Truly What Is Needed to Sustain Our Faith?
Good Morning Friends,
Recently we installed new elders and deacons during worship. As part of the experience previously ordained elders and deacons lay hands on the new class as a public display and visible sign of our connection in ministry. A goodly portion of the congregation came down to The Alter for a Holy Spirit moment to legitimize the ministry. Of course God calls who he chooses and almost always it seems that people have to grow into the position and in the process keep the faith. For example Peter was absolutely sure he would never deny Christ and Paul was absolutely sure he was following God’s will persecuting Christians. So today we reflect on the ways God uses to deter us from the sin of arrogance. Today we explore some scripture that reveals the personal and corporate characteristics of our experience of God…connecting…changing and transforming. Today we contemplate and ask: Truly What Is Needed to Sustain Our Faith?
Scripture: One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon. And a man lame from birth was being carried in. People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms. Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, ‘Look at us.’ And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, ‘I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.’ And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God, and they recognized him as the one who used to sit and ask for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Acts 3: 1-10 (NRSV)
In Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet and had never walked, for he had been crippled from birth. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. And Paul, looking at him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said in a loud voice, ‘Stand upright on your feet.’ And the man sprang up and began to walk. When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, ‘The gods have come down to us in human form!’ Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates; he and the crowds wanted to offer sacrifice. When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, ‘Friends, why are you doing this? We are mortals just like you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. In past generations he allowed all the nations to follow their own ways; yet he has not left himself without a witness in doing good—giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filling you with food and your hearts with joy.’ Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.
Acts 14:8-18 (NRSV)
But Jews came there from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds. Then they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.
Acts 14:19 (NRSV)
While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’
Acts 7:59 (NRSV)
For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands;
2 Timothy 1:6 (NRSV)
Message: We are sustained by faith. That is clear to me. But what activates our faith in the first place? Is it a miracle or a hit in the head? Maybe a mountain top experience? Are you willing to risk a beat down to keep it? In today’s scripture we see the effects of having a common experience that connects us one with another as humans and also connects us to the experience of God in our corporate worship and personal life. We see Peter heal a lame man which is immediately followed by Peter’s second sermon. There is a parallel in the two halves of Acts that is instructive. In Acts 14:8-18 we see Paul heal a lame man and give a sermon as well. And it is immediately followed by Paul getting stoned. Now this is significant in that only two occurrences of stoning are mentioned in the New Testament… Stephen’s and Paul’s. I do not think it coincidence that God allowed Paul to be stoned in the same manner as Stephen had been? I do not think that the common experience of Peter and Paul are coincidence either. Both show that the inheritance of the mission and authority of Jesus has passed to the apostles. We see that God’s power flows where the Spirit is present, where there is expectancy, where authority is recognized, where God alone receives the glory. Here faith is necessary for a miracle to be worked and at the same time a wondrous way of awakening faith. Here we learn to love people enough to notice their pain and love God enough to want to bring people to His love despite the risk. As you contemplate your own personal faith and corporate experience remember the scripture reading in your mind’s eye and see the power of a poor lame beggar receiving healing. He sits at a gateway waiting expectantly for something incredibly beautiful to enter into his life. And when at last it is received, it prompts him to jump for joy. Everyone becomes filled with wonder. Those touched witness to others. Perhaps such a beggar is waiting for you. Perhaps such a beggar is inside each of us.
Pray for those in pain and those that respond with Christian love when they see it. Pray we are reminded that disobedience is never to be taken lightly. Pray we thank God for miracles that strengthen our faith. Pray we realize that God loves us enough to remind us of the destructive consequences of sin in our lives. Pray our faith grows. Pray we as Stephen keep our eyes on heaven. Pray we see faith in each other. Pray we learn to keep the fire burning. Pray we realize that Christ is the author and the finisher of our faith all to the glory of God.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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