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Pastor Christopher Brock

October 12, 2024

Luke 22:42, NLT “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”


How are we to define faith? Let us first consider the Greek word that is used here and determine what it actually implies.

 

The word faith is translated from the Greek word “Pistis” and is defined in this way: The conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervor. The conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ. A strong conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God.

 

What I have most often noticed is that, when Christians bring up the topic of faith, myself included, it is commonly in the context of a trial or challenge that the person is going through. Perhaps the person is facing a serious illness, the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, a relationship issue, or a financial hardship. Many times, in these situations we hear statements made about how we should have faith, and if we maintain our faith, then everything will work out and be ok. I don’t know how many times I have seen a situation in which someone was seriously ill and heard the words, “If you just have enough faith then you will be healed.” “Just have faith and you will get that new job” Just have faith and you will have that new house” So often when faith is spoken of, it is attached to an expected or desired outcome such as, I want to see healing take place, I want to be out debt, I want my marriage to be restored, or I want my kids to be ok. We must be very careful to remember that the Biblical definition of faith that we have talked about here is not the same as a name that claims its prosperity approach. What marks the fundamental difference is this…. Whose will are we placing our faith in? 

 

Jesus knew what was about to take place. He knew the suffering He would need to endure and the price that He was about to pay. We can see that He did not desire to endure what was going to happen, but it is undeniable that He desired to obey His Father more. When Jesus said to His Father, not my will, but yours be done he showed us what true faith in action looks like. He laid His own desire down, knowing that what His Father was going to do was the best.

 

So here is the foundational statement for this message today…  I believe that the truest and purest of faith is not attached to a specific desired outcome. True faith is when we make the decision to believe that whatever the Lord has planned is better than anything we can ask for or think of. And then obeying what He tells us to do because of that belief.

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