Be Faithful

BE FAITHFUL

Matthew 15:21-28v. 28: Dear woman, “Jesus said to her, “your faith is great, your request is granted” And her daughter was instantly healed.

Sugilanon sa usa ka inahan nga hentil, tungod sa iyang hugot nga pagtuo naayo ang iyang anak nga babaye nga gisudlan sa yawa.

FAITH“The best definition for faith is trust. Trust is depending upon another”

TIGHTROPE WALKER:

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN

BELIEF AND TRUST

Perhaps you have heard the story of the tightrope walker who was crossing Niagara Falls. After he had held the crowds spellbound with his daring, he asked “How may of you believe I could cross the tightrope again, this time pushing a wheelbarrow with someone riding on it”.

There was a vast silence. The audience had just reminded of the vital difference between belief and trust! It’s one thing to believe that the wheelbarrow would make it safely across the chason. It’s quite another thing to put your won life on the line.

DEVILS ALSO BELIEVEJames 2:19, draws the same distinction:“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble”.

CRUCIAL DIFFERENCE

In order to have saving faith, you need more that simple mental assent. Even the devils have that much, and they tremble as a result.The devils believe but they don’t trust. And that s the crucial difference.

The WORDS DESCRIBE THE DEPENDENT RELATIONSHIP OF THE CHRISTIAN TO GOD:

FAITHBELIEFTRUST

In modern usage, belief often carries with the idea of only a mental assent. Faith is sometimes confused with positive thinking. But the Trust comes the closest to describing the biblical dependence upon God.

Wherever you find the word belief or faith in the Bible, you can substitute the word trust, for instance, in Acts 16: 31 says: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved”. Would read, “Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”

Selected Messages, book 1, page 389, says: “Faith includes not only belief but trust.” Education , page 253: “Faith is trusting God.”

FAITH – TO SURRENDER

Faith is depending upon another: It is the closest word to surrender to be found in the Bible, for it carries with it the idea of giving up your life into God’s control.

HIGH ACHIEVERS – HUMAN PRIDE

High achievers don’t like the idea of dependent. It can be frightening to think of placing yourself under the control of another.

It can be a blow to human pride and self-sufficiency to allow someone else to call the shots.But "without faith it is impossible to please Him.”(Hebrews 1:6) or “without trust it is impossible to please Him.”Only when we give up our own will and way, and trust wholly in His power to save, can God accomplish His purpose in our lives.

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POEM As Children bring their broken toys

With tears, for us to mend,I brought my broken dreams to God

Because He was my friend.But then, instead of leaving Him

In peace to work alone,I stayed around and tried to help

Through ways that were my own.At last I snatched them back and cried,

“How can you be so slow?”“My child”, He said, “What could I do?

You never did let go!.

LEAP OF FAITHGenuine faith, or trust, lets go.It depends completelyIt is vulnerable

Human reasoning and understanding and logic can only go so far, and then we must step out into that which cannot be proved except by experience. Theologian referred to this truth as “LEAP OF FAITH”.

But trust in God is not a leap in the dark…God given us enough evidence on which to lease our trust in Him.In Matthew 15 we find the story of the syro-phoenician woman. She came seeking “Jesus” who had walked 50 miles out of His way so that her search would be rewarded. To find Him walking down the dusty roads of her own country must have encouraged her to believe.

But when she brought her request to Him, He appeared to ignore her. Yet there was enough evidence in His look, tone and manner to encourage her to trust Him spite of appearances, and she persisted until her faith was rewarded! The answer came as she continued to depend upon Him.