1 Samuel 17:1a, 4-11, 19-49; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; Mark 4:35-41
Faith or fear? See the real obstacle to faith is not doubt because doubt has you asking questions which then in turn develop your faith. Fear on the other hand keeps you in its own prison. You can't walk outside the walls of it. You can't go further, you can't walk on in your faith journey, no, instead you are held to the spot of your fear. Unable to do anything because fear keeps you in check. Unable to speak because your fear keeps you silent. Unable to weather lives storms because fear keeps you hunkered down. Today we have three stories which tell us something about faith and fear.
First is good old David and Goliath. The David and Goliath story is a story about big and small, about power in terms of armor and weaponry, and frail skin and a simple weapon. Fear is what David sees when he comes to the camp to bring his brothers food. David doesn't understand it. David volunteers himself for this fight, Saul tries to outfit David with his armor and it just doesn't work. See fear is palpable in the face of what we consider strong and mighty. We are too small, there is not enough of us, we don't have any power is what we might say. Yet David says let me fight this my way, with an old fashioned slingshot and five stones and he wins. See the armies were at a deadlock, except for this big man who came out and threw insults. This had a whole army cowering. It was impossible to win and yet David did.
Unlikely odds. This is what a great story is about, this is what a great story from history is about. World War II was won because of little pockets of resistance all over every conquered country, even in Germany itself. These people knew they were only a few, or one, but they didn't let fear keep them from trying. The fear was great in the face of much hate and people built on the foundations of it. Yet love and care and concern won out in the end. Yes there was a huge cost, but there were people who kept faith in front of them and not fear.
Next we have the testimony of Paul and a traveling companion. They have been through many things: imprisonment, beatings, riots, sleeplessness, and hunger just to name a few. This all has cultivated something more in them. Because by the fruits of the Spirit they endured all these through patience, kindness and knowing their message is for others to hear. They won't stop the spread of the gospel even though it is contrary to the empire. In the face of the states authority they keep on. Even if they are arrested, beaten, and imprisoned. They have their eyes on the things from above. The wider you open your heart to it the more you know the things unseen, which are eternal as Paul put it a few weeks ago. Its not that you are empty handed but you possess everything.
It's all or nothing Meg finds in "A Wrinkle in Time". All of herself or nothing and she will loose her brother. In the face of great fear she keeps the faith and discovers the power of love. The power of love to heal, the power of love to break through barriers, the power of love to overcome darkness. Something which cannot be seen or accumulated in riches, but gains everything. This power has care and kindness and an acceptance of our flaws and who we are. We can be fully known and be who we are with love. Paul found this and shares it with all who will receive. He keeps the faith in the face of fear.
Lastly we have the storm on the sea. Have you so little faith. Jesus has just done healing, casting out demons and has finished by telling parables about the kingdom of God. The disciples loose faith in the face of the storm. How many times do we loose faith in the face of the storm. We don't dare to say what we ought because of the storm of words which might come. We don't dare to act because of the storm of consequences which will come our way if we do. So we stay stuck in the boat crying out for someone else to save us. Have faith like a mustard seed, have faith like loosely scattering seeds as we read last week, have faith you will make it through the storm.
"Faith is the substance of things hoped for of things we cannot see" (Hebrews 11:1). Faith will see us through our fears if we only trust and believe. It is for us not to see the giant, or the hardships, or the storm but for us to trust in what cannot be seen, faith. Faith has seen many people through it all so keep the faith and don't be bound by fear.
Faith or fear? See the real obstacle to faith is not doubt because doubt has you asking questions which then in turn develop your faith. Fear on the other hand keeps you in its own prison. You can't walk outside the walls of it. You can't go further, you can't walk on in your faith journey, no, instead you are held to the spot of your fear. Unable to do anything because fear keeps you in check. Unable to speak because your fear keeps you silent. Unable to weather lives storms because fear keeps you hunkered down. Today we have three stories which tell us something about faith and fear.
First is good old David and Goliath. The David and Goliath story is a story about big and small, about power in terms of armor and weaponry, and frail skin and a simple weapon. Fear is what David sees when he comes to the camp to bring his brothers food. David doesn't understand it. David volunteers himself for this fight, Saul tries to outfit David with his armor and it just doesn't work. See fear is palpable in the face of what we consider strong and mighty. We are too small, there is not enough of us, we don't have any power is what we might say. Yet David says let me fight this my way, with an old fashioned slingshot and five stones and he wins. See the armies were at a deadlock, except for this big man who came out and threw insults. This had a whole army cowering. It was impossible to win and yet David did.
Unlikely odds. This is what a great story is about, this is what a great story from history is about. World War II was won because of little pockets of resistance all over every conquered country, even in Germany itself. These people knew they were only a few, or one, but they didn't let fear keep them from trying. The fear was great in the face of much hate and people built on the foundations of it. Yet love and care and concern won out in the end. Yes there was a huge cost, but there were people who kept faith in front of them and not fear.
Next we have the testimony of Paul and a traveling companion. They have been through many things: imprisonment, beatings, riots, sleeplessness, and hunger just to name a few. This all has cultivated something more in them. Because by the fruits of the Spirit they endured all these through patience, kindness and knowing their message is for others to hear. They won't stop the spread of the gospel even though it is contrary to the empire. In the face of the states authority they keep on. Even if they are arrested, beaten, and imprisoned. They have their eyes on the things from above. The wider you open your heart to it the more you know the things unseen, which are eternal as Paul put it a few weeks ago. Its not that you are empty handed but you possess everything.
It's all or nothing Meg finds in "A Wrinkle in Time". All of herself or nothing and she will loose her brother. In the face of great fear she keeps the faith and discovers the power of love. The power of love to heal, the power of love to break through barriers, the power of love to overcome darkness. Something which cannot be seen or accumulated in riches, but gains everything. This power has care and kindness and an acceptance of our flaws and who we are. We can be fully known and be who we are with love. Paul found this and shares it with all who will receive. He keeps the faith in the face of fear.
Lastly we have the storm on the sea. Have you so little faith. Jesus has just done healing, casting out demons and has finished by telling parables about the kingdom of God. The disciples loose faith in the face of the storm. How many times do we loose faith in the face of the storm. We don't dare to say what we ought because of the storm of words which might come. We don't dare to act because of the storm of consequences which will come our way if we do. So we stay stuck in the boat crying out for someone else to save us. Have faith like a mustard seed, have faith like loosely scattering seeds as we read last week, have faith you will make it through the storm.
"Faith is the substance of things hoped for of things we cannot see" (Hebrews 11:1). Faith will see us through our fears if we only trust and believe. It is for us not to see the giant, or the hardships, or the storm but for us to trust in what cannot be seen, faith. Faith has seen many people through it all so keep the faith and don't be bound by fear.
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