Tag: Faith

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When just following Jesus isn’t enough…

Matthew 26:47–50 (NASB 2020):

47 And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, who came from the chiefpriests and elders of the people. 48 Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign previously, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; arrest Him.” 49 And immediately Judas went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 50 But Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested Him

In v.50 Jesus refers to Judas who just betrayed him as friend. The Greek word used is hetaíros – properly, a companion (normally an imposter), posing to be a comrade but in reality only has his own interests in mind.

Compare that to John 15:15 where Jesus calls those that are part of the true vine friends. The Greek term used is phílos – a friend; someone dearly loved (prized) in a personal, intimate way; a trusted confidant, held dear in a close bond of personal affection.

In many evangelical churches today the “gospel” being preached is what I call pre-resurrection gospel. The just follow Jesus gospel. Life stressing you out? Follow Jesus. Your marriage is a wreck? Follow Jesus. Your finances are in need of financing? Just follow Jesus. Judas followed Jesus and yet Jesus was only “Rabbi” to him. A wise teacher. Someone he followed with his own selfish intentions in mind. This type of “gospel” has no life change.

The gospel of the Bible doesn’t leave out post-resurrection teaching. The reason for the resurrection. The only way to get grafted into the true vine as John 15 speaks of.

Yes, follow Jesus. But, the following is a response to accepting the gift of salvation and a new kife offered in the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus.

Just following Jesus isn’t enough…

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Faith files…part 3

Unwavering Faith

Mark 11:22-24 (NASB)

22 And Jesus *answered saying to them, “Have faith in God. 23 Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. 24 Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.

Unwavering faith is sincere and unbending.  To believe God without question.  When you pray with unwavering faith you are to believe as if it has already happened.  The verse in Mark sounds absolute.  But what does “whatever” mean in the context of this teaching?  Does it really mean whatever?  No it doesn’t.  If it did I would have 3 Lamborghinis, a summer beach house in Hawaii, and a Swiss bank account because God knows I’ve prayed for them! James 4:2-3 tells us that we don’t receive what we pray for because we ask wrongly.  We ask for selfish things.  So “whatever” has exclusions. I John 5:14-15 tells us that whatever we pray for things in line with God’s will He hears us and grants them. 

Unwavering faith depends on us having assurance that He will grant the request.  If we don’t know for sure then it is impossible to pray with unwavering faith.  When you pray “not my will but thine be done” it is an admission that we do not know that what we are praying for God will grant.  That’s doubt.  So we must know God’s promises in order to pray with unwavering faith.  God’s promises are found in the Bible.  Some of those promises are:

  • Romans 10:13 God promises to save all those who call upon Him for salvation
  •  Hebrews 12:14, Romans 6:22 God will sanctify all who have been redeemed
  • Philippians 4:19 If we seek first the Kingdom of God He will supply all our needs. Need depends on the goal you are trying to achieve. You will always have all that you need if your goal is to continue to do God’s will.
  • Romans 8:28 In everything God works for good all who love Him.  When our specific requests are denied it is because something is being prepared that is better.  So we can pray with absolute confidence that God will provide what is best for us.

If we pray for these things, we can pray with unwavering faith that they will come to pass.  Knowing this should reshape your prayer life.

Past Series Posts: Intro Part 1 Part 2

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Faith files… (part 2)

Great Faith

Matthew 15: 21-28

21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”

23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

Christian faith is based on God’s promises, rather than feelings, or things you can see. Great faith holds fast regardless of outward appearances.

Great faith is properly focus, repentant, reverent, persistent, and humble. In the text above you find a Canaanite woman coming to Jesus. This is a Pegan woman whos culture worshiped idols and false gods. Upon encountering Jesus she places the focus on Him. This wasn’t a “pray for me, send good thoughts, send good vibes my way” kind of situation that I see way too often on Facebook (and from Christians I might add…). Jesus was the focus of her request. Jesus was the focus of her worship. Jesus was the focus of her faith.

Great faith is repentant. In verse 22 she cries “…have mercy on me!” Mercy denotes the giving of something that is not deserved. She is coming at Jesus from a stance of unworthiness. Being in a culture that worships idols and false gods her coming to Jesus indicates that she turned from them to God. That is repentance.

Great faith is reverent. Again, in verse 22 she addresses Jesus as “Lord, son of David…”. She calls him Lord. The Greek translation uses the word Kyrios meaning master, or one who exercises absolute authority or ownership rights. She is recognizing Jesus’ sovereignty. She also calls him son of David. That is a Messianic title making reference to His right as King. Her acknowledgement of Jesus’ position is an act of reverence.

Great faith is persistent. In the text you notice first that Jesus doesn’t respond to her. Silence. His apostles finally come to him urging him to send her away because she keeps yelling. This indicates that some time has past. She just kept yelling. This reminds me of my kid’s persistence with the “Daddy, daddy, daddy…”. When Jesus does respond He says “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel”. Not dissuaded she responds “Lord, help me!”. Jesus throws up another barrier by saying “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” Not to be denied she responds “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Wow! First Jesus ignores her, then disqualifies her, and then calls her a pet and her response after all that was “even so, help me…” Great faith is persistent.

Great faith is humble. As you read in verse 25 she knelt before Jesus. More accurately translated as kneeling down and putting your face in the dirt. She put her face in the dirt, said no I am not a Jew, I am not of your chosen people, but you are not just the son of David, you are Lord, an I am subject to you. Humble.

There is one other place in the New Testament where Jesus makes reference to someone with great faith (Matthew 8:5-13). Here Jesus is dealing with a Centurion (Roman commanding soldier). A couple of interesting observations about these two instances of Jesus acknowledging great faith. One, their faith was focus on Jesus and their ask was for others. Great faith is not asking and believing in a “financial break through” or that “new car”. Two, the Centurion and the Canaanite lady were non-Jews. Great faith is not steeped in tradition or dependent on culture. It is rooted in faith that is counter-cultural and non-traditional. Great faith is genuine faith.

Have you had a situation where you had to exhibit great faith?

Past Series Posts: Intro Part 1

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Posting beyond the “Like”…

Life can be so heavy and burdensome.  The weight of responsibilities can be too much to bear.  The pain and evil in this world can seem relentless.  I’ve noticed a trend where people are now only posting positive things to stem the tide of negativity and provide a brief respite from the craziness.  Posting for the “like” is what I call it.  The problem is that the “like” is brief and you find yourself scrolling and scrolling looking for more “likes” never really finding the rest we are seeking.  I recently had a very discouraging bit of news about a ministry activity I was involved in where what I shared about Gospel didn’t stick.  In the midst of my pouting God impressed on me “you did all that to get the Like”.

Deuteronomy 12:9-10 NIV

” 9 since you have not yet reached the resting place and the inheritance the LORD your God is giving you.

10 But you will cross the Jordan and settle in the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and he will give you rest from all your enemies around you so that you will live in safety.”

This instruction from the OT was to the Israelites in crossing over into the promised land.  This rest or easing of life’s burdens as told in chapter 11 (v. 18-20) comes through complete faith in and relentless meditation on God. Not in ourselves. No measure of cute post about puppies or unicorns, self help quotes, or inner strength statements to garner “likes” will give us the rest, the life easing balm we so desperately seek.  “Likes” change moods. “Life” which is only found through complete faith in and total obedience to God will bring us into His rest.  We must go beyond getting the “like” to giving the “life”.

 

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The Helper

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John 15:26 “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, ”

When you go to the automotive repair shop the receptionist calls the mechanic to fix your car. When you go the hospital it is the doctor they call to tend to you. In life Jesus says the Helper he sends us is the Spirit of truth.

Hmmm, could it be that Jesus signaled to us that what ails us most is a condition brought on by lies? Lies about who we really are in Christ. Doubt? Doubt about God’s promises around His ability to provide in all areas of our lives.

If God is big enough to trust with our eternity, it would make sense to trust the Helper He has sent us for today…

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Jesus wept. Why don’t I?

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John 11:33-35 (NASB)
33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, 34 and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept.

I tithe, I give, I serve, I donate to worthy causes. But, I’ve yet to respond to need as Jesus did. I’ve never wept. All the hurting people I pass daily, all the posts on facebook from friends who’ve lost love ones and not one solitary tear. I tease my wife all the time because she is easily moved to tears when faced with someone hurting or in need.  Yet she is the one with the heart like Christ. People’s pain stirs her soul. So much so that she has fashioned her career around helping people. She gets it!

Christ not only came to seek and save the lost but also to heal the brokenhearted. He gave them life. He wept for them. I should to.

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I don’t know!?

My wife and I had the rare opportunity to spend some focused time with one of our four daughters a few weekends ago. When It came time for dinner I asked her where she wanted to eat.  I told her to pick anywhere.  Her response was “I don’t know”.  After several iterations of me asking and her responding “I don’t know” I all but gave up.  I gave her one more chance and asked in the calmest voice I could possibly muster and her response was “Um, I don’t know…Sonic”  REALLY?!  I gave her the opportunity to eat ANYWHERE and she picks Sonic!  I just got paid so I was thinking Ruth Chris and she’s stuck on Sonic!

Ephesians 3:20 “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” Reading this verse I am reminded of my daughter wanting Sonic and how in my life so many times I limit God by my pea brained prayers and shallow faith.  I lose sight of the fact that He has taken the engine out of my Yugo of a life and put a Hemi in it! My desires and prayers are like me asking for Sonic yet He wants to throw me a feast. I trust that He has saved my soul from eternal damnation yet I struggle with trusting Him fully in my daily life. Things that make you go hhmmm…