Pastor Joe Fuiten, June 22, 2003

 

Faith is at once the simplest and most complex subject.  The Pastor of the church I attended when I was in college preached for a whole year on no other topic than faith. In choosing six faith stories, I do not propose that I am covering the whole topic.  I do hope that the Lord will use this message to increase your faith.

The first faith story is of a persistent widow who showed her faith by not giving up.

Scripture Reading:  Luke 18:1-8 Page 742

"Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' 4 "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!'" 6 And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

The second faith story, also illustrating persistent faith is Ed Sykes.  Ed has a long history of heart issues including open-heart surgery, stints, and the like.  Last week the arteries on the back of his heart plugged up and there was no ready remedy for it.  He received medication in the hope of dissolving the blockages.  Lots of people prayed.  A heart test on Tuesday revealed that the arteries have substantially opened up and he has been able to go about his life (although he continues to have heart issues).  His recent blessing is an illustration of persistent faith since he has continued to trust the Lord through each of the steps of his heart issue.  He has felt all along that the Lord would take care of him.  This would be a good time to thank Ed also for his hundreds of hours of volunteer work on our High School building, along with his donated cat and equipment.

            The third faith story is of humble faith.  A tax collector, who in ancient times was not only disliked but often had oppressive tendencies, had humble faith.  This kind of faith is illustrated in the parable that Jesus told immediately after the one just above.

9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men-- robbers, evildoers, adulterers-- or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' 13 "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner. 14 "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

            It is worth noting that the one man fulfilled the righteous life precisely.  He fasted twice a week.  He gave a tenth of his income.  Since Jesus was talking about righteousness here, it is clear that his 10% was being given to the poor.  He prayer was the third act of the righteous life.  He gave to the poor, fasted, and prayed, fulfilling the technical requirements of righteousness.  His faith was not effective because it was not humble faith.  On the other hand, even though the tax-collector was a sinner, he humbled himself, confessing his sin.  He exhibited humble faith that became saving faith.

            The fourth faith story is of explosive faith.  Bartimaeus was blind and only survived on the kindness of other people. Mark 10:46-52  Page 716

46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 49 Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. 51 "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see." 52 "Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. (NIV)

            Bartimaeus had an explosion of faith as verse 50 would seem to indicate.  He is suddenly not acting like a blind man.  Since when to blind people toss their coat aside as though it would be easy to find later?  Only rarely do you see a blind person jump or run, but this one did.  There was no doubt in his mind what was going to happen. Jesus acknowledged as much when he said, YOUR faith has healed you.  (More particularly, it was his faith in Jesus that healed him.  Jesus was the healer but the man’s faith was the catalyst that allowed it to happen.)

            I think it is worth noting that this experience did not happen in a vacuum.  Jericho was on one of the main routes from Galilee to Jerusalem via the Jordan River Valley.  As pilgrims traveled, they naturally told the stories of what was happening around Galilee with Jesus.   Each story Bartimaeus heard was a preparation for faith to take hold in his heart.

            The fifth story also illustrates an explosion of faith.  It is Ruby Smith’s story and I would like her to tell it in her own words.

 

About 2 ½ months ago I testified on the power of prayer and told the story of a miracle of salvation -- I was praying for a very close friend every day (who just so happened to be an atheist) she was saved and accepted Christ over the telephone.  I testified to the power of prayer and that our God does hear and answer our prayers -- and that I strongly encouraged you all to pray for your friends and loved ones.

Well today I have another powerful story to tell about the Power of Prayer:

About 4 years ago I reached a point in my life where I simply had no energy at all.  I literally came to a near halt. For as many years as I can remember, I have always needed a “pajama day” a day in which I did nothing whatsoever.  At least once a week (usually on a Saturday), I would literally stay in bed in my pajamas or be on the couch all day long -- just resting and recharging my batteries.  I thought this was normal.

My situation became increasingly worse -- so much so that on many Sunday mornings I would be in my bathroom trying to get ready for church and I would begin to weep -- my husband would come running in to check on me and ask “what’s wrong honey” and all I could say to him was -- through my sobbing -- “I’m so exhausted -- I just want to go to church to worship my God -- but I just can’t go -- I’m just too tired.”

My life consisted of waking up, going to work, eating dinner, and then going to bed.  I could not deviate from my schedule.  I was so exhausted -- every aspect of my daily life was terribly difficult.  I could not even go out or do any activities. It felt like I was wearing cement shoes & I was always in a fog.

Finally, 3 years ago, my husband convinced me to go to the doctor and that my constant state of being tired was not normal.  I went to the doctor and through a series of visits and overnight sleep study tests; I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea.  This is a condition in which while you are sleeping your tongue falls back into your throat and stops you from breathing.  Your brain basically wakes you up to start you breathing again, but you are not aware of this.  If this did not happen you would die in your sleep.  The downside to your brain waking you up when you stop breathing is that you don’t get any sleep, hence many people with Sleep Apnea such as myself are in a constant state of sleep walking.

While I was sleeping, I use to stop breathing about every 4 minutes all night long -- so I use to get about 3 hours of sleep a night.  I had to wear a special machine at night that would force air down my throat so I could breathe while I was sleeping.

Well I am here to tell you all today that our God is an awesome God!  Through prayer, faith, fasting and waiting on the Lord on Pentecost Sunday (June 8, 2003) I received a miracle of healing!  I no longer need a machine to breath at night -- I am totally and completely healed from my Sleep Apnea.  I have all kinds of energy and am living a full and happy life!  I’m no longer in a fog – everything seems so easy.

Just as background to my miracle, I fasted and prayed for 2 days before Pentecost Sunday and on Pentecost Sunday I went to a church service which just so happened to be 6 hours of singing, worshiping and hearing God’s Word preached.  After the service, I was prayed for and I received my miracle of healing!

I had been praying for God’s mercy in my life and for a miracle of healing for about 6 months. I knew I would be healed -- I just didn’t know when.  I figured that I hadn’t witnessed to the right person yet or that it just wasn’t God’s perfect timing -- but I tell you the gospel truth -- I knew that God would heal me -- and now I can tell the whole world about my miracle of healing!

I want to strongly encourage you all to wait on the Lord -- to fast and pray and God will work miracles in your life. 

No matter what it is, simply trust in Him and believe that He will work a miracle in your life.  Again, I just want to strongly encourage you to spend time before our Lord -- wait on the Him and He will hear and answer your prayers.

Whatever the case may be -- our God is an awesome God -- we just have to walk in faith, fast and pray and WAIT ON THE LORD!

The power of prayer is awesome -- and yes our God hears and answers our prayers!

            In Ruby’s case, the explosion of faith took place the week before.  On the previous Sunday she felt that she would be healed the following Sunday.  All week long she prayed and waiting, even fasting the last two days.  Just like Bartimaeus, the explosion of faith prepared the way for healing.

            The sixth faith story is the one that is yet to be told.  It is your story.  Virtually every one of us has a situation to which faith needs to be applied.  God’s faith is expressed in human beings in a lot of different ways.  God has done the work in ancient times and in modern times.  I am asking God to put faith in your heart for this time.

 

 

 

 

 

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