Have you ever known you should believe something, but for some reason couldn’t seem to? You KNEW that you should believe it. In fact, you WANTED to believe it. But you could never FEEL that you believed it.
I’ve been there. In
fact I go there more times than I care to admit. As an occupational hazard, I use a lot of “faith
talk.” I encourage others to trust God
only to see my own faith fall short from time to time.
All too often I completely identify with the man in Mark 9 who had a demon possessed son. You can read this incredible account in Mark 9:14-29.
Jesus’ disciples tried to cast out the demon, but turned a
bad situation worse. Then calmly Jesus
told the man, “all things are possible for one who believes.” The man replied, “I believe; help my
unbelief!”
The Contradiction of Believing
The man’s response may sound like a contradiction. But essentially it is more an honest admission that he wants to believe even more. There is another contradiction at work in his life, one we all experience from time to time. That is the battle between what we KNOW and what we FEEL. Therein lies the test of our faith.
When I think of all the important theological truths that we Christians need to understand, I have to begin with teaching about the Bible. If we know the textbook well, even have it memorized, but the textbook has errors, then our knowledge is flawed.
So as we begin this journey on Fridays looking at essential doctrines about which believers should be knowledgeable, we begin with the Bible. God’s Word is our standard for truth and there are four things about the Bible we need to understand before we can learn about the other important truths.
The Bible is the Word of God.
The Bible is not just a word from God, it is the word of God. In 2 Timothy 3:16 Paul tells us that all Scripture is inspired by God. To day God’s Word is inspired is not to say that it inspired like a modern work of art, poetry, or song. The word literally means to be breathed out by God. God is the source of the Bible.
The Bible contains 66 books written over a 1600-year span by 40 authors from 3 different continents. These authors include shepherds, kings, scholars, fishermen, a priest, a butler, and a even a military general. In spite of all of that, the Bible maintains a unique unity from beginning to end. It is a redemptive story from creation, through fall, and continuing in redemption, leading up to our ascension to Heaven.
All the words and each individual word in the Bible comes from God.
The Bible is our ultimate source of authority.
In 2 Timothy 3:17, Paul asserts that the Bible produces a mature person, perfectly equipped for EVERY GOOD work. The Bible’s teaching is comprehensive. It contains all we need to know to live obedient lives and in obeying it, we are made complete and enable to handle what comes our way in life.
Bible truth is timeless and always relevant.
In Psalms 119, David tells us that the Bible will keep our way pure (vs 9), keep us from sin (vs 11), and give direction and guidance (vs 105).
Isaiah 40:8 reminds us that unlike flowers and grass, God’s Word does not fade, go dormant, or disappear.
While others claim the teaching of the Bible are foreign to today’s culture, we realize that the Word should inform, instruct, and guide our living in our contemporary culture. What God said was TRUTH then is still TRUTH today.
Self-proclaimed secrets to success change with every generation, but God’s Word has stood the test of time. We can trust God’s Word to guide us directly down a path to the success that God has for us.
Our knowledge of God, His Son Jesus, and all other important Christian doctrines are only as reliable as our source for that knowledge. You can trust that we have a sure and certain Word of God that reveals all He desires us to know.
“I hope so.” I’ve heard that many times; often from my own lips. Of course, when we use the word “hope” we are expressing a desire, but an uncertainty as to the realization of our desire.
“I hope it doesn’t rain.” – Maybe it will, but I’ll take an umbrella just in case.
“I hope I get some good news.” I really would like that, but I am bracing for the worst.
“I hope the preacher doesn’t preach too long today.” Oh, who are we kidding?!?! LOL!
Unfortunately our world is filled with a lot of hopeless people. They feel overwhelmed by circumstances and trapped by insufficient resources. They want to think better days are ahead, but no evidence lies before them. The best a hopeless person can do is just survive.
Maybe you are one of those hopeless people. Your circumstances seem insurmountable and your abilities to cope with those circumstances seem seriously lacking. The good news is that the Biblical concept of hope differs 1800 from our contemporary definition. Our hope is uncertain and subjective, but Biblical hope is objectively assured. When the Bible speaks of a hope, it speaks of something that is guaranteed.
Allow me to poke a pinhole in the dark wall of hopelessness and shine a laser beam through it in the form a Bible verse.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. – Romans 15:13.
Don’t miss that last phrase: “abound in hope.” Not have a little, not just enough to get by, but ABOUND. More than you need. Overrunning. Excessive. God offers the hopeless not just a ray of hope but a blinding floodlight. That pinhole in the dark wall becomes a shaft of warm, life-giving light.
First, notice the source of hope: God. He is the God of hope. Our hope does not lie in our abilities, resources, or even in the betterment of our situation. HE is the creator, author, and bestower of hope. When you feel hopeless, turn to Him and rest squarely in the knowledge that He is good and that He is in control. By the power of His holy Spirit, He will give the abundance of assurance.
Second, see the results of the hope God gives – He fills with joy and peace. Joy is not dependent on circumstances, but rather a settled inner assurance that no matter how things look at the moment, when God decides to change it, He will…for the better. Peace is not the absence of hostility or anxiety, but the quiet heart that rides out the storm knowing who is the Master of the Wind.
Finally, notice how that hope is appropriated – in believing; that is our part. I have often defined faith as “an active trust in all that God has said concerning His person, His promises, and His precepts.” To live in hope, we choose to believe what we KNOW about God over how we FEEL in our circumstances.
Tony Evans says it this way:
“Faith is acting like it is so, even when it’s not so, in order that it might be so, simply because God said so.”
In those hopeless moments, return to the light that God’s hope gives. Choose to trust Him and He will bring you through your storm.
“Never in my wildest dreams.” Have you ever used that expression? I have…lots of times…several times over the last 48 hours. Then again, that’s how God works – beyond our wildest dreams.
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. – Ephesians 3:20-21
Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever imagined moving back to my hometown to pastor a church. Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever imagined having the opportunity to lead a church with such a rich history and promising future. In fact, there were times times over the last several months I wondered if I would ever have the opportunity to pastor again…anywhere.
Thankfully, however, God is not bound by our measly imaginations; He works in ways we cannot see or believe to accomplish things so awesome that ONLY HE can receive glory for them. My family and I have experienced His glory in just such a way this past weekend. I was called as Senior Pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in my hometown of Macon, Georgia. NEVER IN MY WILDEST DREAMS, but easily within the sovereignty of an all-wise God. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
What impossibilities or difficulties challenge your faith? As one who has experienced the miraculous hand of God, let me encourage you to hang in there and keep your eyes in the Lord. He is at work around you, and in His perfect timing, God will act in just such a way in your life.
As I shared with my new church family today: THE BEST IS YET TO COME. That is just as true for you individually as it is for us as a church.
The search for Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 has captured the attention, and imagination of the world. During the early morning hours of March 8, the flight experienced a normal take off, then about an hour later the plane turned to head in the opposite direction and vanished from radar and all other electronic contact. MH 370 has been neither seen nor heard from since. Theories abound as to its whereabouts and the causes for its disappearance.
Thankfully, our God has charted a course for our lives and we are still on course with His plan. He is a God of purpose. Our direction may seem a mystery to us, but God knows exactly where we are and precisely where we are going.
Yet He knows the way I have taken;
when He has tested me, I will emerge as pure gold.
My feet have followed in His tracks;
I have kept to His way and not turned aside.
I have not departed from the commands of His lips;
I have treasured the words of His mouth
more than my daily food.
But He is unchangeable; who can oppose Him?
He does what He desires.
He will certainly accomplish what He has decreed for me,
and He has many more things like these in mind. – Job 23:10-14
Read those last two lines again and BELIEVE them. God WILL accomplish what He has determined for you, certainly, and He has many things in His mind for you.
But what about our part? Job reminds us of our responsibility: FOLLOW in His tracks, KEEP His way, TREASURE His Word. When we live in obedience we can leave circumstances in control of the Sovereign of this creation knowing that He is working His plan for us and for all of His creation.
Read, study, and obey God’s Word and leave the rest up to Him. He never has navigation malfunctions.
Faith is one of the foundations of our spiritual lives. Without it, we have no hope. Place it in the wrong object, and we have false security. Ground it in the nature of God, finished work of Christ, and unchallenged power of the Holy Spirit, and we are powerful people.
Two particular Bible verses shape my view of faith: Hebrews 11:1 and 6.
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
From time to time, I hear some well-intentioned soul misrepresent Scripture and tell someone that they will be healed, or their need will be met, or some other positive outcome will happen of they just “have faith.” The implication of that statement is that if it doesn’t work out the way they think it should, their faith is somehow deficient.
Think about that a moment. What requires more faith – trusting a God who gives you whatever you ask when you want it or trusting a God who sometimes tells you no without any explanation? I believe the latter allows us to demonstrate more faith.
Since faith is being sure of and believing even though we can’t see, then a situation that remains unresolved requires us to continue to exercise that faith. Once we receive that for which we asked, we can see it, and it no longer exercises our faith. The exercise of our faith pleases God, therefore we are in a greater position to please God when situations remain a challenge.
So, if you are experiencing a season in which you have asked God for a resolution and He has yet to provide it, keep believing. That very situation and the faith you demonstrate in it is allowing you to please God.
Does anyone have a “faith” story they would like to share? The comment section is open for you to
When I think of all the important theological truths that we Christians need to understand, I have to begin with teaching about the Bible. If we know the textbook well, even have it memorized, but the textbook has errors, then our knowledge is flawed.
