Where Is Your Faith? Series

April 23 Where is Your Faith? Luke 8:22-25

A couple of insights about faith

Faith counts on something being true even when it doesn’t appear to be so.

Hebrews 11:1

Everyone has faith.

The question of faith:

Where is your faith in the ordinary routines of life? v.22

If faith is not built in the routines, it’s not strong in the storms.

Hebrews 11:6, Colossians 3:6-7

Where is your faith in the storms of life? Vv.23-25a

Is your faith in the One whose name the waves and wind still know? v.25b

Mark and Sherry Van Minsel story—(what did they think when the sliding glass door exploded?)

Turn to Luke 8:22-25

This morning we continue the series entitled, “Cross-Examined.” We chose this series title because on His way to the cross, Jesus made a series of claims and asked a series of questions that set Him apart and above every other religious leader and every other human being.

Last week we examined Jesus claim that He was the Resurrection and the Life. Like an astute attorney, Jesus asked a very personal and critical question: Do you believe this? Do you believe that I am the Resurrection and the Life? How you answer that question will determine where you spend eternity after you die.

Now this morning we examine this well-known story of Jesus and His disciples in a boat, in a storm. Let’s read it together. Luke 8:22-25 (On screen)

Jesus asks this haunting question of His disciples: Where is your faith? Let’s talk a little bit about faith. What is faith? Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.”

A couple of insights about faith (build with Everyone has faith)

Faith counts on something being true even when it doesn’t appear to be so. “Faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.” There is the physical world and there is the spiritual world. Sometimes they are in tension so that we are called on to believe something that is not seen or felt. Amplified Bible puts it this way, “Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].” I have faith that because I surrendered my life to Christ, that Christ is in me and I’m in Christ, that I’m saved, that I am accepted and adopted by God. My faith is in Jesus and what He did on the cross. And even though I can’t see it or sense it always, I take it by faith that it is as real and certain as the fact that I’m standing here.

“If it can be verified, we don’t need faith…Faith is for that which lies on the other side of reason. Faith is what makes life bearable with all its tragedies and ambiguities and sudden, startling joys.” Madeline L’Engle

Everyone has faith. The issue is what do or where do you place your faith. I can place my faith in my physical senses (touch, taste, smell, hearing, sight). I can place my faith in my emotions. Or I can place my faith in the God who created me and His inspired, divine word.

This of course was the issue with the disciples. They were experiencing sensory overload and it revealed just where their faith was.

The question of faith:

Where is your faith in the ordinary routines of life? v.22 (on screen)

Being on the lake was an ordinary routine. These were fishermen. These guys spent a lot of time on the lake. It was no big deal. Gary Smith story: unloaded (updown, back forth), then took off, came back, forgot plug. Got trailer, up down/back forth, loaded. Couldn’t get it out of the lake; too full of water. Finally with some help got it out. No, these disciples were well versed in the ways of the boat and the water. This was routine for them. So they were counting on their own skill and experience as they sailed that day.

Hebrews 11:6 “Now without faith it is impossible to please God.” See, If we’re not careful, we can walk through the routines without faith. We get up, drive to work, do our jobs, come home, interact with the family, pay the bills, go to bed. Problem is: If faith is not built in the routines, it’s not strong in the storms.

I try to encourage you often to develop the disciplines of the Spirit-controlled life: daily time with Him early in the morning. Mark 1:35…if the Son of God needed prayer time early in the morning, so do we! Daily time that includes prayer, Bible study, Bible memory, journaling, and of course witnessing.