Applied Faith

Luke 8:22-25

Every believer needs to grow in faith, and Pastor Colin Smith identifies six key strategies for achieving this. These strategies include seeking God’s kingdom, getting to know Jesus, worshipping, being nourished by the Word of God, persevering, and asking Jesus to increase our faith.

Pastor Colin discusses how faith is like a muscle that grows as it is exercised. He draws parallels between faith and a muscle that weakens without use, emphasising the need to actively apply faith in various life situations.

The sermon includes a retelling of the biblical story where Jesus calms a storm, highlighting the disciples’ failure to apply their faith during this crisis. Jesus’ question, “Where is your faith?” serves as a reminder that faith must be intentionally engaged in difficult circumstances.

Pastor Colin uses John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress” to illustrate how believers encounter challenges that test their faith. Characters named Faint Heart, Mistrust, and Guilt represent the obstacles that believers face, and overcoming them requires exercising faith by trusting in Christ’s strength, riches, and grace.

Ultimately, Pastor Colin encourages believers that even a little faith is infinitely better than none. Little faith can grow and is sufficient for salvation if it is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Colin concludes with a call to pray for increased faith and trust in Jesus amidst all life’s challenges.

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.

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Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

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Explore the Christian virtues of faith, hope, and love. Listen as Pastor Colin shares practical ways to grow in these virtues, such as seeking God's kingdom, knowing Jesus more intimately, and being empowered by the Holy Spirit. Face life’s challenges with renewed spiritual vigour.

Colin Smith

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