A SHIPWRECKED FAITH
1 Timothy 1:18-19
* At 7:24am on March 20, 2009, struck the Popps Ferry bridge in Biloxi, MS (just about a mile from where we lived for 8 years) causing more damaged to the bridge than did Katrina.
* We were living in Pensacola, Florida, in February, 1989, when our world was rocked by news that the Gulf Breeze bridge had been partially destroyed by a barge. Barges went through that bridge every day, but this one hit the pillars under the southbound lanes.
* These are just two of the many shipwrecks which we comes to remind us of the damage cause by shipwrecks. Other names which we think of are the Valdese, the Titanic, and others remind us of the mess, terrible loss of property, and life, which accompany such a disaster. A shipwreck is terrible, yet in our text Paul intimates that some have “Shipwrecked their faith.” What does this mean?
* Possibly the best way to begin this thought is to ask, “How’s your faith? Have you bought into the “cultural” part of Christianity and don’t talk about it much? Or conversely, are you open to sharing the gift of Jesus whenever the opportunity arises? What would Paul say about your faith? Is it healthy or hurting, strong or wrecked?
* From our text, let’s consider 3 marks of a shipwrecked faith.
1) LACK OF PERSISTENCY- Paul’s encouragement to young Timothy is to “strongly engage in battle” or as Paul would write in the 2nd letter to Timothy, “fight the good fight.” Candidly, it seems to me that we have had it so easy for so long that we have forgotten or dismissed the concept that we are in the Lord’s army and thus engaged in day to day battles between good and evil. If you and I are living for the Lord, Satan does his best to make us fail. The fact is that people seem to be less persistent and ready to “fight the good fight” when great blessing prevails as opposed to great oppression.
* The only reason Satan even messes with us is to get to God. He doesn’t care about us, but he will take us down or out if we’re not careful to be persistent in our walk. We “wrestle not against flesh & blood but again the spiritual forces of evil” and it is truly easy to be spiritually lethargic and allow Satan to strip you of your salvation. You see, Satan cannot take our salvation, so he focuses on our desires, invades our minds, impacts our lifestyles, and thus tries to alter our attitudes.
* In the aftermath of Pearl Harbor thousands of men volunteered to go and defend this nation. Because of the aggression there was a reaction of total and complete devotion. Throughout history, when the church was persecuted the worst, commitment, devotion, and sacrifice, was the best. Why is this? Well, let’s ask a very practical question, “When are you most determined to earn a living? When you have a several thousand dollars in the bank and food in the pantry or when the pantry is bare and the bank account is low?”
* Persistency is “sticking with it no matter what.” Consider several revealing questions? Are you persistent in your relationship to Christ? Do you spend time with Him every day? Do you listen for His voice in every decision? Are you faithful to daily, regular, and systematic discipleship? Do you stick with your commitments until they are completed? How about your church faithfulness?
* This list could go on and on because being persistent is not a one time, occasional, or haphazard type of action, it is ongoing. And the lack of persistency is indeed a sign of a shipwrecked faith.
2) LACK OF PASSION – Verse 19 begins “having” (NIV says, “holding on to”) faith. The thought is to possess faith. Here is my question, “Can you imagine someone possessing a true faith in Jehovah God and being apathetic about it?” He is the creator, the sustainer, the healer, the miracle worker, and even the life-giver; how can we truly believe and have little or no passion about it?
* Dr. Ed Young, Pastor of 2nd Baptist in Houston, Texas, tells of story about having an atheist for friend in college. After being roommates for a while the atheist friend finally asked, “Do you truly believe there is a personal god?” The young preacher boy spoke boldly and said, “Certainly, I do.” The response from this unbelieving young man still sticks as he said, “Then you’re bigger fool than I am. If there is a personal God and you know him, why wouldn’t you live like you knew him and let him change your life?”
* I have a personal belief that many people & churches have faith that is shipwrecked because they never possess their possession. They never take hold of their faith in God. They don’t believe God with their lives, their actions, their thoughts, or their words. I hate to say it like this, but we need restoration of our passion for HIM! Once again, we need fall in love with Him.
* To fall in love with Jesus is to have the passion for what HE has passion for and to love what He loves. And do you know what He loves? He loves people, the lost, the unchurched, the hurting, the poor, and the needy.
* It is my belief that the lack of passion is a sure sign of shipwreck.
3) LACK OF PEACE- Verse 19 says that you not only hold on or have GOOD FAITH, but also a “good conscience.” What does that really mean? My dad could, almost always, go to sleep in 5 minutes, is that what this means? Consider a couple of things.
* If God is the giver of peace, why are so many churches in such turmoil? Why are churches closing and splitting daily? Why are we losing ground and influence in this nation? It cannot be because of lack of resources, programs, or even education.
* Could it be that we have become a generation of people with a shipwrecked faith? Can we quote the commandment of the Old Testament while we have forgotten the promises of New Testament? The Old Testament law will never save anyone, it will simply show us how vial & sinful we really are. We cannot use “positive thinking” to gain peace. We can only find true peace through the giver of peace. Let me offer a few peace stealers;
* 1) Lack of Salvation. Just as surely as there is NO condemnation for those in Christ Jesus there IS condemnation for those outside of Jesus. This week’s buzz was about the deaths of Michael Jackson and Farrar Fawcett. It always sad to me when I hear about a celebrity dying because my first thought is, “I wonder if they knew Jesus.” The person outside of Christ is always searching.
* 2) Lack of Security – John writes, “These things I have written to you who believe on the name of Jesus that you may KNOW you have eternal life.” In my experience, I have found more people who are active church members and are paralyzed in their faith because they really aren’t sure they are saved. In security has a devastating impact on a person. Spiritual insecurity will destroy one’s peace.
* 3) Lack of Forgiveness – Nothing will destroy your peace like unforgiveness. 1 John makes it crystal clear, “If you confess your sin, He is faithful and just to forgive your sin.” Several years ago I read a report which says, “Psychiatrists speculate that if they could convince their patients that they were forgiven, 70% would be better.
* 4) Lack of Belief – This may be more of a cause than affect of a faith that is shipwrecked. The shipwrecked faith has no problem believing God for some things, but has great difficulty in believing Him for other things. In John 11 we read the story of Lazarus. When Jesus finally showed up, Martha said, “If only you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.” Think about those words. Lord, you might have been able to have stopped him from dying, but now that he is dead, he’s beyond your reach. In your mind, what is there that you think is beyond the reach and control of Jesus?
* Allow me to warn us before we speak without thinking: Some will say, “I trust Jesus with everything.” True enough, we will trust Him with our tomorrows but what about today? He can handle healing others, but what about when it comes to my grandkids?
* CONCL: If we think anything is beyond God’s reach or grasp, ours faith has had a wreck. For some, maybe it’s a matter of “coming to faith.” Maybe we have never trusted His promises, rather leaned on His law. Why not trust by faith now?
