RADICAL FAITH: Faith executes God’s plan (Hebrews 11:29-30) - June 14, 2020
INTRODUCTION
Radical Faith executes God’s plan. Faith is more than believing the plan will work. Faith actually follows through with the plan. Faith trusts and obeys.
“By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when
the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho
fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.”
Hebrews 11:29-30 NIV
I. FAITH WALKS TOWARD A SEA WITH NO BRIDGE
There was a tightrope walker, who did incredible aerial feats. All over
Paris, he would do tightrope acts at tremendously scary heights. Then he had
succeeding acts; he would do it blindfolded, then he would go across the
tightrope, blindfolded, pushing a wheelbarrow.
An American promoter read about this in the papers and wrote a letter to
the tightrope walker, saying, "Tightrope, I don't believe you can do it, but I'm
willing to make you an offer. For a very substantial sum of money, besides all
your transportation fees, I would like to challenge you to do your act over
Niagara Falls."
Now, Tightrope wrote back, "Sir, although I've never been to America and
seen the Falls, I'd love to come."
Well, after a lot of promotion and setting the whole thing up, many people
came to see the event. Tightrope was to start on the Canadian side and come to
the American side. Drums roll, and he comes across the rope which is suspended
over the treacherous part of the falls; blindfolded!! And he makes it across
easily. The crowds go wild, and he comes to the promoter and says, "Well, Mr.
Promoter, now do you believe I can do it?"
"Well of course I do. I mean, I just saw you do it."
"No," said Tightrope, "do you really believe I can do it?"
"Well of course I do, you just did it."
"No, no, no," said Tightrope, "do you believe I can do it?"
"Yes," said Mr. Promoter, "I believe you can do it."
"Good," said Tightrope, "then you get in the wheelbarrow."
This is a nice story …makes you ask, how often do we say that we believe
Christ can do it, but refuse to get in the wheelbarrow?
A. Faith does the unthinkable out of faith.
1. Israel knew God would provide.
2. God parted the sea.
B. Faith makes all the difference.
1. Egypt tried walking on “dry ground”
2. Egypt drowned because actions are not the same as faith.
3. The ground was dry because of faith, not moisture content.
II. FAITH ATTACKS A CITY WITH NO WEAPONS
“Jordan, a three year old boy from Rhode Island went down to the seacoast
to fly a kite. Never having flown a kite before, Jordan had obvious doubts. His
father assured him that all was well, and the kite would go up as planned. As
Jordan unravelled the string, and watched the kite go up, he was heard to say,
"I knew it would fly, daddy. You said it would." Simple statement, profound
implications.” - Source unknown
A. Faith understands a marching band can be an army in the hands of
God.
1. Horns
2. Pitchers
3. Shouting
4. Marching
B. The real world responds to acts of faith
1. The wall fell
2. Foolish acts of faith impact a world built on “absolute truths.”
III. FAITH EXECUTES GOD’S “FOOLISH” PLAN
“My husband, Ron, once taught a class of mentally impaired teenagers.
Looking at his students' capabilities rather than their limitations, Ron got
them to play chess, restore furniture and repair electrical appliances. Most
important, he taught them to believe in themselves. Young Bobby soon proved how
well he had learned that last lesson. One day he brought in a broken toaster to
repair. He carried the toaster tucked under one arm, and a half-loaf of bread
under the other.” - Edna Butterfield
A. Execution, not hypothetical faith.
B. Faithful execution
There is a result.
“Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to
trust and obey.”
CHALLENGE
Write down 2 times when you stopped living by faith after beginning in
faith? What was the result of your decision to stop being “faithful?” What do
you need to faithfully complete today and into the future?
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