There was a story that I once heard…and I found the story on www.christianchallenge.com..
Back on June 30, 1859, a man by the name of Charles Blondin crossed Niagara Falls on a tightrope. He crossed on a 3 inch manila rope stretched 1,100 feet across the falls at a height of 160 feet. Not only that but in the ensuing days he also accomplished these amazing feats while crossing the falls: he executed a backwards somersault, crossed while blindfolded, while pushing a wheelbarrow, on stilts, in the dark with Roman candles flaring from the ends of his balancing pole, and one time even stopped half way across and cooked an omelet on a portable stove and lowered it to a boat below him.
Then on September 15, 1860, he accomplished his most amazing feat of all and it went something like this:
Before crossing the rope on that particular day Charles Blondin turned to the crowd and said, “Do you believe I can carry someone across the rope on my back?” The crowd roared its approval, “Yes, we believe you can!”
Then Charles asked for a volunteer, “Who will volunteer?” The crowd was silent. He then pointed out one man standing nearby, “How about you?” The man said, “Hardly, you don’t think I am going to risk my life like that, do you?” and he turned away.
Next Charles pointed out another man, “And what about you?” The man replied, “I believe. In fact, I have no doubt at all.” Charles said, “Will you trust me?” The man replied, “I will!”
The man then proceeded to climb on the back of Charles Blondin and they headed across the falls. The crowd waited breathlessly while they crossed and roared their approval once they completed the crossing. What they didn’t know was that the man who crossed on Blondin’s back was Harry Colcord, his manager. You see Harry Colcord knew how good Charles Blondin was and fully trusted him. His faith was secure, as the object of his faith, Charles Blondin, was trustworthy and had proven himself so over the years.1
Jesus Christ is the object of our faith. He has proven Himself trustworthy. He created the world we live in. He came and lived a blameless life without sin. He served and sacrificed, even to the point of dying on the cross for our sin. Then He overcame death and arose from the dead because He was God who came in the flesh. He has power over death and power over life. He is worthy of our trust.”
So Faith… What is it?
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Ephesians 2:8-9, We are saved by faith.
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Rom. 1:17, We live by faith.
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Rom. 4:13, We receive righteousness by faith.
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Rom. 5:1, We are justified in Christ by faith
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Rom. 5:2, We have access to God’s grace by faith.
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2 Cor. 1:24, We stand firm in our belief by faith.
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Gal. 3:14, We receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.
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1 Tim. 1:4, We do God’s work is by faith.
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Gal. 5:5, We wait for the return of Christ by faith.
Indeed, faith is very important; it is vital to the Christian.
I have learned a few thing about faith over the years.
1. You must have your own faith.
It’s important to you as a person/christian to have your own faith…Not your parents faith, your youth/senior pastors faith..YOUR OWN FAITH! it doesn’t matter if your dad was a preacher and you were born in the church..Your mom singing in the choir hits a high note and out you come..Still you must have your own faith
2. Gotta add to your faith.
How do you do that? Reading the word of God-praying-fasting Growing on your own..I tell the young people in my youth group all the time..We want you to have a relationship with Jesus Christ, so when you graduate from youth groups you don’t graduate from your faith..
It breaks my heart to see teenagers stop going to church when they graduate from high school. That is why it is vital youth pastor for us to give them the tools they need to learn and grow as a christian!
3. You’ve got to add to your faith..
More than just coming to church or youth groups…Going to church doesn’t make you a person of faith..I eat at the local Mexican restaurant , that does not make me Mexican! You have got to add to your faith, if fact the bible says without faith it is impossible to please God..WOW
So what is faith, Proverbs 3:5-6 say: Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart don’t lean to your own understanding but in ALL your ways ackowledge HIM and HE will direct your path…
So you can trust God with your….
I. FUTURE>
He knows the plans he has for you! Life might seem hard but Trust HIM because he said He will direct your path if you do!
And just know..His ways are not your ways, His thoughts are not your thoughts..God is up to something Big in your life..Trust Him and he will never fail you..Might take a testing/trial/storm or 2 to get you to the place that he wants you.BUT HOLD ON! HE HAS YOUR BEST IN MIND!
II.Failures>
We all mess up.
we are a bunch of Sinning, low life, no good, can’t do any good if we wanted to WRETCHED SINNERS!
I’m so thankful for His mercy and His grace,
Funny story about mercy..When I was about 15 years old my brother and I got some bottle rockets from some friends. It was the 4th of july…
Now in order to make the story come to life I’ve got to set the stage. I grew up in downtown Chattanooga TN, the house my mom and dad live in is Fort Wood. A historical part of town..It’s on the campus of UTC “University of Tennessee @ Chattanooga” right next door to the Kappa Sigma Faternity house.
So the stage is set. 4th of July, a 15 year old and a 8 year old (my brother) a pack of bottle rockets and some fraternity boys.
Mom was getting ready to leave for the afternoon, she said these words as she walked out the door.”BOY’S DO NOT TOUCH THE BOTTLE ROCKETS WHILE I’M GONE” ok mom…
Well about 10 min after she left, I heard the pop of a bottle rocket outside..The Kappa Sigma Guys were having a bottle war! IT”S GO TIME!
I got my brother, the bottle rockets, and 2 broom handles (they were hollow so you could shoot the bottle rockets out)
There I stood a 15 year old boy, Having a HUGE bottle rocket war..Well I didn’t relize was my shirt had little burning holes all in it from the bottle rockets shooting back at me..About the time I was really getting into it…MOM TURNED THE Corner…at that moment heat and fear came over my body…. We were about to get half dead! Needless to say it was not a good time on our backside that night!
Why did the punish us? Because we disobeyed…I’m thankful for the fact That God gives us mercy..Because non of us deserve Heaven, we deserve HELL! Our sins alone should send us to hell. I have heard it once said “Mercy is God’s ministry to the Misirerabell” Thank God for Grace and Mercy!
III.Fears>
I’m scared of a bunch of stuff.
I know we all deal with fears, some are scared of
Spiders
Snakes
Flys
Dark
Highest highs
Flying!
And some are personal
Not fitting in…
Not good enough
To fat
To skinny
Not Popular enough
Not Smart enough
It’s all Lies from Satan….You are God’s master piece created in Christ Jesus..
That’s why he said You can trust me with you fears. He understand your fears!
IV> Footsteps
He know’s the plans that he has for us. Sometimes theses plans are different/harder/worst/better than we think they could or can be.
I don’t worry about tomorrow because I know who holds tomorrow! God is in control…I think of the song
“When Jesus is my portion my constant friend is He..His eye is own the sparrow and I know he watches me”
He knows the plans he has for you! Trust Him….Have Faith in Him
