Visible Faith

1faith \ˈfāth\ noun

plural faiths \ˈfāths, sometimes ˈfāṯẖz\

[Middle English feith, from Old French feid, foi, from Latin fides; akin to Latin fidere to trust — more at bide]

(13th century)

1 a : allegiance to duty or a person : loyalty

1 b (1) : fidelity to one’s promises

(2) : sincerity of intentions

2 a (1) : belief and trust in and loyalty to God

(2) : belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion

2 b (1) : firm belief in something for which there is no proof

(2) : complete trust

3 : something that is believed especially with strong conviction; especially : a system of religious beliefs

synonymy see belief

— in faith

: without doubt or question : verily

2faith transitive verb

(15th century)

archaic : believe, trust

In order for faith to be seen there must be some action in the realm of faith by the faithful.

Visible faith says that we believe in spite of our situation! Others are encouraged by what they see!  Not by what we say.

Noah displayed visible faith

-          though it never rained (120 years) he spoke of it and never quit.

Joshua displayed it when he was asked to spy on Canaan his report was we can do it.

Daniel had it.  Even while being threatened by his superiors. He declared My God is Able.

Job knew of it.  When he lost all that he had and was so sick he could not move.  He said “Though he slay me yet will I trust Him!”

We know of all the prophets of old which displayed faith and trust in God and still have a problem exhibiting it in our own life.

Yet, here is a man set in the New Testament with remarkable faith which should encourage each of us as we examine his story!

His name was Bartimaeus.  He was a begger and blind!  His father was Timaeus.  I mention that because Mark does.  We know that Jewish custom was that Bar as a prefix in a name meant “Son of.”  But Mark makes it clear who his Daddy was.  How many of you know that Jesus can save you in spite of who your daddy is, in spite of your past.  His daddy name meant dirty, filthy, which gives us our first lesson in Visible Faith.

I.                    OVERCOME LABELS

A.      People don’t know you like you know you.

B.       You may not be what people want you to be, but you can be what Jesus makes you.

II.                  DEAL WITH YOUR SITUATION

A.      He didn’t blame anybody

B.       He used what he had

C.       Seeing is luxury

D.      He never threw in the towel

E.      Had more going for him

III.               IGNORE YOUR HATERS

A.      He cried all the more

B.       Keep calling on God

IV.                TRUST JESUS

A.      Let go and let God

-mountain climber cut the rope….He froze.  When they found him he was 2ft. from the ground.

He’ll:

-          Keep you from falling

-          Protect you from danger

-          Save you from destruction

-          Free you from bad habits

-          Deliver you from temptation

-          Release  you from fear

He Can:

-          Stretch a paycheck

-          Clear dreary skies

-          Open doors

-          Settle confusion