SERMON - RENEWING YOUR FAITH IN TROUBLED TIMES part 1 of 2

Renewing Your Faith

In

Troubled Times

Part 1

 

 

Jesus was ministering to a great multitude when He saw that they were getting hungry. He took Him disciple Philip aside and asked him a question that was significant in importance:

 

John 6: ⁵When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" ⁶He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.  

 

Jesus was saying, “Philip, these thousands of people are hungry. Tell me, how are we going to feed them? What do you think we should do?”

 

This sounds like a simple question but Jesus was teaching Philip something of great importance. The answer to this question remains of importance this very day.

 

Right now the world is teetering on a precipice as it has not done in any other time in history. Christians everywhere are facing trials and sit up half the night trying to figure out their problems. Maybe this will work – no, no. Maybe this will solve it – no, that won’t work either. What am I going to do?”

 

When Jesus asked His question to Philip, the disciples didn’t have just a bread problem. They had a bakery problem, a money problem, a distribution problem, a transportation problem and a time problem. Add all those problems up and you will see they had problems they couldn’t even imagine. To them their situation was absolutely impossible.

 

In the midst of your own impossible situation, Jesus comes to you and asks, “What are we going to do about this?” You must realize that He knows what to do as He has a plan. What He wants to know is how are you, His servant, will face your difficulties.

 

Philip’s correct answer to Jesus would have been, “Jesus, You are God. Nothing is impossible with You. I am turning this problem over to You. It is no longer my problem as it is Yours.”

 

In my heart of hearts I truly believe Christ wants the same for His people today. He has spoken powerful words of comfort and hope for just such a time of crisis. We, as His servants, must remind ourselves of these truths as we face our time of great need.

 

Matthew 15: ³²Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way."

 

Jesus was making a statement here to people of every generation.  He is telling the current generation, “I will do more for My people than heal them. I’m going to make sure they have enough bread to eat. I am concerned with everything concerning their lives.”

 

He was also saying, “I want My children to realize that I am more than just power. I am also compassion. If seen as only a healer or a miracle worker, they will only fear me. But if I am also seen as compassionate, a giver of good gifts, they will love me and trust my word.”

 

You, as a Christian, have been a faithful servant. You have been feeding others with the confidence and acceptance of His promises knowing He can do anything and He will intervene in any problem you might face.

 

Just as you have told others to hang on, God is a miracle worker and His promises are true, I am telling you the same thing, hang on!  Do not lose hope because He is going to answer your every cry.

 

I have been asked, Lee, do you believe in miracles, really believe?

 

I have answered openly and honestly, “Yes. I not only believe in the miracles set forth in the Bible but also believe in the many miracles He has blessed me with. Now is the time for each one of us, you and me, to believe that God will continue to bless us with what may now seem as impossibility; and an act we can only see as miraculous.

 

God is supplying each of us with everything we need to sustain our faith even as calamities increase.

 

When fear becomes seemingly overwhelming we must remind ourselves of just how great God is. We must recall His great deliverances for those that have placed their unwavering trust in Him and emulate that trust and faith.  Fear of any earthly circumstance must never get a stranglehold on any that knows God’s love and compassion for His servants.

 

The prophet Nehemiah understood this well. He witnessed a weary people as they toiled to rebuild walls of stone with a tool in one hand and a sword in the other. Fear had begun to set in as Nehemiah spoke the Lord’s Word:

 

Nehemiah 4: ¹⁴ After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes." 

 

Nehemiah was reminding God’s children of God’s greatness and of His awesome powers.

 

This is exactly how Moses dealt with fear in Israel . Moses had God in his heart as he spoke:

 

Deuteronomy 7: ¹⁷ You may say to yourselves, "These nations are stronger than we are. How can we drive them out?" ¹⁸ But do not be afraid of them; remember well what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt .   ²¹ Do not be terrified by them, for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God.

 

Moses was telling the people, “You’re going to face great enemies that will be more powerful that you are and wonder how will you prevail?”

 

Moses knew of God’s powers, love and His protection when asked for.

 

Just as Nehemiah and Moses told God’s children, and I am telling you now, “At any time your faith is shaken all you need do is remind yourself of how mighty your God is. Recall as many blessings He has given you in your own life as well as miraculous works He has given you. Just as He delivered Israel and kept them safe, He will deliver you!”

 

As you rest in Him through the storms in you life you are being seen by others and hopefully seen as a beacon of hope to any around you. Those that watch you in your daily routines, at work, in times of crisis, in times of need are too be witnessing a strong Christian who has no fear as God is at your side. Have compassion for them; teach them of God. Tell them of God’s wanting to have Him in their lives and of His many promises.

 

Renew your faith by acting as a witness to the acts of God.

 

(Closing prayer)    

 

Heavenly Father, our Creator and Hope, we come to You with our praise and our thanks for all that You have done in our lives. Father, we worship You and come before You knowing that You are Most Powerful and most deserving of our love and trust. Please accept our adoration of You as proof of our undying faith and devotion to You. You are our God and there in nothing before You.

 

Father, as we are before You allow us to supplicate and state our wants and needs. You are the only One we can turn to in such times as we live in and we ask that You lend us the strength and determination to live according to Your Word. Allow us the wisdom to teach any that are open to hearing about Your love and powers. Also allow us the strength to be seen by others as men and women of faith and under Your protection. Be with us O Lord, now and forever,

 

Father, we ask that You protect the elected officials that do Your will, Your work and abide by our Word. This we ask as well for our judges, police, and security personnel and for our Christian brothers and sisters throughout the world. Be with them and bless them with Your protection. They, as we, are in need of Your love and power.

 

These things we pray in the name of Your Son, our Lord and Savior, who is One with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever,

 

Amen, amen and amen.

Pastor Lee S Gliddon Jr, DOM
God's Word Christian Ministry