Do you need a Faith Lift?

2 When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. ² Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, ³ four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. ⁴ They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. ⁵ Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven." ⁶ But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, ⁷ “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” ⁸ Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts?⁹ Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? ¹⁰ So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, ¹¹ “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” ¹² And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!” Mark 2:1-12.

I often hear these statements from students, “I cannot wait to grow up!” or “I cannot wait to receive my license and graduate!” We all face milestones in our lives, whether that is your first steps, bike ride or college graduation. What does a growing faith look like? Is growing in our faith just a class, memorizing scripture, or church attendance?  To have faith in God we must STOP having faith in our own power.

What does growing faith look like?

Growing faith is active (v. 3-4) "Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." James 2:17

The four men cared about their friend. They cared more about a person than a building. Jesus did not come to establish a building of people who look, smell and act like each other. He came to set the captives free ! Faith is moving from knowing facts to trusting a person.

Growing faith is believing (v. 5) "Without faith it is impossible to please God" Hebrews 11:6.

Jesus “saw their faith.” Too many people live as practical atheists. They recognize God, even call themselves Christians, but their lifestyle screams that God does not exist. Faith is moving from knowing to doing. They are intimately connected. A growing faith grows from impersonal to personal. It is placing all of who you are into all of who God is. It is surrendering our all into the hands of Jesus.

Growing faith is visible (8-12)

The four men refused to give up hope for their friend! We need to reach out to the world and not get so focused upon ourselves. What you and I do with our life REVEALS who or what we put our faith in. Are we known for our undying and unrelenting faith? Does your faith cost you anything?

God wants to build our faith. The greater the faith, the greater the relationship! 

Refuge During Life's Storms

"Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. ²⁴ Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” Matthew 8:23-27

One principle that I've learned over the past few years is that even during life’s storms, God is in control. If you are like me, you have asked this question a lot in life, "Why God? Why have you let this storm blow into my life?" Have you ever asked these questions?

It reminds me of one of my favorite stories in scripture. The disciples were with Jesus on a boat on the Sea of Galilee. The sea of Galilee is 690 feet below sea level. Mount Hermon rises 9200 feet and many times strong winds would sweep down through the gorges in this valley causing sudden storms. Jesus was asleep! The disciples were out of control! Jesus had finished healing people, preaching the greatest sermon in history and even cast out demons. Jesus was tired so he decided to take a nap during the storm. The disciples were frantic, thinking Jesus quit caring about their situation. The truth of the matter is Jesus always comes through for his followers.

We all face life situations that are out of our own control. Three principles about storms.

1. You are in a storm. 2. You are coming out of a storm. 3. You are about to step into a storm.

Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble” John 16:33.

“He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust" Matthew 5:45

It is not a matter of “if” but “when” storms will come. The truth is that Jesus is in control during the storm; the storm isn’t in control. Regardless of what we see of feel, Jesus has got it! God is bigger than the storm. We always want God to pick us up out of the storm. God doesn't remove us from storms, but always leads us through it! Jesus brought peace in the midst of chaos to His disciples. We all need His hand leading us through the storms of life.

If you are going through a storm, talk to someone about it. Ask for prayer and wisdom. Admit that God is bigger than the storm!

Resolve to Trust

Happy new year! The normal approach to every new year is re-evaluate life. I tend to dislike resolutions because many times they only last about a month. My desire is to resolve to trust God with my whole heart. I want to align my heart with God's heart more than ever. What about you? If you are like me, you look for tangible, "ah-ha" moments in order to know God's direction. We can't wait for the next event, service, message or signs to point us toward God's will! Our culture around us easily puts us into a mold that wants instant results that are comfortable and convenient. We live in a fast-food, microwave, calendar-packed society.  The world teaches us to trust in our own abilities, money, or a career. I know I have been held hostage before by trying to figure life out on my own strength. It takes me a while to make decisions. I like to weigh the pros/cons and get advice and more. Deciding on lunch is even hard for me! Bigger decisions in life (Where do I go to college? What career do I pursue, what is God's will for my life?) are much more difficult for all of us.

The essence of spiritual growth begins and ends with trusting God. God's will and direction is not always a place, position, relationship, college degree, salary or title. It is much more about the relationship with God than it is the result of our answered prayers from God.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says this: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." (NLT)

The word for trust is, "betach." It is used in the Old Testament to mean to physically lean upon something for support; and figuratively to rely upon someone or something for help or protection. The "heart" is not talking about our physical, blood-pumping heart organ. It refers to the center of our mind, will and emotions. Do we simply give God lip service but refuse to trust Him when it is difficult? I know many times I have missed what it means to trust with all of my heart. God's Will is seeking after the relationship with God more than the answers we are seeking.

Trusting God simply says "yes" to God in every area of our mind, will and emotion. What would life look like if we quit worrying about what we cannot control and trust God?

In order to resolve to trust, begin asking yourself these questions:

Mind: Is my thought life renewed daily by scripture? Romans 12:1-2 Will: Am I willing to do whatever God asks of me? Emotion: Am I controlled by my feelings or trusting in what God's Word says?