Stephen Mason Carlisle Christian fellowship 10 April 2016 The “F” word Stephen Mason Carlisle Christian fellowship 10 April 2016

FAITH

Well… 3 F Words F aith F ear F ailure

Faith Hebrews 11:1 [ The Triumphs of Faith ] Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Life HOPE FAITH LOVE

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God

Examples of faith The woman touching the garment Matthew 9:22 But Jesus turning and seeing her said, “Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.” At once the woman was made well. The four friends Matthew 9:2 And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.” The centurion Matthew 8:10 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel. Peter – water walking

Failure Who failed? What might be the failings?

Jesus Walks on the Water (Matthew 14) 22 Immediately He [l]made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. 23 After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. 24 But the boat was already [m]a long distance from the land, [n]battered by the waves; for the wind was [o]contrary. 25 And in the [p]fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. 26 When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out [q]in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” 28 Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”31 Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!”

He came to them Pass them by In the presence of the living God Moses cleft in the rock

they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out [q]in fear. Fear the enemy of faith Fear of the unknown Fear lack of control Fear of failure Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

 Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” He checks who He Asks for instruction The focus is on Jesus NOT walking on water He wants to be with Jesus He wants to know and trust him more

And He said, “Come!”  Can you recognise the masters voice? Spend time with him Know him Scripture – Witness - Spirit

Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. Got to take the first step Not likely to be the last step

Took his eyes and focus off Jesus But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink Took his eyes and focus off Jesus Gave more prominence to his circumstances Fear started to rule once more

Peter knew where he was safe He knew who he could call upon he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Peter knew where he was safe He knew who he could call upon Even though he may well of thought he’d failed

 Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him Jesus took hold of him Didn’t demand more of him said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Fear the enemy of faith Doubt the enemy of faith But doubt is not the failing Succumbing to it might be But there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus

Ephesians 6:16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Matthew 8:26 He *said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm.

Can you have more faith? Can you try harder to believe more? So what can you do? Get to know him better Learn Experience Trust Accept the gift Act on the gift

Romans 12:6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith

2 Corinthians 10:15 not boasting beyond our measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but with the hope that as your faith grows, we will be, within our sphere, enlarged even more by you We are called to encourage and build one another up

1 Corinthians 13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

Exercising our faith is placing our Trust Hope Life Increasingly day by day in God Motivated NOT BY Pride Effort Shame But by Love

But if you want to walk on water You’ve got to step out of the boat Step out of your comfort and into a closer walk with him and all the joy he wants to share with you But the storm might still blow around you

Indicators that the opportunity for a step of faith may be presenting itself: Frustration Compassion Prayer

But if you want to walk on water You’ve got to step out of the boat Step out of your comfort and into a closer walk with him and all the joy he wants to share with you But the storm might still blow around you