WHERE'S YOUR FAITH?

By Jay Pearson

 

When I was a lot younger, I never had to stop and think where my phone was. It was at the end of the phone line plugged into the wall. Today it sometimes causes me deep frustration in the search for the illusive gadget. Oh, how things have changed!

My first mobile phone was a bag phone. It reminded me of the phones I issued to personnel to call in an air strikes when I was Supply Sargent in the National Guard.

Some things don’t change. When it comes to our faith, we don’t have to look for the newest model. True faith has always been toward God and his sufficiency. Faith toward God is one of the principles of the doctrine of Christ. If your faith is toward anything or anyone other than God, you are standing on a natural principle of chance. If we search our heart and find our faith heading in the wrong direction, we need to stop and ask for the Holy Spirit's guidance.  

John 16:13
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

To be guided, you must follow. The Holy Spirit is guiding, make no mistake about that, but we must listen and follow to benefit. God gives us examples along our way, through his Word and our experiences, to build our faith in him.

Let me share a story with you. It’s a true story found in the Book of Luke.

Luke 8:22-24a
22 Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.
23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.
24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT PRECEEDED THIS EVENT:

Luke Chapter 4
Jesus announces his ministry in the synagogue at Nazareth.
In the synagogue of the city of Galilee, he casts out an unclean spirit in a man in the audience of them all.
Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law in front of his disciples and company.
Many sick are healed, and devils cast out crying, "Thou art Christ, the Son of God."

Luke Chapter 5
After Jesus teaches from a boat by the Lake of Gennesaret, he tells Peter to launch out and drop their nets. Peter obeys but only after voicing his faith in himself and his brethren. A multitude of fish break the net, and others are needed to pull the nets in.
Jesus heals a leper.
Jesus not only heals a man sick with palsy but forgives his sins.

Luke Chapter 6
Jesus heals a man with a withered hand.
Jesus ordains twelve of his disciples to work in the ministry of the Gospel. Afterward, Jesus heals a multitude tormented by diseases and unclean spirits.

Luke Chapter 7
In Capernaum, Jesus heals a centurion's servant with only his word.
In Nain, Jesus raises a dead man who is being taken to be buried.
A Pharisee invites Jesus to dine. A woman washes Jesus feet with her tears, dries them with her hair and anoints them with oil. The Pharisee provided little, she provided much. The Pharisee is reproved with a parable and straight talk.

Luke Chapter 8
Jesus passes through every city preaching and sharing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God with his twelve, three women, and many others following.
He shares the parable of the Sower and later expounds its meaning to his disciples.
He enters a ship with his disciples to go across the lake. On the way, Jesus falls asleep.
Meanwhile, a great storm arises, filling the ship with water and the disciples with fear.

All these events happened prior to the disciples crying, “Lord, Lord, we perish”

NOW WE HAVE THE EVENT THAT FOLLOWED:

Luke 8:24-25
24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.
25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

Can you believe that after all the disciples saw and experienced they were in fear for their lives? Now I want to share my experience since becoming a Christian. Please think about this with your own experiences in mind:

When I started out reading and hearing the Word expounded, I thought how in the world could those Jewish people and even the Greeks not know Christ after experiencing so many events with him and being right there to watch him? But to be honest, right now I also fear and doubt in trying situations. Even though I have been given the gift of eternal life in Christ, the residing Holy Spirit for guidance and comfort, and a language to speak directly to God, I still fear and doubt. Through it all to this point of my journey of life, God has delivered me through many things I am aware of, and I’m sure of many more I’m not.

Those disciples in the boat and the boats round about them were men and women of like passions as us. They wanted to live, they loved their children, they loved the Lord, they made mistakes just like you and me. God had mercy on them, loved and forgave them, supplied them with grace just like he does us. Those disciples in the boat and storm needed a deliverer and when they came to Jesus, he supplied that need.

Jesus is in the boat with us. He is not in fear and doubt of the situation. He knows he can and will supply our need when we seek him. That is why we need to put our trust in God and faith toward him. Don’t stop with fear and doubt. Come to the Lord as his disciples did.

Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Please take a moment to reflect on your past and how God has delivered you. Think of how he has delivered you from so many things that you may not be proud of. Pray God to open your eyes to his working in you and others just to bless you and help you. I’m sure there were times you realize there was no other way that the situation could have been resolved other than God delivered you. Pray that although your initial reaction may be "Lord, I perish," your next is "Lord, thank you for your deliverance." Thank him for all he has done for you and all he is doing for you and will do for you.

Where's our faith? Our faith is toward the living God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. To God be the glory. Don’t worry about coming to the Lord with your fear and doubt in a situation. We are carrying a lot more baggage than fear and doubt. The Lord knows our frame, and he says, "Come."  

2 Corinthians 1:10
Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

Philippians 2:13
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Jude 1:24-25
24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

 

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Presented October 28, 2018 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana