DARING FAITH.
Maybe some of you are saying to yourself, “I’m neither daring, nor do I feel like I have great faith!” Fair enough, just don’t get discouraged. Daring Faith is not only for the extroverts who know how to start a conversation with anything that moves. Nor is it just for the Smith Wigglesworth’s who grab recently deceased people by the collar and command them to LIVE! – Yes he actually did that!
Faith can be quiet. It can be really quiet. It can fly under the radar. But usually, there’s an immovable resolve that’s as tough as a digging iron. That’s what we’re aiming to develop, a digging iron kind of tenacity in Jesus. Digging irons move roots and rocks out of the way. The gardener uses them to pound away at the packed earth. I recently moved seven bushes around my yard. My digging iron was my best friend.
Recently a friend told me that his son, who had run away from the faith, came back to Jesus after fifteen years. Can you imagine that—pounding away in prayer for a decade and a half. Fifteen years ago his son left with the words, “I never want to see you again.” Imagine the dad’s temptation to give up: “Your prayers aren’t doing anything; Nothing’s going to change; He’s gone for good.” That’s what the enemy whispers. But the Holy Spirit whispers, “He who began a good work in you is faithful to complete it.”
The Word of God gives you iron in your bones so that you can’t be pushed off track. If you want to grow stronger in your faith, resolve to take action on the little things God is doing right in front of you. On Sunday Pastor Brian used the following points from Rick Warren’s workbook Daring Faith.
- Faith is believing when I don’t see it. Hebrews 11:1
- Faith is obeying when I don’t understand it. Hebrews 11:7
- Faith is giving when I don’t have it. Hebrews 11:4
- Faith is persisting when I don’t feel like it. Hebrews 11:27
- Faith is thanking God before I receive it. Hebrews 11:30
- Faith is trusting even if I don’t get it. Hebrews 11:38-40
As you look through the list, which one of these is the Holy Spirit really working on in your life right now? Don’t focus on all of these—just one. Which one is it? Lean into that. Pray into that. Have the audacity to say yes to anything the Holy Spirit wants to do in that compartment of your life. He’s strengthening your faith muscle. Remember this is a marathon and not a sprint, and inch by inch God is taking back your life and making it digging-iron-strong in truth and love.
Tags: truth, faith, strength, believe, quiet, perseverence
