Only Believe

Text: Mark 5:21-24 & 35-43

Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)

Date Preached - (03/29/98)

Introduction:    Today’s Topic - Faith Vs. Fear

They are Opposites, They are Enemies

(Rom 14:23 KJV)  And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Give context of the raising of Jairus’ Daughter.

In one sentence, Jesus rebukes fear and encourages faith

Vs. 36  - “Be not afraid, only believe!”

Jairus’ fear was intercepted by faith.

ILLUS: Faith on one side of the scale will outweigh 100 good reasons for fear placed on the other side.

Applications are numerous.  I’ll suggest a few.

·         Applications for the Individual

·         Applications for the Family

·         Applications to the Lord’s Work.

You can be driven by despair or drawn by trust.  But you make the choice!

I. The Shadow of Fear

Fear casts an awful dark shadow, but it is still a shadow, There is very little substance to it in most cases.

80% of our worst fears never come to pass.

II Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

What is that causes fear?  From what sources does it’s shadow loom over us?

Three causes of fear in no particular order.

A. Man

Vs. 35

Men came with the sad news that Jairus daughter was dead.  They told him not to “trouble the Master any further”.

The Message of men can cause us to fear.  The perception, viewpoint or opinion of men can cause us to falter in our Christian walk.

Men may also bring pressure and even persecution to bear, but our trust must be in the Lord.

(Mat 10:28 KJV)  And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

B. Mockery

Vs. 39-40

They did not believe (or understand) when Jesus said the child was not dead, but sleeping.

Cf John 11:21-26

Lazarus’ Sister Martha in conversation with Jesus

C. Mortality

Vs. 23

It is normal for children to bury their parents, not the other way around.

Vs. 35  “Thy Daughter is Dead”

We all die.

(Heb 9:27 KJV)  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Psalm 23 “the valley of the SHADOW of death.”

In Christ, the sting of death is gone.

(1 Cor 15:54 KJV)  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

(1 Cor 15:55 KJV)  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

(1 Cor 15:56 KJV)  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

(1 Cor 15:57 KJV)  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

(1 Cor 15:58 KJV)  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

II. The Source of Faith

Faith can be no stronger than its source.

Christ said “Only believe”.....

In What?

Yourself -

Money

Government

Earthly wisdom

No, No!! A Thousand Times No!!!

Only believe...in Me (Christ)

A. In His Person

His Authority

(John 8:24 KJV)  I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

B. In His Power

·         Over the Storm - Ch. 4

·         Over Satan - Ch.5

·         Over Sin - Ch. 3

·         Over Sickness & Death - Ch. 5

His power over spiritual death is more powerful.

(Eph 2:1 KJV)  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins:

C. In His Purpose

Even when it looked the worst,  For all Jairus knew, Jesus could do the impossible.

To bring the young girl back to life.

Conclusion:    

O FOR A FAITH THAT WILL NOT SHRINK

O for a faith that will not shrink,

Tho' pressed by ev'ry foe,

That will not tremble on the brink

Of any earthly woe !

That will not murmur or complain

Beneath the chastening rod,

But, in the hour of grief or pain,

Will lean upon its God:

A faith that shines more bright and clear

When tempests rage without;

That seas of trouble cannot drown,

Nor Satan's arts beguile;

Lord, give us such a faith as this,

And then, whate'er may come,

We'll taste, e'en here, the hallowed bliss

Of an eternal home.

--William H. Bathurst 1831