Sermon on Faith
“We need only a teeny weeny bit of it
Yet, sometimes we don’t seem to have enough
It doesn’t just see the obvious but takes hold of the unthinkable
Sometimes it defies logic yet it’s not blind
The courageous love it, the weak shun it,
The intellectuals question it, the simple go through with it
It’s a choice, it’s a gift, it’s all that is needed to walk with Him
It sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible
It is dead to doubts, dumb to discouragements and blind to impossibilities
It can move mountains but without it, it’s not possible to please God at all"
Yes ! It is Faith
The topic of my Sermon this morning is Faith
What is Faith? – Oh we don’t need to look elsewhere, Our definition is right here in the Bible
Text Hebrews 11:1
“ Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for”
This is a complex definition that we need to further explain
The words “Confidence” and “ Assurance” are very complex words that are difficult to translate in English.
“Confidence” – Gr. “Hypostasis” – which actually means the underlying thing or more like a foundation.
Faith is like the foundation on which we build all our hopes.
Another translation of this verse, “In faith things hoped for become a reality”
Oswald Chambers – “Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time.”
“Assurance” – Gr. “Elengkhos” – which actually means a legal document which is given as a means of assurance – a deed which is given to us.
Faith is like this deed that is given through which we can see that we haven’t seen so far.
Chronological listing of the OT saints who acted in this Faith.
So what does this Faith look like in our lives? How do we identify if we are walking by Faith, whether we are walking in this Confidence and Assurance?
Illustration: Story of a Mountaineer
Here are 3 simple characteristics of this Faith.
1. Faith Steps out and Never Backs out
Repeat: “Faith is stepping out & not Backing out”
Faith will always put the first step out
Remember the story of Joshua
Text: Joshua 3: 9-17
V.8 says God commanded the priests to go and stand in the River
V.15 says, Jordan is at the flood stage during harvest
Who in the right mind would go and stand in the river when it is flooded?
But Faith … Faith always Steps out never backs out
“Faith is confidence in the veracity of what God has said.”
Are we certain of what God has told us …?
Faith always takes the first step …
First Step is always the hardest …
To step into the flood waters, knowing what the outcome will be but believing in God for the otherwise
Matthew 14:22-33
V.29 : Jesus asked Peter to come and he came walking on water.
Many criticize Peter for sinking but the story here is of Faith.
Of Peter walking on water in Faith and when there is trouble Jesus saves Him
“Walking on water has nothing to do with water. It has everything to do with faith and faith has everything to do with hearing God’s voice.”
Both these incidents there is water …. Either it stopped flowing or stopped being what it was supposed to be
When God gives us the word and we step out in faith in obedience, then there is a miracle that happens
Joni Erickson Tada – “Faith isn’t the ability to believe long and far into the misty future. It’s simply taking God at His Word and taking the next step.”
Frequently remind yourself that God is with you and He will take care of you and never fail you and can count upon Him always. That is the one that gives us the confidence and Faith
Repeat : God is with me, He will never fail me, I can count on Him always, He is helping me right now to take the first step
Repeat : I will step out in Faith & not Back out
2. Faith Breaks out and Never Freaks out
Repeat: “Faith is Breaking out & not freaking out”
Daniel 3: 16 – 18 : The three young men & the Furnace
If there was ever a time for them to freak out, it was now
Standing in front of the blazing furnace yet unfazed.
Andrew Murray – “Faith expects from God what is beyond all expectation.”
7 times hot, instant death for anyone who come even near it, yet, their assurance and confidence in God remained unwavered. That is Faith!
Have you heard of the concept of a “Time Machine”?
It has always fascinated me. To be able to go back and forward in time and to be able to tweak it to our benefit. I liked such movies like – Back to the Future, etc. –
Why are we fascinated with Time Machine?
The reason is we don’t like the thought that there is one thing that we cannot actually control, the one thing that keeps slipping out of our very grasp and something that we cannot reverse – Time
Why do we get stressed, disappointed, discouraged and depressed?
Because there are somethings that are out of our control and the outside factors play a role on our emotional status. Instantaneous results
Let me give you a “Stress-Buster” – Faith
“Depression is the emotional result of hopelessness. Joy is the emotional result of hope. Peace is the emotional result of faith.”
Breaking out of the rut, breaking out of the stress, breaking out of bondage, breaking out of diseases, breaking out of the normal and grabbing hold of the supernatural.
“Doubt sees what currently is and no more. Hope sees what can be but is not yet. Faith sees what will be as if it were now.”
Ezekiel 37: 4 – A valley full of dry bones, not even a sign of life, yet the word of the Lord says, “Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord”
Repeat: God is in control of my tomorrow, my work, my family. I shall not be fazed
Repeat: I will break out in Faith & not Freak out
3. Faith Reaches out and Never Sits out
Repeat : “Faith is Reaching out and not Sitting out”
Jesus is our Supreme Example of this. He reached out to people always.
He was always about lost people. Everything Jesus did reached out to the unchurched. He was always around people who needed help.
He always reached out to people who hardly knew Him
Jesus said, “I came to seek and to save that which was lost.”
When He left this earth, He left us with the charge and the mission to follow His example of reaching and ministering to lost people.
To accomplish this, He has gifted every one of us with gifts and abilities that enable us to engage in ministry to others.
I Corinthians 12:9 – the gift of Faith
… is given to the church not only for the edification of the church but for the extension of His Kingdom.
Romans 10:14 - How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
The word for believe is the same word for Faith in the Greek
So how can they have Faith unless someone tells them
Faith is Reaching out to people and telling them to in turn have faith in Jesus.
Matthew 14:31 – Jesus reached out a sinking Peter and pulls him out
This is the ministry that we are called to have in faith today … to reach out to the people who are sinking and bring them into the fullness of life in Jesus, bring them into the Joyous relationship with the Father.
“A Faith that doesn’t reach out is stagnant and the result is a stunted growth”
Sharing our Faith with others comes out of our bubbling love for the Lord. How can I stop sharing the Love that gave its everything for me?
"The task is not to get God to do something I think needs done, but to become aware of what God is doing so that I can participate in it."
God is indeed doing something here, Are we ready to participate in Faith?
Repeat: I love Jesus with all my heart, I know that He is with me and I will not Sit back
Repeat: I will reach out in Faith and not sit out
Conclusion
When we look at the heroes of the bible they didn’t always get it right. Abraham tried to give away his wife to Pharaoh. Moses struck a rock in anger. David committed adultery. Peter denied Jesus. All of the disciples except one deserted Jesus at the cross. Paul started out by killing Christian. But none of their mistakes disqualified them from doing great things for God.
We are going to make mistakes in life. We don’t have to be perfect in order to say yes, just willing and available to God. God is looking for more than your ability, He ‘s looking for your availability.
Illustration:
Hudson Taylor – to China – the ship neared the channel between the southern Malay Peninsula and the island of Sumatra – Captain said, No wind – the island people are heathen and cannibals – I know that you believe in God – can u pray for wind – Hudson Taylor said – yes, I will but you must set the sail – Cap said, that’s ridiculous, people will call me crazy & mad – but with insistence, he did and 45 min later he came back – Taylor still on his knees praying – Ok you can stop praying now, we have more wind than we know what to do with
This is the kind of Faith that God is looking at.
People may say it’s a bad idea, logical derivations may conclude that this is not the path to be taken, but when God says, “Come, step out into the water, step out of your comfort zone and follow me” – do we need another Assurance or confidence?
God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, or sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
"Instead of praying for God to take our problems away, Let’s pray only for God to give me the strength and the Faith to go through them."
