3. Providential Relationships

PROP: God uses human relationships to help grow our faith in him.

Good evening church! Welcome to part three of our teaching series, 5 Things God Uses to Grow Your Faith.

This teaching series is designed to look at five ways God helps our faith grow; as your faith grows, your relationship with God grows. Two weeks ago, we started off by addressing the most important part of growing our faith: We need to make space for God. What are the things that need to be removed from your busy life? Social media, extra work, entertainment, or relationships. The promise is that as we make space for God in our lives, He will fill it.

Last Saturday we talked about the first one: Practical Teaching. Practical Teaching, the explanation and application of God’s Word in your life, builds trust in Jesus. As you build trust in Jesus your faith Grows. Hopefully all of you were able to read through The Sermon on the Mount this last week. In it you not only received information, but also the opportunity to live it out.

If you make space for God, he will fill that space with a steady diet of practical teaching.

This evening we are going to focus in a the second way God helps grow our faith: Providential Relationships. Providential relationships means that God is involved in bringing people into our lives that can have a meaningful impact in helping our faith grow.

I want everyone here to take a few seconds and think of one person who has had a big, influential impact on our lives…aside from a family member. Go ahead, take about 10 seconds here and think of someone who had an influential impact on your life. (10 seconds) Okay, by a show of hands, how many of you thought of a teacher or coach? How many of you thought of someone in your church? How about a boss, manager or colleague? How about a close friend, neighbor, or classmate? Here is an interesting one, anyone influenced by a random stranger or someone you don’t know? Very cool, thanks for sharing! Every single one of us here has been influenced by another person. You are who you are primarily by the relationships you have had over the years. Some of you here are followers of Jesus simply because a person influenced you.

So is it true that God is providentially involved in our lives? Is he actively involved in that way? If you get a chance to read in the New Testament portion of your Bible, pay attention to the word “called.” It literally shows up everywhere. I many of those instances it is referring to how God is actively calling people into a relationship with him, inviting people to put their faith in him. How does God “call” people? There are actually a lot of different ways, in fact, I would say that when it comes to God, nothing is off limits. Whether it’s creation, a beautiful sunset, a billion stars or a roaring ocean…all of creation calls us to look for a Creator. God also calls to us through the Bible. This amazing collection of books is miracle in an of itself. Just the fact that it exists is amazing, and that there is no other document like it in all of antiquity is a miracle, and to think that it contains God’s story, his purpose, plan and how we can be a part of it. God for sure calls us out to us through the Bible. God calls out to us through events. The historical event of the crucifixion of Jesus and his resurrection are two events which, by themselves are convicting enough to compel people to put their faith in Jesus. Historical, or everyday events are ways God calls out to us. The one we want to focus in on this morning is people: God calls out to us through people.

Here is an example of what I’m talking about. One of Jesus followers, a man we refer to as the apostle Paul, on one of his missionary journeys, came to the city of Thessalonica and started a church there. Later he writes this letter back to the church, there are actually two letters, first and second Thessalonians. Here is a small excerpt from the second letter.

2 Thessalonians 2:13–14 NIV

13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul states that God was at work in directing their journey, to come to the city and meet up with the people who lived there. God called out to them through Paul and his companions as they shared the Good News about Jesus. God called out to these people in this city through Paul and his companions, going and building relationships. God calls out to people, to us through people through relationships. Listen, it doesn’t matter who you are, what you have done, or where you are from, God is completely invested in reaching out to you to help grow your faith and to do that, he will probably use a person.

So, what does that look like? Well, when we need an example of how God works through people to grow our faith, probably the best place to look is…the Bible. It probably comes as no surprise that there are quite a few examples of God working through people to share or grow faith. I want to take you to one in particular. I’ll be referencing the events that take place in Acts 10. One of the big barriers that the book of Acts addresses is people groups. Jesus started with his people, people who were Jewish. But the plan is that this Good News is to go to all people of all nations. In Acts 10 we see how God providentially directed two people to meet so that both of them would grow in their faith. Because of time, we won’t read every word of the account, but you are invited to take some time today and read it through.

The two individuals in this account are one of Jesus closest friends and apostles, Peter and a Roman Centurion with the Italian Regiment named Cornelius. There could not have been two more different people! A Jewish, Galilean fisherman and a Gentile, Roman, soldier. God however is directing these two men into a relationship that will growth both of their faiths.

Here is how it happens. Cornelius is in the city of Caesarea, and he has a vision from God to send servants to go the city of Joppa and invite this guy named Peter to come be his guest. So Cornelius sends off his servants. While they are traveling, Peter is in Joppa and his goes to the roof of the house he is staying at and has a vision about food. The problem is that it’s all unclean food, food that a good Jew would never even touch. But three times God tells Peter to have the bacon, eat the pepperoni, enjoy the bratwurst…and poor Peter keeps telling him no. God keeps telling him that he has made these foods clean. The tension is real in Peter’s life. God is trying to grow his faith. Just as the dream was ending, Cornelius’s servants arrive and invite Peter to come with them to Caesarea to meet with the Gentile, Roman soldier. This is a big step!

I can’t imagine the awkwardness that Peter felt as he walked up to the front door of Cornelius’s house! Jews didn’t even dare to go into a Gentile’s home for fear of becoming unclean. Peter pushes through the awkwardness and enters in. After the introductions, and Cornelius falling at Peter’s feet, and Peter telling him that he doesn’t need to do that because they are both men and the some footing, Peter says this:

Acts 10:34–35 NIV

34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.

Will you say this phrase with me? “God does not show favoritism.” Go ahead, say that. I think we all needed to say that. Some of you really needed to hear that. You have felt like God is against your or that he is at least not for you. He’s only for the good people. Peter says it very clearly, God does not show favoritism…he is reaching out to all people.

Peter then goes on to tell them about Jesus, his death and resurrection and how he was a witness to all of those events. Then he says this:

Acts 10:43–48 NIV

43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

As Peter says this, the Holy Spirit shows up. One of God’s markers of showing his work and favor in the book of Acts is the speaking in tongues. When people praise God by speaking in other languages, languages they do not know. This is God specifically giving his stamp of approval on this barrier that has been torn down! It was a glorious day for Peter, for Cornelius and for us. That was a game changing day! Peter than says, these people believe in Jesus, let’s baptize them in his name, and a huge baptism service took place! Providential relationships! God uses people to help grow our faith in him.

What do we learn from this?

1. The Faith of Cornelius AND Peter Grew– It’s obvious that Cornelius’ faith grew. However, Peter’s faith grew as well. He now better understood God’s plan for the entire world to have faith in Jesus. What does this mean for us? When Jesus called us to go and make disciples, the expectation was that as soon as you came out of that water, you were on mission. Your job was to go and find another person to share Jesus with and ultimately baptize them as well. When we live our lives on that kind of mission, the faith of the person who is on mission grows…as well as the person who they disciple. God uses people to help grow your faith in him.

Challenge: If you want your faith to grow, ask God to lead you to a “Cornelius”.

2. It’s Going to be Awkward Before It’s Awesome

It literally took God showing up to convince Cornelius and Peter to meet, but even then it was awkward. I’m sure Peter hesitated before going in. I’m certain that Cornelius thought he was crazy for following through on this. It was all kinds of awkward, but it turned out awesome! I know that some of you are more reserved or struggle with relationships regardless. Listen, God knows you and your personality. He is going to put the people in your life who you are best suited to connect with, but that doesn’t change the fact that it will always start a little bit awkward. But we must remember that relationships are simply taking baby steps. Basic greetings, asking questions and getting to know one another are where it starts…and once you break through the awkward, the awesome can begin to break through!

Challenge: I will boldly share Jesus with one person this week…even if it’s awkward.

3. God Provides the Opportunities, But It’s Your Choice

There would have been a lot of good excuses why both Peter and Cornelius could have said no to the relationship. They probably would have had a lot of people tell them that it was a good choice not to pursue the relationship. But they trusted God, they walked into the awkward and their faith grew. I’m certain that you have a legitimate list of excuses why you shouldn’t engage in some of the relationships God has put in your life. Not to mention we are experts at talking ourselves into pretty much any situation or decision, but consider this: If God does care about growing your faith, then he most certainly is putting people in your life who will help that faith grow. If that is a true statement, then it comes down to you and your choice. Growing faith requires courage to step out of your comfort zones and trust the power of God.

Challenge: Make a decision today to leave your comfort zone if God calls you to act, someone’s eternity depends on it.

God uses human relationships to help grow our faith in him.

Former Muslim Zaine Abd Al-Qays shares his personal testimony in an issue of CT magazine:

My story begins in the Arabian Gulf region, where my tribe raised me as a devout Muslim. When I was a child, my father would wake me up at 5 a.m. so we could attend morning prayer at the mosque. Growing up, I was proud to be zealous in my faith. The first major turning point in my life occurred when my family moved to an English-speaking country. I hated it there. I had a conversation with my grandmother, who warned me, “Watch out for the infidels, and don’t befriend or associate with them; they are a disease on society.” I prayed for the death and destruction of Jews and Christians, the “atheists” who were unclean, equal to pigs and dogs, and not to be touched. My first conversation with a Christian man (who) came to our home bearing gifts—clothes for our family and a car for my father. He spoke to me with love and kindness. He even asked to pray for us, bowing his head and saying, “Father in heaven, I pray for your blessings upon this family. Show them your love, mercy, and grace.” It shocked me to see him pray this way while I was praying for his punishment. My Christian friends … invited me to a church service for prayer and support. Entering the church, I experienced a strange sensation: As people began praising God, I felt an overwhelming surge of emotion and fell to my knees. I felt helpless and weak—but also as if someone was assuring me that everything would work out. After the service, I received a Bible and … days later, I started reading the New Testament and fell in love with the character of Jesus. As a Muslim, I knew of Jesus, but I was unfamiliar with the miracles he had performed and the claims he had made about his status as God’s Son. Within months, I had read the Bible in its entirety. The more I read, the more I saw God as my true and loving Father. God’s Word spoke to all the difficult situations in my life, to my many fears and anxieties. I knew that whenever I opened the Bible, I would feel God’s comfort. One day I went up to my room, locked the door, fell on my face, and prayed to God, telling him I would put my trust in Christ as Lord and Savior.

God uses human relationships to help grow our faith in him.