We Walk By Faith Part 6 Series

We Walk By Faith Part 6

Scriptures: Acts 1:8; John 14:16-17; 16:13; Philippians 4:13; Matthew 6:33

Introduction:

To date in this series I have shared with you what faith is; how we all have faith in the natural; how we have some faith spiritually; and how faith comes. This morning I want to elaborate on the source that fuels our faith and that source is the Holy Spirit. As Christians we often judge the strength of our faith based on the qualities that lies within us. If we pray enough, our faith will grow. If I believe hard enough with my eyes closed tightly, my faith will grow. If I have enough faith I can do the impossible. In each of these examples our faith is based on something pertinent to us – the individual. This morning I want us to see that we have a power source that if we can believe our power source will enable us to accomplish much for the kingdom of God. When we tie our faith to the power of the Holy Spirit our faith is backed up, not by our limitations, but by the limitless power of the Holy Spirit. Before I go any further, I want to share this story with you as a reference point. Some of you have heard this story before but I want to use it as an example of what can happen when we focus on things we can see with our eyes versus what we can see through the help of the Holy Spirit. As a reminder, in 2 Corinthians 5:7 Paul makes the following declaration: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” So here is one of my stories.

Twenty-two years ago as I was preparing for a life outside of the armed forces, I began searching for a job. My wife’s boss at the time suggested that I go into pharmaceutical sales based on my background as a medic in the Air Force. I was resistant to the idea because of the word “sales”. Eventually I began looking into it and decided that it would be a good fit for me (after I realized that it was not commissioned sales). The first company that interviewed me was J&J. I was very impressed with the company but they did not offer me the job because I did not have any sales experience. Eventually I did get a job offer with another large pharmaceutical company (Wyeth). After working for Wyeth for three years another positioned can open with J&J. This time they came looking for me and I knew I was in the dominant negotiations position because I did not have to leave Wyeth and if they wanted me they would have to pay me. (By the way, even though I was working for Wyeth, I still had my eye on J&J as the company I wanted to work for.) So through all of the negotiations, they finally made me a job offer. They offered me $100 less than what I was currently making at the time and I was livid. I was so disappointed that I was going to turn the offer down. I sat down with Nikki and we talked about it and she reminded me that it was not about the money as I had always wanted to work for them since my first interview with them 3 years before. I took Nikki’s advice and placed our finances in God’s hands. I sat my pride aside and I took the lower salary. Ten years later in 2002 God told me to start this Church. What most of you do not know is that if I had not taken the job with J&J, I probably would not be standing here today and each of you would be somewhere else. Even though I could not seek it, God knew. He knew where He wanted me but if I had chosen to walk by my sight I would have turned that job down and waited for more money. In this message I want you to consider your source for your faith. I will use electricity as our point of reference.

I. Power Source

Jesus told the disciples the following in Acts 1:8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” When the Holy Spirit was given, the disciples received power. They received power to accomplish what Jesus had commanded them to do. This power (in the form of the Holy Spirit) enabled their faith to expand because their belief gave the Holy Spirit the release to act in their life. Their belief tapped into the power source of the Holy Spirit and they were able to accomplish some things. Remember, faith is an unquestioning belief. When you know that the Holy Spirit has your back, you will walk with a certain amount of confidence because you do not doubt that your power source is empowering you. (I will explain this more shortly). Turn to John the fourteenth chapter. I want you to see what our power source will do when we plug into it. Let’s start reading at verse sixteen. “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever. That is the Holy Spirit of truth, who the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17)