Walking By Faith: why bother

Walking By Faith

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Mark 5:21–24 NKJV

21 Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea. 22 And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet 23 and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.” 24 So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.

Mark 5:35 NKJV

35 While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”

Walking by Faith: why bother?

I want to speak from the theme "Walking by Faith" and from the topic, "Why Bother?"

If we were to think back and even look at the statistics of faith, many people, perhaps even ourselves, come to relationship with God through Jesus Christ out of our specific need in the moment.

-Fisherman business owners, brothers Simon Peter and Andrew responded to their need for a higher purpose and headed Jesus' call "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men" (Mark 1:17).

Matthew the tax collector responded to his need to redeem his life's focus and gain a more reputable daily agenda, and followed Jesus.

Moses responded to his guilt of murder and went with God in a more divine approach to let God's people go.

The Samaritan women responded to her thirst for validation and her need to recover from failed relationship after failed relationship (after failed relationship), and evangelized to others to come with her to see this man Jesus who could be the Christ.

Jairus, in our opening text, is one of the rulers of the Jewish synagogue.

(The synagogue was and is integral to Jewish faith, life, culture.)

Jairus was a man of status, position, power, influence...use to, in my imagination, having things work out in his favor.

Yet, today, Jairus finds himself in a situation he cannot influence his way out of. Have you ever been in such a situation where your credentials don’t help you? (Your education can’t resolve the conflict?)

Jairus’ situation was of a personal nature. It wasn’t professional. It wasn’t business. It was personal. In a professional situation the career may take a hit. In a business situation the business or company may take a hit. In a personal situation I take the hit.

Jairus was in a personal situation and taking a hit.

It is for this reason that I imagine Jairus comes as he does, when He does.

You see, the verdict was not out on Jesus. Saint or sinner? Son of God or son of the devil? There was a lot of debate and aggressive conclusions on either side. For sure, Jesus drew away the lime light and influence many of the religious leaders of Jairus’ day (and even today) are used to having to themselves.

Jairus comes at the last minute to Jesus. And Jairus comes publicly to Jesus. Jairus, to protect his identity, could have come to Jesus under the cover of darkness (like Nicodemus). But Jairus ran out of time, his situation would allow him to wait no longer.

But I’m not mad at Jairus. Perhaps neither are you mad at Jairus.

In the midnight hour, I’ve come to Jesus.

When I was out of options, I’ve come to Jesus.

When my back was against the wall, I've come to Jesus.

When no one else could solve my problem,I've come to Jesus.

When my reputation couldn't help me, I've come to Jesus.

Q: How about you? Have you ever had a personal situation that brought you to Jesus?

I mean, not a little situation. But a personal situation where you couldn't care whether it got out in public because you needed a solution right away?

You called up your prayer partners.

You posted on social media.

You sent your email out to you contacts.

You agreed to others spreading the prayer request.

There is an emergency. There is a crisis. The answer is not in your hand. So you begin to gather and grab hold to faith in order to lead you to a better outcome.

(I’m talking about walking by faith.)

Easton's Bible Dictionary says: Faith—Faith is in general the persuasion of the mind that a certain statement is true (Phil. 1:27; 2 Thess. 2:13). Its primary idea is trust. A thing is true, and therefore worthy of trust.

Hebrews 11:1 NKJV

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

"I don't have in my hand what I need, nonetheless I believe that it is there. That's faith."

Jairus leaves his synagogue, leaves his home and comes to Jesus in the midst of a crowd because Jairus is in the midst of a crisis.

Mark 5:22–23 NKJV

22 And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet 23 and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.”

Jairus is HUMBLE. Isn't it true that life circumstances have a way of humbling us?

(I just think about all that is happening for so many of us today.) Humbled by great trouble. Humbled by great success. Either way, I am outside of my ability to control all elements of the circumstance. I’m humbled.

Humbled, desperate, at Jesus' feet, Jairus begs Jesus, in earnest.

Jairus BEGS--"beseeches", "calls to one's side". Jairus calls for Jesus' attention to his personal scenario. Because if truth be told, sometimes it seems God is not aware of what's happening with me, in the personal spaces of our lives. Have you ever wondered whether God knew about your situation? Have you ever begun a prayer by explaining to God what was going on as if God did not know what was going on, perhaps because you legitimately thought, "God could not know what is happening with me because if He knew He wouldn't allow it?" Jairus calls Jesus to his personal scenario and explains to Jesus what is going on.

Jairus does this in EARNEST. Earnest--greatly, much, fervently.

Mark 5:22–23 NKJV

22 And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet 23 and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.”

In Luke's account of Jairus' story, Luke shares that this is Jairus' only daughter.

This makes me think of how Hannah is my only daughter and when it comes to raising a daughter I am undivided in my focus for she is the one whom I have. Do you have one of something? How does it change the way you interact with God? "This is the only academic experience I have. This is the only home I have. This is the only Family...Career...Relationship...Opportunity...Country...Gift...Talent...Money....Friend that I have."

There are a couple of things that stand out to me in this story:

Jesus goes with Jairus. Jesus is with you. God is with you.

John 14:16 (NKJV) “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever--

Deuteronomy 31:8 (NKJV)

“And the LORD, He [is] the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”

Matthew 1:23 (NKJV)

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

Jesus meets Jairus at the level of Jairus' faith. Jairus reaches out to Jesus in the best way he knows how. Based on the understanding and faith Jairus has he approaches Jesus and Jesus engages with Jairus right where Jairus is. Jesus begins to physically walk with Jairus on Jairus' journey back home. Now, Jairus is not just a physical being. Jesus begins a spiritual walk with Jairus. Walks with him mentally, emotionally. Know that God will walk with you where you genuinely are. No, Jairus did not have the faith of the centurion leader who said to Jesus

Matthew 8:8 (NKJV) The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.

Jairus did not discount where he genuinely was in his faith with Jesus. And neither should you. "I am sorry my faith is not as great as some people's faith. Nonetheless I'm going to approach Jesus from right where I am." Jesus will walk with me.

Jesus helping other people does not preclude Jesus helping Jairus and helping you. God remembers you.

(God is rich to all who call upon His name. Romans 10:12,13)

I’m going to praise God for how He is working in your life. And I’m going to keep the faith that God will work in mine. I’m going to be patient. My praise may not be loud but I’m not going to rush God through what He is doing for you. “Do it, Lord.” “And I’m not mad at you for approaching God when I am engaging Him. God is big enough for the two of us.” “There is no envy with me. God blessing you just shows me more of what He is capable of in my situation.”

Jesus is just as, if not more, concerned with the status of your/Jairus’ faith (in Him) as He is with the resolution of your/Jairus’ crisis and/or concern. God builds you up.

Mark 5:35–36 NKJV

35 While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.”

Luke 8:49–50 NKJV

49 While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.” 50 But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.”

Well meaning messengers bring to Jairus information and interpretation and prompt for Jairus, what I would call, the question of the hour, “Why bother with Jesus, why extend your faith any further?”

What I will say to the question: don’t confuse the journey with the destination.

Jesus interrupts the thought process, speaking to Jairus, “Do not be afraid; only believe.”

Why bother? Because God is not finished. This is not the end.

Romans 8:28 NKJV

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

My grandmother told me this scripture Romans 8:28 and some 18 years later, God is still working it out for my good. To answer the question: why bother? Because God is working it out. He’s faithful.

I agree with modern Psalmist Marvin Sapp:

I'm stronger, I'm wiser

I'm better, much better

When I look back over all you brought me through

I can see that you were the one I held on to

And I never, never would have made it

Oh I never could have made it, never could have made it without you

Oh I would have lost it all

Oh but now I see how you were there for me

Pandemic Praise (ISONG)

The goal is eternal life with God through Jesus Christ.

John 14:2-3 (NKJV) 2 “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if [it were] not [so,] I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, [there] you may be also.

So what do I do? Lean into faith.

How do I do that?

Walk with Jesus.

Memorize and recite His promises.

Renewing your mind with scripture to strengthen your spiritual core.

Romans 12:2 NKJV

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

This will enable you to walk by faith and not by sight.

Song: We’ve come this far by faith.