June 28, 2015
Stetson Memorial United
Methodist Church
“A
shooting in Charlestown, NC”
What
does faith look like?
Matthew 17:20New
International Version (NIV)
Mark 11:22-23New
International Version (NIV)
Romans 1:12New
International Version (NIV)
Romans 1:17New
International Version (NIV)
2 Corinthians 5:7New
International Version (NIV)
Galatians 2:15-16New
International Version (NIV)
2 Timothy 4:7-8New
International Version (NIV)
Hebrews 11 New
Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
“Faith…Believe It Or Not…”
Prayer for God’s word
to be heard through me or in spite of me…
“Love is stronger than hate. So if we love
the way my mom would, then the hate won’t be anywhere close to where love is.”
“We already forgive him for what he’s done, there’s nothing but love from our
side of the family.” “I acknowledge I am very angry. But my daughter taught me
that we are the family that love built.” “I forgive you, my family forgives
you. We would like you to take this opportunity to repent. Do that and you will
be better off than you are now.”
These and many more words
like these were spoken to Dylann Roof after he opened fire and killed 9 people
who were at a bible study in Charlestown, SC. How in the world to you forgive
someone that takes away a life that had so much promise. These people were mothers,
sisters, brothers, fathers…they had lives to live and it was taken away from
them in a moment. What is the secret of being able to do something like that…to
forgive while you have just begun the grieving process?
Over the past couple of
weeks, I have talked about being “Fearless”
and posed the question, “what would you
do if you were not afraid?” and we decided that we didn’t need to be afraid
because God was with us always…and that Our
Father in heaven knows really does know best…But in order to believe in
what I have talked about…in order to live a life with these assurances…you need
to have faith…The kind of faith that this
church in Charlestown, SC showed and is continuing to show…the kind of faith
that moves mountains of pain and suffering…hatred and racism.
To
John Wesley, faith was one of the most important theological concepts. At first
he thought of it as believing the truth of the Christian revelation. But he
also realized that faith also involves trust and confidence. As a matter of
fact, having trust in God became so important that he eventually considered
faith as the evidence of God’s love that could secure our trust and confidence.
He began to talk about faith in degrees to indicate how people grew in faith. As
you grew in faith and assurance of God’s love it would show more and more until
a person is completely filled with love in return. It seems to me that the people of this Charlestown, SC African
Methodist Episcopal Church have reached that point in their faith…
So…what
is the meaning of faith? What are some examples in God’s word of faith…the kind
of faith that we should have as Christ followers…as Christians? That answer can
be found in Hebrews 11. This whole chapter is about faith so we are going to
take a look at a few verses…1-3
The Meaning of Faith
11 Now faith is the assurance of
things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 Indeed, by faith our
ancestors received approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were
prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are
not visible.
It is the assurance of things unseen…we have
faith that the air we breathe is there even though we cannot see it. We believe
that gravity will hold us in place even though it is not seen. We believe and have faith in the Holy Spirit
even though it too is unseen… It is all about trusting in the unseen…
So
what are some examples of this “faith” thing?
Abraham…8-9, 17-18:
“8
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was
to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. 9
By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign
land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the
same promise.”
“17
By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac. He who had received
the promises was ready to offer up his only son, 18 of whom he had been told,
“It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you.”
Moses…23-25:
“23
By faith Moses was hidden by his parents for three months after his birth,
because they saw that the child was beautiful; and they were not afraid of the
king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called a
son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the
people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.”
Some
others…29-30, 32-34
“29
By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when
the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of
Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days.”
“32
And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak,
Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith
conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of
lions, 34 quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out
of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.”
There are many more proofs…many more examples
within God’s word to give us hope and strength…they help build our faith.
Jesus
had a few things to say about faith as well…
Matthew 17:20New International Version
(NIV)
20
He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have
faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here
to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Mark 11:22-23New International Version
(NIV)
22
“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to
this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their
heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.
Faith had and has everything to do with our
relationship with God…as well as with others. Faith is at the ground level of
building a life that is pleasing to God.
The
Apostle Paul had a lot to say about what faith is and how it looks:
Romans 1:12New International Version
(NIV)
12
that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.
Romans 1:17New International Version
(NIV)
17
For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is
by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by
faith.”
2 Corinthians 5:7New International
Version (NIV)
7
For we live by faith, not by sight.
Galatians 2:15-16New International
Version (NIV)
15
“We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles 16 know that a person is not
justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too,
have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ
and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be
justified.
2 Timothy 4:7-8New International Version
(NIV)
7
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to
all who have longed for his appearing.
We
are to help others on their faith walk. We are to keep the faith no matter
what…remember faith is about relationship
with God and as we build that relationship, our faith will be stronger than
anything we could ever imagine. We are to put our faith in Jesus. We are to
live by faith in what is unseen not in the world we see around us.
As
I read those responses earlier from the people of the church in Charlestown and
their families there are things that stand out about them…
1. They came from hearts that themselves have felt the love
and forgiveness of Jesus.
2. They loved their enemies as we are called to do.
3. They overcame evil with good.
4. They blessed those who cursed them.
5. They shared the message of repentance and redemption with
this young man.
We
too are called to do the same by and from Jesus Christ…being His hands, feet
and image in the world.
Faith…it
is the beginning of a journey into the unseen. Faith…it is the foundation of
our relationship with God and Christ. Faith…it can be hard at times but we are
called to live radical lives for Christ. Faith…is loving through and in our
whole being. Faith…it brings people together for a common purpose. Faith looks
evil in the eye and says “death O death where is thy sting”. Faith is seen in a
church that forgives even as they are processing their own loss. Faith…it
really does a body good… our own physical and the body of our Lord Jesus
Christ. Faith…it truly is the tie that binds. Faith…you can believe it or not…it
is our choice to make. What will you choose this day?
Amen…
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