Revolutionary Leaders

Even When Our Faith Is Small, God Is Still Amazing

There once was an occasion when Jesus whet to minister in Nazareth, his home town, in Mark chapter 6. Jesus went and taught in the synagogue of his own city and many were amazed but they questioned him and even took offence. Verse 5 & 6 says, “He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their lack of faith.”

Look at what Jesus said about to his followers in Matthew 6:25-34.

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I believe Jesus was trying to get his disciples to understand a few things about faith.
A. You have a purpose (and it’s bigger and better than a bird or flower)
B. Take one day at a time (do what you can today, let me take of tomorrow)
C. Focus on forever (keep your perspective on the eternal)

Just as Jesus had control of the winds and the waves, he can calm the storm of your life as well. Have a little faith and let it grow.

1 Peter 5:6-11
6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Sometimes our storms are the result of the devil seeking to devour our life. Satan doesn't want you to be happy living for Jesus, so he'll try and trip you up, distract you, or cause tragedy in your life.

Peter was writing to the scattered and persecuted church when he wrote those words in 1 Peter 5. He was challenging them and encouraging them that even when their faith was small, God is still amazing!
A. Get rid of your fear (anxiety is the opposite of faith)
B. Control your emotions (don’t be reactive)
C. Resist temptation (Satan always tries to kick us when we’re down, Matthew 26:41)
D. Stand firm in your faith (you’re not alone)

Remember, don't focus on your problem. Focus on God who is bigger than any circustance you may face (v10). He brings supernatural peace and restoration. He will make you stronger, increase your faith and stamina.

Have you ever watched the show "The Bionic Man"? I loved that show. I remember coming home from school and watching that show before dinner almost every night. Well, the story goes, Steve Austin was a test pilot for NASA, one of america's elite airmen. Unfortunately, one day while trying to land one of these new jets he crashed and was almost killed. The best doctors in the world replaced his legs, one his arms, and one of his eyes with "bionic" parts. As the trailer to the show tells us, "We made him stronger, faster, better than he was before." Then he became this super-agent protecting our country from all kinds of things.

Well, in a round about way, God does something very similar for us. Through every circustance, trial and tragedy, God builds our faith and stamina as we trust in Him. Look at the lives of Joseph, Job, Paul and Peter. They had experienced some rough stuff. I'm not sure if I could handled junk like they did. But EVERY time the put their trust in God - God not only proved faithful, but he made them stronger, faster, better than they were before!

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
9"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Even when your faith is small, GOD is still amazing!