100,000 on the collectors market. If Danny Simpson had known what he had in his hands, he would not have ended up in jail. Many Christians live like this. They spend their lives searching for God’s power and presence, not realizing it’s already in their hands.
C. God is here.
i. He is limitless in His presence (omnipresence)
a. Psalms 139:7 - 7Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? (and verses 8-12)
b. He may be invisible, but He just as real.
ii. He is limitless in His power (omnipotence)
a. Psalms 135:6 - Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.
b. Man can try to destroy the thought of God, but He will never succeed in destroying God.
c. God creates and sustains.
iii. He is limitless in His knowledge (omniscient)
a. Psalms 139:1 - 1O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. (and verses 2-3)
b. He knows every square inch of His universe, past, present, future.
c. He is intimately knowledgeable, right down to the last detail
d. The very hairs of your head are numbered (Matt. 10:30)
2. Rely on God’s Protection – 28
A. God commanded the Israelites to obey His command if they wanted their firstborn to live – (Ex. 11-12)
i. The last plague was the worst of all
ii. God said He would kill all the first born of Egypt from Pharaoh on down (Ex. 11:5)
iii. God gave instructions to Israel as to what to do for protection from this plague with this promise - when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you (12:13)
iv. God kept His promise
B. The story has been told of a believer, Frederick Nolan, who was fleeing from his enemies during a time of persecution in North Africa. Pursued by them over the hill and valley with no place to hide, he fell exhausted into a wayside cave, expecting his enemies to find him soon. Awaiting his death, he saw a spider weaving a web. Within minutes, the little bug had woven a beautiful web across the mouth of the cave. The pursuers arrived and wondered if Nolan was hiding there, but on seeing the unbroken and unmangled piece of art, thought it impossible for him to have entered the cave without dismantling the web. And so they went on. Having escaped, Nolan burst out and exclaimed: "Where God is, a spider’s web is like a wall, Where God is not, a wall is like a spider’s web."
C. We sense God’s protection the closer we are to Him
i. He protects us:
a. From ourselves (misdirection, etc)
b. From others that would harm us
c. From situations
ii. You might ask, “Why, then, do we sometimes suffer from illness or persecution or other threats?”
a. We might have a wrong concept of God’s protection - preservation from any harm, period (we are not insulated)
b. A correct thinking of God’s protection has five elements:
• One – We are still dealing with the consequences of sin
• Two – God exercises sovereign control – there is nothing beyond Him
• Three – All things happen for His greater glory first
• Four – Everything happens according to His will – Daniel 4:35 - And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
• Five – He will never allow us to experience more than what we can handle (1st Cor. 10:13)
iii. The fact is, God always watches over His own - Psalms 34:7 - The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
3. Rest in God’s Provision – 29
A. The Israelites found their back against the sea but God provided the means of escape (Ex. 14:11-31)
i. Israel grumbled when the Egyptian army was on their heels (11-12)
ii. Moses simply gives the promises of God (13-14)
iii. God fulfilled His promise by defeating the Egyptians as He said (15-30)
iv. Israel believed God when all the evidence was in (31)
B. There was a man who had a dog named Lucy. She often would bury all the food he gave her, and one time buried the bowl along with the food. She didn’t realize that as long as she belonged to her owner, she would be fed. We often hoard what God gives us today because we don’t trust Him to provide for our needs tomorrow.
C. God never leaves His children empty, threatened or deserted
i. No place for worry and anxiety - Matthew 6:25-34
a. Food (25-26)
b. Height (27)
c. Clothing (28-30)
d. Bottom Line: Every day has enough problems; let God take care of these things so we can be released to be our best for Him (33-34)
ii. Psalms 103:6 - The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
iii. Psalms 37:25 - I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. (Is. 41:10)
Conclusion:
What do you do when you find your faith failing?
Do you run and hide or draw strength from God?
Is your faith failing now?
Maybe you think God has been unfair or absent. I can assure you, He never has been and never will be.
