# When Jesus Marveled

Category: Faith & Trusting God
Key Passage: Matthew 8:10
Speaker: Paul Chisgar
Date: June 7, 2024

But I’m not too good at public speaking or on Scotch Irish, so I’m full of Christmas turkey. Next month, I’ll be saying to tell you, which means I’ll be in a live, born, raised in a natural area, which maybe the honeymoon is over. So I don’t know if we…

When you’re young, you’re unsure, and you have scared death, and all that. But when you get a little older, more mature, and you get saved, then you realize that death is like, it’s a big deal. You’re taking the transition from this life into the next. And if you’re saved, you’d rather be in heaven than here. Because Satan is the god of…

this role, and if he can convince you he’s not real, he’s got you. He’s got you hard. I know it’s real, so I’m looking forward to going. Anytime you who wants to beam me on that, I’ll be at a trick place. I’m ready to go. It’s uh, I guess I might have my foot 40 years, a reason, Vine Hill projects right behind…

And no millionaires ever came by there. Well, not droves or something like. So I’ve seen some poor time, me and hard times for my life. And I met and made “shitty,” which on how wild was she being amazing. She probably deserves better. So I’m just, I’m grateful for her and got to sit in my way, and I’m so thrilled for it for anyone use. And she had to put up a lot.

I mean, I’m not exactly a walk on a beach on a sunny afternoon. So she’s a beautiful lady, and I just say thank God for her. It’s like, it shouldn’t be any better. It’s wonderful, I tell you. He’s amazing how she puts up me? God knows. It’s hurt for it to him.

I’m glad to be a member of the Bible Being Baptist Church. You know, frills, the shrills, old bands, all that. It’s down home, King James Version. I mean, it’s right from God’s book. That’s the way it’s supposed to be. There’s other Bibles, and this is the only real true Bible. So I’m so happy to be here, and I appreciate the Lord that I need to be a member of this church.

It’s a privilege I’m too to get for it, but I never deserve it. Never deserved a narrative that he’s given me. I never deserve it, but I’m grateful for it. So I have no airs about putting on airs and all that. I’m just poor sinner, but saved by grace. And so it’s beyond belief. I appreciate the chance God in allow me to get up and talk.

Mr. Mortimer, Mortimer. I’m just going to have a mortarmouth. So I do appreciate it, and thank you very much. Amen, amen. Let’s stand, and we’re going to sing pages. Amen.

Thank you so much. Praise the Lord. He died for me and you. That’s great. Great singing. Appreciate it very, very much. And appreciate Brother Fontaine singing over the years. It’s been a blessing. And I appreciate that. And Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, those nights are usually, some people aren’t here. But I appreciate you being here. That’s just great. I’m glad you’re in the house of the Lord.

And we’re about to head out of town for just a couple—well, about a week and a half. My wife and I will leave Tuesday and be gone for a little bit, and I covet your prayers. Pray that we’ll come back just refreshed, renewed vision, and full of faith. I do mean that. I covet your prayers. I really do. But we are looking forward to coming back, just getting involved.

But I feel like the Lord wanted this just to kind of almost chat a little bit, if you will, about this subject tonight, really about faith. The title is, When Jesus Marveled. When Jesus Marveled. Jesus did many things while he was here on earth to prove he was God. He told the waves and the wind and the rain just to cease, and boom, it’s done.

He did many things to prove he was God. He did some things to prove he was a man. He was a complete God and complete man at one time. You try to figure it out, you won’t. Just take it by faith. But he was both. This is one of those times. I think he was just kind of showing his humanity, if you will. But it also teaches us so much.

Three different passages in the Bible mention that Jesus marveled. Look over, if you will, in Matthew chapter number 8, which is what we’re starting at. Two of those are talking about the same story. So we’ll just look at one of those, and then we’ll turn to another passage and read another instance in between. I’ll read the other time that Jesus marveled. Three texts or references Jesus marveled in the Bible.

The first one over here in Matthew chapter number 8. This is when the centurion came to Jesus. He had a servant that had palsy, had a disease, and he went to Jesus for Jesus to heal him. And he said, look, you don’t have to come to my house. You just say the word. And I know how authority works.

I got people over me, people under me. I understand how it works. You just say the word. You’re in charge, and things will happen. This is Jesus’ response to him. Would you please stand as we read it, Matthew chapter number 8 and verse number 10, Matthew 8 and verse number 10 of God’s word tonight? Are you there? Amen? Amen. Good, good. Verse number 10, when Jesus heard it, he marveled. It’s just amazing that Jesus marveled at that. What would Jesus marvel at?

He marveled and said to them that followed, “Verily, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” By the way, it goes on a little bit, but he healed that man. Same story, Luke chapter number 7, verse number 9, a little different angle, same things going on. The Bible says there, when Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him and turned him about and said to the people that followed him, “I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.”

Now look over in Mark chapter number 6, if you would please. This is when Jesus goes to his hometown, Nazareth. He really only did it twice once his public ministry started. Both times were horrible. The first time they took him out of the brow of the hill and tried to throw him down. I’ll say it this way: his earthly family. You think they’d be there in the hometown? They didn’t stand up for him. But he’s here in Nazareth, looks like the second time he’s there. He went to the synagogue and preached and so on. But they didn’t respond very well.

It’s amazing what the Bible says here about this, Mark 6. Let’s start reading in verse number 4. But Jesus said unto them, “A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.”

This is an amazing statement here. Look at verse number 5. If it wasn’t in my King James Bible, I’d question it. “And he could there do no mighty work.” It doesn’t say he would. It says he could there do no mighty work. Save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk and he healed them. And he marveled. It’s a sad time here. And he marveled because of their unbelief, and he went roundabout villages teaching. Twice the Bible says he marveled because of their faith, and this time he marveled because their lack of faith.

Just for a little bit, let’s just pray that the Lord will encourage us and maybe grow our faith a little bit tonight. Would you do that as I pray? Father, Lord, we come to you, and Lord, I do pray over the next week and a half, two weeks. Would you help us to choose faith? Lord, would you give us words, promises from your word that would grow our faith? And Father, help keep our eyes focused on your word. And then Father, help us to yield to your Spirit. And Holy Spirit, would you give us faith like only you can? And Lord, use tonight to that end. Give us discernment, Father, into the day and time we live and what’s going on in our country and our world. Would you do that, Father? Help us to see it from your viewpoint. And Lord, we’ll thank you for what you do. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. Thank you so much for standing. You may be seated.

It’s no shock to you when I say this. I think everyone would agree with this: America is in a great battle right now. It’s a great battle. It’s no holds barred. All hands on deck. We’re in a battle, and it’s a great battle in so many ways. I believe Satan is on the attack for sure.

So many different things, but of course two major things come to our mind: COVID, and not just the sickness, but the reaction to it and so many changes in our country. I’ve heard so many people, even people out and about—more than one out-and-about person—say, “I never thought I would see in America the days when churches were closed.”

I’ve heard several folk. In my head, I think of three different people right up top of my head, not church members, out and about. I thought, “I never see that.” But we’ve seen that. I’m not saying all that’s not legit, but for sure there’s been some advantages taken in the midst of all that.

I’m not trying to get into debate over it, but I’m just saying we’re in a battle, and that’s really changed. And of course, the enemy has tried to use it to take some freedoms from many in our country. That battle is still being fought. By the way, praise the Lord for preachers in some tougher states that have stood. They’re really the heroes, honestly. Freedom’s never been free.

And it’s not free in our day and time. Praise the Lord for those that have stood during this time. I’m just saying there’s a battle. Then all the riots we’ve had—what a sad commentary on our country. I mentioned in Sunday school, the week when so many riots were going on, the media didn’t talk about it much. Some did. But seven police officers were killed that week. Some ambushed.

Family members of the police officers—Brother Kevin mentioned a co-worker, her husband. He’s a state trooper and he’s had a mild stroke. Just so many working extra shifts because of all the rights and the pressure, and they’ve had to set up support groups for police officers. Can you imagine if you were a law enforcement person during this time? Can you imagine how you feel?

It seemed like I’ve seen them in groups a whole lot more. I can’t blame them a bit in the world. But I’m just saying we’re in a battle in our country. I don’t think it takes too much for people to know that. I think most would agree with that. But can I say this? I really don’t think those are the real battle. No, they’re a battle, but I think there are surface battles, if you will.

I think there’s a battle going on underneath: a spiritual battle. Right?

Yes, I think a little bit is determined: Are we going to go by mob rule? Are we going to go by the law? I’m not saying there aren’t battles, but I think maybe the greater battle is a battle for the faith. Here’s what I’m saying: When I say that, I’m not necessarily talking about when I say the word “faith” of our Christian faith, if you will. I’m talking about the faith of God’s people to believe that God can work in our day and time or not.

You know, Tet Offensive there in the Vietnam War, the Tet Offensive that the Viet Cong did—they really didn’t beat us, but that broke the back or the will of the American people.

And it really, by the way, it was very evident when much of the military came back how many of the American people felt, and the way they treated them. Very sad. The only time we had military come back, they weren’t treated like heroes. They were treated many times like prisoners. Shameful. But because of the Tet Offensive, it broke the will and the back of the American people.

And I’m saying the battles ensuing in America, in my opinion, the major deal is it’s a battle, if you will, for the will or the back or the faith of God’s people in America. You see, the Bible there, we just read it in verse number 5: “He could there do no mighty work.”

And so Satan—by the way, Tet Offensive mentioned already in these numbers, it could be a little different—but for every U.S. military fellow that was killed, there was eight Vietnamese. It wasn’t a matter of casualties; it was a matter of the faith of the American people, the will, the back of the American people. They got destroyed. And I’m saying right now that the key thing is if Christians, if we lose our faith that God can work in 2020 and in the future—did you read that? He could there do no mighty work.

Satan knows these things. He knows his Bible, but not God’s Bible. Friend, I’m saying it’s so key. I wonder when Jesus looks at America when this is all over—and by the way, just expect crazy things to happen in our country until election time. Just count on it.

I mean, just don’t be shocked whatever they can find to raise havoc. It’s going to be happening. I don’t say that to destroy your faith. I say that kind of just settle in and don’t get too shocked about it and just be ready for it. But when it’s all over, what I’m saying is if Satan has gotten the faith of God’s people to where they really don’t believe God can do much in our day and time, then he’s won the battle.

That’s a battle. I fear that so many of God’s people, in the midst of these battles, we’re losing our faith.

Friend, we cannot do that. We must keep our faith that God can work in our country and our day and time. God can still move in great ways. He can still change lives. He can still build churches. He can still put marriages back together. He can still change a boy or girl’s life. We cannot lose faith that God can work in our day and time.

The parallel scripture is found over, if you want to look over there, if you would, in Psalm 78, Psalm 78, verse number 41. I say the parallel scripture in the Old Testament. And he hears talking about the children of Israel when they came to the border of the promised land. God said, “Hey, I’m going to give you this land flowing with milk and honey.” By the way, that equals ice cream. You know that?

Is that not good preaching? Milk and honey? Come on. That’s the ice cream equivalent in our day and time. I mean, I’m sure we can get chocolate chip cookie dough somehow out of it. I don’t know, but we’ll try. Maybe cement chocolate chip, somebody on board there. I praise the Lord. My daughter was here. We got to go to Baskin Robbins the other night after VBS.

And I got Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup and Snickers, I believe it was, ice cream—two scoops, amen. It’s a good deal. But God said you can enter into that land of ice cream—I mean, milk and honey. And they came to the border, the southern border. By the way, it only took about a year, year and a half, to travel over. It was before the 40 years; it took about a year, technically.

And so they got to this southern border, Kadesh Barnea. You remember what happened? They sent the 12 spies in. And I know God allowed it. I’m not sure who initiated it. Numbers, I know we talk about God. God told them to go in there, but Deuteronomy, I believe it is, talks about how they complained in one of that. So I’m not sure exactly. I’ll find out some of that and we’ll get to heaven.

But they sent those 12 spies in there. You used to think about it in Sunday school: 10 were bad and two were good. What do you think they saw in Canaan? I don’t know how it all went. And remember the 10, they won, and they said, “No, no, we can’t do that. We can’t enter in.” The Hebrews makes it very clear because of their lack of faith. They did not enter into the rest because of unbelief. Believe it was Hebrews 3, is very clear on that.

And this is what this referencing right here, it’s kind of the same parallel. He could there do no mighty work, but this is the Old Testament parallel of it. Psalm 78, verse number 41: “Yea, they turned back. Nope, we can’t do it. Let’s don’t enter in.” And tempted God, and limited—this is amazing—and limited the Holy One of Israel.

Friend, that’s amazing. They limited the Holy One of Israel.

I can see someone trying to take the passage over here in Mark and say, “Well, Jesus wasn’t God.” No, no, friend, he was God. Same thing over here in the Old Testament: He limited the Holy One of Israel. But why? Because of unbelief, lack of faith. And if Satan, if he could just, through the turmoil of 2020 and the problems and all of us going, if he can get our faith…

Satan knows. I’ll have a field day. The Lord is limited because he works when his people believe in him. So, friend, I’m saying the battle is going on. And I think there’s such a spiritual tone underneath, Satan trying to get your faith that God can do great things. And, friend, I don’t want to jump ahead of myself, but let me just ask you this: I had to go this week get a DOT physical. If you have a CDL license and you can drive a bus or whatnot, you have to get a medical exam every year nowadays.

And the dreaded part for me is the blood pressure test. My dad had high blood pressure. My brothers have high blood pressure. It just kind of runs in the family. And so that’s always—I’m like, “Oh no, here it comes. We’ll see what they say.” And they put that cuff on your arm. Praise the Lord, it was better. It’s been a long time. I was very thankful for that. Hallelujah. That’s a good thing.

But I thought about that. I wonder if God could put a cuff on our arm—a faith meter—and see where our faith really is. I’m sure it would change from day to day.

But would he marvel, as he did over in Mark? Would he marvel at, “Boy, their unbelief”? Oh, did he marvel? Wow. Man, I’m not seeing that faith in all of Israel. By the way, do you notice how he was not, oh, if you will, biased? It doesn’t matter. He said, “I haven’t found that in Israel”—that’s his chosen people. He said, “But that fellow over there, he’s got faith. He’s not an Israelite, but I marvel at his faith.”

Can I just say something here? Just because we’re Independent Baptists, and I am an Independent Baptist, amen, I plan on going out that way. It’s the closest thing I know to the Old King James Bible. I just plan on staying that way, amen. We’re not taking “Baptist” off the sign. We’re not getting a new version Bible. We’re just going to keep singing hymns, friend.

We’re going to keep after soul-winning and standards and convictions, and we’re not going to change. We may one day—we may one day in the new building have an orchestra, but we’re not going to have a band with a bunch of drums and a rock and roll concert. We’re not going to do that. But can I say, can I say, if we don’t have faith, we don’t have the corner market on God marveling at us.

It’s like Jesus is saying, “This fellow is not an Israelite, but I marvel at his faith.” And I’m just saying, we don’t want to lose our faith.

Can I just share some things that have encouraged me the last week? I hope there’ll be an encouragement to you. But just maybe just trying to build our faith. By the way, you know, the Bible talks about if you have faith as a grain of a mustard seed. That’s faith that starts off very small, very tiny, and grows. A lot of times that happens because of what you’re focused on. Let me just try to focus on a couple good things here.

You know, we had a good number of people saved at Vacation Bible School this year. It’s so hard to determine the number because somebody said, “Praise the Lord, they got saved.” And the teacher over there, being good-natured, they don’t want to put water on somebody’s fire. But they’re like, “Yeah, they’ve been saved about 20 times now.” I think my sister got saved nine times growing up, but I still don’t know if any of them took, you know. She’s a great Christian.

But I don’t know what the number is, but, friend, there was a good number of people saved at Vacation Bible School. And in the midst of COVID, all that’s going on, man, there were a lot of decisions. A lot of people, a lot of young people got saved, a lot of visitors, and ones that hadn’t made decisions were making decisions. Friday night—Friday night—one of the men that came. I didn’t do anything special. I really didn’t. But I just got to ask him and say, “Hey, if you died, do you know for sure you go to heaven?” He said, “No.”

I said, “Can we step back in the back of the auditorium and I’ll show you how?” He said, “Yeah.” He was all about it. He was wide open. And we went back in the back, and man, he just wanted somebody telling me. He’s a grown old man at Vacation Bible School. And he bowed his head and asked Jesus Christ to be saved. Praise the Lord. We did it just a little before the pie got in the face, so we got to stop and watch the pie getting put in the face. That’s important, friend, you know.

That same night, my wife was at Walmart getting gas. And there was one—recently I had my church card. Someone stole it. Not the actual card, but they got the information, they’re trying to purchase something. And praise the Lord, they denied it. And of course, you get a call. And that’s happened, I don’t know how many times down through the years with our different church cards we have. And praise the Lord, our company has been so good. They’ve never—never given out money their own person. They’ve never charged us for it. They’re so good about it.

They said, “Hey, most often when a card gets stolen, it’s when you use your card on the outside gas pumps.” And so my wife, she went in there at Walmart, there at the gas station, and she paid for it inside. And she was the only one in there. And a little lady in there. And she asked her about her salvation. She said, “No.” “Would you like to know?” “Yeah, I’d like to know.” And she showed her the Romans Road, and Jesus loved her and died for us on the cross. And she got to the point where the lady was about to pray, you know. And the good thing is there’s a sign up there: only one person in the line at a time. So praise the Lord, she filibustered. She had the floor, you know. That lady got saved.

We had a family message to the church. We’ve had several here lately, not like this, but we had a family message just to the church, and God’s just working in their life. Nobody invited them to our church, and I think God’s just working in their life. And they want to know about the Lord. And we had the privilege of sitting down in their living room about two hours yesterday morning and just telling them about the Lord and the Bible. And boy, they were listening to every word. And they’re seeking truth, and God’s working there in a great way. And nobody—they just found the church on the Internet.

I’m just saying God’s working in 2020. Don’t lose your faith.

Think about the election of God’s people. By the way, pray and vote. By the way, when you get closer to this election, we’re going to have some—we’ve got some major prayer times over this thing. We’re going to have some prayer meetings over this election. But you realize we have a possibility to keep a conservative president. We have the possibility of keeping a conservative Senate. And we have the possibility of making or having a conservative House. That’s been a long time since we’ve had that. Praise the Lord, somebody with a name starting with U might get ousted, you know.

And I’m just saying, friend, don’t lose your faith. Hey, God needs some people to believe him and pray and seek his blessing, and he is moving in our country. We’ve had visitors—nobody invited them. We’ve had visitors. He didn’t come today, but he came the last, I think, three Sundays. He’s had a son a couple months ago, and just as sometimes God does that, God’s used that to turn his heart. Got to go by the Saturday two weeks ago and ask about his salvation. God’s been working.

He’s had a friend at work been witnessing to him and talked to him about the Lord. And man, he was wide open. He bowed his head and asked Jesus Christ to be his Savior. The devil fought like always does. You get right at the point where you pray, and a horn started honking, just like it always is. But he didn’t care. He just kept going. He got saved.

I’m just saying God’s still working in 2020. Don’t lose your faith. Things are still happening. God’s moving, God’s working. I got such a blessing. I left church this morning and got my phone, turned it on. There was a text on there, and some people were watching online. I did not know they were watching online. Two different people got saved this morning. I’m just—the Lord’s working. And I’m saying, hey, let’s not lose our faith.

Satan, he knows the battle. He knows what’s going on. He’s battling. I really think the underlining key is because this isn’t just America in 10, 20, 30, 50, 100 years. This is eternal. And he’s battling. If he can just get the faith of God’s people, he knows as long as God’s people have faith that God could do mighty works, hey, Satan’s a whip puppy when it comes to God working and when it comes to God’s people being used by God.

Can I just read for you? I’m going to read a little bit here, just listening to these verses. Maybe help me out a little bit. Say “Amen” or something, if you will, you know, help me out with these verses. But I want you to listen to these verses here. This is Matthew 9:22. “Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole.” And the woman was made whole from that hour. Matthew 15:28. “Then Jesus answered and said unto her, Woman, great is thy faith; be it unto thee as thou wilt.” And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. Mark 5:34. “And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.” Mark 10:52. “Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus in the way. Luke 8:48. “And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.” Luke 17:19. “He said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.” Matthew 9:29. “Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith, be it unto you.” Luke 7:15. “He said unto the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.” Luke 18:42. “Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.”

Friend, I’m just saying faith is key. Faith is the key that unlocks the door. Oh, if God’s people have faith, God still works. The devil sure is strong in 2020, but God’s a whole lot stronger in 2020. I like to say it, but if God just wipes his brow and slings a drop of sweat, it’ll knock Satan out.

Hey, can I encourage you? Let’s keep our faith—the faith of God’s people. You say, “We don’t have many numbers here tonight.” That’s all right. Typically, typically God starts with a small number. The faith of God’s people is so key. I love the verse Isaiah 1:9: “Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.” A very small remnant. That was the key. And the key in America is a very small remnant, and that very small remnant cannot lose our faith.

Can I encourage you to do three things? Number one: Stay in the Word. Stay in the Word. You know the verse, Romans 10:17: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word.”

Listen to preaching. He said, “He’s manifested his word through preaching.” Be in the word. Get up, whatever it is, and get in the word and memorize some Bible verse. Listen to preaching all the time. I like Brother Marlin. I’ll share with him a sermon or something, you know, some have heard, and it’s a good one and whatnot. He’s going to listen to it sometime. Either that is going to convince me he listened to it, I don’t know, but I believe he listens to it. That’s a great thing, man. Just keep yourself full of the Bible, whether it be reading it and studying it, whether it be listening to preaching, memorize it, but stay in the Bible.

I wonder—I wonder if we could put a monitor monitoring our faith, and I wonder how that would be in direct correlation to how much we watch the news versus the Bible. Now, I’m not saying it’s a sin to watch the news, but I wonder which one I’m watching most. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. And, friend, I’ve got—if you will—just keep my nose in the book, especially when it’s rough times. Friend, that’s more important, maybe then than ever, because Satan’s trying to get your faith. I’ve got to keep your faith strong. I’ve got to be in the book.

That Ecclesiastes 5:8 has been such a blessing to me. I try to quote it. I’ll probably misquote it. “If thou see the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter.” But he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be a higher than they. Oh, that’s built my faith so much. Man, that’s been such an encouragement. That’s kept my faith so strong. I’ve tried to share that verse with a lot of people. I’ve shared it with other preachers this week. I want their faith to stay strong. And you got to—you got to stay in the book. I don’t want a saint to lose their faith in tough times. Hey, man, I’ve got—hey, Lord, give me a verse. I ask him, say, “Well, I need a verse right now.” He’s got plenty of promises in there, friend, full of them. Stay in the book.

Number two: Number two, yield to the Holy Spirit of God. Galatians 5:22: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.” You say, “Man, in times like this, I can’t muster up the faith.” You don’t have to. You yield to the Holy Spirit. He puts it in you. That’s the fruit of the Spirit, nine-fold fruit of the Spirit. One of those is faith. I can’t muster up faith, but when I yield to the Holy Spirit—and here’s the key—staying in tune with the Holy Spirit.

Do you know if you’ve quenched Him? Do you know if you’ve grieved Him? You try to figure that out? Miss Ann, she was trying to find the wedding on YouTube on her phone this morning, and everybody’s leaving. Everybody’s from what’s gone, and we were all talking, Brother Dean and us, and I got her phone, and I was trying to help her find it. And I’m not good at all those things. And it kept wanting to connect to the Wi-Fi. And I thought, “We don’t need to connect Wi-Fi.” She said, “I got the internet,” you know. And I was trying to turn that crazy Wi-Fi off so we can just get to YouTube and find a wedding, you know.

But I thought about it: There’s Wi-Fi going out pretty much all the time, but some people connect to it and some people don’t. Do you connect to the Holy Spirit every day? Do you? Nothing worse than when someone ignores you. Mom’s got a dog. It’s a sweet, loving nature dog. It loves people. It’s friendly. Daisy May is her name. She’s a good dog, she really is. But Daisy May is—she might give me some medicine. I don’t want any medicine. She’s still Mom’s, though.

Daisy May is a good dog, great dog, but Daisy May is—she’ll get outside. You let her go, and she’s good. She’ll go out to the rest of them outside. And then you call her, “Come on, Daisy May.” And she—she hears you just as clear as a bell. She ignores you. Then you start walking that way, and she starts walking the other way. And so you start picking up a rock and throwing—no, you don’t do that. It kind of gets you, and that dog just ignores you, you know.

Nobody likes to be ignored, and the Holy Spirit doesn’t either. Maybe the biggest sin we commit against the Holy Spirit is just ignoring Him. And when you stay in tune: “Lord, have I quenched You? I don’t feel Your fire anymore. I don’t have Your comfort. I don’t have Your faith. I’m not living in faith right now. I’m living in fear. Where have I quenched You? Where have I grieved You?” I believe it’s a little bit of a stage. You quench the fire, and you keep going, and pretty soon you’re grieving.

But the Holy Spirit—we must be yielded to Him and monitoring if we’ve quenched or grieved Him or not and trying to connect with Him all the time. Why? Because He gives you faith. As part of His fruit, He gives—the nine-fold fruit is faith. And you don’t have to muster it up when you’re yielding. The Holy Spirit is flowing through you. He gives you faith. I love it when they were filled with the Holy Ghost so often in the New Testament. Man, they spoke the word with boldness. How the Holy Spirit gives faith!

In times like this, we must stay in tune with the Holy Spirit and allow Him to work in and through us because He gives faith.

And really, if God’s people don’t lose their faith, I don’t know. In every battle, there’s an ebb and flow. There’s basketball. I like to use basketball as an illustration. Basketball is a game of runs. You’ll be beating this team pretty good, and all of a sudden they have a run. They’re coming back on you. And I used to tell our teams, “Hey, man, if you can just stand in there and stay close when they have a run, we’re going to have a run pretty soon.” It’s a game of runs.

And Satan seems like he’s attacking a little bit in 2020. Don’t get all shook out of shape. Don’t lose your faith. God is still a whole lot mightier than the devil. And Satan would love to get our faith. Stay in the Word, yield to the Holy Spirit.

Then let me just say this. Number three: Choose faith. Choose faith. Make a decision. Choose faith. When the children of Israel came to Kadesh Barnea and they sent the spies in, they had a decision to make. They made the wrong one. It was a decision. They chose. Faith is not the absence of fear, friend. The greatest faith is in the face of fear.

They chose. They made the wrong decision. And because of that, they did not enter in. They wandered for 40 years. And, friend, it’s a choice. Choose to live by faith.

When someone gets saved, how do they get saved? They hear the gospel. Man, we’re born again by the word of God. I don’t corrupt to say by the word of God. We’re living in the Bible forever. You know the verse. And they hear that, but then they have some doubt: “Well, I can’t be that easy. Just put my faith in Christ? I trust in Him alone?” That’s it. And they doubt and they worry about it. But when they get saved, they have the doubt, they have the faith, the belief, if you will, and when they step out on that belief and make the right decision—it’s a decision.

As a Christian, you make a decision: Am I going to live by fear, or am I going to live by faith? And I’m saying we’ve got to continue to live by faith. Friend, I just believe God’s still working. People are going to get saved until the last second before the Lord comes back.

I don’t know as far as nationally and globally what will happen. I know something from the Bible, but friend, I guarantee you there’s going to be some very small remnant here or there that’s going to have revival up to the last second the Lord comes back. There’s going to be some Christian that’s having answers to prayer weekly and just walking with God and has the joy of God and revival in the heart, and they have joy, and God’s using them, and things are happening. There’s going to be good, godly families until the last second the Lord comes back. And it’s going to be the people that haven’t lost their faith. I promise you, there’s an underlying battle going on. And a great part of that is over the faith of God’s people.

Jesus marveled. Three different texts in the Bible. He marveled. Jesus—what would cause Jesus to marvel? All three of them were about faith. Two, he marveled at faith. One, he marveled at their unbelief. How’s Jesus going to marvel at us? He looks at that.

1 John 5:4 says, that’s a great verse, and I’m done. It says, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” Would you bow your heads and close your eyes, please?

Heads bowed, eyes closed. If you’re like me, I often tell the Lord, “Lord, I feel like that man there in the New Testament, the father: Lord, I believe; help Thou my unbelief.”

By the way, Jesus honored him. He met his need. He met his request. Maybe you’re there tonight. You said, “Preacher, that’s me. That’s me. Lord, I believe, help Thou my unbelief.” That you just let him know that. Lord, I believe, help Thou my unbelief. Just let him know that.

I want my faith to stay strong. Help my unbelief. Keep me believing, Lord. Keep me believing. God bless you. I’m with you. I’m with you. Let’s stay after that. Believe it in the Lord. God bless you. Thank you. Thank you. So many hands.

Maybe you’re here tonight. You say, “Preacher, that’s me. I need to stay in the Word. I need to yield to the Spirit of God. I need to connect with Him more often. I need to choose faith.” God spoke about one of those three. That’s you, and I just lift your hand: “Preacher, that’s me. That’s me.” God bless you. Me too, me too. Staying in the Word, connecting, yielding to the Holy Spirit, choosing faith. So important, so important.

Maybe you’re here tonight, maybe you’re online, but you say, “Preacher, there’s never been a time that I put my full faith in Christ to save me. There’s never been a time that I went to Jesus Christ and I said, ‘You’re my only way to heaven. I choose Your grace. I accept You as my only way to heaven.’” I’ve been saved before. It’s a decision of faith.

Maybe tonight—I’ll see you wherever you may be, here in the room or elsewhere—but maybe tonight you’d just like to go to him and say, “I choose You tonight, Jesus. I choose to put my faith in You and make that decision. I’m asking You to be my personal Savior.” Not you tonight? Wherever you’re at: “Preacher, I’ve never done it. I want to ask Jesus to be my Savior.” Would you just tell him, “Dear Lord, right now I’m choosing to step out on belief. Now I want to put my full faith in You to pay for my sins, to be my Savior. Thank You, Jesus, for forgiving me this opportunity. Would You save me right now? Thank You, Lord, for saving me.”

If you’ve accepted Christ as your Savior, you put your full faith in him. Be a blessing. Let us know. Check on the website there on YouTube there. I want to be so happy, whatever it is, be it here in person or online, you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior.

Hey, child of God, the battle, honestly, I believe so much of the root thing is over our faith. Let’s just come to the Lord tonight and say, “Hey, Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.” I have to keep my eyes in the Word, my heart in the Word. Holy Spirit, I want to connect and yield to You, having to choose faith, live by faith, make my decisions by faith. Would you let him know that tonight?

Would you stand, please, if you would? We’re going to have a word of prayer. When we get done praying, we’ll sing 446, “All the Way My Savior Leads Me.” Let’s just spend some time with the Lord. Let’s keep our faith strong. Father, thank You so much. You’re so good. You give such direction from Your word.

Lord, I do pray that You would be able to look down at us, at me, at Rutherford County Baptist Church, and marvel. I had a group of people that believe in You. Lord, keep us there. Father, help us to look beyond the devil and his little stones he sold and let us see You.

Father, let us see Your power, Your might, Your promises. Keep our faith strong in You. And bless our people. Help us to be many in a way that You marvel at the faith. We’ll thank You for what You do, Lord, in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

You know, if you don’t think you can win over that sin, you’re probably right. But if you believe God can help you win over that sin, He can. What does it say over there in Romans? “Likewise reckon yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Christ Jesus our Lord.” That’s that reckon. Reckon yourselves to be dead. That’s that faith. Just every area. The just shall live by faith.

When you go through hard times, I think about Brother Glenn—my goodness, what a battle. It’s a battle of faith. Praise the Lord, he’s been standing in faith. Every battle really goes down to faith. And you stand in faith and you say, “No, I’m not going to lose my faith. I’m not going to make the wrong decision.” Raising children—boy, I remember times that people say, “Well, you’re just too strict, and they’re going to rebel,” and all this other. And it really is just a decision of faith. It’s just always—it’s a battle of faith. And Satan’s always trying to get your faith. And let’s keep our faith.

I’m excited about what God isn’t going to do. He’s still working. And we want to come out of this saying, just—it wouldn’t be a blessing if we’d come out on the other side, and the Lord looked down and said, “Man, I marvel. A bunch of hillbillies down there at Rutherford County Baptist Church. They got a lot of faith down there. They just believe in Me.” I believe You’d be pleased with that. And let’s just keep believing in Him.

But we don’t have a big crowd tonight, but that’s all right. It’s all right. It’s that very small remnant. And let’s say, “Hey, you know, we’re just not going to lose our faith. We’ll keep it and choose faith.” I’m glad you’re here tonight. We’re going to miss you all, but we’ll be back. You’ll think, “Man, they’re already back. My goodness, wow.” And we’ll miss you. I guarantee my wife will say, “I’m ready to get back to our church.” And I said, “Praise the Lord, I have him, too. It’s all of our churches. It’s the Lord’s. He lets us have a part in it.” And so it’s good to see it. And I appreciate you being in the House of the Lord. And let’s just keep our faith in Him. Amen. And He marvels, I said. Brother Marlin back there, I don’t know if he listens to those sermons or not, but he’s got me convinced that he does, friend. You’ll have to ask him about the truth of it, you know.

Original File: When Jesus Marveled - Pastor Chisgar