“Undergoing Construction ‘25: A Foundation Of Faith!”
Pastor Jim Lowe III
Sunday Morning, 9:30am Stream 09/14/25 (2nd Sunday Message)
hashtags:
#guidinglight #pastorjim
#Faith #heart
#believer #surrender
#love #showinglove
#loveofGod #loveofChrist
#repentance #serving
#forgiveness #Godworks
#savedtoserve #overflow
#protector #Expectation
#worry #Favor
#deliverance #listeningears
#Godspeaks #blessings
#servingGod #heartafterGod
#treasure #complaining #God’speace
{All scriptures are NIV84 unless stated}
Today we’re starting a new project.
We want to make some improvements to a structure. This structure over the years has held up pretty well.
but it needs to be updated.
it may be giving the wrong aesthetic.
Imagine walking into a house that looks pretty decent on the outside, but the inside looks very 70s.
things need to be updated. things need to be improved.
it needs things to make it stronger.
and SOMETIMES we need to break it all down… and strengthen the foundation.
This structure is US.
Some of us need updating.
And we want to go back to the beginning. we want to tear down structures. break down walls.
and build a better…stronger…us.
Message Title:
“Undergoing Construction ‘25: A Foundation Of Faith!”
Let’s break down the definition:
Hebrews 11:1-2
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.
Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Being sure of the things we hope for.
we’ve discussed hope recently when talking about love. faith is NOT hope.
Hope is a confident expectation of the future. Faith is being sure of a confident expectation for the future
Faith Is Being Confident That Something Good Is Going To Happen!
You don’t have faith that something bad will happen.
This is what the ancients were commended for.
Those who came before...in the Bible and not... We have faith in many things.
We have faith in our own memory…
which may or may not be a good thing.
How Many Of Us Know Where Our House Is?
You know where you home is. you can’t currently see it.
but are certain of it.
you may not remember where you parked…. but you know where your home is.
how well do you know it?
What if I wanted to argue with you about where your home is? you’re not gonna argue with me…
because you KNOW where you left it.
you could have been on vacation for a few weeks… but you know where your house is.
This is something you do without thinking. And this is an everyday form of faith.
We’ve learned to have faith in many things in life.
If you walk into a room…
and it’s dark in there…
what do we do?
we look for the light switch? why?
because we know that it will light the room.
We know the switch is the answer to the dark room.
This is the general idea of faith.
The Bible tells us of the importance of faith.
Hebrews 11:6
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Faith is necessary to please God! Without it you CAN’T please him!
But there’s a different type of faith the Lord wants to see.
Tyndale Bible Dictionary
Faith- Belief in that which has no tangible proof; trust in God.
Believing in something that doesn’t have direct proof… when it can’t be proven…
can you believe it anyway!
Faith Is Fully Trusting When You Can’t See The Whole Picture!
And THIS is what the Lord wants for us.
Mark 11:12-14
12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.
Jesus left here to clear out the temple…
Mark 11:20-21
20 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”
The next day…the tree that had been cursed had died!
Verse 22-24
22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Jesus knew the disciples were watching him.
He demonstrated how it’s not JUST saying words.
but the boldness it requires and faith to believe it will happen.
What are some things we can learn about faith? Jesus gave a descriptor for faith.
3 Things Jesus Says About Faith:
3 Things Jesus Says About Faith:
Mark 11:22
22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered.
The first thing Jesus said. not just HAVE Faith
but have the correct object of faith.
Faith by itself has no power.
“you just have to have faith…” faith in what??
Faith by itself does nothing…
James 2:26
26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
Your Faith Can Have No Power If It Isn’t Connected To The Right Source!
Too many times we have too much faith in others. Too many times we have too much faith in ourselves.
we might have SOME power
but it will run out
others might have SOME power but it will run out
But Jesus said…
Have faith in God.
in God….
in God…
And after having faith IN GOD…
Mark 11:23
23 “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.
Faith in YOU might change some things…
But faith in yourself will not move the mountain.
Couple points in this:
If Your Faith Is In The Lord, Your Words Change Into Commands!
What mountain can stand against you if your faith is in the right place?
Having Faith Means You Don’t Have To Do Anything But Believe!
You don’t have to fight battles:
Psalm 60:12
12 With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.
This is something to have faith in. With him we WILL gain the victory.
and our enemies will be trampled.
Isaiah 41:10
10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
You don’t have to worry about the fight… have faith in God…
and WATCH him work!
You don’t have to fight sickness:
Romans 8:31
31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
When you choose to have faith… Who are you believing in?
Because the bible says we shouldn’t have faith in ourselves.
Psalm 60:11
11 Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless.
3 Things Jesus Says About Faith:
The more you know the object of your faith… The more you believe in that object…
Example:
Two men want to go on a frozen lake to fish.
Guy 1 tells guy 2 to go ahead and go out to the middle… the ice will hold him up.
when guy 2 steps out…
he cautiously and nervously takes each step. he gets a little way and scares himself into going back.
Guy 1 walks out courageously and boldly… cuts a hole in the ice.
begins to fish.
Question:
What Was It That Actually Supported The Man?
It was actually was the ice.
Not his faith.
his faith was IN the ice - that was the object.
Question:
What was the difference between the two men?
One had faith in the object…
the other man didn’t…and came back. One man had a knowledge of how ice works.
the other man didn’t trust his knowledge.
What one man understood about the object… gave him the faith that it would hold him up.
The More You Understand The Lord, The Easier It Is To Have Faith In Him!
3 Things Jesus Says About Faith:
Mark 11:22-23
22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.
Have faith in God… I tell you the truth.
Jesus is TELLING us the truth.
If we say to the mountain to be moved… it will be done FOR him.
The Purpose Of Faith Is To Move The Mountains You Can’t!
A mountain represents something of GREAT size you can’t move. a giant obstacle
they represent things that are immovable. the thing that seems impossible.
Faith Doesn’t Allow You To Climb Mountains…Faith Allows You To MOVE Mountains!
Jesus didn’t tell us that we could have the power to climb it. he told us we could tell it to MOVE.
he spoke to the fig tree.
the next day the fig tree was dead.
When asked about it.
the Lord told them to have faith.
If We Know What It Means To Have Faith In God, We Can Speak To The Mountains In Our Lives!
{recap}
Faith is being confident in a positive expectation. Without faith it is impossible to please God.
Jesus said 3 things about faith.
3 Things Jesus Says About Faith:
3 Things Jesus Says About Faith:
3 Things Jesus Says About Faith:
The purpose of faith is to move that obstacle.
So based on that…let’s try out some statements of faith.
Every time we give the offering…
we make declarations of faith.
The idea is to speak words that turn into commands. So let’s speak to some mountains today!
“By Faith, I Have Peace In The Middle Of My Storm!” -
John 14:27
“By Faith, I Am Delivered From My Past!” - 2 Corinthians 5:17
“By Faith, I Am In Good Health! - Matthew 4:23
Start this week speaking these statements of faith over you!
Next Week:
What Makes Our Faith Ineffective
