“Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him,but the righteous shall live by faith.”Habakkuk 2:4The Faith that Moves Mulberry TreesToday I’m going to be talking on the subject of faith: a small word with immense importance.We begin with our reading from Luke’s Gospel. The context is that Jesus has just told his disciples that they must continually forgive those who sin against them.“Increase our faith!” they say. In other words: this is extremely hard. We will need more faith in order to be able to do it.Jesus’ response: “If you had faith like the grain of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea’, and it would obey you”.The point is not about moving mulberry trees but that forgiving your enemies is only the very beginning of what faith can accomplish. Think much bigger than that.The disciples will do great things for the Kingdom of God, taking the Gospel all over the world and preaching to all sorts of people. And they would die for the faith eventually.We too can accomplish great things for God if we have faith. But faith is crucial to all of it.So this request – Increase our faith! – is a good one for them and all of us.What is Faith?“What is faith?” Here I look to the words of the Apostle Paul to his young disciple Timothy:‘I am reminded of your sincere faith…For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God…’ 2 Tim. 1:6Firstly, faith is a gift of God. It does not come from us initially but is an invitation to believe. We are invited. He offers the gift and we choose to respond or not.This is important. Paul says that God ‘saved us and called us to a holy calling not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began’ 2 Tim. 1:9.The glory belongs to God because he initiates and he empowers the response. Remember that we are called by grace and not according to our own brilliance – far from it.Secondly, faith is a response to God. There are two parts to this, both reflected in the Greek word used for faith in the New Testament – pistis.Faith is believing and trusting in the promises of God. Hebrews says, ‘Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen’ (Heb. 11:1). There is an intellectual component to faith.We have faith that God is who he says he is and that he will accomplish his word. Specifically, that he will forgive us for our sins, reconcile us to himself and give us eternal life through Jesus.But “pistis” can also be translated “faithfulness”, which indicates an ongoing life of trust and commitment.When we turn from sin we are exercising faith. When we adopt godly habits and obey God’s commandments, we are exercising faith.Paul was telling Timothy: keep preaching, keep pastoring, keep ministering. This was how he exercised faith.Slightly different for each of us: keep demonstrating the love of Christ to your spouse or in your workplace, keep sharing the Gospel with others when you have the chance, keep working for the Kingdom of God. There are many ways we are called to exercise faith.But see how faith is two things: belief and commitment. Without this commitment the belief part doesn’t mean very much. Like saying, “I love my wife” but never doing anything to demonstrate that love. Our commitment is a sign of our faith.What does faith result in?Paul says, ‘God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord…but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God’ 2 Tim. 1:7The result of faith: freedom from fear. Fear of insult or rejection, loss or the future, failure and disappointment. Why? Because we look to the power of God to accomplish his purposes.Paul often mentions the resurrection in the context of faith: ‘(the power of God)…which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel’ 2 Tim. 1:11In other words: if God has already achieved this for us, then he can and will do everything else necessary.The result of faith: power, love, self-control, the capacity to share in suffering for the Gospel. Faith transforms us. As we look to God through Jesus, we are changed more and more into the image of Christ.An example: when we look to certain people we become like them. Think of YouTube: if we look at fitness influencers, we think about fitness more and take on their values. Same for eg gardeners, beauty stylists, or musicians etc. The thing that look at is the thing that we become like.If we look to Christ, we will become like him, having power, love, self-control and the ability to suffer in obedience to God.How do we get more faith?This leads us back to the disciples’ original request: Increase our faith! How do we get more faith to serve God and accomplish great things?The Apostle Paul uses a lovely image: ‘Fan into flame the gift of God.’ A fire inside that needs to be tended.This is an invitation to the spiritual life, which is varied in its manifestations. But the principles are the same. It begins with looking. It continues with acting. And it is further strengthened through reflection.Looking – Looking is about reflecting upon the things of God and speaking to God in prayer. We do this when we come together and alone and in smaller groups. Each time we pray, meditate on Scripture, spend time in silence, receive Holy Communion, we are looking to God, reminding ourselves of his promises, and communing with him in spirit.This is where you get the petrol in the tank. If you don’t know how, there are people and materials out there from which to learn.Acting – Simply: do what God calls you to do day-by-day in faith. For me, it’s writing sermons and other things, pastoring people, taking services, being a good husband and father, and a few other things. What is it for you? How might doing these things in faith change your perspective on them? Might not be immediately clear. Reflect upon it. Ask God to show you.Reflecting – Something Paul does all the time. Not just acting and seeing God come through, but noting his faithfulness.Later in 2 Tim, at the end of his life: ‘The Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.’ 2 Tim. 4:17-18.Look back on times when you have needed to trust God. See how he has provided for you. Many times like this for me: not knowing next steps, worried about money, worried about challenges. And, yet, I’m here. I’m okay. God has provided thus far and he will do so again until the end.“Lord, increase our faith!” A wonderful prayer. By looking, acting and reflecting, let’s put it into practice.In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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