Why Do I Half Believe

Lesson Summary – 6 Oct 10

Lesson Text:  Matt 8:26

Sermon Series:  “Whole and Not Broke”

Lesson Title: “Whole and Not Broke:  Why Do I Half-Believe?”

            “He replied, ‘on you of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ Then He got up and

rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.”  Matt 8:26 NIV

Signs of emotional wholeness

·         No fear

·         Strength

·         Not easily shaken

·         Stable, unmovable

If you are waiting for the right time, it is really about fear

·         Fear breaks wholeness

·         Fear affects equilibrium (balance); will not do all you need to do

·         Fear contaminates your walk, talk, and thoughts

o   Elisha was afraid; sat under the broom tree

§  Stopped carrying out the mandate on his life

§  Inconsistent thoughts; not characteristic of one who called down fire from the

sky

o   Disciples were afraid; in room behind closed doors, forgot everything they saw/knew

§  Jesus walking on water

§  Healing

§  Delivering

§  Mount of Transfiguration

§  Calmed seas

§  Called Peter out to him on water

·         When life happens, worry steps up

o   Worry:  the doorway to fear

o   Wondering if it will work out

·         Context ~

o   Disciples on a ship 680 ft below sea level; the sea that Jesus said to the disciples “let's go to the other side”

o   Without warning, weather went from clear to stormy

§  Without warning – life

§  At the exact time Jesus is sleeping in the bottom of the boat

o   Recurring event; earthquake in addition to winds

o   They are together, lives in eminent danger; prime time for emotions and fear

o   Why are you so afraid, as translated by Lightfoot (NT scholar), why do you half-believe?

§  Not that I don’t believe at all, but I don’t believe it all

What do you do when life happens (without warning)

1)      Decide not to fear

·         Fear cancels faith

·         The moment you become afraid, decide not to be afraid (make up your mind)

·         Ps 118:6, Eph 6:16, Ps 91:7, 11-12

·         Gates to Fear

o   Your will

o   Your words

o   Your eyes

o   Your ears

2)      Understand God’s protection

·         Isa 43: 1-2 (memorize)

·         Rom 8: 31 – 32

·         Jude 1:24

3)      Develop confidence in God’s promise

·         2 Pet 1:4

·         Weak faith muscles; lack of use causes atrophy

·         Work the muscles, must have faith

o   Battle of confidence is in the mind

o   Fill it with the word of God; builds confidence

o   There will be a warfare; renew the mind

§  2 Cor 10:5

§  Gal 6:9

§  Gen 8:22

4)      Live in God’s perfect love

·         1 John 4: 17 – 18

·         Agape: God-like love; no conditions or requirements

o   He will keep me no matter what

o   Even if I mess up; allows me to act on faith

3 D's of Debt

Lesson Summary – 29 Sept 10

Lesson Text:  Prov 22;7

Sermon Series:  “Whole and Not Broke”

Lesson Title: “The 3D’s of Debt”

            “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” Prov 22:7 NIV

The 3 D’s of Debt

1.      Direction

2.      Drown

3.      Delay

1)      Direction ~ 2 Kgs 4: 1-7

·         You must be willing to take direction

o   One of two positions --  not knowing or knowing and not applying

·         Desperate housewife; husband died, creditors want to take sons to satisfy the debt

·         Man of God gave her instructions

o   Use what you have (oil) – deliverance, time, patience

o   Debt relief in her hands

o   She did not follow directions

§  Sent sons to collect jars

§  Ran out of jars; did not know how many jars she had

·         Man of God told her to sell the oil, pay debts, and live on what was left

o   Got only a portion of the overflow; lived on enough versus more than enough

o   Limited herself by not following directions

·         Ps 119:105 – remain in the dark

·         Ps 119: 11 – hide the Word in your heart

·         John 8:32 – the truth will set you free

2)      Drown ~ 2 Kgs 6:5

·         Context of the text

o   Building a larger church for God; more room for the Lord

o   Axe head:  very valuable tool, difficult to make, and is borrowed

·         The axe head fell in the water and sank to the bottom

·         Man of God threw a stick in the very place where the axe head fell and it swam to the top

o   Do God’s work and God is obligated to take care of your stuff

3)      Delay ~ Prov 22:7

·         God’s desire for us is an abundant life – John 10:10

·         Money = time

o   Minimum wage -- $8.25/hr; 1 hr of your life is worth $8.25

o   Debt takes time to pay off; time you can’t get back

o   Can’t move into destiny because time is subtracted from your life – the rich ruler (John 10: 17 – 22)

§  Told to sell all had and give to the poor, then he would have treasure in heaven

§  Went away sad because he had great wealth; he could not move into his destiny  because he was not willing to pay debt

§  Acts 5:5, Gen 5:16