Thought for the Month - December 2016

"Ye of little faith" by Barry Adair

I was thinking about small churches recently - "little" pockets of faith. Maybe because my own church, Grove Baptist Church, is one such small church. I was also comparing 'the Grove' with some of the "mega churches" that now exist around the world. These mega churches are huge, really enormous. I was reading about "Lakewood Church" in Houston whose average weekly congregation is over 50,000 souls. Funnily enough, many mega churches are to be found in America, land of the free and sometimes the over-sized!

Folklore has it that "St Gobban's Church" in Portbradden, on the North Coast of Northern Ireland, is the smallest church in Ireland. I have visited it on a couple of occasions and it is indeed miniscule.

So getting back to the issue of size, does size matter when it comes to our church fellowship or indeed to our personal faith?

I did ponder somewhat on the size of a church (i.e. church structure) and what should be offered in that church for its congregation. However, I quickly came to the conclusion that the size of your church isn't the main issue… what your church teaches is. If it veers from the teachings in the Bible then veer away from that church! As for your personal faith, here size does matter and I want to talk a little about what I found after checking the Bible on this important subject.

So what exactly is faith?

Good question, and thankfully the Bible gives us an answer -

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Heb. 11:1)

If you notice, it doesn't say "blind faith". Our hope may be based on things not seen but it is based on evidence! We have the Bible and we have God's creation all around us (see Rom 1:20).

We are also left in no doubt about its importance -

…without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6)

And as for the power of faith, have a read through all the verses beginning with "By faith…" in Hebrews chapter 11 for a 'Who's who of faith'. Remember also it was by faith that Peter was able to walk out on the water to meet Jesus walking towards him on the Sea of Galilee. Mind you, when Jesus used one of His "oh ye of little faith" put-downs (if I can call it that), it was to Peter and it was said just after he had walked on water!

And if we lack faith? Let's be honest here - in our day of freedom of religion, relative wealth, social security payments, a free National Health Service, and life and property insurance when things go wrong, we don't tend to exercise our faith quite like the way our forefathers did. Or indeed like our Brothers and Sisters who are undergoing such persecution in many parts of the world today. The Bible indicates that we should ask God to increase our faith.

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" (Luke 17:5)

And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. (Mark 9:24)

I would also mention, thinking of the Persecuted Church, that we should pray for those faithful ones enduring such atrocities today…

…pray for one another… The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. (James 5:16)

And, if faith is like a muscle, we may need to exercise a little more often too!

And if you know nothing of the faith that I'm writing about? Then please read God's word on all matters of faith and living before Him - the Bible. Ask God to speak personally to you and He will through His Word.

On a personal note, I would most certainly put myself in the "oh ye of little faith" bracket, but I am so thankful to God for the faith to believe in Him.

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom. 10:17)

If faith is indeed -- forgetting all I trust Him -- then let us put our full trust in God and live as faithful children in a way which would bring Him the ultimate honour…

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Until next month (DV)…

Are you SURE that you have your place booked in Heaven? Read this if you're not!