Faith is Your Superpower!

If I Had a Superpower…

If I had a superpower, I would probably want it to be the ability to fly. According to avid comic reading/watching fans, flight just barely makes the top 10. What would yours be?

Top Ten Superpowers (according to comics fans)

10. Flight – Superman

9. Teleportation – Nightcrawler

8. Electrical Manipulation – Black Lightning or Electro

7. Super strength – Hulk

6. Invulnerability – Luke Cage

5. Super Speed – the Flash

4. Time Travel – Kang the Conqueror

3. Telekinesis – Jean Grey

2. Telepathy – Professor Charles Xavier

1. Elemental Control – Iceman and Human Torch

Faith Is Our Superpower

Believers have a tremendous advantage over nonbelievers. We have faith as kind of like our superpower. When we walk by faith we are stepping into something that seems impossible to everyone else around us. But…we do it because we have faith that God is able to make the impossible possible.

I was listening to a podcast a couple of weeks ago and John Maxwell was talking about the reality of the faith that believers have. He was talking about the advantage of Christian leaders over the plain business leaders in the world. Maxwell said this,

What do leaders do? Leaders see more than others see and they see before others see. Everything we want, or need is outside of our comfort zone. They only way that we are going to get it is if we go outside of our comfort zone. We have to jump the fence. I think that is the edge that people of faith have. If we will move now, we are out of our comfort zone, I feel we will see opportunities that are given to us that will be absolutely astounding.

I believe there is personal truth in that as well as a collective truth. As a leader in this church, God has called us to save the lost and disciple the saved. There are some obstacles to that. First of all, many that are lost don’t know they are lost. Some that are saved don’t feel the need to grow in Christ and be transformed. Often the idolatry of this world seems more enticing than the lifestyle of the believer. Although these things are real, we have the power of faith to go beyond our comfort zone, to jump the fence, and to believe in the power of God.

Check out this story of one of the disciples, Peter:

Matthew 14:25–31 NIV

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Now, there are at least two realities of this passage. First, and what people often focus on is that Peter begins to sink. That is true. But let’s look at the second reality. Peter walked on water!

Faith is Powerful

Faith moved Peter from the boat to the side of Jesus. The original Greek helps understand what happened. The Greek word for walkedcan mean a couple of things:

1. “to go,” “to walk,” trans. “to tread”; “to tread with the feet,” often in a transf. sense: “to treat disparagingly,” even “to maltreat,” “to despoil,” - Doesn’t seem to fit

2. a strengthened form which in distinction from the simple πατέω denotes “treading down,” “trampling,” … Here again the fig. sense “to treat contemptuously,” “to despise,” is common, - Again, it doesn’t seem to fit

3. means “to walk around,” “to stay”.[1] – This seems to fit

The original Greek seems to suggest that Peter didn’t just take a step or two and then start to sink. He spent some time walking around. He stayed up on top of the water. It wasn’t until he began to see the wind that he started to sink, but it gave enough time for Jesus (who they thought was a ghost in the distance) to get close enough to Peter to reach out his hand to catch him.

I’m reading a great book by G Campbell Morgan called The Great Physician. He points out the fences that are jumped by the apostles. For example, John begins his experience with Christ with Jesus saying, “Come, and you will see”. That was the starting point. John did see. He saw a lot! He saw the dead raised. He saw the transfiguration of Christ. He saw Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane and In John’s Revelation of Jesus Christ he saw things yet to come.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show unto His servants, even the things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John; who bare witness of the Word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, even of all things that he saw.

Here we have the same word, the verb eido with reference to vision. Said Jesus, “Come, and ye shall see” at the very beginning of His ministry, and in the last writings he referred to the things that he “saw.”[2]

Everyone on the disciples began in simple faith in Jesus but they were inspired by faith to greater places, experiences, and works in Christ. Yes, I included “works”. Some might protest and say that faith doesn’t depend on works. Ok, I agree, faith can be misunderstood. It was Martin Luther who understood that we are saved by faith and faith alone.

Romans 1:17 NIV

For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

There is no amount of good works, money given, kindnesses offered that can save us. It is completely dependent on faith in Jesus Christ but you do have to accept His offering of forgiveness and believe that He is the Son of God.

At the same time, it is true that believers are called into a life of faith that demands a response to God’s gift. God expects us like Peter to get out of the boat. Like John to follow when Jesus says “Come and see”. Over and over again throughout the NT we find Jesus challenging people to have faith.

If we are going to consider faith, then we ought to also consider what James offers.

James 2:14–17 NIV

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

We could walk through the book of Hebrews and see faith in action through the lives of Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Gideon, David, and Daniel who were all commended for their faith.

Do you look good when you exercise? A marketing survey on the use of exercise clothing stated that less than 10% of the people bought the clothes for the sole purpose of exercising. This same survey noted that 35% bought exercise clothes for comfort and appearance only. Over half of those surveyed combined the use of the clothing for casual wear and exercise.

In reality, a jogging suit is more comfortable than a lot of the clothes we wear. But just wearing a comfortable and attractive exercise outfit will not make you stronger. Physical fitness comes to those who actually exercise.

This principle is also true for the spiritual fitness of the Christian believer. Outside appearances will not make you spiritually strong. You must exercise faith internally to be strong in the Lord.[3]

You see, God calls on us to step out of the boat and AND WALK ON THE WATER! He knows that we are like John who couldn’t see but God wanted to show him the revelation. ‌

Learning to Use Your Superpower

What is going to get you from where you are to where you want to be? [Faith] “is an informed trust in God based on His past track record of trustworthiness, not on personal intuition, personal revelation, guesswork, or a “blind leap of faith.””[4]

What is going to get you past…

· …The boatload of your past hurts? Faith

Ezekiel 36:26–27 NIV

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

Do you know the testimonies of the people seated around you? Many have come from brokenness but when they were saved, the Lord gave them a new heart and put a new spirit in them.

· …Your struggle with bitterness and unforgiveness? Faith

Matthew 6:14–15 NIV

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Your step out of the boat may be to forgive someone in your past. Maybe your steps are to trust someone today.

· …Your struggle with small returns in your finances? Faith

2 Corinthians 9:6 NIV

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

Your step out of the boat may be to begin to faithfully give to the church. It may be trusting in Malachi 3:10,

Malachi 3:10 NIV

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.

· …Your struggle with an uncertain tomorrow [retirement, aging, jobs, sickness]

Isaiah 41:9–10 NIV

I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Depend upon it, God’s work done in God’s way will never lack supplies.

- Hudson Taylor

Your step out of the boat will be unique but it will be confident if you keep your eyes on Jesus! Jesus did not scold Peter for getting out of the boat. He scolded him for not maintaining focus.

Faith is Ours to Use!

In the final analysis, our faith is relevant only if we are willing to put our lives on the line. Are you willing?

In 1958, America’s first commercial jet air service began with the flight of the Boeing 707. A month after that first flight, a traveler on a … propeller-driven DC-6 airliner struck up a conversation with a fellow passenger.

The passenger happened to be a Boeing engineer. The traveler asked the engineer about the new jet aircraft, whereupon the engineer began speaking at length about the extensive testing Boeing had done on the jet engine before bringing it into commercial service. He recounted Boeing’s experience with engines, from the B-17 to the B-52.

When his traveling companion asked him if he himself had yet flown on the new 707 jet airliner, the engineer replied, “I think I’ll wait until it’s been in service awhile.”

Even enthusiastic talking about our faith doesn’t mean much if we aren’t also willing to put our lives where our mouth is.

Are you truly walking the Christian walk or just talking the Christian talk?[5]

As Christians we have a great advantage over non-believers. We have the superpower of Faith. But, are you exercising it? Are you trusting Jesus? Are you willing to walk in faith with Him?

[1]Heinrich Seesemann, “Πατέω, Καταπατέω, Περιπατέω, Ἐμπεριπατέω,” ed. Gerhard Kittel, Geoffrey W. Bromiley, and Gerhard Friedrich, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1964–), 940–941. [2] Excerpt From: G. Campbell Morgan. “The Great Physician.” Apple Books. https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-great-physician/id1624127162 [3]Leadership Ministries Worldwide, Practical Illustrations: 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 2003), 47. [4]Nunnally, Wave. “Faith and Evidence – Enemies or Allies?” www.news.ag.org. Accessed Apr 22, 2023. [5]Leadership Ministries Worldwide, Practical Illustrations: 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 2003), 45–46.