Give Faith a Fighting Chance.

I was asked by Tom two weeks ago to speak this morning in his absence while he and Sonya are enjoying a well deserved vacation. The problem with having two weeks to prepare is that you tend to have so many thoughts come to mind about the subject that you feel almost obligated to include them all. Let me put you at ease from the onset — I will not include all of my thoughts garnered during the the last two weeks but I will share some that I hope will encourage you and build you up in the most holy faith.

You may recognise the words of my topic “Give Faith a Fighting Chance” as coming from a song by Lee Ann Womack entitled “I Hope You Dance”. It is a song that made its debut in 2000 and went to the top of the charts.

I Hope You Dance

Lee Ann Womack

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger May you never take one single breath for granted God forbid love ever leave you empty handed I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance Never settle for the path of least resistance Living might mean taking chances but they're worth taking Lovin' might be a mistake but it's worth making Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter When you come close to selling out reconsider Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance, I hope you dance.

Every time I hear that song, I hear not just a song but a sermon. I must admit that I don’t know Ms. Womack’s theology but I do know that she sung another song entitled “There is a God” that did not make it up the charts as “I Hope You Dance”, so, I’m okay with using the lyrics of this song to make plain my points.

We have just come through a series of studies on the book of Revelation by Tom and we know that the message of the book is one of victory. It is a message of conquest, specifically conquest by the Lamb of God and all those who put their trust in him.

Dance I hope you dance I hope you dance

Dance I hope you dance I hope you dance

Dance I hope you dance I hope you dance

In the book of Revelation, the angel wrote letters to seven churches in Asia Minor. Some received condemnation, some commendation or a combination of both. It did not matter whether it was a church who had lost it’s first love, a church undergoing persecution, a lukewarm church, one tolerating false doctrine, one entertaining the practice of sexual sin, or a church that appeared alive but was dead, they were all told the same thing - be victorious and you will receive your reward.

the book of Hebrews was written to

The book of Hebrews was written to Hebrew Christians who were struggling with their new found faith. The message of the book is plain. Jesus is supreme. He is God’s Son and greater than the angels. God who spoke to the prophets in former days, has in these last days spoken to us through his Son. He is greater than Moses. Jesus said of himself that he was greater than the prophet Jonah and wiser than Solomon and just as the people of Nineveh listened to Jonah and turned from their evil ways and the queen of Sheba travelled far to hear the wisdom of Solomon so to we ought to hear Jesus and be transformed by his teaching and wisdom.

The Hebrew writer then turns to exhort the recipients of the letter to stay the course. They are encouraged to keep the faith in the one who shed his blood to take away their sins. They are cautioned against going back to their former position and urged to persevere with confident trust in the great High Priest, Jesus Christ. They are reminded that this confident trust in the Lord has great reward.

Concerning the faith, the apostle Paul wrote in 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

In his exhortation to Timothy, he said 1 Timothy 6:12  Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Concerning himself, Paul said 6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

So, you get the picture, brothers and sisters, friends. We are not in a cakewalk but a fight, a good fight. We have a faith worth fighting for.

When I first heard the lyrics of Ms. Womack’s song, I thought to myself - how profound these words are! They are so pregnant with meaning that I soon sat down and analysed what possible meanings the sentences of the song could have on the audience. I immediately knew that the words “I hope you dance” were not talking about the Texas two-step, ballet, jazz, hip hop or any other style of dancing but, she was saying - when you have a decision to make, when it’s time for action, when faced with a critical or urgent situation, don’t just sit on the sidelines, make a decision, take action even if it is difficult. Folks we will be faced with many decisions concerning our faith as we go along. We will have many challenges to our faith with time. Some challenges will come as a result of good circumstances as well as bad circumstances. Some tests will come from within and some will come from without. I now have been made to understand that one of the writers of the “I hope you dance” penned it when she was going through a tough divorce. She was able to write down those words of inspiration at a low moment of her own life. These words tell of some of the things that can cause us to become less faithful and God forbid lose our faith altogether.

“I hope you never lose your sense of wonder, you get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger”. As Christians, we are expected to keep our sense of wonder at things like the virgin birth, the miracles of Jesus, the resurrection and the like. We are expected to hunger and thirst after righteousness that we may be filled. Sadly, there are those who profess the faith who doubt the resurrection of our Lord Jesus, scoff at the virgin birth and downplay the miracles. This is not only true for some who sit in the pews but also true for some who preach in the pulpits of the world. Paul, in his letter to Timothy, told him that the love of self, money and pleasure would cause some to depart from the faith- You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! NLT.

That brings me to the line which says “I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean”. One can be so puffed up with pride that everything appears small in his presence. One can have such an over-inflated ego that it diminishes the size of everything else around them. I think of the words to a popular song that says “you’re so vain you probably think this song is about you”. A person can put so much confidence in self, in his or her accomplishments, in his or her possessions that they think they no longer have a need for God. We live in a post-modern world where we have access to advanced technology, advanced education (we have colleges on every high hill and schools under every green tree) and some have become too smart for their own good.

says, “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.” and v. 10 says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you.”

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance, never settle for the path of least resistance.

Most of us can deal with little bumps in the road of life but it is the mountains in the distance that tend to sidetrack us. We can deal with a diagnosis of a bacterial infection for which we take a prescription of antibiotics but it is the cancer that needs radiation or chemotherapy that shakes our faith. We can handle not getting an expected raise on the job, but being told that the company is downsizing and that the job ends in two weeks is a bitter pill to swallow that disrupts our faith. Someone once said “When faced with a mountain, you can climb over it, walk around it, tunnel through it or turn back. Turning back is the path of least resistance but turning back is not an option for the Christian. Jesus said, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”

English Standard Version Chapter 10

37 For,

“Yet a little while,

and the coming one will come and will not delay;

38  but my righteous one shall live by faith,

and if he shrinks back,

my soul has no pleasure in him.”

“Don’t let some hell bent heart leave you bitter.”

As you go through life, you will meet some hell bent hearts. They may be strangers or they may be well known to you. They may be on your jobs, in your homes or even in the church. They will do stuff to cause you to question your faith. Think about the story of Joseph. He was sold into slavery by his own brothers-hell bent hearts number one. His master’s wife lied about him because he refused to sleep with her- hell bent heart number two. As a result, he was put in prison where he helped out the chief cup-bearer by interpreting his dream. He begged him to remember him when he was restored as the chief cup-bearer to Pharaoh so that he (Joseph) may also get out of prison. The chief cup-bearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him- hell bent heart number three. In all this Joseph being a God-fearing man did not get bitter. When he was re-united with his brothers, they feared he would harm them for what they did to him but instead he helped them and said “You meant it for evil against me, but God meant it for good”.

“When you come close to sellin’ out reconsider”.

Things can go so well for you that you forget who you are, whose you are, and who got you to where you are! You forget the God who was with you all the way and turn to worldly affairs. Sunday morning is no longer a time to meet with the people of God for worship for it clashes with your tee time at the golf course. You forget about the new life you have in Christ because you have a new life in pleasure. That my friends is selling out !

Moses could have sold out but he didn’t. Moses was living in Pharaoh’s household enjoying all that was available in a king’s palace but chose to be with God’s people even if it meant being in an uncomfortable position. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.

The three Hebrew men Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego could have sold out and bowed down to Nebuchadnezzar’s statue in worship. They had positions of privilege but chose only to worship the God of heaven rather than a false God. They chose to be thrown into a fiery furnace rather than bow to the false god. You know the story. They didn’t bow and they didn’t burn. A fourth man showed up in the furnace whose form was like the Son of God and the fire didn’t burn them nor was the smell of smoke on their clothing.

Daniel could have sold out. He was a high official in king Darius’ kingdom but refused to obey the king’s ordinance and prayed to his God three times a day with his windows open toward Jerusalem. He was put into the lions den but an angel of the Lord stopped the mouths of the lions.

These men stayed in faith and were delivered. We are called to stay in faith, to give faith a fighting chance so that we to will reap the reward.

When you get the choice to sit it out or dance ,

I hope you dance, I hope you dance.

Dance I hope you dance I hope you dance

Dance I hope you dance I hope you dance

Dance I hope you dance I hope you dance