Faith at Work

The Jesus Call

Last week we discussed

last week we

My, Your, Our-FAITH

FAITH

The creed’s that we prescribe to in order to tell the faith story. The simplest one being found in the first commandment .

Exodus 20:3 NIV

“You shall have no other gods before me.

or in the basic New Testament creed of “I Believe In Jesus the risen Son of God” Alongside this is the question that can be raised on how we see ourselves in the sight of God. Paul states in .

Romans 3:23 NIV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

We are likely to say that we are a work in progress. While Paul goes on to affirm that in the action of the cross Jesus died to take our weakness and sin forever to complete Gods plan we continue to cling to the need to reach perfection at some point in the future which means that we seem destined to short circuit Gods plan.

in order to keep moving with God we need to keep taking a step in faith

As we know Peter had been fishing all night , he came from a family of professional fisherman his father and before him his grandfather - fishing was the family trade - it was in the blood so to speak

After Jesus had spoken he tells peter to put down the nets again .

Luke 5:4–5 NIV

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

But because you say I will let the nets down. As a professional fisherman everything in Peters mind said don’t

be silly I have been fishing here all night without success - however because you say so I will.

What if Noah had said no i will not build the arc

Abraham had said no to the walkabout

Moses said no at the burning bush

What if Jesus had said no to the Cross

However in each case no matter who it like Peter the response was YES - because you say so I will

We can stand on the ground of reason and fact or we can stand on the ground of faith.

We need to be crystal clear here we are involved in a spiritual battle . We are being asked to recognize a distinction and make a choice

Ephesians 6:12 NIV

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Ephesians 6:12 NIV

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Ephesians 6:12 NIV

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

A choice like Peter say the word and i will

As it has been noted over the years that temptation is a natural part of being a Christian as it means we are being challenged by Satan to stand aside from our faith, either by submitting to the temptation, or believing that we are not worthy enough for God. After all we tell ourselves that we are a work in progress.

The problem or difficulty with this is the reality that we cannot find this concept in the bible. There is nowhere that God says that we are a work in progress We are told in a number of ways that we are complete

We only have to look at some of the songs we sing and words like

The

We are family we are one

therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return

there is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus.

Amazing grace how sweet the song that saved a wretch like me

After communion we will along with some verses sing these words

This the pow'r of the cross Christ became sin for us took the blame bore the wrath We stand forgiven at the cross

Christ became sin for us

Christ became sin for us

Took the blame bore the wrath

We stand forgiven at the cross

I stands as a statement at the sharp point of Gods mission that Jesus undertakes

We do not stand partly forgiven

we are not in a line of sinners waiting to be served

The bible in word - actually in Jesus words state in no uncertain terms we are forgiven. Not only do we have it and we pray it every time we say the Lords prayer, we have Jesus appearing in the upper room after the resurrection and telling the disciples

.

John 20:23 NIV

If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Peter says “Because you say so I will let down the nets”

Faith takes what seems to be impossible and makes it happen. It takes conventional wisdom and facts and sweeps them aside

Satan spends a lot of his time getting us to question values, to challenge what we truly believe, and seeking gto convince us that he does not exist

Yet Jesus spends considerable time with Teaching, healings and miracles, and the direct confrontation with Satan in the desert showing us that he as the Son of God has the power.

Even although Peter is told at point .

Matthew 16:23 NIV

Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

and he goes on to deny him he is called and forgiven.

Note what Jesus says to Peter in verse 23 you do not have the concerns of God, but merely human concerns

We can stand on the ground of reason and fact or we can stand on the ground of faith.

Reason and Fact = World thinking

Faith = God thinking

Where are we going to place our concerns? and our thinking?