“Undergoing Construction ‘25: A Foundation Of Faith! pt 3”
Pastor Jim Lowe III
Sunday Morning, 9:30am Stream 09/28/25 (4th Sunday Message)
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{All scriptures are NIV84 unless stated}
Message Title:
“Undergoing Construction ‘25: A Foundation Of Faith! pt 3”
What is faith?
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.
And that faith is necessary.
we as believers MUST have it!
Be Careful What You Have Faith In!
We have shared stories the last 2 weeks. We talked about the men on the ice.
We talked about McArthur Wheeler and the lemon juice. We have a new one today:
Story:
This story doesn’t have a name attached to it. We’ll just call this guy, “ladder guy.”
This came from a workplace safety report.
where a man had too much faith in himself. and not common sense.
We have a man who was needing to reach a certain place on his roof. He did own a large ladder.
but it could not reach the height he needed.
“What happens when you’re in the living room and can’t reach the lightbulb
standing in a chair?
You put the chair on a small table right?”
“oh it’ll hold!”
When he realized his ladder wasn’t long enough…
he remembered he had another ladder in the garage.
So he puts one ladder vertically against the house.
then balances a second ladder on top of it.
He climbed the bottom ladder.
and began to climb the second one.
Yes it fell over.
he fell about 20 feet
hitting the ground.
He broke one arm…sustained bruises. but he lived.
When emergency responders got there…
they were confused as to what actually happened. then when he told them he stacked the ladders…
they treated him…
but also took pictures before they left.
This man had faith in himself.
And also these ladders to hold him.
A faith that surpassed all understanding!
The Lord wants us to have THIS faith in him!
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!
We’ve been studying from Jesus and the fig tree. In Mark 11…
Jesus is hungry and goes up to a fig tree… he’s looking for fruit but finds none.
so he SAYS to the tree…
may no one eat from you ever again.
They go out the next day and see the tree withered from the roots. They basically ask Jesus how this is possible.
Mark 11:22-24
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.
Last week we talked about the three things the Lord said:
Under Construction: How To Build A Foundation of Faith:
We talked about how doubt kills faith.
Doubt Will Stop A Miracle In Progress!
We talked about Peter who was in the MIDDLE of a miracle when he began to have doubt.
That’s when he sank.
We talked about Thomas who doubted Jesus’ resurrection. Let’s see more about how doubt works.
Mark 6:1-6
6 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.
So Jesus went to his home town of Nazareth. This is where he grew up.
There were kids there who grew up with him.
There were parents there who saw him playing with their children.
They didn’t go to hear him teach…
they could go to their normal priests for that.
They asked how can he do these miracles? is this even real?
what kinda power does he have? He’s not even a priest!
he’s a carpenter!
The idea that he was the son of God was absolutely impossible. So what happens.
Mark 6:4-6
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Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor.” 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 And he was amazed at their lack of faith.
Jesus couldn’t do ANY miracles there… except just a few things.
Why?
Because of the people!
They refused to receive from him…
because they made him too common.
You say…this isn’t God.
because it’s not how YOU think it should be.
You Forfeit Your Own Breakthroughs When You Put God In A Box!
So this means that he was able to only do a few things… There were sick people who didn’t get healed.
There were those with needs who didn’t get delivered.
This all happened because they allowed their doubt to blind them.
What Have We Been Sacrificing Because Of Our Doubt?
What have we missed out on because we didn’t fully believe?
How Do We Build Faith And Kill Doubt?
We have to change our mindset.
Galatians 5:9
9 “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.”
If mold is found in your food…
it’s really time to throw the food away. it’s possible to have spoiled the food.
If you had all types of mustard seed faith… but start letting doubt creep in.
it will ruin all the faith you have.
We have to understand that even a little doubt can kill your faith.
Building Your Foundation of Faith:
Our eyes can do funny things.
Sometimes you can see things that aren’t there. you think you saw something…
but when looking there’s nothing there.
Sometimes when you’re asleep and jolted awake. you can see all types of things.
But there are times where you can’t see things that ARE there! certain types of light we can’t see
extremely small objects
Sometimes you can even not see objects you should. due to a blind spot.
Let’s talk about not seeing things.
2 Kings 6:8 talks about a war. Israel was at war with Aram.
When Aram’s king would make plans with his generals… The Lord would tell Elisha the prophet…
Elisha the prophet would tell Israel’s King and Israel would be prepared.
Every sneak attack Aram would do… Israel was ready.
The Lord told Elisha…Elisha told Israel’s King over and over again…
This was unfair…
Aram’s King tried to find out what was happening!
His people told him that Israel had a secret weapon. They have a man who hears from God.
Aram’s King says - go get him.
and he sends a large ARMY with horses and chariots for one man
2 Kings 6:15
15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” the servant asked.
The servant went out…
he saw the LARGE ARMY that was sent for Elisha…
2 Kings 6:16
16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
Elisha was telling his servant to not be worried.
He was confident that HIS army was bigger than theirs.
Why Was Elisha Confident In The Lord’s Power?
Elisha had full faith in the Lord! Elisha had seen the Lord work!
he had seen the Lord do multiple miracles for Elijah. he had seen the Lord do multiple miracles for him also!
the water parted
the oil and bread multipled for the widow diseases healed
and more!
When You’ve Seen What The Lord Has ALREADY Done You Can Be Confident Of What He Can Do!
This is why Elisha knew he would be okay. the Lord protected him before…
the Lord showed himself as a protector!
the Lord had done miracles for him before
so he believed the Lord could do another!
This is how it works for us as well!
All the things the Lord has done for you before!
New Miracles Are Not Hard For A Proven Miracle Worker! Stop Doubting When He Has Proven Himself!
But the servant didn’t believe this… he was afraid…
so what happens.
2 Kings 6:17
17 And Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Elisha prayed that the servants eyes were opened.
When he looked again…
he saw what was REALLY happening.
That even when he was surrounded by what looked like death… he was still covered and protected by the Lord!
The servant had his eyes open.
Could Elisha Already See The Lord’s Army?
The scripture says that it was the servant who went out in the morning.
2 Kings 6:15
15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” the servant asked.
Elisha wasn’t standing there. He couldn’t see Aram’s army.
so he likely could’t see the Lord’s army also.
Which leads to the second point.
Building Your Foundation of Faith:
Elisha didn’t need to see the army to know it was there.
Just Because You Can’t See It Doesn’t Mean The Lord Isn’t Working!
So even when it LOOKS bad.
Can you believe the Lord will come through?
Are you able to believe and speak something before it’s done?
Do We Have The Faith To Believe Things Before We See Them?
Jesus spoke to the fig tree…
the next day the DISCIPLES noticed it was dead. Jesus didn’t need to see it.
He said we could SPEAK to the mountain. believe and not doubt…
what does that do?
Matthew 8:5-7
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When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.
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“Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.”
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Jesus said to him, “I will go and heal him.”
A soldier comes up to Jesus and says something MANY people said before. my servant is sick.
Many people ask prayer requests for others.
Jesus says I’ll go heal him.
Matthew 8:8-10
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The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.
Why is Jesus so astonished?
Because this man understands what it means. He said he understands authority!
he knows when he is told to do something. he doesn’t ask questions.
he moves. So if the Lord said it right there.
it would be done. This man understood it.
Jesus was so astonished he started talking to the people with him. this man “gets it.”
Matthew 8:13
13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that very hour.
This is why WE have to get it!
What Are We Believing The Lord For? The Miracle Can Match Your Faith!
When you believe the Lord to be a commander… and whatever is under his authority has to respond…
whatever it is…
the Lord only needs to speak… and it WILL be done!
As we are about to move to a healing service.
Let’s ask the question:
What Disqualifies You From A Healing?
There was a woman who had an issue of blood for 12 years. no one could heal her
she spent all her money.
she believed all she needed to do was touch the Lord.
She pushes through the crowd. touches Jesus…
and is healed.
What did Jesus say to her?
Luke 8:48
48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
Jesus didn’t ask her if she was clean.
He didn’t ask her what sins she committed that day.
He didn’t ask her if she qualified for the healing… he told her..
“Your faith has healed you.”
It Doesn’t Matter If You Think You’re Worthy Or Not. Your Faith Will Move Mountains If You Do Not Doubt!
You don’t have to be perfect… you just have to have faith.
