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READ: Mark 5:22
CHALLENGE: Practice Having an Effective Faith
- EFFECTIVE FAITH IS SINCERE
Vv22-24 – Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23 He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” 24 So Jesus went with him.
- Sincere Faith Moves
Hard to believe sincerely if you’re not making a move. Guaranteed Jairus isn’t mindlessly wandering when he encounters Christ. His daughter is at death’s door so there’s no way that he leaves her side except to run to Jesus. He had one mission and he got himself out the door to make it happen.
So, he made a move and that showed sincerity. Is praying making a move? It’s definitely doing something positive and arguably the most important thing you can do. Find a quiet place and talk with God rather than attempt to handle everything on your own. Even in the hardest moments, to pray is a great play!
If you need a job, apply for jobs. Hard to feign sincerity while doing nothing. If I’m serious about fixing something or getting in shape, that requires movement. You cannot just sit around.
Are you sincere about fixing a marriage problem? That depends on how much effort you’re putting into doing something about it! I wouldn’t say I was going to work on it but then sit on the couch, watch television, and ignore the problem. I’d get off my duff and be all in. Do whatever it takes! What’s your move?
If there is a sin issue and I’m serious about gaining victory, then I need to be doing something about it. That’s being sincere about fixing problems.
- Sincere Faith Is Humble
Jairus fell at Jesus’ feet because he was humble enough to ask. This is a great posture showing your desperate need. And let’s face it, asking for help is humbling. We guys don’t like to ask and not even for directions.
Ex.
Obviously, there’s a natural resistance to admitting that we need help. We either feel like we don’t need it or we just hate to have to humble ourselves and ask. It’s important to know your limits and I’ve certainly found mine over the years. I lean on those who know more than I do! Help is a beautiful thing.
Jairus is a synagogue leader. What does that mean? He’s important and he would be well known and respected. People would probably come to him for help. Yet even he had to humble himself to ask Jesus to save his daughter. He wasn’t above pleading. Personal greatness doesn’t erase personal problems.
People have been crying out to God throughout all time. Read the Psalms where they are constantly seeking help to handle problems and enemies. It’s how this life rolls. We have problems bigger than our ability to handle so we turn to a God who is bigger than our problems. It’s not much more complicated than that.
Humility acknowledges our own inadequacy. Perhaps some are here today because of problems and worries. You have a relationship issue or an addiction issue and that has brought you to church. Perhaps you’ve had a bad situation of some kind and you’re looking for help or relief because you can’t do it on your own.
We’re all like Jairus at one time or another. We realize that we can’t do it on our own, so we call on our Heavenly Father. Humility is found when we’ve been knocked to our knees. Jairus is desperate and it humbles him.
When it comes to biblical words like forgiveness and salvation, do we ask for them out of any sense of desperation and humility? What does asking for forgiveness from God even mean if we don’t first realize that we’re doomed without it? Think about it. When we’re asking for forgiveness from another human there’s a good chance we know that we’re in trouble and that’s why we’re asking. So, humility even plays into salvation because we realize that salvation is getting pulled out of the fire! And we need Jesus to do that. What does salvation mean if we don’t realize our plight and the death attached to it?
John 3:36 – Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
The wrath remains on them which means it was never off of them. They were always unshielded and vulnerable. Salvation prevents that.
I took my truck up to Jimmy and Eric Hale to have them undercoat it for me. I wanted to protect the frame of my truck from the corrosive impact of salt. The salt is already so it’s wise to protect our vehicles from the destructive impact of what is there.
We’re the car and sin is the salt and rust. Jesus prevents the spiritual rot when we come to him and ask but be humble enough to ask Him. You might as well go over Niagara Falls on an intertube as to enter eternity without salvation. Remember, salvation doesn’t mean there’s no hell. It just means you’ll never go there.
- Sincerity Prays Earnestly
He pled earnestly. What does the word “earnestly” mean. It means that he pled much so there was an intensity and urgency to the words. It took it out of the realm of just normal conversation. These words had an emotion that you could feel! It was not praying like you’re reading a grocery list! It was urgent and you could feel it.
When Fenrus, our daughter’s dog, would run toward the road, I didn’t calmly whisper, Fenrus, you come back here right now little doggy woggy. That dog could hear in the tone of my voice to put on the breaks now. It was earnest!
Being earnest before God is so important. When Peter was in prison, the church prayed for him and they were earnest and God heard those prayers. Jairus was begging, please, please, please.
Putting petitions before God is so important. Philippians 4:6-7 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Don’t be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. We are invited to bring our requests to God. We come to the throne of grace where we can find help in our time of need. I’m going to talk to God about it and I find that God does amazing things. However, there are those times where there needs to be that sense of urgency.
When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, He was sweating blood. His prayers were intense. Let’s be serious about prayer as opposed to mumbling something half-hearted to God.
B. EFFECTIVE FAITH OVERCOMES CHALLENGES
Vv35-36 – While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” 36 Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
Let’s deal with some of the challenges to our faith because there are some significant ones here.
- Challenge of Difficulties
While Jesus is still speaking to the woman with the blood disorder, some people came from Jairus’ house with the terrible news … “your daughter is dead”. Loss has to be one of the largest challenges to faith we encounter.
Losses can test your faith. Will you still believe even though you lose a job or a relationship? If you lose a position? Jairus’ world is indeed falling apart as he faces life’s darkest moment. She’s only a child, what did she do? I’m a synagogue leader, what did I do? Why me? When you’re asking those questions, you can bet your faith is getting challenged. Do you really believe everything you said you believed when times were good?
God is good and his love endures forever – do we still believe when what happened to you isn’t good at all? We’re tested in the fires and what we need to do is just keep believing.
Sometimes we’re up against some pretty big odds and it’s hard. We really don’t know where that next whatever it is we need is coming from! We have have to keep believing. I remember when my first daughter went to college and I had no idea if we could pay the tuition or not. We trusted God, did our best, God provided. I remember saying, you don’t know until you try but doing nothing or quitting were not options.
I’ve seen days where you didn’t want to take the next step but God always gave enough help to keep me going until I had gotten through the valley and He does the same for all of us. Difficulties can do more good than easy days.
Challenges to faith make faith stronger as long as we don’t cave. Proverbs 24:10 – If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength! When you experience difficulties, don’t be afraid, just believe.
- Challenge of Delays
I don’t know how far Jairus’ house was from this current location where Jesus stops to talk to a woman who had a blood disease. Would a ten-minute delay have made a difference? I don’t know.
I’m sure that Jairus was crushed to hear that his daughter had just died. If they hadn’t stopped, maybe, just maybe, they would have gotten there in time. The delay here reminds me of the delay in the case of Lazarus. Jesus delayed a few days in that scenario; however, the delay was part of God’s plan and allowed great miracle to happen.
How do we like delays? If I were Jairus, I would probably start what “iffing” myself. What if I had left the house sooner? What if the woman had not stopped Jesus? We may wonder, “What if I came to Christ sooner”? “What if I talked to a counselor sooner”? “What if I changed sooner”.
We may get frustrated when answers to prayer are delayed. These times of waiting can seem like forever. Minutes can feel like hours and days like years. Don’t allow delays to derail your faith. It’s wise to trust God for the timing of all things.
When there are delays, don’t be afraid, just believe.
- Challenge of Thinking It’s Too Late
Why bother the teach anymore? Meaning what? Meaning that it’s too late. Your opportunity has passed. Was it true? No!
I wonder, is it ever too late? I think of the Jewish people who were slated for God’s judgment in the days of Jeremiah, yet He continued to give them a chance to change their ways and come around. It was never too late.
I understand some doors shut and some relationships break and chapters end to never be re-opened. Bridges get burned and everyone is moving forward differently than they were before. However, I never want anyone to think it’s too late to change. Too late to come to Christ. Too late to get your life together.
Moses began leading Israel at age 80. Caleb was winning victories at age 80. It’s never too late to do something profound in your life. Just go with Jesus like Jairus did.
When you think it’s too late – don’t be afraid, just believe.
- The Challenge of What People Say
Jesus overheard what they were saying and he said, don’t be afraid, just believe. People say a lot of things. Sometimes the words of other people can be the most discouraging of all. I remember a preaching professor telling me that I had no natural talent. He said it but God led me to preach.
In my early days of Eagleville I was told that this church would never amount to anything and never grow. I was asked why I was here. I was told I didn’t belong here.
I was told that fixing and living in the house where we’ve been for 28 years would be impossible. I’ve been told plenty of times what was impossible. Yes, by myself, sure. But with others and with God, it was possible.
People say a lot of things that are completely off. People might say you’ll never amount to anything. They may say you’re a loser. They may say many things. Who are you listening too? Jesus said – Don’t be afraid; just believe.
- Challenge of Mocking Disbelief
Vv37-40 – He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him.
She’s not dead. Ha, ha, ha. Yes she is. You’re going to church, people might laugh. You might feel called into a certain ministry and people might mock it. Why are you changing? You’re no fun! Ha ha believer – what a joke!
Lots of people mock righteousness and law and tear down churches and faith and absolutes. Are they building anything? Cynics don’t change the world. People of faith do!
Jairus stuck with Jesus. He didn’t quit. He didn’t give up. This is the key. Don’t be afraid; just believe.
One thing that I loved that about our marriage conference. They reminded people that battling through problems and sticking with it is the best choice you can make. Your love deepens over time so don’t give up.
And ultimately, I don’t want to quit on my faith. The Bible and the doctrines about God are beautiful and amazing. And that remains true even when life is not amazing. There are plenty of challenges. Let’s just plant ourselves with what Jesus said. Don’t be afraid, just believe.
C. EFFECTIVE FAITH BELIEVES IN WHAT CAN BE
V40 – After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.
The people were laughing at him and he was very moved – He put them all out. They only see what is. Jesus knows what can be. The parents have been asked to believe in what can be. If you only look at what is, you’ll short circuit your faith.
- Jesus Had His Team with Him
Jesus went into the girl and he had John, James, and Peter with him. They were there to witness but I realize that the people in my life have been invaluable. We can thank God for all that he has done at Eagleville. It’s been awesome. We praise the Lord for all good things. But there are also teams of people who God has used to do so much. We appreciate it.
Jesus had others with him and we should be bringing others along as well. It’s a very encouraging concept.
- Jesus Raised Her Up
He took the girl by the hand and told her to get up. The mourners were not wrong when they said she was dead. Every faithless person can see what is, that’s easy. People of faith can see what can be or what will be.
Pessimists can only look at the bad of something. A person of faith can look at what something’s going to be and how it can change. They can look ahead. Every blind person could see that they were blind! But they looked for something better.
What Jesus did was mind blowing. They were completely astonished. But what is as incredible as that is when God gives the spiritually dead new life! That’s an amazing reality as well. Having new life in Christ. This is why we trust Him, he can turn lives around.
Jesus said that when we pray, believe that we have already received it.
How effective is your faith? Sincerely Search. Overcome Challenges. Believe in what will be.
Hebrews 11: 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she[b] considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
They were barren. They would be the parents of a nation. It’s not about what is but what can be. This is where faith takes you and that’s a beautiful place!