Faith on Fire

Pastor Leon Aguilera

 ²⁴ But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵ The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.” (John 20:24-25).

The resurrection of Jesus was the best possible news the disciples could have received, yet not everyone was immediately on board with the story. Thomas was absent when the Lord made His group appearance on that Sunday evening, and he gave a skeptic’s response to the announcement that the other disciples had been with the risen Lord. He demanded proof: “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Sometimes we judge Thomas’s reaction too harshly. We might think, What a demanding, disrespectful disciple. Who does he think he is? Actually, though his words may strike us as odd, they were sincere, not prideful. Thomas wanted to believe, and he wanted his faith to be authentic.

John 20:20 holds an important detail in Jesus’ original appearance: “And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side.” Thomas was only asking for what he had missed. He was expressing a willingness to believe based upon the same evidence given to his peers. His request was not unreasonable. He didn’t want to doubt; he wanted to believe!

Thomas sincerely longed for what the other disciples had experienced. He was gathering the wood and getting a match—he wanted a faith on fire. Thomas named the obstacle and looked for the reasons he too could have authentic faith in Christ. And in this lies a lesson for us: faith is kindled when you name the obstacle.

If you’re struggling with doubt, identify the obstacle to faith in your life:

·         I got hurt.

·         I have a tough question I don’t have an answer for.

·         I’m discouraged.

·         I honestly don’t understand how Christianity could be true.

Now bring it before the Lord: “God, this is the barrier between You and me.” Produce your strong reservations, and give God an opportunity to kindle faith where there’s doubt. Once you have honestly prayed this way, give God time to answer. Wait on Him.

This is not a casual challenge. If you’re a doubter, get on your knees every night, and bring your barrier before God. Pray with the expectation that He will answer. Ask faithfully, every day for thirty days. God did not disappoint Thomas, and He will not disappoint a sincere seeker. Tell God the obstacle, and He will kindle your faith.

Because He Lives

Pastor Leon Aguilera

 ¹⁰ Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.  ¹¹ For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

   – 2 Corinthians 4:10-11

Why is Jesus alive? Pause to consider that question for a moment. Yes, He’s alive because He rose from the dead—but why? Yes, He’s alive because He is God—but why? Yes, He’s alive “because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.” (Acts 2:24)—but why? What purpose does His present life serve?

Over and over the New Testament tells us Jesus is alive and active. He makes intercession for us, He comes before the throne of heaven as our mediator, and He makes requests before the Father for our moment-by-moment needs (Hebrews 7:25). Payment for sin is complete; that’s a past accomplishment (John 19:30). Someday Christ will rule the earth; that’s a future promise (Revelation 19:15). But what about today?

Today Christ lives to bring His victorious power to bear upon our character. Not only does He offer victory over sin and death and give forgiveness to all who believe, He also wants to live His life through us. That is what Christian living is all about—“ that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.”

The true Christian life is Christ in you.

Christ has made no provision for you—on your own, in your own power—to live the Christian life. It’s a brand of living far superior to the Christ-in-my-own-strength program, which only leads to disappointment, exhaustion, and failure. He is the only one who ever lived it successfully. While you can seek knowledge and understanding, and you can serve, worship, and walk with Him, you have zero power or personal strength to resource true, full obedience. There’s nothing in you that can enable you to live for Him—not an ounce of strength, not a smidgen of will power, not a thimbleful of perseverance to make Christian living possible.

The only source of power is the exchanged life—Christ living through you. Your part is to get out of the way and let Him. When you do and people see spiritual energy in you, whose is it? Not yours, but Christ’s. If people see anything worthwhile in your life, if there is anything eternal and lasting, it is the actual life of Jesus Christ flowing through you. He is the only true resource, the only power for lasting transformation.

This powerful, simple truth can absolutely change your life. Consider this a turning point, an invitation to the exchanged life—Christ living in you. It begins with honesty, admitting your sin and powerlessness to live for the Lord on your own. Because of His death, once you die to yourself, “the life of Jesus” can be manifest in you.