ie

the word faith is one of the MOST ELUSIVE AND HARD TO
wre,

ed

DEFINE WORDS IN THE CHRISTIAN

VOCABULARY. IT IS A MANY SIDED WORD AND CAN MEAN MANY D

LFFERENT THINGS. WE SPEAK

OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH AND MEAN THE TOTAL SYSTEM OF THE

PELLEFS THAT ARE CHRISTIAN.

FOR SOME PEOPLE FAITH MEANS BLIND, UNQUESTLONING ACCEPTANCE OF SOMETHING SOMEBODY

HAS TOLD THEM,/ FOR OTHERS HAVING FALTH MEANS FEELIN

SJRIOUSNESS AND PENETENCE. FAITH IS USED TO MEAN CONFID!
OUR FREINDS ALR NAT I OM

PY: FOR STILL OTHERS IT MEANS

PIMs SOMETHING=-WE HAVE FALTH

—<—$——»

IN OURSELVES. THIS MORNING, HOWEVER, I WANT TO TAKE A
or & Personal leweal [nu a we
TO "HAVE FAITH" OR WHEN WE SAY "HAVE FAL TH. Cant}

IN OUR SCRIPTURE READING THIS MORNI

tc

NG WE HAVE S=sN Tw

THAT HAD FAITH.

—<$

A MAN WHO WAS CRIPPLED AND MAIMED WITH LEPROGY.

sd eed Ad neat

THE DAY WERE CONNECTSD WITH THE DREADED DISEASE: FOR INS]

BY THE JEWS TO EE UNCLEAN, SPIRITUALLY AS WELL AS PHYSICALLY,

HE HAD TO PURIFY §

CONTACT WITH ONE, IN ANYWAY WHA sosre
ee

HOUSE THAT HAD BEEN ENTERED BY A LEPER HAD TO BE PURIFI EI
_ ——T

—|

INHABITANTS OOULD REENTER IT.

$<

sa

NG LOOK AT WHAT IT MEANS

qT @trs

wa -

) BIBLICA.. EXAMPLES OF MEN

JESUS WAS WALKING DOWN A ROAD WHEN HE WAS SUDDENLY ENCOUNTERED BY

MANY SUHERSITUTIONS AND PREJUULCES OF

ANCE A LEPER WAS CONSIDERED
IF A Jiw CAME IN

IS SOUL BEFORE A PRIESTY A

BY A PRIZST BEFORE THE

—

IF A LEPER'S SHADOW FELL GN A JEW HE WAS UNPURE; THERE

WAS A REGULATION OF LAW THAT SAID NO ONE COULD COME WITHIN SIX FEET OF A MAN HAVING
—_—_—_—_—_—_—_" ~~.

LEPROSY. /AND WORST OF ALL THE JEWS BELIZVED THE DISEASE
aa,

——

PUNISHMENT, | THIS LAST EIT OF SUPERST. TION CAUSED THE LI Mg

—

TO BE A FORM OF DgVINE

OF A LEPER TO BE MISERABLE

26

PEYOND COMPREHENSION, NOT ONLY WAS IT EVIL TO ASSIST A MAN WHO HAD INCURRED THE
a ‘

a

PUNISHMENT OF GOD, THE MBSERAPLE SOULS WERE RIDICULED AND

JEWISH POPULATION. THEY W°RE ABSOLUTE AND UTTER OUTCASTS

STANT PAIN AND TORTURE, UNTIL THEY SITHER STARVED TO DEATH

————— ——————V

BY THE HEDEYOUS DISEASE.

IT WAS ONE OF THESE WRETCHED PEOPLE WHO APPROACHED JESU

WANT TO YOU CAN RID ME OF MY PAINS." THIS WAS A MAN THAT

WORKS, HE HAD SEEN CROWDS OF PEOPLE FOLLOWING A MAN THEY ¢

PERSECUTED BY THE RIGHTEOUS
DOOMED TO LIVE IN CON-

OR WERE SLOWLY ANNIHILATED

S AND SAID "LORD, IF YOU

LIKELY HE HAD SEEN JESUS HHAL THE SICK ON SOME OCCASION.

HAD H&ARD OF JESUS WONDROUS
ALLED TH MESSIAH,| MORE THAN

THENE WAS NO DOUBT IN HIS

MIND AS TO WHETH R JESUS WAS AELE TO HEAL HIM,/ HIS ONLY RESERVATION WAS THE FACT OF
————

Berne IN

HIS PERSONAL WRETCHED MISERY} IT TOOK QUITE AN ACT OF COURAGE FOR THE LOWEST S@RUMOOF™

—— oo —

SOCIETY TO APPROACH A MAN WHO WAS ees BE Hed
eae

LED.

THE LEPER IAD SHEN

—

AND HEARD, HE KNEW JESUS TALKED ABOUT LOVING EVERYBODY, AXD THAT NO ONE WAS BETTER

——_—_—_—_——

THAN ANYONE ELSE, AND HE BSELLEVED THESE THINGS. HE NOT O}

HE BELIEVED WHAT HE SAID, AND HE WAS HEALED.

ee

THE ROMAN CENTURIAN WAS A DIFFERENT INDIVIDUAL AW A D}

—_—____ aan

A CENTURIAN IN THE ROMAN ARMY W.S THE OFFICER OVER A COMP!

—————

(LY BELIEVED IN JESUS CHRIST

[¥FERENT SITUATION ALTOGETHER.

a

LNY OF LOUMEN, A RESPECTED

MAN, ONE WHO HAD SERVANTS, AND LIVED RATHER WELL. / ONE SERVANT DID NOT HAVE °

—— —_—_——

MEAN MUCH TO HIM sUT IN THIS CASE IT DID. THIS MAN, LIKE

uc ——

—

_

THE LEPER, WHOLEHEARTSDLY

/

BELIEVED THAT JESUS COULD HEAL HIS SERVANT: HE ALSO BELIJEVED THAT JESUS COMPASSION AND
———

el _—_—_—,

KINDNESS WERE TRUE AND SINCERE. HE BELIEVED SO MUCH THA

SAY THE WORD THAT HIS SERVANT MIGHT BE HEALED.
$= — —<—

T ALL HE AS. #) WAS THAT JESUS

ify NOT BLIND TRUST BUT A

THESE ARE TWO OUTSTANDING EXAMPLES OF MEN WHO HAD FAI

7 —

KNOWING, UNDERST)NDING FAITH IN JESUS' POWER AND MOR# IMPORTANT, IN HIS LOVE AND

——

ee

COMPASSION.

THESE INSTANCES OF FAITH, AND OTHERS LIKE THEM ARE EA

SILY MISINTERPRETED) SO BEFORE

a f
WE DEFINE WHAT FAITH MUST nd LET US SER WHAT TT IS NOT.

FAITH IS NOT A TOOL FOR PERFORMING MAGIC. PERHAPS TH

OF FAITH IS PETER'S ATTEMPT TO WALK ON WATERAS JESUS HAJ

PROVE SOMETHING, HE WANTED TO BE SHOWN THAT OF HIS OWN A

LAWS OF NATURE. THIS SIMPLY IS NOT FAITH. ONE CAN BELI

is BEST EXAMPLE OF THIS USE

)
DONE, PSTER WANTED TO
| ea

DWER HE COULD OVERCOME THE
‘ies ieee

EVE AS STRONGLY AS HE CAN

——

THAT HE IS ABLE TO DEFY THE LAW OF GRAVITY, HOWEVsR, NOT

MIND CAN STOP HIM FROM FALLING IF HE DECIDED TO PROVE IT
WINDOW.

FAITH THAT IS USED TO PROCURE MATERIAL OBJECTS IS NOT

HING IN THE WORLD OR IN HIS

BY STEPPING OUT OF A

/
FAITH exmum / I AM REMINDED

OF THE STORY OF THE LITTLE GIRL WHO SAID SHE HAD FAITH THE GOD WOULD GIVE HER

e— ~~ —™eae(é

f

ROLLER SKATES. A SUSPICIOUS FRIEND SUGGESTED THAT GOD D

SHE DECIDED TO PROVE HER FAI'H.

ViSN'T ANSwER PRAYERS SO

AFTER WEEKS OF PRAYER AWD NO SKATES THE FRIEND TAUNTER

"SEE I TOID YOU GOD DOESN'T ANSWER PRAYERS,

FUL FRIEND, "HE SAID NO",

MAJOR OFFERING IS NOT THAT GOD ANSWERS PRAYER BUT THAT
pinata dvnnig : BE ot is maemo

ALTHOUGH THIS S$

4.

"OH YES

|

‘(YY HAS SOME

He DOSS" REPLIED OUT FAITH-

————..

POINT TO If I THINK ITS

His LITTLE GIRL WHO WAS SO

CONFIDENT SIMPLY HAD NO IDEA WHATSORVER OF THE REAL MEANING OF FAITH.

FAITH IS NOT BLIND ACCEPTANCE EITHER, AND HERE IS THR BIGGEST AREA OF MISUNDER-

STANDING,

AND NEVER, THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFK, FIND IT NECESsaRY TO |

HAST TOLD THEM THAT GJD IS LOVE THAT JESUS SAVES AND THIS IS ENOUGH es is Sie
_——_—S eat rae ren _

ee

FAITH. ALL ONE NHEDS TO BEA CHRISTIAN IS A FEW TRICKY
—_—_ -

MEMORIZE AND QUOTE A BIBLE VERSE ON ANY OCCASION AND ABG

TO FamEeK .

ease

MINISTERS HAVE SAID, AND EVEN WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS IS NOT
eens

aa

OVER AND OVER IN ONE'S MIND UNTIL THEY H

TRUS FAITH CAN ONLY RESULT FROM AS

———

—_—_—_—__—:

A GREAT MANY CHRISTIANS ARE EXPOSED TO SUNDAY SCHOOL STORIES AS CHILDREN

BLVE ANY DEEPER. SOMBUNE

TD REASON AND UNDERSTAN

THE ATEN T OF
HEM

4

PHRASES, AN ABILITY TO

—_——.

WHAT PARENTS HAVE TOLD US, WHAT SUNDAY SCHOOL

—_——_

VE ALL A STUPBORN RESISTANCE

TEACHES HAVE TAUGHT, WHAT

]

AVE ME ANING./

/

POWERS IN OUR RELIGION 1S SIMPLY TIRNING OUR BACKS ON FAL

—_ —.

PEOPLE TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH FALTH THE DISCIPLES MUST HAVE

—

THAT A FEW HOURS AFTER THEIR LORD HAD DIED

a,

BY

Gb
prot!
SUP FICIENT TO CALL IT FAITH.

TRUGGLE; BELIEFS MUST BE WARESTL@D WITH, TURNED

TH GRACIOUSNESS OF GOD WE

——

: aaa

se,

» THEY WERE IN

TH./ I HAVE OF TEN
ee acer

THEY HAD SO MUCH FAITH

HAD

COWERING BEHIND
a,

HIDING,

LOCKED DOBRS, WONDERING "HOW COULD THIS BE" CERTAINLY DOWBTING OF WHAT THEY HAD

LL

=

&

BELIEVED WAS ACTUALLY TURE. / BUT IT WAS OUT OF THIS PERI
— —

DU OF DESPAIR

AND DOUBT

———

THATQREW A FAITH SO GREAT THAT FROM THAT PITIFULLY SMALL GROUP THE NAME OF JsSUS

—_eC«"“_
——_—

CHRIST WAS SPREAD ALL OVER THE WORD.

THE UNDERSTANDING THAT CAME AFTER THEIR PERLOD OF DOU

PALTH

—$ $$ __

WE ARE NO DIFFERENT, A RELIGION THAT IS BLANDLY ACCE

arssaon CHNNOT BE CALLED FAITH.

BT ENLARGED AND ACTIVATED THEIR
MADE IT BLOSSOM AND PECOME A BRIVING FORCE THAT WDULD NO BE EXTINGUISHED.

im SwWALLOWE) WHOLs WITHOUT

OUR FAITH WILL BE DYNAMIC ONLY AFTER IT HAS RACKED OUR MINDS, ONLY AFTER WE HAVE

BECOME COMPLETELY MENTALLED INVOLVED IN ITS MANY FACETS.

f

IF IT IS TEMPERED WITH KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING,
—___ SS

re

ONLY THROUGH A FACING AND STRUGGLING WITH ISSUES.

/ FALTH) IS ONLY FAITH

THIS IN TURN IS POSSIBLE

THE BEST SINGLE WORD TO DESCRIBE FAITH IS mst. / wo UME S UPON VOLUMES HAVE BEEN
——! - —- —

WRITTEN IN AN ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN AND DESCRIBE FAITH SO I

NOT REDUCE THE DEEP MEANING THAT MUST BE THERE.

——

IN ONE WORD WS COULD DO SO MOST EFFICIENTLY WITH TQbST.

BELIEVING IN GOD, CONSENTING TO THE EXISTENCE OF GOD |
i ,

THERE ARE FEW MEN THAT WOULD OURIGHTLY DENY THE EXISTENC]

*

SOME, BUT WHEN IT COMES RIGHT DOWN TO IT THEIR NUMBER 1
pees pees!

f

FAITH MUS'

———

"SURE I BELIEVE IN GOD" DOSS NOT IMPLY party. |

HOPE MY USING ONE WORD WILL

BUT IF WH 44D TO DESCHIDE FAITH

[S NOT NECESSARILY FALTH.

POF A SUPREME BRING, THERE ARE

SMALL.

—___.

BUT MERSLY STATING

. GO FURTHER THAN MENTAL

—$—

6.

/ .-
CONSENT THAT THERE IS A ms FAITH MUS TIRUST THIS oo,
AS HE SPEAKS AND ACTS/AND ABOVE ALL ELSE IT MUST BSLI EVE

—

HEARS.

——

MEN HAE CONSTANTLY TURNED THEIR BACKS WHEN APPROACHET
na

RSFUSED TO LISTEN WHEN HE SPEAKS.

TO HIS WORKS sf THE

BE SEEN AS THE STORY OF MAN'S FAILURE TO ACHIEVE FAITH.

FAITH MUST BE AWARE TO GOD

AND TRUST WHAT IT

———————

SEES AND

D BY GOD,|THSY HAVE SHUT THEIR EYgs

ENTIRE OLD TESTMMENT MAY

GOD SPOKE TO HIS CHOSEN

~~

PEOPLE TIME AND TIME AGAIN, IN THE FLIGHT FROM EGYPT, IN| THE JOURNEY THROUGH THE

ee

WILDERNESS, ON MT. SINAI, IN THE FULFILLED PROMISE OF A

=————

LAND OF THEIR OWN. THE

JEWS NEVER DOUBTED THAT THERE WAS A GOD, THEY BELIEVED IN GOD, WHAT THEY DIDN'T

—

AS INCOMPLETE BECAUSE THEY

VE HIM WHEN HE SPOKE OR ACTED. THEIR FAITH W

NEVER RSALLY TRUSTED GOD./ EVERY NEW DAY ON THE LONG TRI

——

THEM GRUMBLING AND DOUTING, DOUBTING THAT GOD WOULD HOLD

FAITH IS BEING ALE

P FROM EGYPT TO ISRAERL FOUND

TO HIS me

IS THE REALIZATION THAT WHEN GOD MAKES IT KNOWN THAT He

HE MAKES IT KNOWN THAT HE IS CONCERNED WITH

ee

VERY MAN, HJ

——

H@WZ OFTEN OUR FALTH HAS FALLS SHORT AT THIS POINT?

cl

BACKS, HOW FREQUENTLY HAVE WE SHUT OUT THE STL LL BMALL VI

AND ACTLONS AND TRUSTING THiM MXPLICITLY. FAITH

LOVES HE MEANS IT, THAT WHEN

b MEANS IT.

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE TURNED OR

BUSY
pICE PECAUSE WH ARE TOO 2m TO

—

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THEN}
eee

KARNESS OF GOD?

rr

just how sriously do we tuke the promise that god loyes ani cares for us// does

————

IT HAVE ANY AFFECT? DO WE BEALLY TRUST?

————

AT THE TIME OF THE REFORMATION THE WORD FAITH WAS GR&
Sr as —

ENTURIES "FAITH" AP exes PRETTY MUCH OF AN EMPTY T!
Pcie Lm

FOR C
; a

WAS DETERMINED
heen

BY HOW WELL HE OBEYED THE VAST SYSTEM OF ¢

HOW REGULAR HE WAS IN ATTENDANCE AND CONTRIHUTIONS ETC.

THE | 4

EFORMERS, LUTHER, CALVIN, TOOK THIS MEANINGLESS
——

POSITION OF PRIMARY IMPORTANCE. THEY RECOGNIZED THAT THI

CHRISTIANITY . AND THEY CAME UP WITH THE BEAUTIFULLY PROF

ATLY CHANGED AND ENLARGED.

PRM. =A PERSON'S FAITH

PHURCH RULES AND REGULATIONS,

ERM AND RESTORED IT 10
| WORD FAITH WAS CENTRAL 10

UND TRUTH THAT FAITH IS A
eae

| eset

|

HAVING FAILED TO APPRECIATE HIS ACTS OF LOVE AND CONC}

GIFT OF GOD

——<— @ @@—_—_—_r

A PRIVILEGE WE HAVE BECAISE OF HIS GOODNESS.

AND PLAINLY AS POSSI ELE DEMONSTRATED THAT H# WAS AS G,OD)

—_—.

HIMSELF IN A WAY MEN COULD SEE AND HEAR AND EXPERIENCE ,

—

BEEN SHOWN THAT Wi CAN TRUST GOD, THAT HE IS TRUSTWORTHY,

—— ——

CONCERNED ABOUT MAN, WE HAVE BEEN SHOWN MAT WE MIGHT HAV

AS HIS W0iD. HE HKEVEALED

——_$_$____

IN JESUS CHRIST. WE HAVE

THAT HE DOXS LOVE AND IS

~~

FALTH.

ee

THE ACCOUNTS
a Ceuk, seru ail core: Speen.
wHEN MEN took | zsus CHK
THEY TRULY TRUSTED WT

or Xu HEA

éf LEfER

be Pave, — J isthues

6Y AT Hs Weep.
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Tt Aste CANNOT aa)

ILA MIME L E omy
ACOE LPTAMCE -

tr MvVsT BE the Ovur-Chete ov ee ENA
STRUCELING, THIN KE WOL TILING -
LY Mus’ BLOSSOM FORTY As
COMPLETE TRUST AN Al\GOD TAAV
DS This7 WOR VE] 4, THAT HAS L407

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WE CAN TRUST - We

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4yAT WE CAN PULA OUT ALA THE SToPsS

AND UMRESERVEDLY TKOST

PUR LORD. WH

[Esus CH RIST GOD HAS. GLUEN US CONYEYE
Ek OOF THAT + & (8 AS Gon As HITS

IVoRD. - LET US Nov TURM
WHEN HE SPEAKS LET US
LET Us HALE FALVA7