[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered on Sunday morning, the 14th of October, 2018 at Pilgrim Reformed Church. Look for the video of this and our other services on our Vimeo channel: http://vimeo.com/pilgrimreformedchurch.]
Today I’m going to begin a new little series that’s all about faith. We use that word quite a bit, even in our normal day-to-day life. We Christians express our faith in God, whether we actually act like we truly believe in what we’re saying we have faith in or not.
It’s easy to be faithful when everything is going good, isn’t it? But what about when the world starts falling apart all around us? The prophet Habakkuk understood faith, even without speaking the word. Listen to his “Hymn of Faith”, from chapter 3, verses 17 and 18, reading from the Modern English Version of our Holy Bible…
It’s easy to be faithful when everything is going good, isn’t it? But what about when the world starts falling apart all around us? The prophet Habakkuk understood faith, even without speaking the word. Listen to his “Hymn of Faith”, from chapter 3, verses 17 and 18, reading from the Modern English Version of our Holy Bible…
17 Though the fig tree does not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines;
though the yield of the olive fails,
and the fields produce no food;
though the flocks are cut off from the fold,
and there be no herd in the stalls—
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will exult in the God of my salvation.
--Habakkuk 3:17-18 (MEV)
Let us pray… Father God, Habakkuk knew that anything and everything of this life is transient and temporary. The bad things that happen to us will pass. A better day awaits us in Your paradise. And for that we can rejoice, for You are our only hope, our only salvation. Speak to us this morning, Father, with the message You need us to hear. Show us more of Your will and how each of us can carry out our part in it. This we pray in the blessed name of Jesus. Amen.
John Emmons of the Faith & Freedom Coalition writes:
The African impala can jump to a height of over 10 feet and cover a distance of greater than 30 feet. Yet these magnificent creatures can be kept in an enclosure in any zoo with a 3-foot wall. The animals will not jump if they cannot see where their feet will fall. Faith is the ability to trust what we cannot see, and with faith we are freed from the flimsy enclosures of life that only fear allows to entrap us.
With faith, we can put our trust in what we have no proof of, in that which we have no reason to trust, other than by faith. Faith sets us free from what we let our fears close us off with. Faith gives us the strength of conviction that God is alive and loves us, takes care of us, and wants us to be with Him forever. Faith gives us wings to fly, and the courage to plod through this crazy life.
Like I mentioned at the start, we use the word “faith” quite often. We say we have faith in someone doing something or being able to do it based on their past performances. We might even express faith in things, like that our car will start when we get in it. Or even something as nebulous as saying, “I have faith I can make my doctor’s appointment on time.”
But do any of those really depend on faith? For that matter, what is faith? Let’s go to our textbook for the answer. And by textbook I mean our Holy Bible. The author of the Book of Hebrews, in chapter 11 verses 1 and 3, tells us…
Can we see God with our own eyes? Does He look like the kindly wise old white-haired man we see painted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel? We can’t even see Jesus in the flesh anymore, now that He has returned to heaven and the spiritual realm.
No, we accept our “proof” of God in the very world around us and how it functions. Our “proof” of both God and Jesus is contained in the words of our Holy Bible. Non-believers would tell you that’s all rubbish, that everything in this world can be explained by science. There’s no need for faith.
If there is no need for faith, then what is there to hope for? If there is no hope, what is the point of life? Faith, as defined by the author of the Book of Hebrews, is what really separates us from the world. Our Faith gives us hope, and our hope gives us a purpose to live.
So we Christians have faith and the rest of the world doesn’t, right? Maybe, maybe not. Where do we get this faith we have? Where does it come from? The Apostle Paul answers that one, in his letter to the Romans, chapter 12 verse 3…
Paul says there’s no reason for us to be thinking ourselves extra special because we have faith since God gave everyone faith.
Martin Luther, the man who basically started the Great Reformation, once said that “God our Father has made all things depend on faith so that whoever has faith will have everything, and whoever does not have faith will have nothing.” But Paul tells us that God has given each person a measure of faith. Each of us, believer and non-believer alike, was bestowed some amount of faith as a gift from God. So how could some come to have no faith, and thus have nothing as Martin Luther claims?
The answer is easy: we can lose our faith, lose that precious gift from God, especially if we refuse to believe in His Son Jesus. Think of faith as a muscle. If for whatever reason a muscle is never used, never receives any stimulation whatsoever, it will atrophy and die. We have to actually use our faith, exercise it, to keep it healthy and alive, and to help it grow ever stronger.
And we have to be faithful to God not only in the good times, but the bad as well. Like Habakkuk, we must rejoice in the Lord no matter what may happen around us. We must exult in the God of our salvation because of our salvation!
And that points out one last aspect about faith in general I’d like to bring out. It isn’t enough that we have faith in God, we must have faith in what He does. We must have faith in what God does.
Have you ever heard someone say, or said yourself, “I don’t know how God could have allowed that to happen!”, when talking about some horrific event? First off we need to understand that if God is indeed God, then He can do no evil – everything He does is righteous and holy. Next we need to understand that if we are to have free will, then He must allow some of us to do bad things. We also need to realize that bad things happening test us and help make us stronger, like when God allowed Satan to beat up on Job.
But most of all, we need to remember what Paul told us, that God works all things to the good for those who love Him and are called to His purpose. These are all things we say we believe. Faith and belief go hand in hand. St. Augustine said, and I’m paraphrasing a little here, “Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that we may believe, but believe that we may understand.” Have faith in God and in what He does, so we might better understand why, so we might have hope, so we might see the purpose of our life.
And now that we hopefully have a little better understanding of faith itself, we’ll begin looking at how our faith relates to other aspects of the Christian life. We’ll examine our duty resulting from our faith, including sacrifices that may be required. Wealth and works and forgiveness, seemingly unconnected, all have a place in faith, as do healing and thankfulness and vision.
I have faith that God will strengthen and revitalize our faith during this series, as He shows us a greater purpose and renews our hope for a wonderful future. For now, be of good cheer, for by our faith we know that Jesus washed us clean with His precious blood and our sins are forgiven. Rejoice in the Lord, and exult in the God of our salvation. For those who follow Christ, it’s all a matter of faith. In the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Let us pray… Father God, our faith in You is based on Your word in our Holy Bible and on the things we see in Your creation all around us. But still we need to be more like Habakkuk, rejoicing even in our trials. Forgive us, Father, when we have our doubts. Forgive us when we question what You do or have allowed to happen. Please help us remember that You are God and that You are holy and righteous. Help us exercise and strengthen our faith. Help us grow ever closer to You and to Jesus. Help us better understand Your ways. Give us clearer vision into Your plan for each of us.
Please hear us now, Father, as we come to You in the silence, speaking from our hearts, promising to turn from our sin, and asking for Your help to remain faithful to You and to Jesus no matter what may happen…
Lord Jesus, as You walked this earth, You looked into the hearts of people and saw their faith. For some, You commented on how little faith they had. But for others, You saw the strength of their faith and answered their prayers, and forgave their sins. Lord Jesus, may we be in that latter group, strong of faith and willing to serve You as we are called. Thank You, Jesus, for washing us clean with Your blood. Thank You for searching our hearts. Please help us put our faith to good use, to the purpose for which God calls us. And help us grow in our faith, and better understand God’s will for our lives.
This we pray in Your glorious name, Lord Jesus Christ, our Master and our Savior. Amen.
John Emmons of the Faith & Freedom Coalition writes:
The African impala can jump to a height of over 10 feet and cover a distance of greater than 30 feet. Yet these magnificent creatures can be kept in an enclosure in any zoo with a 3-foot wall. The animals will not jump if they cannot see where their feet will fall. Faith is the ability to trust what we cannot see, and with faith we are freed from the flimsy enclosures of life that only fear allows to entrap us.
With faith, we can put our trust in what we have no proof of, in that which we have no reason to trust, other than by faith. Faith sets us free from what we let our fears close us off with. Faith gives us the strength of conviction that God is alive and loves us, takes care of us, and wants us to be with Him forever. Faith gives us wings to fly, and the courage to plod through this crazy life.
Like I mentioned at the start, we use the word “faith” quite often. We say we have faith in someone doing something or being able to do it based on their past performances. We might even express faith in things, like that our car will start when we get in it. Or even something as nebulous as saying, “I have faith I can make my doctor’s appointment on time.”
But do any of those really depend on faith? For that matter, what is faith? Let’s go to our textbook for the answer. And by textbook I mean our Holy Bible. The author of the Book of Hebrews, in chapter 11 verses 1 and 3, tells us…
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
--Hebrews 11:1, 3 (NKJV)
No, we accept our “proof” of God in the very world around us and how it functions. Our “proof” of both God and Jesus is contained in the words of our Holy Bible. Non-believers would tell you that’s all rubbish, that everything in this world can be explained by science. There’s no need for faith.
If there is no need for faith, then what is there to hope for? If there is no hope, what is the point of life? Faith, as defined by the author of the Book of Hebrews, is what really separates us from the world. Our Faith gives us hope, and our hope gives us a purpose to live.
So we Christians have faith and the rest of the world doesn’t, right? Maybe, maybe not. Where do we get this faith we have? Where does it come from? The Apostle Paul answers that one, in his letter to the Romans, chapter 12 verse 3…
3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
--Romans 12:3 (NKJV)
Martin Luther, the man who basically started the Great Reformation, once said that “God our Father has made all things depend on faith so that whoever has faith will have everything, and whoever does not have faith will have nothing.” But Paul tells us that God has given each person a measure of faith. Each of us, believer and non-believer alike, was bestowed some amount of faith as a gift from God. So how could some come to have no faith, and thus have nothing as Martin Luther claims?
The answer is easy: we can lose our faith, lose that precious gift from God, especially if we refuse to believe in His Son Jesus. Think of faith as a muscle. If for whatever reason a muscle is never used, never receives any stimulation whatsoever, it will atrophy and die. We have to actually use our faith, exercise it, to keep it healthy and alive, and to help it grow ever stronger.
And we have to be faithful to God not only in the good times, but the bad as well. Like Habakkuk, we must rejoice in the Lord no matter what may happen around us. We must exult in the God of our salvation because of our salvation!
And that points out one last aspect about faith in general I’d like to bring out. It isn’t enough that we have faith in God, we must have faith in what He does. We must have faith in what God does.
Have you ever heard someone say, or said yourself, “I don’t know how God could have allowed that to happen!”, when talking about some horrific event? First off we need to understand that if God is indeed God, then He can do no evil – everything He does is righteous and holy. Next we need to understand that if we are to have free will, then He must allow some of us to do bad things. We also need to realize that bad things happening test us and help make us stronger, like when God allowed Satan to beat up on Job.
But most of all, we need to remember what Paul told us, that God works all things to the good for those who love Him and are called to His purpose. These are all things we say we believe. Faith and belief go hand in hand. St. Augustine said, and I’m paraphrasing a little here, “Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that we may believe, but believe that we may understand.” Have faith in God and in what He does, so we might better understand why, so we might have hope, so we might see the purpose of our life.
And now that we hopefully have a little better understanding of faith itself, we’ll begin looking at how our faith relates to other aspects of the Christian life. We’ll examine our duty resulting from our faith, including sacrifices that may be required. Wealth and works and forgiveness, seemingly unconnected, all have a place in faith, as do healing and thankfulness and vision.
I have faith that God will strengthen and revitalize our faith during this series, as He shows us a greater purpose and renews our hope for a wonderful future. For now, be of good cheer, for by our faith we know that Jesus washed us clean with His precious blood and our sins are forgiven. Rejoice in the Lord, and exult in the God of our salvation. For those who follow Christ, it’s all a matter of faith. In the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Let us pray… Father God, our faith in You is based on Your word in our Holy Bible and on the things we see in Your creation all around us. But still we need to be more like Habakkuk, rejoicing even in our trials. Forgive us, Father, when we have our doubts. Forgive us when we question what You do or have allowed to happen. Please help us remember that You are God and that You are holy and righteous. Help us exercise and strengthen our faith. Help us grow ever closer to You and to Jesus. Help us better understand Your ways. Give us clearer vision into Your plan for each of us.
Please hear us now, Father, as we come to You in the silence, speaking from our hearts, promising to turn from our sin, and asking for Your help to remain faithful to You and to Jesus no matter what may happen…
Lord Jesus, as You walked this earth, You looked into the hearts of people and saw their faith. For some, You commented on how little faith they had. But for others, You saw the strength of their faith and answered their prayers, and forgave their sins. Lord Jesus, may we be in that latter group, strong of faith and willing to serve You as we are called. Thank You, Jesus, for washing us clean with Your blood. Thank You for searching our hearts. Please help us put our faith to good use, to the purpose for which God calls us. And help us grow in our faith, and better understand God’s will for our lives.
This we pray in Your glorious name, Lord Jesus Christ, our Master and our Savior. Amen.
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