1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:06,520 You’re listening to a sermon from Pastor Colin Smith of Open The Bible. 2 00:00:06,520 –> 00:00:16,680 To contact us call us at 1-877-OPEN-365 or visit our website, OpenTheBible.org. 3 00:00:16,680 –> 00:00:17,760 Let’s get to the message. 4 00:00:17,760 –> 00:00:19,480 Here is Pastor Colin. 5 00:00:19,480 –> 00:00:25,040 Every believer needs to grow in faith, and in this series we’ve been trying to look in 6 00:00:25,040 –> 00:00:29,559 a very practical way at how that can happen. 7 00:00:29,559 –> 00:00:35,759 Over these last weeks we’ve identified 6 strategies for growing in faith. 8 00:00:35,759 –> 00:00:42,959 Five of them came from the 5 occasions where Jesus said to his disciples, Oh you of little 9 00:00:42,959 –> 00:00:43,959 faith. 10 00:00:43,959 –> 00:00:48,919 And from these stories we saw that faith grows as we seek God’s kingdom. 11 00:00:48,919 –> 00:00:51,860 Faith grows as we get to know Jesus. 12 00:00:51,860 –> 00:00:53,900 Faith grows as we worship. 13 00:00:53,919 –> 00:00:56,980 Faith grows as we are nourished by the word of God. 14 00:00:56,980 –> 00:01:00,820 And faith grows as we persevere. 15 00:01:00,820 –> 00:01:08,260 And then Luke tells us in his Gospel that the disciples asked Jesus, increase our faith. 16 00:01:08,260 –> 00:01:13,739 And from that we saw very obviously a sixth strategy for growing in faith. 17 00:01:13,739 –> 00:01:21,620 Faith grows as we ask of Jesus, Lord, increase our faith. 18 00:01:21,940 –> 00:01:25,379 Then last week we looked at how faith is tested. 19 00:01:25,379 –> 00:01:31,540 We saw that a tested faith that proves genuine is more precious than gold. 20 00:01:31,540 –> 00:01:38,720 And it will result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 21 00:01:38,720 –> 00:01:44,300 And today we’re going to come back to where we started with little faith. 22 00:01:44,300 –> 00:01:49,239 And we’re going to add a seventh strategy for growing in faith. 23 00:01:49,400 –> 00:01:56,239 And it’s this faith grows as it is exercised. 24 00:01:56,239 –> 00:02:01,440 I find it helpful to think of faith as being like a muscle in the body. 25 00:02:01,440 –> 00:02:07,639 It grows in strength as it is used, as it is exercised. 26 00:02:07,639 –> 00:02:11,839 So if you break a limb and then you have your leg in plaster, 27 00:02:11,839 –> 00:02:15,940 the muscles weaken because they are not being stretched. 28 00:02:15,940 –> 00:02:17,639 They are not being exercised. 29 00:02:17,639 –> 00:02:18,940 They’re not being used. 30 00:02:18,940 –> 00:02:24,240 And when the cast comes off you have to rebuild the strength of these muscles 31 00:02:24,240 –> 00:02:26,139 through exercise. 32 00:02:26,139 –> 00:02:30,139 Muscles grow strong as they are exercised. 33 00:02:30,139 –> 00:02:36,639 And in a similar way, faith grows as it is applied in particular situations 34 00:02:36,639 –> 00:02:41,240 where you need to trust and believe God’s revealed promises 35 00:02:41,240 –> 00:02:46,940 and trust God in regards to his hidden plans. 36 00:02:46,940 –> 00:02:52,639 Now, the passage that’s before us today really gives us a perfect example 37 00:02:52,639 –> 00:03:00,740 of how faith needs to be exercised and applied in particular situations. 38 00:03:00,740 –> 00:03:03,039 Most of you know this story well. 39 00:03:03,039 –> 00:03:09,240 Luke tells us about the occasion when Jesus got into the boat with his disciples. 40 00:03:09,240 –> 00:03:13,839 And he tells us that Jesus fell asleep in the boat. 41 00:03:13,839 –> 00:03:18,039 A storm came down on the lake and it must have been a severe storm 42 00:03:18,039 –> 00:03:24,940 because as the boat was tossed about, Luke tells us that it began to fill with water. 43 00:03:24,940 –> 00:03:28,539 He then tells us that the disciples wakened Jesus. 44 00:03:28,539 –> 00:03:32,539 It’s almost amazing to me that Jesus was still asleep during the storm. 45 00:03:32,539 –> 00:03:38,139 Only the Son of God could have slept through a storm like this. 46 00:03:38,139 –> 00:03:43,240 But the disciples wakened Jesus and they say in verse 24, 47 00:03:43,639 –> 00:03:48,440 Master, we are perishing. 48 00:03:48,440 –> 00:03:50,740 We’re gonna go down. 49 00:03:50,740 –> 00:03:53,039 This is going to be the end of us all. 50 00:03:53,039 –> 00:03:54,139 That’s what they’re saying. 51 00:03:54,139 –> 00:03:58,440 Notice they say Master, we are perishing. 52 00:03:58,440 –> 00:04:01,740 Here is the Savior of the world. 53 00:04:01,740 –> 00:04:08,539 Along with the 12 he has chosen to bring God’s message of salvation to the nations, 54 00:04:08,839 –> 00:04:14,639 The hope of the ages is floating in this one little boat. 55 00:04:14,639 –> 00:04:23,839 And it seemed to the Disciples that the whole purpose of God was going to go down and sink 56 00:04:23,839 –> 00:04:26,839 on this little lake. 57 00:04:26,839 –> 00:04:36,839 And Luke tells us that Jesus rebuked the winds and the raging waves and they ceased. 58 00:04:36,839 –> 00:04:42,559 And there was a great calm and then Jesus said to his Disciples, 59 00:04:42,559 –> 00:04:48,359 where is your faith? 60 00:04:48,359 –> 00:04:52,239 Now, the Disciples had faith in Jesus. 61 00:04:52,239 –> 00:04:54,899 They had left everything to follow him. 62 00:04:54,899 –> 00:04:57,880 They had been engaged in ministry on his behalf 63 00:04:57,880 –> 00:05:04,559 and Jesus is certainly not questioning the reality of the Disciples’ faith. 64 00:05:04,559 –> 00:05:06,299 The question here is 65 00:05:06,299 –> 00:05:10,779 why have they not applied the faith that they have 66 00:05:10,779 –> 00:05:13,940 to the particular situation they are in? 67 00:05:13,940 –> 00:05:15,660 Where is your faith? 68 00:05:15,660 –> 00:05:18,459 Why are you not applying it to this situation? 69 00:05:18,459 –> 00:05:24,140 Why are you not trusting me here in this storm? 70 00:05:24,140 –> 00:05:28,820 Now, every Believer knows what this is like. 71 00:05:28,820 –> 00:05:31,160 You believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. 72 00:05:31,160 –> 00:05:32,899 You really do. 73 00:05:33,140 –> 00:05:38,019 And you’ve proved Him faithful in your life over many, many years. 74 00:05:38,019 –> 00:05:41,320 You know that nothing is impossible for Him. 75 00:05:41,320 –> 00:05:47,140 But when an unexpected storm arises in your life, 76 00:05:47,140 –> 00:05:50,820 you fear this time it might be different, 77 00:05:50,820 –> 00:05:55,160 that this time you might actually go down. 78 00:05:55,160 –> 00:05:57,359 And Jesus asks this question now, 79 00:05:57,359 –> 00:06:01,720 where is your faith? 80 00:06:01,739 –> 00:06:05,480 Why are you not exercising the faith that you have 81 00:06:05,480 –> 00:06:10,660 in relation to this situation you are now in? 82 00:06:11,700 –> 00:06:14,899 Now what I want us to see clearly today 83 00:06:14,899 –> 00:06:18,519 is that faith must be applied. 84 00:06:18,519 –> 00:06:23,140 It has to be exercised in regards to the particular circumstances 85 00:06:23,140 –> 00:06:25,079 you face at any time. 86 00:06:25,079 –> 00:06:29,679 In other words, it does not work automatically. 87 00:06:29,679 –> 00:06:32,399 Think about the heating system in your house. 88 00:06:32,399 –> 00:06:35,239 It probably works on a thermostat. 89 00:06:35,239 –> 00:06:38,179 You set the thermostat to the temperature 90 00:06:38,179 –> 00:06:40,260 that you want to maintain in your house 91 00:06:40,260 –> 00:06:43,459 and when the temperature drops below 92 00:06:43,459 –> 00:06:45,640 the temperature that you have set. 93 00:06:45,640 –> 00:06:49,940 Well, your furnace comes on automatically. 94 00:06:50,920 –> 00:06:53,019 Now faith is not like that. 95 00:06:53,859 –> 00:06:56,679 It does not work automatically. 96 00:06:56,980 –> 00:07:01,179 It has to be applied, it has to be exercised. 97 00:07:01,179 –> 00:07:06,179 It has to be engaged and you do that as you trust God 98 00:07:07,019 –> 00:07:12,019 in relation to the particular circumstances of life 99 00:07:12,040 –> 00:07:14,239 that he is calling you to face. 100 00:07:15,679 –> 00:07:20,200 My van has an automatic transmission. 101 00:07:20,200 –> 00:07:22,720 I mean, it’s fine for driving here 102 00:07:22,720 –> 00:07:24,640 after all the land is pretty flat. 103 00:07:24,640 –> 00:07:29,579 I have to say though, it never feels to me like real driving. 104 00:07:30,459 –> 00:07:35,459 And when I go back to Scotland, we rent a car 105 00:07:36,899 –> 00:07:39,440 and I’ve noticed that when I get there 106 00:07:39,440 –> 00:07:42,579 as soon as they look at my American driving license, 107 00:07:42,579 –> 00:07:45,359 they say, oh, you’ll want an automatic vehicle. 108 00:07:45,359 –> 00:07:48,579 And I said, no, no give me the real thing. 109 00:07:49,660 –> 00:07:53,779 There’s something about engaging a gear with a clutch 110 00:07:53,799 –> 00:07:57,679 that just makes you feel connected to the road. 111 00:07:58,679 –> 00:08:01,720 And never more so than when you come to a steep hill 112 00:08:01,720 –> 00:08:03,880 and you go down through the gears 113 00:08:03,880 –> 00:08:07,799 in order to harness the power that is in the engine 114 00:08:07,799 –> 00:08:12,220 for the particular circumstances that you now face. 115 00:08:13,619 –> 00:08:17,019 Now, faith does not work automatically. 116 00:08:17,959 –> 00:08:21,600 It involves an intentional engagement 117 00:08:21,600 –> 00:08:26,339 in which you trust the Lord Jesus Christ 118 00:08:26,339 –> 00:08:31,339 in the circumstances that you are facing right now. 119 00:08:31,440 –> 00:08:36,380 And this is the question of Jesus, where is your faith? 120 00:08:37,719 –> 00:08:41,179 I have to tell you I’ve come to treasure this question 121 00:08:41,179 –> 00:08:46,179 in my own life, including the rebuke that lies in it. 122 00:08:46,400 –> 00:08:50,559 I face a challenge where I can’t see a way forward. 123 00:08:50,559 –> 00:08:54,679 I need to hear this question from the Lord Jesus Himself. 124 00:08:54,679 –> 00:08:57,479 Where is your faith? 125 00:08:58,520 –> 00:08:59,960 You believe in me. 126 00:09:00,859 –> 00:09:04,539 You’ve trusted your very soul and your eternity to me. 127 00:09:05,559 –> 00:09:09,020 Why are you not trusting me in this? 128 00:09:10,080 –> 00:09:14,419 Where is your faith? 129 00:09:15,359 –> 00:09:20,840 Now I want us to focus today on three situations 130 00:09:20,840 –> 00:09:26,039 in which faith needs especially to be applied. 131 00:09:26,039 –> 00:09:32,320 Some of you will know the book Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan. 132 00:09:32,320 –> 00:09:34,320 It was written in the 17th century 133 00:09:34,320 –> 00:09:39,880 and to this day it is still one of the world’s best-selling books. 134 00:09:40,840 –> 00:09:45,739 Bunyan pictured the Christian life as a journey. 135 00:09:45,739 –> 00:09:49,299 His main character was called Christian 136 00:09:49,299 –> 00:09:54,559 and Christian left his hometown that was called Destruction 137 00:09:54,559 –> 00:09:58,559 in order to go on a journey to the celestial city 138 00:09:58,559 –> 00:10:01,520 which was Bunyan’s way of referring to heaven. 139 00:10:01,520 –> 00:10:05,200 So his book Pilgrim’s Progress is really a description 140 00:10:05,200 –> 00:10:07,700 of what happens in a life of faith 141 00:10:07,940 –> 00:10:11,179 pictured as a journey from the city of Destruction 142 00:10:11,179 –> 00:10:15,140 to the heavenly or celestial city. 143 00:10:15,140 –> 00:10:16,960 And the main character Christian 144 00:10:16,960 –> 00:10:20,299 has many adventures on the way 145 00:10:20,299 –> 00:10:24,039 and meets with many fascinating characters. 146 00:10:25,020 –> 00:10:29,979 Bunyan was a very wise and perceptive pastor 147 00:10:29,979 –> 00:10:34,140 and he created characters in his story 148 00:10:34,179 –> 00:10:39,179 that really reflected the experience 149 00:10:39,599 –> 00:10:43,119 of believers he served. 150 00:10:43,119 –> 00:10:46,539 And one of Bunyan’s characters 151 00:10:46,539 –> 00:10:49,460 is called Little Faith. 152 00:10:49,460 –> 00:10:51,960 I’m sure he took that directly from the fact 153 00:10:51,960 –> 00:10:53,340 that as we’ve seen, 154 00:10:53,340 –> 00:10:54,380 Jesus said, 155 00:10:54,380 –> 00:10:58,380 ”Oh, you of little faith are no less than five occasions.” 156 00:11:00,059 –> 00:11:03,239 Now let me tell you Little Faith’s story. 157 00:11:04,340 –> 00:11:05,940 Little Faith, 158 00:11:05,940 –> 00:11:08,940 lived in a town called Sincere 159 00:11:09,940 –> 00:11:11,739 and like Christian, 160 00:11:11,739 –> 00:11:13,940 he decided that he needed to leave 161 00:11:13,940 –> 00:11:16,099 this town called Sincere 162 00:11:16,099 –> 00:11:18,460 in order to begin a journey 163 00:11:18,460 –> 00:11:21,440 to the celestial city. 164 00:11:22,359 –> 00:11:24,599 At one point in the story, 165 00:11:24,599 –> 00:11:27,539 Little Faith went down an alley 166 00:11:27,539 –> 00:11:30,659 that was called Dead Man’s Lane. 167 00:11:31,580 –> 00:11:33,020 It had been given that lane 168 00:11:33,020 –> 00:11:35,539 because of the many murders 169 00:11:35,539 –> 00:11:37,700 that had taken place there 170 00:11:37,700 –> 00:11:38,840 in the past. 171 00:11:39,900 –> 00:11:42,799 And while he was in Dead Man’s Lane, 172 00:11:42,799 –> 00:11:46,460 Little Faith was confronted by thieves. 173 00:11:46,460 –> 00:11:48,179 There were three of them 174 00:11:48,179 –> 00:11:51,380 and their names were Faint Heart, 175 00:11:51,380 –> 00:11:54,460 Mistrust and Guilt. 176 00:11:55,500 –> 00:11:58,640 Well, faint Heart was the first to speak 177 00:11:58,640 –> 00:12:00,380 in a very threatening way. 178 00:12:00,380 –> 00:12:02,820 He demanded that Little Faith 179 00:12:02,900 –> 00:12:04,900 give the thieves his wallet. 180 00:12:04,900 –> 00:12:06,840 Little Faith was so terrified. 181 00:12:06,840 –> 00:12:08,400 He didn’t know what to do. 182 00:12:08,400 –> 00:12:12,940 He just stood there absolutely frozen to the spot. 183 00:12:12,940 –> 00:12:16,539 And so Mistrust stepped forward 184 00:12:16,539 –> 00:12:19,380 and seized Little Faith’s wallet 185 00:12:19,380 –> 00:12:21,340 out of his pocket. 186 00:12:22,219 –> 00:12:23,299 At that moment, 187 00:12:23,299 –> 00:12:25,179 Little Faith shouted for help. 188 00:12:25,179 –> 00:12:27,159 Thieves! Thieves! 189 00:12:27,159 –> 00:12:28,619 And at that, 190 00:12:28,619 –> 00:12:30,419 Guilt stepped forward 191 00:12:30,419 –> 00:12:32,280 with a big stick in his hand. 192 00:12:32,280 –> 00:12:35,520 He hit Little Faith over the head 193 00:12:35,520 –> 00:12:38,119 and then beat him down to the ground. 194 00:12:38,119 –> 00:12:40,599 And then the three thieves ran off, 195 00:12:40,599 –> 00:12:43,000 leaving Little Faith 196 00:12:43,000 –> 00:12:44,559 bleeding 197 00:12:44,559 –> 00:12:47,260 in Dead Man’s Alley. 198 00:12:49,039 –> 00:12:52,280 Now, notice what happened to Little Faith 199 00:12:52,280 –> 00:12:54,000 in this story. 200 00:12:54,880 –> 00:12:57,640 He was threatened 201 00:12:57,640 –> 00:12:59,320 by Faint Heart. 202 00:13:00,320 –> 00:13:02,919 He was robbed 203 00:13:02,919 –> 00:13:04,359 by Mistrust. 204 00:13:05,020 –> 00:13:07,380 And he was beaten up 205 00:13:08,119 –> 00:13:09,599 by Guilt. 206 00:13:09,599 –> 00:13:14,500 Now, Bunyan here is giving to us a profound insight 207 00:13:14,500 –> 00:13:16,799 into Christian experience. 208 00:13:16,799 –> 00:13:20,260 Somewhere in your journey 209 00:13:20,260 –> 00:13:23,599 you’re going to meet these three thieves. 210 00:13:23,599 –> 00:13:27,039 Faint Heart will threaten you. 211 00:13:27,640 –> 00:13:31,500 Mistrust will want to rob you. 212 00:13:31,500 –> 00:13:36,280 And Guilt will attempt to beat you up. 213 00:13:36,280 –> 00:13:39,179 And when you meet these thieves 214 00:13:39,179 –> 00:13:45,119 you’re going to have to exercise Faith. 215 00:13:45,119 –> 00:13:46,640 First, then… 216 00:13:46,640 –> 00:13:48,979 exercise Faith 217 00:13:48,979 –> 00:13:53,159 when Faint Heart tries to scare you. 218 00:13:53,159 –> 00:13:56,000 Now, you’ll know what this is like in your own experience. 219 00:13:56,020 –> 00:13:58,940 You have perhaps an opportunity to serve. 220 00:13:58,940 –> 00:14:02,659 There’s something good that you would like to pursue. 221 00:14:02,659 –> 00:14:06,260 But Faint Heart holds you back. 222 00:14:06,260 –> 00:14:08,419 Fear grips you. 223 00:14:08,419 –> 00:14:10,400 You don’t want to fail. 224 00:14:10,400 –> 00:14:13,820 And so you don’t step forward, you don’t take a risk. 225 00:14:13,820 –> 00:14:17,859 You want to guard yourself at all costs 226 00:14:17,900 –> 00:14:22,580 against any possibility of failure. 227 00:14:22,580 –> 00:14:29,059 You remember, Jesus told us about a Faint Hearted servant. 228 00:14:29,059 –> 00:14:32,500 In fact, there were three servants who were trusted 229 00:14:32,500 –> 00:14:36,099 by their master with large amounts of money. 230 00:14:36,099 –> 00:14:38,299 Two of the servants invested the money 231 00:14:38,299 –> 00:14:40,780 and gained a very good return. 232 00:14:40,780 –> 00:14:42,580 And the master was well pleased, 233 00:14:42,580 –> 00:14:45,580 and he rewarded these servants. 234 00:14:45,580 –> 00:14:47,520 But you remember that Jesus tells us 235 00:14:47,520 –> 00:14:51,179 that the third servant was afraid. 236 00:14:51,299 –> 00:14:52,960 He was afraid! 237 00:14:52,960 –> 00:14:54,260 Faint Heart, in other words, 238 00:14:54,260 –> 00:14:56,659 was right there in front of him. 239 00:14:56,659 –> 00:14:59,460 Do you really want to take the risk of investing this money? 240 00:14:59,460 –> 00:15:01,659 I mean, what if the investment goes south? 241 00:15:01,659 –> 00:15:03,340 I mean, surely the best thing you can do 242 00:15:03,340 –> 00:15:06,179 is dig a hole in the ground and bury it. 243 00:15:06,179 –> 00:15:08,260 At least then you won’t lose anything 244 00:15:08,260 –> 00:15:09,919 and you won’t be embarrassed. 245 00:15:11,520 –> 00:15:13,840 And that is what this third servant did. 246 00:15:13,840 –> 00:15:16,359 Fear ruled him, 247 00:15:17,400 –> 00:15:19,919 he took no risk, 248 00:15:20,799 –> 00:15:24,520 he pursued no initiative, 249 00:15:24,520 –> 00:15:27,799 and he gained no reward. 250 00:15:30,719 –> 00:15:33,640 Now, what are you to do 251 00:15:34,880 –> 00:15:38,140 when Faint Heart crosses your path 252 00:15:38,140 –> 00:15:39,719 and tries to scare you? 253 00:15:41,479 –> 00:15:45,820 The answer is you must exercise faith. 254 00:15:47,119 –> 00:15:49,340 And faith responds to Faint Heart 255 00:15:49,380 –> 00:15:51,919 by affirming the strength 256 00:15:51,919 –> 00:15:54,599 that is yours in the Lord Jesus Christ. 257 00:15:54,599 –> 00:15:58,419 I can do all things 258 00:15:58,419 –> 00:16:00,539 through Christ, 259 00:16:00,539 –> 00:16:02,119 who gives me strength. 260 00:16:03,799 –> 00:16:07,159 So when you come to something that seems beyond you, 261 00:16:07,159 –> 00:16:09,020 exercise faith. 262 00:16:10,359 –> 00:16:13,559 Christ will bring you to places in your journey 263 00:16:13,559 –> 00:16:15,039 where you have no alternative, 264 00:16:15,039 –> 00:16:16,880 but to depend upon him. 265 00:16:17,059 –> 00:16:19,679 And faith grows when you see 266 00:16:19,679 –> 00:16:22,479 that what he calls you to is indeed beyond you 267 00:16:22,479 –> 00:16:26,780 and you have to trust him to give you what you do not have. 268 00:16:27,700 –> 00:16:32,179 Tell faint heart that Christ is yours 269 00:16:32,179 –> 00:16:36,119 and in him is all the strength that you need. 270 00:16:36,119 –> 00:16:38,900 Your savior is with you. 271 00:16:38,900 –> 00:16:42,419 And he who guards you will neither slumber nor sleep. 272 00:16:42,419 –> 00:16:45,940 His strength is made perfect in your weakness 273 00:16:45,960 –> 00:16:50,960 and his grace is sufficient for you. 274 00:16:54,359 –> 00:16:59,359 Exercise faith when faint heart tries to scare you. 275 00:17:01,179 –> 00:17:03,239 And then secondly, 276 00:17:03,239 –> 00:17:08,239 exercise faith when mistrust attempts to rob you. 277 00:17:10,119 –> 00:17:11,959 Now in Bunyan’s story, 278 00:17:11,979 –> 00:17:16,979 remember little faith was beaten up by guilt, 279 00:17:17,660 –> 00:17:22,300 but it was mistrust who robbed him. 280 00:17:22,300 –> 00:17:27,300 And of the two it was mistrust who did the greater damage. 281 00:17:28,219 –> 00:17:31,699 See, little faith recovered from being beaten up, 282 00:17:31,699 –> 00:17:34,540 dusted himself off for covered from his wounds 283 00:17:34,540 –> 00:17:38,680 and then pressed on in his journey to the celestial city. 284 00:17:38,680 –> 00:17:43,239 But since mistrust had taken his money, 285 00:17:43,239 –> 00:17:48,020 well, little faith had a much more difficult journey. 286 00:17:49,739 –> 00:17:51,520 Now, to be clear, 287 00:17:51,520 –> 00:17:56,520 little faith was and is, without question, 288 00:17:57,160 –> 00:17:59,280 a child of God. 289 00:18:01,079 –> 00:18:05,119 Even with little faith in the Lord Jesus Christ 290 00:18:05,160 –> 00:18:07,400 you belong to him. 291 00:18:07,400 –> 00:18:10,040 And God indeed is your father, 292 00:18:10,040 –> 00:18:14,180 and by his grace, you will make it home. 293 00:18:15,500 –> 00:18:19,719 Despite being beaten up in dead man’s lane, 294 00:18:19,719 –> 00:18:24,579 little faith, at last, arrived in the celestial city. 295 00:18:25,500 –> 00:18:28,079 But here’s the thing with little faith, 296 00:18:28,079 –> 00:18:29,979 his journey was not a happy one. 297 00:18:30,939 –> 00:18:35,540 Bunyan says he was forced to beg as he went 298 00:18:35,540 –> 00:18:40,020 and that he went with many a hungry belly. 299 00:18:40,020 –> 00:18:44,020 That is a great description of a believer 300 00:18:45,119 –> 00:18:48,959 who is robbed by mistrust. 301 00:18:50,439 –> 00:18:55,439 As a believer, you are rich in the Lord Jesus Christ, 302 00:18:55,959 –> 00:18:59,060 but mistrust can make you live 303 00:18:59,239 –> 00:19:01,260 as if you were poor. 304 00:19:02,420 –> 00:19:07,300 Mistrust took away little faith’s joy. 305 00:19:07,300 –> 00:19:11,859 It was mistrust that made little faith’s life 306 00:19:11,859 –> 00:19:16,500 and journey so difficult and often quite miserable. 307 00:19:17,400 –> 00:19:19,979 Now, what are you to do then 308 00:19:19,979 –> 00:19:24,260 when mistrust tries to rob you? 309 00:19:25,099 –> 00:19:29,060 Well, faith responds to mistrust 310 00:19:29,060 –> 00:19:34,060 by affirming the riches that are yours in Jesus Christ. 311 00:19:35,599 –> 00:19:40,599 You are blessed with every spiritual blessing 312 00:19:40,719 –> 00:19:42,839 in Jesus Christ. 313 00:19:42,839 –> 00:19:45,719 Even if you only have a little faith, 314 00:19:45,719 –> 00:19:49,880 you are loved, you are called, 315 00:19:49,880 –> 00:19:54,180 you are forgiven, you are redeemed. 316 00:19:54,199 –> 00:19:57,739 The Holy Spirit of God lives in you 317 00:19:57,739 –> 00:20:02,300 and you are destined for a life of eternal joy 318 00:20:02,300 –> 00:20:06,780 in the glory of the Lord’s immediate presence. 319 00:20:06,780 –> 00:20:10,780 So tell mistrust that Christ is yours 320 00:20:11,640 –> 00:20:15,660 and that all the riches that are yours in him 321 00:20:15,660 –> 00:20:18,000 can never be taken away. 322 00:20:19,020 –> 00:20:23,699 Tell mistrust my God will supply all that I need 323 00:20:23,699 –> 00:20:28,699 according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 324 00:20:32,699 –> 00:20:37,699 Exercise faith when faint hearts tries to scare you. 325 00:20:39,219 –> 00:20:44,219 Exercise faith when mistrust attempts to rob you. 326 00:20:45,060 –> 00:20:47,260 And then thirdly, exercise faith 327 00:20:47,260 –> 00:20:51,020 when guilt wants to beat you up. 328 00:20:51,819 –> 00:20:56,000 Now Bunyan says repeatedly in his remarkable story 329 00:20:56,000 –> 00:21:01,000 that little faith was a good man, a good man. 330 00:21:02,540 –> 00:21:06,540 He came from a town called sincere 331 00:21:06,540 –> 00:21:08,900 and like the rich young ruler, 332 00:21:08,900 –> 00:21:12,560 he was the kind of person who had sought to live his life 333 00:21:12,560 –> 00:21:14,859 according to the commandments of God. 334 00:21:16,260 –> 00:21:20,579 But when he started out in his journey to the heavenly city, 335 00:21:21,140 –> 00:21:26,140 he was confronted by this thief called Guilt. 336 00:21:26,660 –> 00:21:28,640 I don’t suppose that little faith 337 00:21:28,640 –> 00:21:32,780 had ever been confronted by Guilt before 338 00:21:34,079 –> 00:21:39,079 but when he started out on his journey, Guilt found him. 339 00:21:40,819 –> 00:21:43,439 And you know, that may be your story too. 340 00:21:44,459 –> 00:21:46,020 You’re a sincere person. 341 00:21:46,880 –> 00:21:50,000 You’ve lived a good life. 342 00:21:50,000 –> 00:21:52,880 No wild rebellion in your story. 343 00:21:52,880 –> 00:21:57,579 You were always a good student, always got good grades. 344 00:21:58,599 –> 00:22:03,599 But now since you have begun a serious journey of faith 345 00:22:04,260 –> 00:22:08,000 and you’re seriously seeking to follow the Lord Jesus Christ 346 00:22:08,000 –> 00:22:11,699 suddenly you find in a new way that surprises you 347 00:22:11,699 –> 00:22:14,560 that your own conscience is awakened. 348 00:22:15,780 –> 00:22:19,319 You see sins in your life 349 00:22:19,339 –> 00:22:20,719 that you never saw before 350 00:22:20,719 –> 00:22:22,079 and you’re beginning to discover 351 00:22:22,079 –> 00:22:23,420 to your own shock and horror 352 00:22:23,420 –> 00:22:25,599 that you’re actually not the little angel 353 00:22:25,599 –> 00:22:27,420 that you once thought you were. 354 00:22:29,839 –> 00:22:34,839 Now what do you do when guilt is ready to beat you up 355 00:22:37,359 –> 00:22:42,359 well, you exercise faith, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, 356 00:22:43,640 –> 00:22:45,339 faith in the promise of God 357 00:22:45,339 –> 00:22:48,839 that as far as the east is from the west 358 00:22:48,859 –> 00:22:53,859 so far has He removed our transgressions from us, 359 00:22:55,060 –> 00:22:58,079 you exercise faith in the promise of God 360 00:22:58,079 –> 00:23:00,760 where he says to you in scripture, 361 00:23:00,760 –> 00:23:05,760 your sins and your inequities, I will remember no more. 362 00:23:07,959 –> 00:23:12,959 Faith response to guilt by affirming the grace 363 00:23:13,819 –> 00:23:18,380 that is yours in the Lord Jesus Christ. 364 00:23:18,459 –> 00:23:22,780 Tell guilt that Christ is yours 365 00:23:22,780 –> 00:23:25,500 and that in Him you are washed, 366 00:23:25,500 –> 00:23:29,060 you are cleansed, you are forgiven 367 00:23:29,060 –> 00:23:33,260 and you are reconciled to God forever. 368 00:23:35,500 –> 00:23:37,020 So here are three thieves 369 00:23:37,979 –> 00:23:40,020 and you will encounter them 370 00:23:40,020 –> 00:23:43,239 in your journey through the Christian life. 371 00:23:44,339 –> 00:23:47,680 Faint heart will try and steal your confidence, 372 00:23:47,680 –> 00:23:48,719 fill you with fear. 373 00:23:50,520 –> 00:23:53,359 Mistrust will try and take away your joy. 374 00:23:54,640 –> 00:23:58,339 Guilt will attempt to rob you of peace. 375 00:23:59,680 –> 00:24:04,680 Resist these thieves by exercising faith. 376 00:24:06,359 –> 00:24:10,199 Tell faint heart that Christ is yours 377 00:24:10,199 –> 00:24:12,880 and in Him is all the strength that you need. 378 00:24:14,180 –> 00:24:17,239 Tell mistrust that Christ is yours 379 00:24:17,239 –> 00:24:19,459 and that the riches that are yours in Him 380 00:24:19,459 –> 00:24:21,300 can never be taken away. 381 00:24:22,699 –> 00:24:26,119 Tell guilt that Christ is yours 382 00:24:26,119 –> 00:24:29,660 and that in Him you are forgiven. 383 00:24:32,060 –> 00:24:36,800 God does not give us faith as a kind of toy to play with. 384 00:24:37,800 –> 00:24:40,579 He gives us faith because we’re going to need it 385 00:24:41,660 –> 00:24:44,599 and because He wants us to use it. 386 00:24:45,000 –> 00:24:48,439 Faith involves an intentional engagement 387 00:24:48,439 –> 00:24:51,260 in which you trust the Lord Jesus Christ 388 00:24:51,260 –> 00:24:54,640 in regards to the realities of the experience 389 00:24:54,640 –> 00:24:58,099 and circumstance that you’re actually facing now. 390 00:24:58,099 –> 00:25:00,000 Where is your faith? 391 00:25:00,000 –> 00:25:02,380 That’s the question Jesus asks us. 392 00:25:04,260 –> 00:25:08,579 Where do you most need to apply your faith today? 393 00:25:08,579 –> 00:25:11,319 In what do you need to trust Him? 394 00:25:11,780 –> 00:25:15,140 Now I want to end today with three encouragements 395 00:25:15,140 –> 00:25:18,219 for believers with little faith. 396 00:25:18,219 –> 00:25:21,099 I want to encourage those who feel 397 00:25:21,099 –> 00:25:24,119 that you’re only at the beginning 398 00:25:24,119 –> 00:25:26,380 and that your faith is really quite small. 399 00:25:27,660 –> 00:25:31,359 First encouragement for you is that little faith 400 00:25:31,359 –> 00:25:36,359 is infinitely better than unbelief, infinitely better. 401 00:25:37,359 –> 00:25:41,280 You know God invites us to believe. 402 00:25:41,280 –> 00:25:44,959 He says, turn to me and be saved all the ends 403 00:25:44,959 –> 00:25:46,140 of the earth. 404 00:25:47,119 –> 00:25:51,359 But He not only invites us to believe. 405 00:25:52,319 –> 00:25:54,459 He commands us to believe. 406 00:25:55,579 –> 00:25:59,680 Did you know that that God commands us to believe? 407 00:25:59,680 –> 00:26:02,300 1 John 3, verse 23. 408 00:26:02,540 –> 00:26:04,459 John 7, chapter three, in verse 23. 409 00:26:04,459 –> 00:26:08,339 And this is his commandment that we believe 410 00:26:08,339 –> 00:26:11,260 in the name of his son, Jesus Christ. 411 00:26:11,260 –> 00:26:12,239 His commandment. 412 00:26:14,479 –> 00:26:18,780 So, unbelief, you see, is not only a refusal 413 00:26:18,780 –> 00:26:22,839 of God’s invitation, it is a defiance of God’s command. 414 00:26:25,260 –> 00:26:27,520 John tells us that God did not send his Son 415 00:26:27,520 –> 00:26:30,400 into the world in order to condemn the world, 416 00:26:30,400 –> 00:26:33,300 but in order to save the world through him. 417 00:26:33,300 –> 00:26:35,160 And then he adds these words, 418 00:26:35,160 –> 00:26:39,780 whoever does not believe is condemned already 419 00:26:39,780 –> 00:26:43,140 because he has not believed 420 00:26:44,420 –> 00:26:46,400 in the name of the only Son of God. 421 00:26:48,140 –> 00:26:53,140 Unbelief puts you on a collision course with God. 422 00:26:55,459 –> 00:27:00,160 So, beware of a heart that becomes hardened in unbelief. 423 00:27:01,400 –> 00:27:03,959 If that is your position, repent of it 424 00:27:03,959 –> 00:27:06,959 and ask that God would have mercy upon you. 425 00:27:08,500 –> 00:27:12,819 Take care, brothers, says the writer to Hebrews, 426 00:27:12,819 –> 00:27:17,339 lest there be in any of you an unbelieving heart 427 00:27:17,339 –> 00:27:20,500 leading you to fall away from the Living Got. 428 00:27:20,500 –> 00:27:23,420 An unbelieving heart is a terrible thing 429 00:27:24,660 –> 00:27:27,699 because it not only refuses God’s invitation, 430 00:27:27,699 –> 00:27:31,719 it actually defies His command. 431 00:27:32,760 –> 00:27:35,680 And so I want to say that if you have just a little faith 432 00:27:36,619 –> 00:27:39,719 you are in an infinitely better position 433 00:27:40,719 –> 00:27:42,800 than someone who refuses to believe. 434 00:27:42,800 –> 00:27:45,800 Thank God for that little faith. 435 00:27:46,959 –> 00:27:48,099 That’s the first thing. 436 00:27:49,319 –> 00:27:51,959 The second encouragement is this, 437 00:27:52,880 –> 00:27:54,479 that not only is little faith 438 00:27:54,479 –> 00:27:56,160 infinitely better than unbelief, 439 00:27:56,280 –> 00:27:59,199 but little faith can grow. 440 00:27:59,199 –> 00:28:04,199 And that, of course, is the whole point of this series. 441 00:28:05,599 –> 00:28:07,420 And you may ask the question today, 442 00:28:07,420 –> 00:28:09,680 well, you know, what hope does little faith have 443 00:28:09,680 –> 00:28:10,920 against these thieves? 444 00:28:10,920 –> 00:28:13,880 How can he stand up or she stand up 445 00:28:13,880 –> 00:28:16,640 when his or her faith is only small? 446 00:28:16,640 –> 00:28:18,719 What can little faith do? 447 00:28:18,719 –> 00:28:20,319 And the answer to that question 448 00:28:20,319 –> 00:28:25,199 is little faith can do more than he or she thinks. 449 00:28:27,040 –> 00:28:30,380 Exercise the faith that you have, 450 00:28:31,280 –> 00:28:33,300 and God will give you more. 451 00:28:34,619 –> 00:28:36,640 But why should God ever give you more 452 00:28:36,640 –> 00:28:39,000 than you actually intend to use? 453 00:28:39,000 –> 00:28:40,079 This is how it works. 454 00:28:40,079 –> 00:28:44,000 God gives more faith to those who use the faith 455 00:28:44,000 –> 00:28:45,359 that they already have. 456 00:28:46,719 –> 00:28:50,760 And we have therefore seen seven strategies 457 00:28:50,760 –> 00:28:52,160 for growing in faith. 458 00:28:52,859 –> 00:28:56,300 You grow in faith as you seek God’s kingdom, 459 00:28:57,219 –> 00:28:59,880 as you get to know Jesus, 460 00:28:59,880 –> 00:29:02,699 as you worship, as you’re nourished by the Word, 461 00:29:02,699 –> 00:29:05,280 as you persevere, and as you ask of Jesus. 462 00:29:05,280 –> 00:29:07,280 And all of these are ways 463 00:29:07,280 –> 00:29:11,920 in which you actually exercise faith. 464 00:29:14,719 –> 00:29:17,760 Little faith is infinitely better than no faith 465 00:29:17,760 –> 00:29:21,260 but no believer should ever rest content 466 00:29:22,319 –> 00:29:23,479 with little faith. 467 00:29:24,520 –> 00:29:28,479 God calls us to grow in faith 468 00:29:28,479 –> 00:29:32,400 and as we pursue these strategies, by His grace, 469 00:29:33,520 –> 00:29:36,060 we will to be encouraged. 470 00:29:37,800 –> 00:29:39,160 The last thing is this, 471 00:29:40,359 –> 00:29:43,239 that little faith is saving faith 472 00:29:44,760 –> 00:29:47,699 if it is faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ. 473 00:29:48,859 –> 00:29:50,959 So if through this series, you’ve felt yeah, 474 00:29:50,959 –> 00:29:54,819 my name really is little faith, 475 00:29:54,819 –> 00:29:57,459 the good news is if your name is little faith, 476 00:29:57,459 –> 00:30:01,500 then your name is written in the book of life. 477 00:30:02,719 –> 00:30:06,959 Jesus saves all who believe in Him 478 00:30:06,959 –> 00:30:10,099 even if their faith is little. 479 00:30:11,800 –> 00:30:14,060 You know, there’s been a long debate 480 00:30:14,060 –> 00:30:19,060 in the history of the church about faith and assurance. 481 00:30:19,719 –> 00:30:24,160 Is having faith the same as being sure 482 00:30:24,160 –> 00:30:27,119 that you will be in heaven? 483 00:30:27,119 –> 00:30:31,719 Is it possible to have faith without being sure? 484 00:30:32,800 –> 00:30:37,119 And I think that our Lord Jesus repeated reference 485 00:30:37,119 –> 00:30:41,000 to little faith should make us cautious 486 00:30:41,000 –> 00:30:44,939 about identifying faith with assurance. 487 00:30:45,900 –> 00:30:49,500 Some believers will be surprised 488 00:30:49,500 –> 00:30:51,859 to find themselves in heaven. 489 00:30:53,319 –> 00:30:55,719 I had so many unanswered questions. 490 00:30:57,099 –> 00:30:59,599 I had so many doubts and so many fears. 491 00:31:01,140 –> 00:31:03,079 My faith was never as strong 492 00:31:03,079 –> 00:31:06,520 as I would have liked it to be and yet here I am. 493 00:31:09,099 –> 00:31:12,739 Little faith will arrive in heaven 494 00:31:13,500 –> 00:31:18,500 because we are not saved by the strength of our faith 495 00:31:20,160 –> 00:31:23,739 but by the strength of our Savior. 496 00:31:26,060 –> 00:31:28,079 Let’s pray together, shall we? 497 00:31:30,979 –> 00:31:35,979 Father, we are asking that you will increase our faith, 498 00:31:39,579 –> 00:31:41,760 that you will enable us 499 00:31:43,599 –> 00:31:47,280 to respond with faith 500 00:31:48,719 –> 00:31:52,359 to all the challenges that faint heart 501 00:31:52,359 –> 00:31:56,079 and mistrust and guilt bring in our lives. 502 00:31:58,579 –> 00:32:00,280 Help us, Father, we pray, 503 00:32:01,319 –> 00:32:03,839 that we may grasp hold clearly 504 00:32:03,839 –> 00:32:07,359 of all that is ours in Christ, 505 00:32:07,359 –> 00:32:12,260 the strength, the riches, the grace, 506 00:32:13,239 –> 00:32:14,599 that are ours in him. 507 00:32:16,420 –> 00:32:17,900 And thank you, Father, 508 00:32:19,020 –> 00:32:21,359 that those who trust in the Lord Jesus 509 00:32:21,359 –> 00:32:22,900 will never be put to shame 510 00:32:24,300 –> 00:32:26,680 and that even when at times 511 00:32:26,680 –> 00:32:30,380 our faith is small, our Savior is great 512 00:32:32,099 –> 00:32:35,239 and that he never fails. 513 00:32:36,780 –> 00:32:39,119 Therefore, grant that we may trust in you 514 00:32:39,900 –> 00:32:42,400 for these things we ask. 515 00:32:42,400 –> 00:32:45,479 In Jesus’ name, amen. 516 00:32:47,119 –> 00:32:48,380 You’ve been listening to a sermon 517 00:32:48,380 –> 00:32:50,780 with Pastor Colin Smith of Open The Bible. 518 00:32:50,780 –> 00:32:55,780 To contact us, call us at 1-877-OPEN365 519 00:32:56,079 –> 00:32:57,900 or visit our website, openthebible.org.