Sunday, March 19, 2023

Stubborn Faith

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This Sunday, retired Pastor Willie was guest preacher in our continuing sermon series on the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. His topic was “stubborn faith” and used Mark 5:21-43 (Bible stories of healing a woman and raising Jairus’ daughter) as today’s Scripture passage.   

 

The word “stubborn” can have both a positive and negative connotation to it, depending on how it is used, but more than not is used to mean a negative attribute in someone. Noah Webster defined the word as: 1. Unreasonably obstinate; inflexibly fixed in opinion; not to be moved or persuaded by reasons; inflexible; a stubborn mind or soul. 2. Persevering; persisting; steady; constant; as stubborn attention. 3. Stiff; not flexible; as a stubborn bow. 4. Hardy; firm; enduring without complaint; as stubborn Stoics. 5. Harsh; rough; rugged. [Little used.] 6. Refractory; not easily melted or worked; as a stubborn ore or metal. 7. Refractory; obstinately resisting command, the goad or the whip; as a stubborn donkey or horse. The instances where it arrears in the Bible (in Deuteronomy 21, Psalm 78, and Proverbs 7), the word “stubborn” is the Hebrew word “sārar”, with a negative meaning to rebel, be stubborn, be rebellious, be refractory. But, “stubborn faith” has the positive aspects of the definition of being steadfast for the Lord.

 

Four characteristics of “stubborn faith” are: (A) It rejects the pull and weight of status, position and pride of the fallen flesh. (B) It risks ridicule, judgment, and rejection knowing that darkness of sin and unbelief opposes the light of Truth. It doesn’t matter what stubborn faith looks like to other people. It matters what it looks like to God. (C) It refuses to be stopped by barriers by un-detoured persistence in godly living and the relentless pursuit of the advancement of the kingdom of Heaven. (D) It resists fear. Jesus said in Mark 5:36, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” Easy to say, but hard to do without spiritual strength. But, Jesus says in John 14:27 “ Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Stubborn faith is being convinced that Jesus Christ is the answer. 

 

All this results in [1] being seen and known by Jesus. Do you know Jesus? Ask, seek, find, know and abide. He can be known and be with you in a person relationship always. John 1:11-13 tells us that Jesus “came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” That is God’s desire. Is it yours? 

 

[2] God’s almighty power and loving mercy are released upon you. Ephesians 2:8 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” Romans 5:8 declares that, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Ephesians 2:1 confirms that, “you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins. Busy lives crowd out life and true living, because to live is Christ.

 

[3] Salvation is wholistic peace, because Romans 6:23 tells us, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The born-again Believer’s sins are forgiven, the captive bondage to sin broken and the wrath of God lifted in redemptive liberation. We should have a sense of desperation to get to Jesus at the foot of the Cross, because as John 1:29 proclaims, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

 

So, go to Jesus in faith without fear or delay. Have stubborn faith and believe in the power of God. In Christ, Brian

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