New Hope Notes

Checking Your Faith
Faith For Your Journey

Pastor Richard Waialeale
July 21, 2019 - W1929

Checking Your Faith

Faith For The Journey

  

Pastor Richard Waialeale

July 20 & 21, 2019

  

Aloha, Everybody! Today, I will share with you a story that I shared with a group of people a couple of weeks ago: In a small mountain village in North Korea, lived a woman named Cha Sa-soon, who lived by herself. Cha Sa-soon always wanted to drive, but didn’t get her driver’s license until she was 68 years old! 

The reason is that since she had never driven before, she didn’t know the terminology—and when taking the written test, she failed it 949 times! On her 950th attempt, Cha Sa-soon passed her written test, but the story doesn’t end there! She then went on to take the driving test and failed the road test four times before passing. By this time, nearly all of Korea had heard about her persistence; and the car dealership, Kia, gave her a Kia Soul, and featured her in one of their commercials! This was all because she would not give up—that’s persistence!

While the Apostle Paul (in the second book of Corinthians) is doing God's work, a group of people were criticizing and disputing his credibility as an apostle; so he makes preparations to visit the church and correct the problem by first writing a letter to the entire church—In a sense he's telling them that when he gets there, we’ll take a test…

2 Corinthians 13:5: “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.  Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?”

Some people like to be professional critics of others; but Paul teaches that critical examination should always start in the mirror! In other words, do a regular check?and?balance within yourself.

Jesus tells a parable (in Luke 18:9-14) of two men going into the temple to pray: a Pharisee and a tax collector.  The Pharisee has no problem bragging and elevating himself above everybody else; the tax collector knows he is despised and has spiritual flaws—so he humbly stands far off in the corner of the temple and beats his chest. He is so overwhelmed that he can't even lift up his eyes to repent to the Lord. Jesus tells this story to show us that the tax collector is a model of self?examination and says that if we want to please God, we must be courageous enough to examine ourselves and take good notes.  

So, today, we will take a spiritual heart examination to help us examine our faith. We need to understand that it’s not about religion, but relationship; not about theology, but of intimacy; not about knowing Jesus intellectually, but to know Him personally; not only about what we say or do, but to examine our hearts genuinely. When God looks into our hearts, what do you think he wants to see? He wants to see Jesus so...

  •      Let Us Make Jesus At Home In Our Heart

But first, we must make the choice to let Jesus into our heart. 

Revelation 3:20 NIV: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come to him and dine with him and he with Me.”

A famous painting by Holman Hunt hangs outside St. Paul Cathedral in London that depicts Jesus standing at a door.  At the unveiling of this painting, one of the reporters looking at the painting tells the artist, “Mr. Hunt, there’s a problem with your painting. There’s no doorknob on the outside.” Mr. Hunt responded, “Ah, yes. It’s only on the inside, for it’s up to the one within to respond to the knock of Jesus.” Jesus will not enter where He is not welcome!  

There are five rooms in our heart. 

            Room 1: The Living Room 

This is where Jesus will meet with you every morning, or any time you choose: Romans 8:1 NIV says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

This is my favorite room because every morning, I open the living room of my heart to meet with Jesus and talk with Him about what is ahead in my day.

Have you ever noticed how your day is when you are walking hand in hand with Jesus? There’s a different spirit about you—a spring to your step. But, sometimes, my hips and back are stiff and sore. One day, I woke up in pain, but decided to take a walk to the park, anyway; the park is just across the street from our home. I found a place to sit and read my pocket Bible…   

James 4:7-8 NIV, “Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to me, and I will draw near to you.”

That verse hit me like a ton of bricks! When I got back home, I completely forgot about my hip and back pain! I was in awe at how the Lord met with me. Sometimes we need to just take a walk and read any word of God. He will meet you at any time in any place. Draw near to Him, and He will draw near to you! 

Did you know, that when the apostle Paul wrote the books of Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians that he was sitting in prison?  He did some of his best work in prison, and God met him there.  I promise you, God will meet with you wherever you're at. Here’s the first test question: 

How many days in the week do you meet with Jesus?  

1    2     3    4     5     6    7

  

          Room 2: The Study

This room represents how often we study the word of God (read and get into His word). When I read and meditate on the Word of God, I'm able to navigate life prosperously and successfully. Where is the place that you meet with God and read His word?

Joshua 1:8 NIV, “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

How many days in the week do I read the Bible?  

1     2    3     4     5    6     7

  

            Room 3: The Family Room  

Jesus says to bring the family together—and learn from Him. There is not anything more important that you can do than to point and show them Jesus!

Here’s an interesting story: A girl named Diana Kim first learned about photography from her father, who owned a studio in Maui. Her passion for photography grew and that’s all she wanted to do. But life became difficult when her mom and dad divorced, but it still didn’t distract her from her passion for photography.

Later, her father’s mental health started to deteriorate, and after some time the family lost touch with him. While growing up, Diana’s life became more difficult, but she became a photography student and began taking pictures of the homeless. 

One day in Honolulu, while photographing Hawaii’s forgotten homeless, she made a heartbreaking discovery—her father was amongst the homeless! Despite her efforts to help him, he was completely unresponsive to her. Sometimes she would spend days searching for him, with no success. People told her not to bother anymore, but she persisted.

Later that year, her dad suffered a heart attack and wound up in the hospital. While there, he came to some sense of himself, and accepted his daughter’s help. Along with the treatment for his heart, he also received treatment for schizophrenia, and is doing much better today!

Acts 1:8 NIV: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

How many days in the week do I talk about Jesus to my family?  

1     2    3     4     5     6     7

 

            Room 4: The Dining Room

After eating sometimes, there are crumbs left; remember, God’s word offers crumbs. Just a little crumb made such a big difference to Job. At my dining table, I learned to commune with Him. It is where I give thanks and say grace every time I eat.

Job 23:12 NIV: I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.”  

How many days in the week do you I give thanks for God’s provisions?

1     2    3     4     5    6     7

  

            Room 5: The Workshop

The workshop is where you do all of your projects. Here’s the thing about workshops and projects—if you use it to make things for yourself, you’ll get bored, right? So this room is used for making a difference in other people’s lives, using your talents and gifts. God has given each of us special talents that we are supposed to share with the world.

Luke 6:38 NIV: Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

How many days in the week do I give myself to help someone?  

1     2    3     4     5    6     7

  

When you invite Jesus into your heart (into all five rooms of your home), God will see that Jesus lives in you; Jesus will know that your house is His house, and that He is welcome there! 

Your heart’s journey begins in your Living Room, where you meet with Jesus. You then get to know Him better in The Study, where you immerse yourself in His word. Once you have a relationship with Jesus and learn more about Him, you can branch into The Family Room, where you can gather with your family to meet with Jesus.

God promises the treasures of Heaven to those who open their hearts to Him. And if you have opened your heart to God but know others who haven’t, let us invite them as well so they can know God and welcome Jesus in their homes. 

 

STUDY QUESTIONS:

  1.     How often do you meet with Jesus? Share a memorable occasion.
  2.     How often do you read the word of God?
  3.     Do you gather with family and point them to God?
  4.     What special talents has God given you that are meant to share with others?
  5.     In Checking Your Faith, which room needs improvement? How will you improve it?