The Real Treasure : FAITH

Faith – A Real Treasure

Today we are going to understand about Faith. Each one of us has some amount of Faith in something or someone. We all operate by Faith. We trust that the ‘transport’ will take us to the destination. We have faith in our education that they can provide us with a decent job. We have faith in our investments, and so on

Why is Faith a treasure?

This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷ These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1: 4 – 7

Because Faith is an inheritance and every inheritance is a treasure. In Matthew 13: 44 – 45 – 44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

He had faith that this is worth more than his own fortune. I have to get it. So faith is of prior importance in our Christian journey as well. Without faith we cannot please God.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11: 6

What is Faith?

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. ² This is what the ancients were commended for.³ By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. Hebrews 11: 1 – 3

1. It’s Confidence – like before I had mentioned, I am sure of something
2. Hope and assurance– I am expecting an outcome.

However, this outcome is very tangible and so we act on this hope which then becomes faith.

Although we need to have hope in order to have faith but only having hope is not faith. The action that our belief brings about is faith. Hope is passive, whereas Faith is active.

Example: Hope someone gives me a glass of water

I request someone in confidence for a glass of water knowing that the person will give it to me. So that is Faith combined with assurance.

Now there are two kinds of Faith

1. Saving Faith: Which we all have. We believed that Jesus is Lord and saviour. He has died on the cross and has forgiven us.

²⁶ A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” ²⁸ Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”²⁹ Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

³⁰ Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. ³¹ But these are written that you may believe^[b] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20: 26 – 31

Till now we are all in the same page. We all have believed and those who are yet to believe, this is where you need to begin in order to access this treasure of faith. I got to understand that Jesus is the one who can give me redemption and life. He can make me whole again. I need to accept Him into my life, rather than doubting in the first instance. Yes it’s good to clear the air but ultimately, it’s your faith that will give you all the answers.

2. Living by Faith: Once you have believed, many of us believe, that now I am very hopeful that I will be happy forever. This is not a fantasy story but a real journey that we embark upon. As I said faith is action, James 2 is all about the same.

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶ If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

²⁰ You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless^[d]? ²¹ Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? ²² You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. ²³ And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”^[e] and he was called God’s friend. ²⁴ You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. James 2: 14 – 24

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. ¹⁴ People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. ¹⁵ If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11: 13 – 16

We need to live by faith and there are levels to it.

To begin with, we need to ask ourselves – Where is my faith?

Right now, think of any situation or a problem, that Jesus cannot help you get through? Seems Jesus is not even aware of it or He seems distant.

²² One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So, they got into a boat and set out. ²³ As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.

²⁴ The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”

He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. ²⁵ “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.

In fear and amazement, they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.” Luke 8: 22 – 25

Being with God himself, listening and watching him 24/7, experiencing the miracles with him, they are asked – ‘WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?’ Where is my faith

1. In my bank balance
2. In the number of properties I have
3. I am so and so’s son daughter brother, sister cousin relative
4. So many degrees
5. Stable job
6. In the number of children I have
7. In the spouse that I have

Where is my faith?

The real answer will hit when a storm like this will come and Jesus will ask us – Where is your faith?

Next we move on to Unbelief.

We all struggle with unbelief, not because we don’t want to have faith but we have been conditioned to belief or expect things in a certain way. The boy’s father had seen him grow up with seizures and other behaviours. Now when Jesus asks ‘Do you believe?’

He says, I do but help my unbelief. What if he turns back again to the same as before? I am not sure. Because last time it happened that way.

Some Obstacles to Faith

1. Patterns – We see the same thing over and over again but never works out.
2. Experiences – I know it will not happen – cut the I KNOW, OR I KNEW IT
3. Expectations – may not happen the way we expected. I expected the disciples to heal but they couldn’t.

If you can – A statement that challenges Jesus, in return Jesus asks – if you can? Do you even believe?

Are we harbouring unbelief – asking Jesus ‘If He can’.

Also, as I mentioned earlier, Faith in what or Faith in whom will answer most of your doubts.

Imagine faith like this a step up –

We begin with baby faith or little faith

²⁵ Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

²⁷ But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

²⁹ “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” Matthew 14: 25 – 31

We all have to begin somewhere. Disciples began this way. They were terrified at the storm when Jesus was with them but we see eventually, they came to a level where they didn’t care about their life, because they knew that Jesus is for them.

Then we come to the next level of faith, that is healing faith.

We see small and little deliverance or healing that happens as we start to believe. This generally happens in every new Christians life. We have heard many testimonies. However, we should not stay there. There will be times when there will be no miracles after we pray – now that is a test.

These kinds of tests will keep happening, we need to continue at it. As mentioned in this scripture portion

²⁰ Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. ²¹ She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”

²² Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment. Matthew 9: 20 – 22

My very thought expresses faith. Application of what I have heard or read brings me to the next level of faith.

¹⁷ Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. Romans 10: 17

We hear in the church, that is why community is so important. An atmosphere of faith is important. We can lift up each other through words of encouragement, testimonies, prayer, reminders, etc.

We go on to Forgiving faith…

Learning that Jesus is able to forgive is such an assurance. In the mental health field, I have encountered so many mental health issues because people are unable to experience forgiveness or are unable to forgive. However, Jesus, forgives and through faith we can experience it and at the same time be able to execute it.

This faith that I am FORGIVEN brings so much of relief. It’s like shackles falling off my feet.

This is why we believe Faith is a treasure that causes us to Praise God, knowing that we are accepted.

The Canaanite woman never gave up.

²¹ Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. ²² A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”

²³ Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

²⁴ He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

²⁵ The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

²⁶ He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

²⁷ “Yes, it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

²⁸ Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.       Matthew 15:21 – 28

What astonishes Jesus is my faith

⁵ When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. ⁶ “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”

⁷ Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”

⁸ The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. ⁹ For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

¹⁰ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. ¹¹ I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. ¹² But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

¹³ Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment. Mathew 8 : 5 – 13

This is Resting my Faith. No matter what, I know Jesus is Resurrected and this resurrection power of God will help me see what God has stored for me. Eventually, even though miracles do not happen or healing doesn’t take place or I do not have an employment –  I will have Faith.

So I begin with little faith – move on to healing Faith (it becomes more relevant) – move on to Forgiving faith (that which I cannot see) – Great Faith (Praising God in all circumstances) – Finally Astonishing Faith (Resting in the Assurance of Christ’s Resurrection).

Reiterating the verse in Hebrews:

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. ¹⁴ People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. ¹⁵ If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.          Hebrews 11: 13 – 16

As a summary, I would like reiterate that to build this treasure, we need to be-

• Be Ready
• Take Every opportunity to Exercise
• Faith comes by hearing
• Faith comes through the Resurrection power of Jesus
• Faith comes through the Holy Spirit

Sandra wife of  Virjil, The Renewed Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that Renewed Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Karanjade, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel, Church in Karanjade because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.