When Faith isn’t making Sense – Part 2

Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” 

Continuing Pastor Kyle’s message on the four choices to make when faith is not making sense: (3) We can choose to overcome or we can choose to succumb. When we live by faith and not by sight, we have endurance for this journey through life here, knowing that the crown of life awaits us at the end destination of the gates of Heaven. Jesus Christ lived the life that we were intended to live sinlessly and, in our place, died the death that we were intended to die, so that we may be saved from eternal damnation in the next life, and to truly live as Creator God intended for us in this life. As Overcomers, saved by the grace of God through faith, Christians are not those who shrink back from adversity; they overcome adversity.   

Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

(4) We can choose to be a peacemaker or we can add fuel to the fire. The Christian church is a peacemaker, not a fire-starter, because that is the mission of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ and His Followers. It is not the job of Christians to “stir the pot” and provoke aggression. Unless the gospel of Jesus Christ is “backed into a corner” of attacking denial or rejection of the Word of God, Christians are to “speak the truth in love”. 1 Peter 3:14b-16a says, “Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience.” Stand firm, live at peace and have a good argument with your own story of your coming to faith and the truths in the Word of God. The objective is to win favor with your oppressor or objector and win them to Christ (decreasing the population of hell). The world does not need our political views (they have plenty of them already). The world needs to hear about Jesus Christ and His loving gospel of forgiveness of sins, salvation and eternal life in Heaven. It is easy to dismiss those we disagree with, but are we “adding to fuel to the fire” when we do not engage opposing worldviews?

Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

The most important question to consider when faith isn’t making sense is “How much is following Jesus worth to me?” Before we go crying “persecution”, we need to ensure that we are working as if unto the Lord. For Colossians 3:23-24 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Everyone desires to hear the Lord say: “Well done, good and faithful servant”, when we get to Heaven. But, the question is: “Is Jesus worth serving, following, trusting and obeying?” The answer is in our thoughts, words and actions that show our true heart for the Lord. This does not mean being a “push-over. Meek, does not mean weak; it is strength under control and aligned with the holy Word, Will and Way of God. Reconciliation leads to regeneration and rejoicing revival.

2 Corinthians 5:18-20 “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

When faith isn’t making sense, put your faith in the Lord.

In Christ, Brian