Thursday, October 7, 2010

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

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