#following is Faith

Intro

I know we have had several challenging weeks in a row, and honestly we need it. I need it. But as with all things, moderation is always important. So this week, we are going to scale it back a bit, and just be real about this thing we call faith.

Matthew 14:22–33 ESV

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

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Pray

pray

[pic collage of growing up] I am not the man today that I once was. I am not the same as I was as a boy, or as a teen, or as a young man. Facing now middle age I look at the world with the experience of life lived, successes that drove me on, and failures that have defined me.

And each step along the way, I was following something.

[talk about those things---worldly not faith]

[briefly go over my following friends...scouts, band, sports..]

[switch to faith...following a girl to church...questioning myself...Kate...Tony...Christ...always following and searching for the answers]

[forrestgumpwhatdowedonowpic] It is like the movie Forrest Gump. [explain]

...what do we do now?

It turns out we are sold this idea, mostly by pastors, that faith is found at acceptance. But faith isn’t found there. Faith doesn’t even really begin there! Not that is just another step. Another piece of the puzzle. Another lead to follow, another step to take, as we try to figure out this whole faith thing.

Matthew 14:29 ESV

He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.

But that step, it is the important part…[Peter being flawed but willing]

But that step, it is the important part…[Peter being flawed but willing]

Jesus didn’t call a perfect representation of faith to come out on the waters! He called an imperfect, and often misguided soul to get up and follow! But lets, not get hung up on that call - that is offered to every soul who has ever lived, including you and me - it is the response that we must take to heart!

Peter shows us, right here in this moment, that the imperfection of our response isn’t important. Our sure failure isn’t important! [talk about teaching kids/maybe teaching music...point is that failure is expected. Imperfection is expected. But the journey - every flawed and broken step - the journey from where we are to where Christ is, that is what is important!

#following is faith

Even all those things that I have started this year speaking out against, they too can be a part of our path, even a path toward faith, but they can only do that if we understand that they aren’t the destination!

That would be like Peter standing on the water, and assuming he had made it, only to find that when the winds and the rain of this life came, it was too much, and he sank.

But the good news is that the more we follow. The more our flawed lives call out to God and ask, “Lord, is that you?” The more we look for Christ and then step out in life toward His goals - the more we trust in Him - the more our faith grows.

[BeWilling] Just as life teaches us lessons, so too does our faith develop when we follow; even when we follow in our own flawed and different ways.

The whole trick, it turns out, isn’t that you do it right all the time. It isn’t that you are somehow an expert at this life, or this faith stuff. It is wholly and completely described in one of my favorite phrases - be willing.

Be willing to keep following even if you mess up. Be willing to step out in faith, even if those around you will think you are being hypocritical. Be willing to be molded. Be willing to change your position or your thoughts about God. But most of all, be willing to put your life in His hands! To step out of that boat, and give Him your moments! Be willing to give Him your heart - Here’s my heart, here’s my life! Here are all my moments, my doubts, my fears! I am going to take them, and walk them out to you on the waters of this life!

When we do that, church, we might find that we are sinking. We might find that life doesn’t look like we want it, and that our lives might seem like they are falling apart. We might not have what it takes to get there on our own right now, we might not have perfect faith - the kind of faith that makes us to walk on water. But as long as we are following, we have more than enough.

Here’s my heart

[pichere] Just as important, church, as long as we are following, faith will follow.

[talk about the song in context to sermon]...following becomes faith. That is the whole trick. Actually, I take that back. Following IS faith. It isn’t all of faith, it isn’t what faith is all about - I don’t mean that - but if you are following something, you are placing your faith in it!

Luke 4:14–21 ESV

And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

...we follow the very fulfillment of all Scripture; of God’s plan for the world! The on whom God’s Spirit rests! The one anointed to proclaim good news to the poor, liberty to the captives, sight to the blind, and liberty to all the oppressed!

...we follow the very fulfillment of all Scripture; of God’s plan for the world! The on whom God’s Spirit rests! The one anointed to proclaim good news to the poor, liberty to the captives, sight to the blind, and liberty to all the oppressed!

Church, we need to understand that Peter wasn’t placing faith in his ability to walk on water, but rather, he placed ALL his faith on the fulfillment of scripture! The very one who called to Him out onto those waters! Likewise, whatever is going on in your life, it isn’t going on because you are blessed, or cursed, or favored or disregarded - it’s just life! But there in that life, you have an option to follow Christ blindly - even if you have no faith! EVEN IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE YET! EVEN IF YOU SEEM TO BE FAKING IT TILL YOU MAKE IT! JUST FOLLOWING CAN BECOME FAITH! AND NOT ONLY THAT, CHURCH, FOLLOWING WILL BECOME A HABIT! FOLLOWING WILL BECOME YOUR STRENGTH! FOLLOWING WILL BECOME THE VERY THING THAT CONSTANTLY REMINDS YOU THAT THERE IS NOT ONLY A GOD, BUT THAT GOD WANTS AND NEEDS YOU TO FOLLOW IF ONLY TO SHOW THE WORLD THAT THERE IS IN FACT A PATH TO HIM; A PATH WE ARE ALL CALLED TO WALK! WATERS WE ARE ALL CALLED TO WALK ON! A LIFE WE ARE ALL CALLED TO GIVE TO OUR SAVIOR.

So keep following. Keep moving toward your Christ. Whatever you do, don’t stop! As long as you are following Christ, no matter where He calls you, following will become faith. And that faith, will make you whole.

[picofJesus’hand] And when life overwhelms you. When you think your faith is small, just look to the hand that is waiting to pull you out of the waters. Look at the face of the God who gave everything - the God who moved mountains just to draw you close to Himself. He’s all we must want and need church.

[Invitation]