Reaching Farther by Faith

Roy - Sing special

Last week I encouraged us recapture a sense of awe at the birth of the Christ.

It turns out that recapturing awe in our lives is important to our health and well-being.

I know the institution is suspect, but even a broken analog clock is right twice a day.

It seems that a professor at the University of California, Berkley, Dacher Keltner, has discovered the importance of awe in our lives.

In an article released yesterday, he says awe is important to us emotionally and physiologically because it stimulates the vagus nerve, which in turn, slows our heart rate, helps with digestion, and cools down the inflammation process.

He encourages people to pause and find awe in the things around us. Finding awe in things like…

Like the intricacies and colors of a newly bloomed flower.

Or watching a glorious sunrise or sunset — we certainly have some beautiful ones around here with the mountains.

Listening to music

Looking for people showing kindness or generosity.

Keltner said that a study they did found that as we search for awe, we find more of it.

And the more awe we find, the better off we will be mentally and physically — awe even helps cure narcissism — that is huge in our narcissistic society.

Psalm 33:8 (NLT) Let the whole world fear the LORD, and let everyone stand in awe of him.

Hebrews 12:28–29 (LSB) Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29 for OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE.

Prayer: Lord help us to stop focusing on ourselves and take time to seek You and be awed when we find you in every detail of life.

As we approach a new year, I would like to challenge us to do so with a greater faith.

Not just faith — but greater faith

Luke 17:5–6 (NLT) The apostles said to the Lord, “Show us how to increase our faith.” 6 The Lord answered, “If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May you be uprooted and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you!

Consider some Parallel Passages about faith:

Matthew 17:19–21 (LSB) Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast [the demon] out?” 20 And He said to them, “Because of your little faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. 21 [“But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”]

Mark 11:22–24 (LSB) And Jesus answered and said to [His disciples], “Have faith in God. 23 “Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. 24 “For this reason I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted to you.

Greater faith can remove a mulberry tree or a mountain.

Maybe you are facing obstacles right now or there are huge obstacles looming in the new year.

Obstacles that seem like a giant tree or an immovable mountain.

I want to encourage us to feed our faith — NOT our doubt and unbelief.

We need a greater faith such as Abraham had, a faith described in Romans 4:17.

A faith that can:

Raise the dead

And calls those things that are not into existence

We can that as we feed our faith.

Less Faith

Because it is TOO easy to go the other way.

If we put our walk with Jesus on autopilot our faith will NOT increase — it will decrease — in fact, neglect will cause us to completely lose out with God..

If we saturate ourselves with the things of this world and the people of the world our faith will decrease — NOT increase.

If we listen primarily to secular music

if we fill our waking hours with the entertainments of this world

our faith will fade.

If we read only the things of this world — the news, the novels, false science (true science validates God).

If we neglect attending AND BEING A PART OF the church,

Not just attending or spectating — attending and participating.

If instead of attending church and fellowshipping with people of faith, we hang around people who criticize, who make fun of, our faith.

People who hate or deny God.

If we constantly hang around fools

Because that is what the Bible calls them: Psalm 53:1 (NLT) Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.”…

If we hang with those people our faith will NOT increase — but it may disappear altogether.

Yes, we will witness to fools, but we don’t make friends with them.

And I am describing friendship as something more than a Facebook relationship.

You may have lots of acquaintances, but you will only have a very few friends.

Let’s make sure our friends are those who encourage our faith — not discourage it.

Let build relationships with people of faith.

People who will hold us accountable.

People who will edify (build us up).

People who will pray with us

Because we need

powerful force that calls believers to action and perseverance.

That involves trusting in God and calling things into existence that do not currently exist.

A faith that is grounded in the sacrifice of Jesus, which gives us a confidence to enter into God's presence.

We must, as Hebrews 10:23 says: hold fast to our faith without wavering, because God is faithful to His promises.

Additionally, faith is portrayed as evidence of things not seen, suggesting a belief in what is not immediately visible or tangible.

The texts also highlight the need for perseverance in faith, encouraging believers to spur one another on towards love and good deeds, and to continue meeting together for mutual encouragement.

Many theologians consider trust something that comes from faith.

It is an action we take because we believe — because we have faith.

As we approach 2025 let us do so with

Increase Faith by Reading the Word

To increase our faith let’s read the Word

Romans 10:17 “17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”

Increase Faith Through Prayer

Let’s be like Jesus’ disciples and ask for it.

Next Sunday we will begin a week of prayer accompanied by fasting.

Both prayer AND fasting is so important to increasing our faith.

Jesus modeled a life of prayer.

Prayer that acted as a precursor to the miracles He accomplished.

The more time we spend with God.

The more we surrender to the flow of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The more we listen to what He would speak into our lives

… The greater our faith.

Increase Faith Through Hearing Testimonies

Another thing we can do is give and listen to testimonies of what God is doing in our lives.

To do this we will have to be where testimonies of God’s power can occur.

That happens most often in church.

Our 14:26 service (based on 1 Corinthians 14:26“26 What is the outcome then, brothers? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has a translation. Let all things be done for edification.” … gives us a place to do thisd.

Respond to the Call

God is calling for us to respond to His call to walk in greater faith in this coming year.

To where the Hillsong UNITED song, Oceans, talks about going:

Out upon the waters

into the great unknown

Where feet may fail

Where fear may surround us

But where, by faith, the presence of the Lord is with us

I have always enjoyed the song, but this past year the Holy Spirit prompted me to re-examine it.

And as I did so, I was convicted that my faith is not growing deeper as it should.

Maybe like me, the faith you currently have likes comfort, predictability, convenience.

Maybe God is telling me (and maybe you, too!) that if I would be conformed to His will...

If I would please Him, I must go deeper, farther.

So that when the ocean of need gets really deep and

The waves of complacency OR fear rise higher and higher

Our faith grows stronger because I am abiding in the presence of my Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Sermon based on song: Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) Song by Hillsong UNITED

You call me out upon the waters The great unknown, where feet may fail And there I find You in the mystery In oceans deep, my faith will stand

And I will call upon Your name And keep my eyes above the waves When oceans rise, my soul will rest in Your embrace For I am Yours, You are mine

Your grace abounds in deepest waters Your sovereign hand will be my guide Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me You've never failed and You won't start now

So I will call upon Your name And keep my eyes above the waves When oceans rise, my soul will rest in Your embrace For I am Yours and You are mine, oh (And You are mine, oh)

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders Let me walk upon the waters, wherever You would call me Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander And my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Saviour Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Oh, Jesus, You're my God I will call upon Your Name Keep my eyes above the waves My soul will rest in Your embrace I am Yours and You are mine Songwriters: Salomon Ligthelm, Joel Timothy Houston, Matthew Philip Crocker. For non-commercial use only.

In 2025 could we dare to have faith…

To see people who do not have a relationship with Jesus start one?

For believers, and this may be you, who are not baptized in the Holy Spirit to be baptized.

That believers who are baptized in the Spirit will begin to walk in a greater anointing

An anointing that manifests the Fruit AND Gifts of the Spirit?

We can do this IF…

We go deeper in the Word of God

If we seek His face with prayer and fasting

If we will attend worship and develop relationships with people of faith.

Prayer: Lord, increase our faith.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit help us to

Go deeper in Your Word

Be more diligent and faithful in prayer

Gather with Your people in worship, hearing testimonies that increase our faith.

The Lord’s Supper

I know many of you were here for the Lord’s Supper on Christmas Eve.

We had 76 people!

Wow!

But as we approach the Lord’s table this morning, let’s do so not just remembering His sacrifice

But remembering what that sacrifice accomplished.

His sacrifice brought reconciliation between us and the Father.

That according to Revelation 12:11 we overcome the accuser of us and the rest of our brothers and sister in Christ through the sacrifice of His Blood gives us the power to overcome the accuser

As we approach a new year, asking for greater faith, I invite us to remember that death.

To remember His sacrifice.

We do that by observing the supper that the Lord instituted.

He said in Luke 22:19 … do this in remembrance of Me.

We have always used the bread of Passover for The Lord’s Supper.

This bread is called matzos.

It is the same kind of bread Jesus used to institute the His Supper.

This morning we will each break a piece off of one loaf.

1 Corinthians 10:16–17 (NLT) When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ? 17 And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body.

Jesus used matzos because, as you see ...

It is a bread without leaven (yeast) — Jesus was sinless.

Hebrews 4:14–16 (NLT) So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

It is a bread that has stripes:

It is a bread that has holes:

Isaiah 53:5 (LSB) But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our peace fell upon Him, And by His [stripes] we are healed.

Each of us will break off a piece without touching the rest of the loaf.

But, before we partake of the bread and the cup, let us prepare ourselves.

1 Corinthians 10:21 (LSB) You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.

1 Corinthians 11:27–31 (NLT) So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. 29 For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died. 31 But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way.

Prayer of Preparation

Receive Emblems:

You don’t have to be a member.

But I do encourage you to partake in a worthy manner — your sins washed away by the Blood of Jesus

Bread

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 (LSB) For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was being betrayed took bread, 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”

Prayer over Bread - Kevin Jenkins

End prayer with prayer from Seder:

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, who brings forth bread from the earth.

Cup:

1 Corinthians 11:25 (LSB) In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

Prayer over cup - Cynthia Broadhead

End prayer with prayer from Seder:

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.

Jesus IS coming back!

1 Corinthians 11:26 (LSB) For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until He comes.