Sermon Cloud

Jesus had just fed the 5000 and sent them away. He also sent his disciples ahead of him in a boat over to the other side of the Lake while he went up on the mountain to pray. Then Matthew tells us Jesus saw them in the middle of the night struggling to get to the other side and decided to come to them walking on water. At first the disciples thought it was a ghost but Jesus called out , “Do not be afraid, it is I.” Peter said, “Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water.” Now anyone in their right mind would have said Peter was out of his. NO body walks on water. But Peter stepped out in faith, believing that he would not sink and he didn't. However, Peter's faith did not hold. He became more certain of the power of the wind to knock him off of his feet than the power of Jesus to keep him safe. So he began to sink and he cried out to Jesus 'Lord save me!” And Jesus pulled him back up on his feet and said to Peter: “You of little faith, why did you doubt? How many of you feel like you understand what this word faith means? If I were going to ask you to stand up and define it you may give me the definition we read here and still not understand what it means, or you may talk about faith as referring to a set of beliefs or doctrines that you believe are true. This is part of it but its not all of it. This hardly gets past saying you believe a historical account is fact.

Many of you are living out your faith in this way. For you, faith means you believe the flood waters covered the earth and that Noah and his family were the only survivors. You believe the Red Sea was parted, the Israelites crossed over on dry ground. You believe Jesus was born of a virgin and you believe he lived, was crucified, buried and was raised on the third day. That's your faith. That is what you think about when the word faith comes up. But this is far too casual because it merely states certain facts or propositions are true. Such a faith believes Peter walked on water, but it does not believe this could ever happen today.

I believe we have become too casual with the truth of the Gospel. This occurs when faith loses its edge. Faith that has lost its edge does not deny truth, it does not outright deny the teachings of scripture or sound theology. But faith that has lost its edge is unable to put these teaching into practice or to step up and slay giants or walk on water. When this happens, faith is reduced to a list of items we believe are true.

1. FAITH

   1. Faith: Now faith is the reality of things expected, the evidence (proof) of things that cannot be seen. Of the things hoped for, faith is the substance (hypostasis) substantial nature, essence, actual being, reality (in contrast to what merely seems to be) - BAGD or certainty of the reality or existence of that which is unseen. NLT - Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.

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    • Faith: More than just believing something happened a long time ago, it is an orientation of life.

    • The condition or health of faith sets the pace for how you live, how you respond to troubles, trials, temptations.

    • Faith is being sure that the God who WAS, IS NOW and ALWAYS WILL BE.

    • In Revelation Jesus calls himself the А/Ω, the beginning/end, First/Last.

    • Because he is, we can have confidence about God's involvement in history.

    • We can demonstrate faith in the face of today's troubles.

    • We can have hope as we look into a future that often appears hopeless to human eyes.

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   2. Faith for the Past, the Present, and the Future

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    • Loss of faith for past: Liberalism of mainline denominations – the Bible is not inerrant or infallible. Stories are fables or legends.

    • Loss of faith for the Present: Conservative Churches cling to traditions/past practices. They don't take risks for the gospel but play it safe.

    • Loss of faith for the future: Abandonment of the Christian faith. Either a return to the past or total rejection of anything supernatural.

    • When we lose faith in any of these areas walking by sight becomes the mode of operation.

    • This is also when hardness of heart and unbelief set in.

    • Hardness of heart is precisely the concern of the writer of Hebrews.

    • He quotes Psalm 95 in 3:8 saying, “Do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.”

    • What were the Israelites tempted to do when their hearts became hardened?

    • Go back to Egypt – back to where they had meat to eat.

    • Why? They lost certainty of faith. They began to walk by sight.

    • It seemed to their human eyes God was not with Moses.

    • They no longer were certain that he was leading them in the right direction.

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   3. Certainty: is an indicator light for the health of faith.

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    • Ask yourself how certain are you about the past, present, future.

    • Carry this into the life of this church: is Jesus still in charge or have we been left to figure things out on our own?

    • There are churches that plant other churches by sending up to half of their members 10 miles up the road.

    • It takes faith to split the church for the sake of the gospel.

    • When churches do this, they not only have faith that this was in accordance with Christ's agenda to make disciples, but they also believe God will bring in new folk and usually he does.

    • Faith takes RISKS for the sake of the gospel. (Bavinck quote)

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   4. Thats what happens when we lose the certainty of faith.

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     • We begin to walk by SIGHT and stop taking risks.

     • We cut our missions budget or stop increasing it!

     • POINT: Of every dollar given to most American Protestant churches, the average amount that goes to overseas missions is two cents.

     • In contrast, of every dollar Antioch Presbyterian Church in Chonju, Korea, takes in, 70 cents goes to missions. (World Magazine Who gives two cents for missions?)

     • What does that tell you about their faith? What does it tell you about your faith?

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    • Let me put this in a hypothetical context: A millionaire has just donated 100,000 dollars to the church. What do you believe should be done with the money?

    • Do we save it and put it in the bank in case our membership dwindles to 10 so we can keep the lights on or do you invest it into reaching your community?

    • Should you put it into upgrading the facilities or into hiring an evangelist for two years to evangelize. Your answer will reveal the condition of your faith.

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   1. In Hebrews, a crisis of faith and certainty was being addressed.

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    • The folks that first read this letter were losing certainty of faith.

    • They were either Jews or Greek converts to Judaism who responded to the gospel but were growing discouraged.

    • What they saw: this gospel made a lot of promises that are not panning out.

    • We can't see how this is better than what we had before.

    • Maybe we should go back to the customs of Moses.

    • We know at least they have historical credibility.

    • A loss of certainty for the present causes us to cling to the past.

    • And it prevents us form dreaming about how things could be.

    • How many of you have dreams for this church?

    • What will it take? Certainty of Faith for today and tomorrow.

6. What does certainty of faith for the present look like?

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    • Not held captive by fear over current circumstances.

    • When we are held captive by fear we do not step out of the boat, our faith is weak and we are unbale to be faithful to the Great Commission.

    • When faith is alive and well it is ACTIVE and it attempts great things for Christ.

    • There is a right way to look back at the past and part of having faith for the present is remembering the past when faith was alive.

    • The writer takes them back to the time when they were ACTIVE.

    • Hebrews 10:32-36 (NIV)
      ³² Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. ³³ Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. ³⁴ You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. ³⁵ So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. ³⁶ You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

    • How does a person get to a place where they throw away their confidence?

    • Once they begin to walk by sight, all they have to hold on to is what they see with human eyes.

    • In 36 he says you need to persevere: He isn't saying “Just keep beliving in these historical facts and you will be rewarded.”

    • He is saying “get busy!” Move forward.

7. APPLICATION: Carry this over to our day.

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    • When membership and funds are dwindling how do churches often respond?

    • When our faith in the living God is ruptured we cling to worthless idols: money, tradition, pragmatism.

    • Essentially we begin to function as if Jesus is not able to change the circumstances.

    • We must never forget Jesus is King of his church – not the elders nor the congregation.

    • Times of stress in the church will either cause you to cling to the neck of Jesus more or cause you to shrink back and look to idols.

    • Trials will cause us to either realign our program with King Jesus lordship or to take matters into our own hands.

2. THE ANCIENTS COMMENDED FOR THEIR FAITH (highlight a few)

   1. (3) By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

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    • It is interesting that he begins here – at the beginning.

    • We would agree God made this world and everything we see out of nothing.

    • But the nothing – thats unseen.

    • See God loves to take nothing and turn it into something that gives him glory.

    • So if God can make this earth, the universe out of nothing then...

    • He can take a church that has become nothing and make it something!

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   2. (11-12) ^ By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. ^And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

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    • Here we have a man who is as old as dirt – whom the writer of Hebrews says was as good as dead who becomes the father of many nations.

    • Sarah, was not only barren but old herself! Yet, God promises them a son.

    • They could have looked at the obvious and abandoned their confidence in God's promise, but instead they believed.

    • If God is able to bring forth a child from a man and a woman who are 1 step away from becoming corpses, friends he can take a church that is as good as dead and cause it to bear fruit for the Kingdom of God!

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   3. My list of ancients who demonstrated great faith by taking risks:

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    • By faith Joseph took Mary to be his wife despite the risk of scorn because he believed Mary's pregnancy was of divine origin and that God would protect them.

    • By faith, the poor widow risked put her last two coins into the temple treasury being certain that God her provider would take care of her needs and that her reward was in heaven.

    • By faith Paul could be hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ^persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” He knew that what is seen with human eyes is temporary.

    • Thats why when many tried to prevent Paul from going to Jerusalem fearing he would be arrested, he responded by saying: “I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

    • Why? He had already died and had been crucified with Christ.

    • None of these people were different than we, yet they accomplished great things for the sake of Christ because they were certain of the promises though the never saw them with human eyes.

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   4. What would the ancients say to you and I?

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    • Step out in faith and believe by attempting great things for the sake of Christ.

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    • The ancients would say: Stop grumbling! Stop complaining! Have faith!

    • Fix your eyes on Jesus who is king and head of his Church.

    • Don't throw away your confidence in Jesus' ability to take a flawed, broken and hurting church and use it for his glory and kingdom.

    • They would not tell you to go somewhere else that has it together.

    • Many churches look good on the surface but they all have their issues.

    • The ancients would say make the Kingdom of God your #1 priority and toss every other concern to the wind.

So what is faith? Martin Luther said: “Faith is a living, bold trust in God's grace, so certain of God's favor that it would risk death a thousand times trusting in it. Such confidence and knowledge of God's grace makes you happy, joyful and bold in your relationship to God and all creatures. The Holy Spirit makes this happen through faith. Because of it, you freely, willingly and joyfully do good to everyone, serve everyone, suffer all kinds of things, love and praise the God who has shown you such grace.” 
Brothers and Sisters, Jesus did not allow this church to be planted so that it could sit still in doubt and fear. He put this church here in this community so that it would be a beacon of light to the lost. This church has a purpose and a mission. Accomplishing this mission requires that a fresh start and a renewed commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It requires that you turn away form your idols and focus your attention on Jesus and following his lead in faith. 
This is what it means to move from a casual faith to a radical faith. Jesus may lead you to do some outrageous things for him, like take 100 grand and hire an evangelist. He may call you to sell your building and begin holding meetings in a park or at a school so you can be closer to the lost and so the the money can be used to advance the gospel. Have faith Church in your savior. Don't look at the circumstances with human eyes. Don't cling to the past in doubt and despair or to the things you can see with human eyes. Look to Jesus with the eyes of faith and believe that he can use this church and each one of you to make himself known.