Ira Baptist Church
January 11

      • Psalms 61.1-4KJV1900

      • Psalms 61.5KJV1900

  • Here is Love

      • Hebrews 12.1NIV2011

      • Hebrews 12.2NIV2011

  • Pass Me Not
  • Christus Victor (Amen)
  • Come Unto Jesus
  • Faith, when it falters, can be a tremendous collapse.
    I don’t want to do an exposition on fallen Christian leaders, nor do I want in any way to glorify or emphasize the tragedy that ensues when a prominent person is found out to be hiding a second life.
    What I do want to do is focus in, here at the start of this year, on the positive elements - the things that seem to be neglected in the case of someone slipping into sin.
    I want to look at the nature of faith - what is wrapped up in it, what it involves, what it looks like in the lives of us - regular people, following Jesus in our day-to-day walks. And, what it looks like when those day-to-day walks become less routine, more difficult, more momentous, when things come to a head or a moment of extreme duress.
    Hebrews 12:2 ESV
    looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
    There is an amazing illustration of that Idea found in Matthew 14.
    Likely you all are familiar with this account, and many of you may remember when we studied it together about 4 years ago.
    Read Matthew 14:22-33.
    The account of Jesus walking on water is recorded in all the gospel records, but this one particularly includes something beneficial for us - the account of Peter stepping out by faith onto the waves with Jesus.

    Faith involves knowledge, belief, and commitment. All three are involved in looking to Jesus in every part of life.

    Notitia, assensus, fiducia.
    knowledge, belief, commitment/trust.
    Jude 3 ESV
    Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
    John 20:31 ESV
    but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
    Proverbs 3:5 ESV
    Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

    Content - “I need Something to Believe In” - vs. 22-27

    The content of faith is what we believe - something to believe in. It starts, typically, with the basic gospel of salvation. The coming, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as good news for fallen mankind in need of redemption.
    It extends throughout everything the Bible teaches, found through careful study and comparing scripture to scripture to know what God has said. The Bible may not cover every explicitly every detail of life, but its truths and principles cover every part of life. As Peter said, through God’s Word we have all that we need for life and godliness.
    Go then, to our disciples in the boat on that night.
    Jesus had sent them out ahead of him to go across the sea of Galilee. He needed time to pray, time to rest, and time to be away from the crowds who wanted to set him up as a king.
    They had been toiling all night, it was the fourth watch of the night (3-6 am) by the time we encounter Jesus again. T
    Matthew 14:26–27 ESV
    But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
    Faith always has an object, and content - they are distinct but not separate. The object of our faith is Jesus Christ - the content of our faith is who he is, what he has done, what he has told us in his word.
    Romans 10:17 ESV
    So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

    Conviction - “This is what I Believe” - vs. 28

    Conviction goes from head to heart.
    Matthew 14:28 ESV
    And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
    Conviction says “I understand what is at stake here, I understand what Jesus is doing and saying, and I believe it.”
    Romans 10:9–10 ESV
    because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
    See that twofold cord of both confession and belief? Humanly speaking, that is how we first interact with the content of faith. That Jesus is Lord and that he was raised from the dead, in this case.
    For Peter, there is that same confession and belief. Peter was willing to put even his life on the line in this moment if Jesus was who he says he was.

    Commitment - “What I believe Changes my Life” - vs. 29

    Matthew 14:29 ESV
    He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.
    Question, “what would Jesus do?”
    a good question - but not always helpful when the “what” is more than we can actually do or fathom. When we are walking on a path that is totally sustained by his grace, and at any moment a step to the left or right leaves us faltering.
    Not, “what would Jesus do” as if he were a distant pattern to emulate and that’s it - we say “Jesus help me!”
    What would Jesus do? I know what he would do, he would walk on the water! But that’s not helpful right now - I was doing that and now I can’t, I don’t have the strength to do that. I need his help.
    Note, the commitment of faith is not a measure of personal strength of character, it is not a measure of some personal allotment of supernatural strength.
    Peter walking on the water wasn’t a display of Peter’s abilities - it was a display of Jesus’ power working in his follower.
    How might we scold Peter here?
    Oh Peter, you should have practiced more your water-walking skills! no...
    Oh Peter, if you hadn’t eaten so many of the bread and fish earlier you’d have been in better condition here! no...
    Oh Peter, If you’d have walked a little quicker! no....
    What is the point of sinking for Peter in this case?
    Matthew 14:30 ESV
    But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”
    And what is the rebuke from His Lord?
    Matthew 14:31 ESV
    Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
    Where are you in weakness that you need not to ask “what would Jesus do…” as you already know what he would do… but rather you need to look to him, who never leaves you nor forsakes you, and say “Lord, save me!” “Help, Lord”!
    When Jesus’ salvation and help becomes theoretical, then our faith and obedience becomes theoretical.
    Example, talking shop vs. doing the work.
    Example, collecting tools vs. putting them to use.
    Example, speaking of ideals and “what if’s” but seeing them only as distant mirages in stead of tangible realities by the power of God.
    Ephesians 3:16–17 ESV
    that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
    Ephesians 3:20–21 ESV
    Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
    Looking to Jesus - in every part of life.
    Not a picture on the wall, but a friend that sticks closer than a brother.
    Not a cross insignia on a necklace, but a good shepherd.
    Not merely a pattern to emulate, but a powerful helper and sustainer.
    Faith is one of those things that stretches and grows as it is exercised.
    Matthew 14:32–33 ESV
    And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

      • Hebrews 12:2NIV2011

      • Jude 3NIV2011

      • John 20:31NIV2011

      • Proverbs 3:5NIV2011

      • Matthew 14:26–27NIV2011

      • Romans 10:17NIV2011

      • Matthew 14:28NIV2011

      • Romans 10:9–10NIV2011

      • Matthew 14:29NIV2011

      • Matthew 14:30NIV2011

      • Matthew 14:31NIV2011

      • Ephesians 3:16–17NIV2011

      • Ephesians 3:20–21NIV2011

      • Matthew 14:32–33NIV2011

Ira Baptist Church
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