Sunday Sermon 4.17.21
I used to have this picture of faith as being like a pair of glasses that we put on to see things differently, from God’s perspective, but that’s not really accurate. Faith is more like the default of our personal hard drive that has been intentionally built and added to.
Faith is the CORE processor of our heart and thereby directs every issue of our life. Every.
We are told in Luke 1:37:
“Nothing will be impossible with God…”
Luke, the doctor
I believe that word, don’t you?
I am struck however, that although nothing is impossible with God, pleasing God without faith is impossible.
Let that sink in. It is absolutely impossible to please God without faith. No way ever, in anything that we do, will we ever please God if we do not have faith. Ever. Faith is the CORE processor of our heart and directs every issue of our life – or it should.
Faith is an active trust in God and His Word. There is no such thing as “blind faith” because faith is anchored to trust in something (someOne) that we cannot see and an unwavering confidence in the promise of His presence and promise. It is all the evidence we need to prove what is still unseen. (TPT Heb. 11:1)
Faith is an issue of the heart and not an external thing we “put on” to see things differently. If that were so, then when I take off, those “faith glasses”, I no longer see clearly what I should. But with the heart core tethered to the Word, then it matters little the external issues, because my heart is set on Him and His Word and I shall not be moved.
There is much seeking to destroy our faith, but stated another way, there is great opportunity these days to confidently display the faith that keeps us, and in doing so we are pleasing God. By adhering to faith in all we do, say, think we are really, truly pleasing God.
To muddle through life’s encounters and daily routines without faith, is not pleasing to God. In fact, we are not pleasing Him. How many days have been wasted like that? How much power and encouragement, answers and wisdom has been lost, because our CORE was not set in faith?
We know that Hebrews 11 in the Bible is known as the faith chapter and in it are listed “heroes of faith”. It is from this chapter we read about the impossibility of pleasing God…
“Without faith it is impossible to please God.”
Hebrews 11:6
In this chapter over 18 people are mentioned as having faith, their exploits are listed, the prophets are listed, “people” are credited with faith, as are women. In fact there are at least 50 incidents of faith listed that cover every spectrum of life from basic assurances to jeers, to family blessings, imprisonment, to discovery, to justice, to wisdom and revelation, and more.
I want to present what I call FAITH’S 50 to you, for you to see just how far reaching faith is and how it touches every imaginable situation. It truly is the CORE processor of our heart and directs every issue of our life.
Hebrews 11:1-40, FAITH’S 50 (what faith provides and in what situations you will find it)
- confidence
- assurance
- gives understanding
- moves us to better places (Abel)
- keeps instructing beyond death (Abel)
- takes us to the next life (Enoch)
- pleases God (Enoch)
- opens up revelation (Noah)
- motivates obedience (Abraham)
- unleashes discovery “
- strengthens immigrants “
- enables God’s miracle (Sarah)
- offers God everything (Abraham)
- blesses children (Isaac)
- prophecies over grandkids (Jacob)
- opens eyes to the future (Joseph)
- prompts hope (Moses’ parents)
- guides choices (Moses)
- helps us keep sacraments (Moses)
- opens up impossible situations (people)
- pulls down walls (Joshua)
- provides escape (Rahab)
- conquers
- administers justice
- gains promises
- shuts mouths
- quenches firey flames
- escapes danger
- strengthens the weak
- empowers for battle
- routes the enemy
- resurrection life
- torture
- jeers
- flogging
- chains
- imprisonment
- stoning
- sawed in half
- killed with sword
- humiliation
- destitute
- persecuted
- mistreated
- wandering
- hiding
- we are invited to join these “heroes”
- to live in something better (for us)
- and better than “they” experienced
- together with them our faith is perfected!
I realize that this is a long list, but it is my hope that in it you will find instances that you can relate to that will reset your faith CORE, so that you too, will please God with your faith.
We are all journeying in our faith walk and find ourselves in differing situations needing our faith. Let your faith muscle be exercised in these situations, let that tiny mustard seed of faith be watered and grow into a mighty tree. Let your voice be joined with the disciples as they said, “Increase our faith.” Luke 17:5
With greater use comes greater faith and greater confidence. In the hard times, in the happy times, when pressed and emptied and when full and overflowing – may the CORE of our heart be pleasing to God as we walk in faith, in all situtations.
These are exciting times to be alive! We stand on the brink of a tremendous visitation and outpouring of God, and those who live by faith will not just be on the front row but be used by God, because they please Him with their faith.
“The just will live by faith.” Romans 1:17
Let’s live to please Him.
Go with God,
Debbie
Under Debra’s Palm 