Mustard seeds Unless otherwise indicated, bible quotes are taken from the Holy Bible, New...

BELIEVE TRUST FAITH

Mustard seeds

Unless otherwise indicated, bible quotes are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Faith is Essential

• “God gave his one and only Son, so that whoever trusts and believes (lit. ‘believes in’) him will not perish but have everlasting life” Jn 3:16

• “The one who trusts and believes (lit. ‘believes in’) me will do the same things that I do, and greater things” Jn 14:12

OUTLINE

A. Definitions

B. How can we Develop Trust in God?1. Understanding God (3 ways)2. Trying out what God says

C. Faith shows as Action

D. Why Faith Fails:Wrong understanding, Negative view of God

Misplaced faith, Half-hearted effort, Fear

E. Fear

A. Definitions

Pisteuō

Believe

Trust Faith

“Believe”, “trust” and “faith” are all the same word in Greek.

pisteuō (verb) 134x = to believe 119x = to trust 4x

= to put faith 6x

pistis (noun) 24x = Belief = Trust = Faith 23x

We trust a person’s character, and believe specific things they say.

Pisteuō

(Pisteuō 2)

Pisteuō en,Pisteuō eis

English ‘believe in’ is weaker, often just mental assent

= lit. ‘believe in’ = trust and believe (someone) with the implication of acting accordingly

Pisteuō

Believe

Trust Faith

Pisteuō: Trust is how we view God’s character

POWERFUL

Is he able to help me?

“But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Mk 9:22-23 eg 1993; locum work

KIND

Does he want to help me?

“Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Mt 8:2-4eg nice wife; lifestyle since 2002

TRUTHFUL

Can I believe what he says?

“If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?” Jn 5:46-47eg 2009 Jesus is intelligent and makes sense

?

POWERFUL

Is he able to help me?

KIND

Does he want to help me?

TRUTHFUL

Can I believe what he says?

?

TELLS THE TRUTH

Gives true facts

DIRECTIONS ARE TRUSTWORTHY

Keeps his promises;his instructions work out well eventually

Pisteuō: Trusting what God says

Pisteuō: Believing what God says

TELLS THE TRUTH

Gives true facts

eg everything I know about the Father, the Kingdom and eternal life comes from Jesus’ words

DIRECTIONS ARE TRUSTWORTHY

Keeps his promises;his instructions work out well eventually

“Blessed rather are those who hear what God says and obey it” Lk 11:28eg call to Africa, Zambia 2010

“If you love me, you will obey what I command, and I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth” Jn 14:15-17eg confirmed in 1993

?

POWERFUL

KIND

TRUTHFUL

POWERFUL

NASTY

LIES

God’s Kingdom runs on

Trust and Understanding

Satan’s kingdom runs on

Fear and Deception, confusion

GOD

Satan

I need to know and stay close to God and trust him more than I fear men and evil and Satan

Dynamics of God’s Kingdom vs Satan’s

God

Judgment

Judgment

Judgment

Very kind

Kind

Basic kindness

GodSatan

Judgment

Judgment

Judgment

Very kind

Kind

Basic kindness

Veryharmful

HarmfulLimitedharm

B. How can we Develop Trust in God?

How can we develop trust in God?

1. Understanding God better

2. Trying Out What God Says

How can we develop trust in God?

1. Understanding God better through:a. Jesus’ teachings and revelations in the gospels.

b. Other people’s experiences of God (if successful!) eg Rees Howells, Bakers’ stories

c. My own experience with God and Holy Spirit. Most convincing. eg “Graham my son”, locum lifestyle, vownice wife, name change

All build a picture of God in my heart and mind

(How Can We Develop Trust in God? 2)

2. By trying out what God says.

“My teaching is not my own; it comes from him who sent me. If anyone chooses to do what God wants, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own” Jn 7:16-17

eg 1993; last $4 in 2001; Zambia 2010

Well-founded risk + Hope Confidence and Trust

?

C. Faith shows in our Actions

Our faith is shown by our actions

Believing his words Not believing his words

Peter getting out of the boat when Jesus said “come” Mt 14:29Letting down the net one more time when Jesus said to Lk 5:4-5Disciples left everything to follow Jesus when he called them Mt 19:27

Refusing to roll away the stone from Lazarus’ tomb when Jesus said to Jn 11:39Refusing to believe Jesus had risen from the dead as predicted & reported Mk 16:14Zechariah questioned the angel who said they’d have a son Lk 1:18

Trusting his character Not trusting his character

Blind men asked Jesus to heal them Mt 9:27-30Woman reached out to touch his coat Mt 9:20-22Centurion said Jesus only needed to say the word Mt 8:5-10

Nazareth criticised Jesus’ background Mk 6:1-6Disciples prevented people bringing children to Jesus Mk 10:13-16Lazy servant who thought the master was a hard man, so hid his talent Mt 25:24-25

Peter getting out of the boat when Jesus said “come” Mt 14:29

Believing his words

Letting down the net one more time when Jesus said to Lk 5:4-5

Believing his words

Disciples left everything to follow Jesus when he called them Mt 19:27

Believing his words

Refusing to roll away the stone from Lazarus’ tomb when Jesus said to Jn 11:39

Not believing his words

Refusing to believe Jesus had risen from the dead as predicted & reported Mk 16:14

Not believing his words

Zechariah questioned the angel who said they’d have a son Lk 1:18

Not believing his words

Blind men asked Jesus to heal them Mt 9:27-30

Trusting his character

Woman reached out to touch his coat Mt 9:20-22

Trusting his character

Centurion said Jesus only needed to say the word Mt 8:5-10

Trusting his character

Nazareth criticised Jesus’ background Mk 6:1-6

Not trusting his character

Disciples prevented people bringing children to Jesus Mk 10:13-16

Not trusting his character

Lazy servant who thought the master was a hard man, so hid his talent Mt 25:24-25

Not trusting his character

The Faith Equation

+ + =God calls,

or gives opportunity

God’s power

My action of trust

Big result

My trust and action decides the outcome

Lazarus dead.Jesus comes,asks them toremove stone

Mary &Martha’s

choice and

action:

Move stone

Leave stone

Raised to life

Stay dead

John 11

Lazarusraised

Gospel examples of the Faith Equation

+ + =God calls,

gives opportunity

God’s power

My action of trust

Big result

Jesus called disciplesJesus walked byJesus visits townJesus asks move stoneJesus & Co. hungry

Left everything & followedReach out to touch coatDig through roofRoll away stoneGave Jesus all his lunch

Eternal life etcHealedForgiven & healedRaised from deadThousands fed

Faith like a mustard seed Mt 17:20 Lk 17:6

My actionMotivated by believing &

trusting

God produces large result

Peter Walked on Water

What made it possible for Peter to walk on water?

a. God’s powerb. Peter’s special shoes kept him upc. Peter ran so fast he could stay on the surface

Why did Peter walk on water and not the others?d. Peter had enough faith to get out of the boat, but the others didn’t and

wanted to stay in the boate. God’s power was only enough for two people at a timef. Jesus wanted the others to stay in the boat

(Peter Walked on Water 2)

The deciding factor as to who walked on water was who was willing to get out of the boat if Jesus said to.

God’s power makes it possible, but our trust-motivated actions make it happen.

“Your faith has healed you” Mt 9:22 Mk 5:34 Mk 10:52 Lk 7:50 Lk 8:48 Lk 17:19 Lk 18:42 – Jesus attributed the miracle happening to their faith, not to God’s power!

The Faith Equation Today

+ + =God calls,

gives opportunity

God’s power

My action of faith

Big result

Jesus’ teaching.HS speaks to me.

DECIDING FACTOR

(God’s power is constant)

Big result dependson my trust and action

?eg Teena & Yvonne

Faith or Presumption?

=My action of pseudo-faith

No opportunity from God, just my need or wish.

Do action which produced big results in other situations, but isn’t a response to God here

God’s power not activated.

Natural results ofmy own efforts

?Eg “name it & claim it”

Situation of need or

want+ +

“Trust me, I’m a doctor”

• Believe that I am a doctor

• Trust that I will be able to help them, enough to come to me and tell me the problem

• Believe my diagnosis is correct and my treatment will work

• Accept the treatment

• Understand and follow my advice correctly

“Trust him, he’s the Son of God”

• Believe that he is the son of God

• Trust that he can help me, enough to go to him and hear what he has to say

• Believe that his assessment of the situation is correct and his teaching will work

• Understand and follow what he says, correctly (gospels and Holy Spirit)

“Trust him, he’s the Son of God”

Faith is a response to something God has said, done, or is

Faith is a decision

Faith is an action

D. Why Faith “Fails”

Why Faith “Fails”

1. Wrong understanding of what God said2. Wrong negative view of God3. Misplaced faith—trusting someone else4. Half-hearted effort on our part5. Fear of men and evil

Why Faith Fails: 1. Wrong Understanding

Don’t knowDon’t understand what God saidWrong understanding of

Eg after 25y in church (1992):• No idea of the importance of Jesus’ teachings• No idea of what many of Jesus’ teachings meant!• Didn’t realise I need to do righteousness as well as stop sin• Didn’t notice that all significant promises begin with “if”

(except for sun and rain Mt 5:45)

HS

We need instead to:• Read, study and ponder on everything Jesus said.• Consult the Holy Spirit.• Expect God to be intelligent and make sense.• Be honest about problems and delve deeper.• Be aware that even godly men are fallible.

Translators sometimes make errors, the church is not infallible, and Christian traditions aren’t always true.

(Why Faith Fails: 1. Wrong Understanding)

HS

eg Answered prayer depends upon:

1. Trusting and believing (to what degree?)2. Remaining in Jesus and in his teachings3. Perseverance, asking, seeking, knocking4. Believing that you’ve received it (when God says)

Will prayer be answered if I do just one; or do I need to do all of them?

People who think “just one” are usually disappointed.

(Why Faith Fails: 1. Wrong Understanding)

Why Faith Fails: 2. Wrong Negative view of God

If we think God is harsh, unreasonable or uncaring then it is very difficult to trust him. eg lazy servant Mt 25:24

• God has turned out to be nicer than I expected eg vow, case

• God is not responsible for suffering as some people think

Why Faith Fails: 3. Misplaced Faith

If we trust someone else thinking they represent God accurately, we will usually be let down.• Church• Bible translators• Pastors, teachers, authors• Great men of God, church fathers• Emotional ideas (thinking they’re the HS)

eg 1992 no confidence in my church’s gospel;Mk 9:14-29 Boy’s father lost faith due disciples’ failure

Why Faith Fails: 4. Half-hearted effort

Half-commitment does not result in half-blessing; it usually results in none.

Jesus warned against the futility of only committing half of ourselves to discipleship (Lk 14:25-33 next slide)

eg “steve”; pre-1992; thinking ‘willing’ was enough (dashboard, skydiving)

“Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate [miseō=hate, reject, or choose another instead of] his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.

In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple”” Lk 14:25-33

Why Faith Fails: 5. Fear

Fear prevents us trusting God (see next section)

“Don’t be afraid; just believe” Mk 5:36

Peter’s faith failed when he became afraid of the wind Mt 14:30

Why Faith “Fails” – review & comment

1. Wrong understanding of what God said2. Wrong negative view of God3. Misplaced faith—trusting someone else4. Half-hearted effort on our part5. Fear of men and evil

?

E. Fear

Forms of Fear

• Panic, terror, phobias

• Anxious, worried, nervous

• Cautious, hesitant, reluctant, indecisiveare often due to fear

• “Stress” is usually fear-driven

• Feeling trapped, no way out, can’t copeusually due to fearing all the perceived options

Why Faith Fails: 5. Causes of Fear

a. Being too far from God

b. Unforgiveness

c. Having obeyed them in the past

d. Unwilling to give things up

Causes of fear:

a. Too far from God in my actions or beliefs, eg not doing what God wants, believing lies and threats, not as close to God as I need to be.Solution: get closer to God in prayer, worship, truth and/or obedience. eg trust verses next slide, careful to follow HS in case

God+me > Devil but Devil > me.

God

God

Causes of fear:

b. Unforgiveness esp. when hurt by this same threat in past. Gives Satan access and power over us, able to cause emotional pain Mt 18:21-35. Solution: forgive (and don’t give in to the fears). eg surgeons

Causes of fear:

c. Having obeyed similar fears in the past Jn 8:34.Solution: go against the fears, in a godly way. eg upset women

Causes of fear:

d. Unwillingness to give up things which have a hold over my heart. Solution: give them up! eg approval of church folk

POWERFUL

KIND

TRUTHFUL

POWERFUL

NASTY

LIES

God’s Kingdom runs on

Trust and Understanding

Satan’s kingdom runs on

Fear and Deception, confusion

GOD

Satan

I need to know and trust God more than I fear men and evil and Satan

Dynamics of God’s Kingdom vs Satan’s

Mustard plants grow up to 2.5m tall

Listen to the Holy Spirit

• Is the Holy Spirit saying anything to me about trusting and believing?

• What issues am I facing now? What decision/course of action would be an expression of trust in God?What decision/course of action would not?

HS

Discussion

• What came to mind while listening to the HS?

• What actions in my life are expressions of trusting and believing God in practice?

• What aspects of trusting and believing God do I find hard? What do I do (or could I do) to overcome these?

• Have I had any faith “failures”, and what do I think was the cause of failure?

“Outliers” and “Hangups”

If Jesus’ statements are like points on a graph, then…

“Outliers” and “Hangups”

Drawing a conclusion from them is like finding the line which passes through all the points

“Outliers” and “Hangups”

Two verses conflict with most others

“Outliers” and “Hangups”

Take the conclusion most verses lead to, and closely examine the outliers

?

?

“Outliers” and “Hangups”

?

?

?

?

?

The outliers are often poorly translated verses which are capable of other meanings

“Outliers” and “Hangups”

Take the translation/meaning which fits all the other verses as well – problem solved

“Outliers” and “Hangups”

Even if an outlier can’t be resolved, it is usually best to take the conclusion most verses point to, and keep an open mind on the outlier

?

“Outliers” and “Hangups”

Don’t take your conclusion from just the outliers!

“Outliers” and “Hangups”

People are sometimes influenced by an outlier and a few well-known verses, while ignoring many other verses

“Outliers” and “Hangups”

Very convoluted conclusions are rarely correct (and often still don’t fit all the verses well)

?

“Outliers” and “Hangups”

Often, people are aware of the outliers and a few other verses, and simply can’t make sense of it

?

“Outliers” and “Hangups”: Example

• Scores of verses in the prophets describe the Kingdom of God as being ruled from Zion Jerusalem by a son of David (“messiah”), with Jerusalem and Israel glorious and prosperous and dominant over all the nations—a very physical kingdom on earth.

• The outliers are (in the NIV):“The kingdom of God is within you” Lk 17:21 NIV

“My kingdom is not of this world” Jn 18:36 NIV

leading some to the conclusion that the Kingdom is purely spiritual/in the heart.

• “The kingdom of God is among (entos) you” Lk 17:21

Entos can mean “among” or “within”. “Among” is more likely (was speaking to Pharisees).

• “My kingdom does not come from (ek) this world” Jn 18:36

Ek means “out of”, “from”, “from within”. “Of” is a poor translation. Kingdom has spiritual beginnings but a physical fulfillment.