Faith, Even If....

Last night we were having a little discussion of what faith in God really is. So often as believers we have bought into a teaching on faith that in reality is simply a bunch of nonsense that has done nothing except at the very least frustrate some and often causes discouragement and in some cases cause people to walk away from the Lord completely. Why? Because it is more of a formula to get what we want from God. What happens when we don't? Well the response is, "You must not have had enough faith" or "You may have doubted too much". Friends, faith is not some force or power you can possess. It’s not a super confidence that God will do what you want, if you just believe really hard, whatever that means. It’s not a formula to get whatever you want. It’s not positive thinking. It’s not removing all doubt or fear from your mind. This kind of thinking is what has lead many people to have faith in their faith because to them it’s like some special power. Ok then so what is faith? Faith is simply belief and trust. Belief in God and Jesus. Believing He is who He says He is and can do what He says he can do. Believing He is all powerful, all knowing, and all seeing. Faith trusts Him with our lives completely. It is trusting God enough to do what he tells us to do. Trusting that He will deliver on what He has promised. It’s a letting go of the steering wheel, if you will, sitting back and enjoying the ride, while he "drives the bus of your life." All the while looking forward to an eternal reward. Even if…. Even if you don't get what you think you need or want. Even if you don't get healed. Even if your child dies. Even if you always seem to struggle in life. Faith is both a single action, as when we make Jesus Lord of our lives, and a continual process, as we live out our lives daily. When we want to know what faith is it is important to read ALL of Hebrews 11. It is then when we see this truth come to life.

So friends have faith IN GOD, not in your faith. Walk in faith focused on the eternal. Not to get more stuff for this life.

Until next time,

Pastor Paul