Friday, July 10, 2009
I've been thinking a lot about faith lately as I'm preparing for our fall series of sermons in James. Faith is a popular word these days. It seems like every organization has a faith-based division. The entertainment industry has a faith based division. In the political arena there are faith based initiatives. Media outlets have faith based news divisions. Often we hear people say, "that person is a person of faith".
Faith may be a popular word, but what does it mean to live a life of faith? Christian faith is based on a series of truths given to us by God, written in the BIBLE, and verified and validated by a remarkable body of evidence. The LORD himself tells us to trust Him. A faith based life is a life that trusts in Jesus Christ.
A couple of years ago, I preached through the Psalms of Ascent (120 - 134). I reviewed my notes on Psalm 125 again. This Psalm tells us what kind of life we can expect by trusting in the Lord.
Faith may be a popular word, but what does it mean to live a life of faith? Christian faith is based on a series of truths given to us by God, written in the BIBLE, and verified and validated by a remarkable body of evidence. The LORD himself tells us to trust Him. A faith based life is a life that trusts in Jesus Christ.
A couple of years ago, I preached through the Psalms of Ascent (120 - 134). I reviewed my notes on Psalm 125 again. This Psalm tells us what kind of life we can expect by trusting in the Lord.
1 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore.
3 The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous, for then the righteous might use their hands to do evil.
4 Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart.
5 But those who turn to crooked ways the LORD will banish with the evildoers. Peace be upon Israel.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore.
3 The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous, for then the righteous might use their hands to do evil.
4 Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart.
5 But those who turn to crooked ways the LORD will banish with the evildoers. Peace be upon Israel.
Those who live a faith-based life are not shaken. That doesn't mean trouble never comes into our lives but it means that we're not overcome by troubles. My favorite evangelist, Vance Havner said the following when facing a trial in his life: "I'm shipwrecked on God and stranded on His omnipotence". People who trust the Lord endure. Their lives are characterized by perseverance. Faith based people live surrounded lives. The Lord guards us and His presence is always with us. He's in front of us leading the way and he protects us by having our back! Verse three expressed the victory that comes for those who trust the Lord. Also, blessing and peace are ours as well.
Faith isn't just a section of our lives; it is our life! We can expect stable, enduring, surrounded, blessed lives as we daily place our faith in the Lord. One of the great hymns of the church expresses it this way:
My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray, take all my guilt away,
O let me from this day be wholly Thine!
Pastor Tim
Post a Comment