MAXIMIZE your Faith: All in!

I believe that God has an incredible adventure waiting for our church that has everything to do with seeing souls saved, people growing, and a coalition of disciples taking the gospel to the ends of the earth (Know Christ, Grow in Christ, and Show Christ to others). I know I’m called to this adventure, and wonder if anyone else feels the same way.

But how do we intend to do this?

At the very beginning of this year, after much prayer and careful consideration on behalf of both myself and the advisory council at Crystal Spring Baptist Church, we put together a five year plan in order to see this mission fulfilled. Let me remind you of what we hoped to accomplish in year one.

Discipleship: We hope to begin 4-5 small groups that actively disciple church members in intimate environments.

Children/Youth: Conduct a Children’s Church on Sunday Mornings

Missions: We intend to minister to Hospital staff in and around Carilion as well as reach out to the Medical School.

Services: Keep as is

Property: We plan on building new bathroom facilities and begin updating the 2^nd and 3^rd floor of the education building.

Personnel: Senior Pastor, Advisory Council, 4-5 Deacons.

Average Attendance: 100 people.

All of these goals, under the direction of the Holy Spirit and by the grace of God work together in order to see souls saved and disciples know Christ, Grow in Christ, and Show Christ to others. Sound like a tall order? Seem impossible to you? If you were a betting person, would you put your money on this place, trusting that God would come through, exceeding even these ideas? Or are you smirking even now saying quietly to yourself, “Get real Jeff!”

In our first installment in this new series “Maximize” we are going to talk about maximizing our faith from Romans 4:18-24. In this passage we are going to learn how to believe God for great things in our own lives and in our church by looking at three teachings that Paul gives on the topic of faith. By the end of our study this morning, not only will you learn why going all in for God’s plan is a safe bet, but you will also be challenged to do something in response. Are you ready?

I. TEACHING #1: FAITH BELIEVES THE IMPOSSIBLE-4:18-21

The beginning of this passage calls to mind a very important account from Genesis 12ff. Abraham, an old man with no descendants, was called on by God to move from his hometown to a distant land in order to father a new nation! From this new people would come the Savior of the world and the source of blessings for all mankind. Sounded great! However, everything about Abraham’s age and his wife’s barren condition pointed to the contrary.

Faith believes the impossible. At the very beginning of this passage, Paul reminds the reader that when all of the evidence pointed to the contrary, Abraham believed God’s promise. From a human standpoint, there was no hope that Abraham would live up to his name (“father of many nations.”)  However, from Abraham’s perspective, he had hope (“in hope against hope”)—that is the confident expectation that God would make good on His promises.

Not only did Abraham have faith that believed the impossible, He had the determination to be steadfast in his conviction in spite of the difficulty that surrounded him. Abraham was fully aware that his own body was as good as dead (“utterly worn out”). After all, at the time this promise was made, he was about 100 years old! Not the right age to begin establishing a nation. Not to mention, his wife Sarah had advanced well beyond her child-birthing years without every giving birth. Form the world’s standpoint there was not the slightest possibility that she would bear a child and give Abraham the nation he was promised! However, Abraham’s faith was unwavering. In full knowledge of these obstacles, Abraham’s faith remained strong. But why?

Faith in the impossible is only unreasonable within a restricted worldview that denies God the right to intervene. However, for those who believe in a universe with God, His intervention is highly rational. In fact, those with a biblical perspective like Abraham expect God to intervene on behalf of those He has created. Therefore, faith moves past human potentiality. It acknowledges the existence of one who is not bound by the limitations of this world. With regards to this passage, Mounce concludes, “Where God is present there is nothing that lies outside the realm of possibility.”

Churches today are in desperate need of those who will insist that God is able to do anything that is in keeping with His nature and in harmony with His program of redemption. What promises has God given us? What does God’s nature suggest? We have the promise that as we are about His business, God’s presence goes with us (Matt. 28:19-20). The Bible also says that all things are possible with God (Matt. 19:26). Therefore, let our faith not be shaken!

In a world bent against the truth, in a community that grows more disinterested in church each and every day, in a nation that grows more oppressive of Christianity with every piece of legislation, it may seem nearly impossible to grow a church and see lives changed. We may waiver in our faith and believe our goals to be too grand or irrational. However, this is not the faith we read about here. If you don’t believe God can accomplish great things in this church, change lives in these walls, and more than surpass all of our expectations in spite of all that might be working against us both from within and from without, your God is too small. Why do you waiver in your faith and yet claim to worship the Almighty? God loves to make the barren give birth, cause things to grow in the desert, and yields life from the dead.  We have every reason to believe He can accomplish great things here.

II. TEACHING #2: FAITH AIMS FOR GOD’S GLORY-4:20-21

Faith believes God’s promises against all hope and always aims for God’s glory. As Paul begins to present this second teaching, he reminds the reader of the nature of Abraham’s faith. A couple things are worth remembering. First, Abraham’s faith was rooted in the promises of God as spoken in His word. Second, Abraham’s faith did not waiver under the pressure and difficulties involved in his situation. Third, instead of faltering, Abraham’s faith actually grew stronger! Can the said be said of your faith in God for your life and this church?

Faith like this does not exist for personal gain, success, or the satisfaction of scribbled plans and man-made aspirations. It exists for the glory of God.

Glory to God was the residual effect of Abraham’s faith as well as the means through which he remained faithful. When God’s glory is our ambition, faith becomes alive and begins to trust Him for everything. 

Similarly, when faith is exercised, God’s glory is on display instead of man’s power, will, or ability. However, having faith in God is not a big risk. It wasn’t for Abraham and it need not be for us.

Verse 21 shares that Abraham was fully assured in what God had said. In other words, He stood firmly on what God had promised Him (that his seed would yield many nations).This describes Abraham’s complete confidence in God’s ability and integrity. God has the power—no doubt about it. God does what He promises. How could he not and still be God? Believing in the promises of God is a safe bet and it always results in His glory. Faith is total surrender to the ability and willingness of God to carry out his promises.

Similarly, we too can be assured that God is going to do great things in this church because of His promises and His ability to carry them out! However, every aspiration that this church has ever dreamed, every goal it could ever hope to reach, every step it will take must have as its destination the glory of God. Then and only then is it really faith. Then and only then will God support. For as it says in Hebrews 14:6…”Without faith it is impossible to please God.”

Do you want to be a part of a church that pleases God? Then give Him glory by placing your unwavering faith in Him to do great things!

III. TEACHING #3: FAITH RESULTS IN RIGHTEOUSNESS-4:22-24

Faith believes God’s promises against all hope, always aims for God’s glory, and results in righteousness. Abraham was given God’s righteousness because of his unwavering faith in him. Like all sinners, Abraham had a deficit in the bank of righteousness because of his sin. This placed him at odds with God and left him with no way to pay God back for all of the debt he had accrued. However, because of his faith in God, Abraham was credited with God’s righteousness, rendering him debt free and able to enjoy abundant life.  

This program is not limited to Abraham. Instead, it is available to all!

The greatest award of faith is the righteousness of God bestowed on His people. In the same way God credited Abraham’s account, He is able to credit the account of anyone who believes in Him who raised Jesus from the dead!

Ephesians 2:8-9-“For by grace are you saved through faith, and this not of yourselves, it is a gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast.”

Notice, faith from the individual is the key to the righteousness of God. However, it is the faith of the church body placed in God’s program of salvation that brings the opportunity of faith to the faithless.

Romans 10:14-17-“How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!’…So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”

Therefore, it is faith that propels salvation in an individual and it is faith that propels the mission of the church. Faith is where it all starts and where it all ends.

So What?

Faith believes the impossible, always aims for God’s glory, and results in righteousness. How is your faith? Like Abraham, are you convinced that God can do the impossible in your life and in this church’s context, or is your faith shaken by what you see, hear, and perceive? With God, there is no risk! Romans 8:31 says, in part, “if God is for us, who is against us?” though this church’s plans are a tall order, God is taller still!

So what does this passage demand of us? These concepts surrounding faith are great on the page, but what is it that I can take away and apply to my life? The answer is found in James 2. “Faith without works is dead.” The best way that you can demonstrate faith in God for the impossible to be made possible in this place, the most accurate way to bring glory to God at Crystal Spring Baptist Church, the way in which you can be used of Him to bring His righteousness to the lost is to DO SOMETHING! It is that simple! In order to maximize your faith, organize your own small group, invite a friend to church, have a neighbor over for dinner, drag your family member to Sunday service, pray like you never have before, phone a loved one, make a new connection, go on a fast,… DO SOMETHING! As Abraham before us, be all in, throw everything on the table, maximize your faith and watch God show off by doing far more than we could ever have imagined. Let the adventure begin! I’m all in. Are you?