Assurance of Faith

August 13, 1995

Luke 12:32-40; Hebrews 11:1-3

One of the high privileges of being a pastor is being around God's people in the crises of life. It isn't always fun, and in fact it can be quite anguishing at times. But seeing faith at work, and seeing faith work is a reinforcement to my deepest convictions.

In talking with Esther Sanger these past weeks and days I was made to remember several things I thought I already knew. I remembered that

Death is an enemy. No matter what we say, we want to live in this life as long as we can. We fight for life and that is good and understandable. Death is not a friend. But death is not the end, either.
The sting of death is sin, which can be removed— indeed, it is removed for Christ's one. God's people die just as everyone else dies. But they don't die like everyone else, either. They die in peace with God, and with a sure hope.
The God-covenant is all-important, and goes deeper than we can explain or understand. This is not in any way to deny or invalidate being "saved." It does not set aside the truth of doctrine, of the works of grace. But being "saved" really involves a living connection with God, a relationship, or, even better, a working covenant.

Our scripture lessons today talk about confidence in this God- relationship. How important is it to you just now to know that you are right with Almighty God? I am not being in the least morbid when I tell you that one day it will be the absolutely most important question you will have to answer!

The scriptures (Hebrews 11: 1) tell us: "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen..." What do you know for sure about faith?

I. FAITH IS MYSTERIOUS

One thing you can be sure of: if you think you have God and salvation and the great questions of life all figured out, you don't even know all the questions!

ONE SIDE OF FAITH IS VERY, VERY SIMPLE.

I can tell you with confidence that you can trust the Bible when it says (Romans 10:9,10) "If you confess with your mouth, and believe with your heart you will be saved." or (John 3:16) "WHOSOEVER BELIEVES shall never perish" and (John 6:37 ) "He that comes to me I will in no way cast out!"

ANOTHER SIDE IS VERY PERSONAL.

It is making those great Bible promises my own. It is the dynamic assurance that I not only believe— but that this is true in my life.

FAITH IS GOD'S GIFT OF SOUL VISION. IT IS GOD'S RADAR. IT IS THE ABILITY TO "SEE" GRACE BEING OFFERED

Some things faith is definitely NOT: it is not "being in control" by exercising superior power. It is NOT getting MY way no matter what God wills. Faith does not change who God is.

II. FAITH IS RESPONSE TO A CALL - FAITH IS NOT TAKING THE INITIATIVE - AND THAT TAKES THE PRESSURE OFF . . . =

Salvation ALWAYS begins in God's heart— in God's LOVE for YOU- - and then it ALWAYS begins when God calls us away from selfishness to follow Him. Hebrews 11:6 God IS; God will be found of those who seek HIM!

The way we hear it sometimes— faith is a power that we can exercise to do whatever we think we ought to do— a power we can use to get God to do OUR will. There IS a certain amount of power in sheer "believing" I am sure. But that is a thousand miles from saving faith.

III. FAITH IS A CHALLENGE TO LIFE AND JOY

It seems that to be God-centered means an end to happiness. If I have to do what GOD says I can never really be happy! To get ready for eternity means I have to live a life of frustration here and now! Right? Wrong!

SO MANY "DON'T BE AFRAID!s" AND "FEAR NOT!s God's Way is the most fulfilling way there is! It is THE ONLY truly fulfilling way!

IV. FAITH IS FOLLOWING A GOD WHO LEADS

There is always a dynamic aspect to faith. That is what Hebrews 11 is telling us. The greatest example of faith is Abraham.

Hebrews 11:8 -

Abraham OBEYED when he was CALLED

"Passive?" We cannot simply set out to follow unless and until we are called. Abraham did not know his destination; he only knew his Leader He followed - He believed - He obeyed - He became fruitful: So now we call Abraham 'father' It is making trips to an altar— but it is more... It is responding with feeling to a challenge— but more... [One thing you can be sure of: if you think you have God and salvation and the great questions of life all figured out, you don't even know all the questions!]

WHEN FAITH CALLS— WHEN GOD CALLS— It is always AWAY from the world's definitions of life, of love, of values:

WHEN FAITH CALLS. It is always A SENSITIZING TO THE FACT OF SIN! (sIn is spelled 's-(capital)I-n' The middle letter is the clue!)

WHEN FAITH CALLS It is TO OPEN OUR HANDS AND HEARTS

Jesus has been dealing in these chapters with the biggest single evidence of selfishness and self-centeredness which is GREED! It is getting more for ME! ("Ill build bigger barns for ME! etc.")

Jesus always leads AWAY FROM ACQUISITIVENESS AND GREED. Dare to be like me, Jesus says. He leads into radical trust.

DON'T BE POSSESSED BY POSSESSIONS where YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE IS YOUR HEART!

"Children more important than jobs" "Jobs get more respect than children!" "Friendship more important than profit" "Profit gets higher priority than friendship" [what we DO speaks louder than what we give lip service to]

Conclusion

So—how can we be assured at all? If it is true that "One thing you can be sure of: those who think they have God and salvation and the great questions of life all figured out, don't even know all the questions!" then HOW CAN WE KNOW ANYTHING AT ALL?

I used to belong to Squantum Yacht Club. There is a narrow channel dredged in to the mooring area that is always deep enough to bring a power boat through. At some tides it doesn't matter because there is 9' of water. At other tides the channel is visible because the mud flats come right up out of the water. But at half tides there can be trouble if you get out of the channel coming home.

So— how do you stay in the channel coming home? From a distance the Wollaston shore looks all the same. It is easy to get headed in the wrong direction.

First— I look for the church steeple. Then I watch for the first red buoy. I know that marks the outer end of the channel. Then as I head for that outer buoy, I watch for the next red buoy in the distance and finally line two or three up, keep them on the right, and I'm on my way in.

Faith is something like that. Faith is SIMPLE. But faith is also PERSONAL. First we see the great promises and know we're headed toward home. But then we watch for the channel marker, and God's WORD lines up with God's SPIRIT for our own personal relationship.

(Romans 8:16) "God's Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God."

WE HAVE THE BIBLE WE HAVE THE SPIRIT HIMSELF WE HAVE THE CLEAR CHANNEL HOME

This is NOT salvation by works. It IS a personal following Jesus that begins here and now— and never, ever ends. Faith is not simply "I was saved 10 years ago..." That is great! But faith is Abraham years later giving up Isaac— only to receive him back and become the father of nations.

Faith is Esther Sanger nailing posters to telephone poles around Wollaston "If you need help call xxx-xxxx" And I want you to know that Esther is still trying to keep in step with Jesus!

#489 Where He Leads Me