“Undergoing Construction: Build Your Faith!”
Pastor Jim Lowe III
Sunday Morning, 9:30am Stream 09/01/24 (1st Sunday Message)
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{All scriptures are NIV84 unless stated}
Today we are working on a project. That project is to improve a structure.
This structure seems to function pretty well… but it needs to be improved.
it needs updating.
it needs things to make it stronger.
This structure is US.
We’re doing alright…
but we’ve got to strengthen our temples. we’ve got to build our faith!
Message Title:
“Undergoing Construction: Build Your 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.
This is what the ancients were commended for. Those who came before...in the Bible and not... We have faith in many things.
If we are in our favorite room at home and the lights go out.
How Many Of Us Know What Furniture Is In The Room?
you KNOW you have a couch, three chairs and a table in the room.
No matter what I say…
you are SITTING in the room…
you can’t see it…but know it’s there. that’s faith.
How many of you are willing to walk in that dark room to go grab something and NOT worry about bumping into anything?
That’s strong faith!
You are now willing to TRUST what you believe at risk of hurting yourself.
These are forms of faith!
And it’s NECESSARY to be a believer!
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 Believing Something Even Without All The Answers!
And THIS is what the Lord wants for us.
What are some things we can learn about faith?
Faith Requires Being Bold In Your Belief
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.
Faith Is What Transforms Our Words Into Commands!
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.
It’s not just about saying it… it’s about believing it.
But when we believe.
We have to believe and NOT doubt.
Doubt Is What Kills Our Faith!
Remember Peter in the boat?
Matthew 14:25-31
25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
Remember the disciples had been out for almost 8 hours straining in this storm. they’re hungry, angry…exhausted.
In the middle of their straining…
they see Jesus walking to them on the water.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
Peter sees what they think is a ghost…
All it says is:
It is I.
Peter says if it’s you tell me to come out there. and Peter goes out.
Can you imagine the faith necessary to consider this… but to get out of the boat and actually DO IT!
THAT is faith!
Your Faith Can Keep You Standing When Others Would Sink!
This is why it’s important to have faith.
Because YOUR faith can do things for you that others can’t do.
Even when the disciples saw Peter get out… they didn’t join…
know why?
They didn’t have the faith!
But Peter is on his way walking to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
Peter begins to sink and cries out… “Lord save me!”
Peter had forgotten that it was the Lord’s power that brought him this far!
Have Faith In Our God! He Didn’t Let You Get This Far To Let You Fall!
Peter in the middle of doing the impossible… he’s distracted by what he sees.
and when he focuses on that… he begins to sink.
and Jesus catches him. What did Jesus say to him? “You of little faith.”
“Why did you doubt?” Isn’t that CRAZY?
Peter got out on the water when no one else would… made it further than anyone else…
only to be told he had “little faith.”
The Lord Doesn’t Just Want Us To Have Faith, He Wants Us To Have Great Faith!
Jesus says multiple times through scripture… of you of little faith.
Little faith is not a badge of honor! That’s not what he wants for us!
But Jesus had already said when talking about the fig tree… “You must believe and not doubt.”
James 1:6-8
6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
Believe and NOT doubt.
Believe and NOT doubt.
The Lord Responds To Faith, Not Doubt!
Jesus told Peter he had little faith… because doubt came in.
Doubt kept Peter from being able to do the miraculous. Doubt canceled his reward.
How Many Of Our Prayers Are Nullified Because Of Doubt?
There is a LOT the Lord WANTS to do for us… but our own doubts get in the way!
Ways Doubt Can Set In:
-
Does He Love Me Enough To Hear My Prayer?
-
Can He Even Do What I’m Asking?
-
Is He Even There?
-
Does He Even Want Me Healed?
THESE things create doubt in our hearts.
we can pray and ask the Lord for something…
but our doubt has already killed the request.
God won’t answer the prayers of doubters… because if he did…
he’d be answering the prayers of people who don’t FULLY trust him!
THIS is why Peter sank!
If We Want To Have Greater Faith, We Have To Get Rid Of Doubt!
Doubt is not fully believing… having unbelief… and it’s affected us…
Many of us might have HAD a good foundation… but doubt has caused our foundation to rot.
Because we have a rotten foundation…
we can’t stand during times of storms.
What good is a home that can’t protect you in the rain?
If we want a stronger foundation…we have to get rid of doubt!
Sometimes We Forget Who Our God Is!
Mark 9:17-18
17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”
A man brought his son who was demon possessed to the disciples. they could not drive it out.
These men who had been with Jesus all day for quite a while…
Verse 19-20
19 “O unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” 20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
O unbelieving generation…
almost sounds like frustration.
Jesus could walk the earth and the people with him had unbelief.
Verse 21-23
21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” 23 “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.”
The man says to Jesus…
if there is anything you can do. Jesus seemed to take offense to that.
“If you can??”
Do you want the help or not?
Do you know who you’re talking to?
Everything is possible first… but for YOU to get it…
you have to believe.
Unbelief Causes Us To Doubt What God Can Do For Us!
It also implies that the Lord can get frustrated with some of our prayers… “Do you want the help or not?”
“Do you believe I can do it or not?”
EVERYthing is possible to him who believes.
So what does this boys father say?
Mark 9:24-27
24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
Some of us need to be reminded of who we believe in… and WORK to build our unbelief!
So How Do We Build Our Faith?
Romans 10:17
17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Faith comes from the word. hearing it…
getting around it.
this is why being in a good church is good. it helps with foundation.
When you hear the word… and understand it…
You stand strong on it when trials come.
We’ll discuss over the next few weeks about faith… and HOW we can build it!
Next Week:
Growing Faith Beyond What We See
