Intentional Faith

NRSV - “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

The title of today’s message is “Intentional Faith”.

The title of today’s message is “Intentional Faith”.

To be intentional is to be deliberate about what you’re doing. To make a plan and carry out that plan to the best of your ability. To do it on purpose.

When God created, He was intentional about what he was doing. After every phase of creation he said it was good. When he made man, he said it was very good and tells us, when he saw everything that he had made, he saw that indeed, it was very good.

There are no accidents with God, he sees all, he hears all and he knows all. As we look at the world around us, does anyone ever ask yourself the question, “Where is God?” or “Why did God allow this to happen?” or even “Does God see what’s happening?”

And…the dysfunction and turmoil is not just in the world, it has infiltrated the church. The place that is supposed to be safe, the place you’re supposed to be able to find peace and solace and mercy and love. The place that’s supposed to accept everyone, yet, it has turned into something that is beginning to look, just like the world.

Let’s look at marriage. Marriage is supposed to be sacred and in the vows we say, “What God has joined together, let no man put asunder” meaning let no man tear it apart, yet, the divorce rate in the church is just as high as it is in the world.

Perhaps that’s the case because in our society of,

if it feels good do it, or

you only live once or

love the one you’re with, even if the one you’re with is not your spouse, or

when the cat’s away the mice will play, or

what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.

There are so many euphemisms for cheating on your mate and after all, the Bible does say that adultery is a valid reason for divorce and so the divorce rate inside the church is over 50%, just like the world.

And this phenomenon is not just relegated to the pews, it’s in the pulpit as well. I just finished reading a book by Betty Price talking about the letters and emails she gets from women involved in adulterous relationships with pastors and bishops.

Unfortunately, it’s not news to hear about preachers and pastors taking advantage of the sheep, sleeping with not only the women but also the men in their congregation and molesting the children.

Unfortunately many molesters and abusers are individuals who have themselves, been molested and abused, yet because of the guilt and shame associated with the travesty they’ve suffered, they’ve receive little or no help to overcome and so the cycle is never broken, instead it perpetuates itself over and over and over.

Intentional faith.

And then, while a suit coat and formal gown is not necessary to come into church, there is appropriate attire that should be worn. Now I know there are those who will say, “The Bible says come as you are.” but it really doesn’t, but the hope and grace and good news is that Jesus came

for the lost,

the down trodden,

the down trodden,

the poor in spirit,

the outcast,

the rejected,

the dejected,

the depressed

the sick

the molester

the homosexual

the adulterer

the fornicator

the prostitute

the cheater

the backbiter

the slanderer

Jesus came for the sinner, whoever he or she may be and, He’s paid the price for whatever sin they may have committed. There is no big sin or little sin—sin is sin; there is no half truth or little white lie, a lie is a lie and God hates liars.

So yes come in what you have, but be open to change. There’s a saying I’ve heard, “God loves you just the way you are, but He loves you way too much to leave you there.” God was intentional about giving you His best, why not give him your best?

The church is to be a spiritual and emotional hospital where people come for healing. In Jesus said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Jesus was intentional—he knew the plan, he knew the target and he followed the plan to the best of his ability, which was perfection.

The church, is to be a school where people come to learn what it means to be like Jesus, where people come to learn how to be like Jesus and, “Baby, just pray about it.” is not the answer.

We’re going to learn what Intentional faith is today.

Mass murder, was something that happened in post offices and work places and even on military bases and now it’s happening in our elementary schools and even in our churches. This past week, June 17 marked the four year anniversary of the shootings inside Emanuel AME church in Charleston, SC, where nine people including the pastor were gunned down in cold blood at the end of a Bible study, while they were praying.

The world is coming into the church, it’s coming boldly and unapologetically and without mercy. It makes you wanna holler, throw up both your hands, but faith—intentional faith says to stand in the face of the turmoil, the trouble, the trials and tribulations. When all seems lost ask yourself this question found in

35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”

But if you’ll continue reading, you’ll find the answer. It says…

“For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”

“37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The world is coming into the church, it’s coming boldly and unapologetically and without mercy, but faith—intentional faith says

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

So what is it you think you’re lacking? What is it you need? I’m here to tell that God’s got it, whatever it is, whatever you need, be it spiritual, financial, emotional, physical or mental.

Spiritual - Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Financial - You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

Emotional - He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Physical - “I will give you back your health and heal your wounds,” says the Lord.

Mental - For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Mental - For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

What kind of healing do you need? not only tells us about healing, it tells us what our response should be…and it says “O Lord, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone!”

O Lord, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone!

Intentional faith—is about doing what you do not according to how you feel. Faith doesn’t rely on your feelings. We can be up one minute and down the next, we push our bodies and minds to the point of exhaustion and yet there may still be work to do. Intentional faith doesn’t depend on your feelings.

Intentional faith is not displayed because of what anyone else does or doesn’t do. People will let you down;

not because of what anyone else does or doesn’t do, not based on your training

because they lack knowledge,

because they lack wisdom,

because they lack motivation and drive,

because they lack stamina,

People will let you down, well, because they’re human… but Jesus said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

Intentional faith is not based on your training. There are things you just can’t train for, things that only come by faith in and through Christ. One of our prayers says, “We are a supernatural church, composed of supernatural people doing supernatural things, for we are laborers together with God.” So by faith we know that all things are possible with God.

And because we know that all things are possible with God, we can with confidence thank Him for His presence among us, and we can lift our hands and praise His holy name!

To exercise intentional faith you have to know where to go when you need help. Our text recites the words of Jesus and Jesus says, “Come to me, not your mother, father, sister, brother, friend, or pastor, but Jesus says come to Him.

Copeland, Germaine. Prayers That Avail Much Commemorative (p. 289). Harrison House LLC. Kindle Edition.

Who is He talking to? “All you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens”. Is there anyone weary out there? Are you tired of all the things you have to deal with on a daily basis? We have so much happening right here in Love Christian Center, the world is coming into the church, trouble is coming into our lives boldly, unapologetically and without mercy and we must be able to stand. We do that by casting our cares on Jesus, because he cares for us.

When you get tired and your burdens get too heavy for you to carry, give it to Jesus, He can handle it. Not only can he handle it, he will give you rest. When there’s turmoil in your life, it causes you to have some sleepless nights and those sleepless nights carry over into your days. When you don’t or can’t rest it not only affects you, it affects those around you.

Not only are we to go to Jesus, he said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.” Jesus is our perfect example. He came and lived a sinless life, he showed us what true love looks like when he gave his life on the cross. We still have work to do, with the yoke of Christ we have help, we don’t have to do it all by ourselves.

While we may be troubled on every side, we’re not distressed

We may be perplexed, but we’re not in despair

We may be persecuted, but we’re not forsaken

9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

We may be cast down, but we’re not destroyed

All because we have Jesus to give us rest for our souls. The rest he gives allows us to overcome fear, anxiety, and uncertainty while we bast in the joy and peace of God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Then he tells us about his character, when he says, “I am gentle and humble in heart”. Anybody need a little gentleness. When your world is crumbling around you, when you feel like you can’t take anymore, look to Jesus and you will find rest for you soul. We can’t fix our lives on our own, that’s why it’s useless for those who say, I’ll come to church when I get my life together. If that we’re possible you wouldn’t need Jesus.

Come to Jesus with your messed up, torn down, raggedy life and allow Him to build you into the person you were meant to be and allow others to do the same. We can’t save anyone, we can’t fix anyone. God made them, he knows all about them and just like he has the plan for your life, he has the plan for theirs too.

Why are we taking his yoke? Because his yoke is easy and his burdens are light, it’s that way because He never lets go, he doesn’t leave you to handle things on your own.

So take your marriage, your illness, your children, your job situation, your bills, your family members, whatever issue, problem or burden you find yourself trying to deal with and give to Jesus, then with intentional faith, believe that He can and will work things out in a way that’s best for you.

How can you be so sure preacher? Because tells us that, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Now faith is active, intentional faith that believes despite what you hear, see, think or feel. It’s faith that knows God can do anything but fail and that in the end everything will work out just the way God intended it to.

Intentional faith may seem irrational, it may seem crazy, but I’ll be all that and more for Jesus. God said it, I believe it and that settles it. But it’s not my belief that makes it true, it’s my believe that makes it true in my life. What do you believe? Whose report will you believe.

Do you have intentional faith or is it conditional faith. If you’ve never accepted Jesus as you Lord and Savior, exercise intentional faith and make today the day you choose—the doors of the church are open.