{"id":877,"date":"2024-02-22T20:41:10","date_gmt":"2024-02-22T20:41:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/?page_id=877"},"modified":"2025-12-15T20:31:37","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T20:31:37","slug":"a-heart-of-faith","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/a-heart-of-faith\/","title":{"rendered":"A HEART OF FAITH"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A HEART OF FAITH!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Proverbs 4:23-27,  1 Chronicles 4:9-10, and Psalm 84:10-11<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Well good morning. It\u2019s great to see you all here today. Thanks for making TFC and the worship of God a priority in your life. I am convinced that God is going to speak to you today and encourage you in your walk with him.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Well, I thought I\u2019d begin this morning with something funny \u2014 maybe it will bring a smile to your face and some joy to your soul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>SOMETHING FUNNY:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#38086e\">I heard a story recently about a woman who got on a plane to fly to another state to visit her family. When she settled into her seat, she pulled out her <strong>Bible<\/strong> and started to read.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#38086e\">Well, the man sitting next to her \u2014 was astonished. For a few moments he just watched in total disbelief. And then finally, <strong>he asked her,<\/strong> <em>\u201cYou don&#8217;t really believe all that stuff in there do you?\u201d&nbsp; <\/em><strong>The woman replied,<\/strong> <em>\u201cWell, yes! Of course I do. This is my Bible, it\u2019s the Word of God \u2014 and I believe everything that&#8217;s in it.\u201d <\/em><strong>The man laughed out loud, and then asked,<\/strong> <em>\u201cEven that story about that man who was swallowed by a fish?\u201d&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#38086e\"><strong>The woman responded, <\/strong><em>\u201cWell, yes! That\u2019s the story of Jonah.\u201d <\/em><strong>Again, the man was in disbelief. After a moment he asked her<\/strong>, <em>\u201cWell, how could he have stayed alive all that time in that fish\u2019s belly?\u201d<\/em>&nbsp; <strong>The woman thought for a moment and said,<\/strong> \u201cHonestly sir, I don&#8217;t know. I guess <strong>I&#8217;ll<\/strong> just have to ask him when <strong>I<\/strong> get to heaven.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#38086e\"><strong>The man sneered \u2014 and then said,<\/strong><em> \u201cWell, what if he&#8217;s not there?\u201d<\/em>&nbsp; <strong>To which the woman replied,<\/strong><em>\u201c<\/em><strong><em>Then I guess <\/em><\/strong><strong><em>you&#8217;ll<\/em><\/strong><strong><em> have to ask him.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-headings-color has-text-color has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>INTRODUCTION:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019ll, this morning we\u2019re going to talk about <strong>FAITH<\/strong> again!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Last week<\/strong> I challenged you <strong>to begin seeing your life<\/strong>, your circumstances, your job and families, your health, and those opportunities that arise before you <strong>through<\/strong> <strong>EYES OF FAITH! <\/strong>While its important to have good vision and see things in the natural \u2014 its<strong> even more important to have good vision in the supernatural. <\/strong>And that\u2019s what<strong> FAITH is\u2026seeing things from God\u2019s perspective<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Last week I challenged you to <strong>reject<\/strong> <strong>fear<\/strong> and <strong>trust<\/strong> <strong>in<\/strong> <strong>God<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">God calls us to live with a confidence in His <strong>power<\/strong>, <strong>presence<\/strong>, and <strong>provision<\/strong>. And He wants us to <strong>look to Him<\/strong> to <strong>lead<\/strong> us, <strong>guide<\/strong> us, and <strong>supply<\/strong> us with <strong>all we need<\/strong> to live a life of holiness unto Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we discussed \u2014 there are many ways we can describe or define faith. But this week I want to offer you another definition \u2014 another way to think about faith. This one comes from author <strong>Philip Yancey<\/strong> \u2014 who said,&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-1-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cFaith is believing in advance what will only make sense in reverse!\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Isn\u2019t that the truth? Sometimes things just don\u2019t make sense to us when we are headed into them. But if <strong>we keep our eyes on God<\/strong> \u2014 and we keep believing in His goodness and His faithful work in our lives, when he delivers us, or provides for us, or guides us through the challenge \u2014 when we come out on the other side, we discover once again that GOD IS GOOD! And that TRUSTING IN HIM WAS WELL WORTH IT! And that\u2019s faith \u2014 <em>believing in advance what will only make sense in reverse!\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Well, last week we discussed what it means to have <strong>EYES OF FAITH <\/strong>\u2014 but this week, I want to talk to you about having a <strong>HEART OF FAITH.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To help you remember this message, I\u2019ve asked our ushers to pass out a small gift to each of you. I hope you like YORK PEPPERMINT PATTIES \u2014 because that\u2019s what I\u2019m giving you. But the real reason, is because they\u2019re shaped like hearts! (So, take one, and eat it. And if your counting your calories \u2014 well, these are calorie free. To believe that will take some FAITH.)&nbsp; \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, today I want to talk to you about having a <strong>HEART OF FAITH. Because . . .&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A <strong>HEART OF FAITH<\/strong> will help us to <strong>PRAY BIG PRAYERS<\/strong>!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The writer of Proverbs cautions us to guard our heart when he writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><sup>23\u00a0<\/sup>Above all else, guard\u00a0your heart,\u00a0for everything you do flows from it.<br><sup>24\u00a0<\/sup>Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.<br><sup>25\u00a0<\/sup>Let your eyes\u00a0look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.<br><sup>26\u00a0<\/sup>Give careful thought to the\u00a0paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.<br><sup>27\u00a0<\/sup>Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Again, he says &#8220;guard your heart!&#8221; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today, I challenge you to guard what comes into it &#8212; but also be mindful of what flows from it. May your heart be filled with and function in faith. I long for you to have a <strong>HEART OF FAITH<\/strong>. A heart that leads you to trust in God &#8212; and <strong>EXPECT GOD\u2019S BEST!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Did you know that the bible talks a lot about the <strong>heart<\/strong> (over <strong>800<\/strong> <strong>times<\/strong>). And when it does, its <strong>not just speaking<\/strong> of our <strong>emotions<\/strong> or <strong>feelings<\/strong>. It\u2019s often speaking of <strong>the center<\/strong> \u2014 or <strong>core of who a person is.<\/strong> When the Bible talks about the <strong>heart<\/strong>, it is usually referring to<em>that inner place that defines us:<\/em> <strong><em>our mind, our passions, and our will.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">God focuses on our <strong>HEART<\/strong> so much, because our <strong>HEART<\/strong> ultimately determines how we think! And how we think shapes who we become. and how we live.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let me put it another way. A<strong> HEART OF FAITH<\/strong> is of utmost importance . . . because:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Our heart will establish our <\/strong><strong>beliefs<\/strong><strong>.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Our beliefs will establish our <\/strong><strong>theology<\/strong><strong>.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Our theology will establish our <\/strong><strong>habits<\/strong><strong>.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Our habits will establish our <\/strong><strong>experiences with God<\/strong><strong>!<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This morning I want to share a couple of thoughts from scripture with you. And not so much an expository look at one passage, but more of a survey of scripture as it applies to the heart. As I&#8217;ve studied this week, I come to discover that there are a couple of defining marks of a heart that is set on trusting god. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you possess a hearth of Fatih &#8212; it will lead you to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-headings-color has-text-color has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1. PRAY BIG PRAYERS!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You must be bolder and dare to trust God in BIGGER WAYS!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do you remember the prayer that <strong>Jabez<\/strong> prayed in 1 Chronicles 4? He asked God to stretch him in every direction. To bless his life and make him a blessing to others. He wanted to experience a BLESSING to match his POTENTIAL.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In <strong>1 Chronicles 4:9-10 <\/strong>we\u2019re told:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-2-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>9&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><em>There was a man named <\/em><strong><em>Jabez<\/em><\/strong><em> who was more honorable than any of his brothers. <\/em><em>His mother named him <\/em><strong><em>Jabez<\/em><\/strong><em> because his birth had been so painful<\/em><em>. <\/em><strong><em>10&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><em>He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, \u201cOh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!\u201d And God granted him his request.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What an<strong> <\/strong>amazing little story. First of all, you can\u2019t miss the fact that his birth had been one of pain \u2014 he arrived at this point in life through great difficulty. Even so, God was with Him \u2014 and so he prayed, <em>\u201cbless me and expand my territory.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And God did! Maybe you\u2019ve been through great pain, challenge, hard times and rough circumstances.If so, be like Jabez \u2014 and pray a big prayer.Allow your HEART OF FAITH to lead you to ask God for greater things!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#571284\">I dare to pray huge prayers.\u00a0 Maybe it would make more sense if you think of it this way: Supersize your prayers! If you\u2019ve seen the commercials and billboards for McDonald\u2019s lately \u2014 you know that they\u2019ve just super sized their BIG MAC. Because it wasn\u2019t big enough, they now have a GRAND MAC! If it\u2019s good enough for McDonald\u2019s \u2014 then it\u2019s good enough for you! It\u2019s time you allow your HEART OF FAITH to supersize your prayers \u2014 and expect God to come through for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Maybe you need to pray something like this:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGod, I\u2019m asking You to not just supply my needs but to bless me beyond measure. Bless me so much that I won\u2019t be able to contain it. And as you do, empower me to be a blessing to others.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Maybe you should pray something like this:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGod, I\u2019m asking you to restore my marriage. Allow it to thrive. Help us to become happier and more fulfilled than ever before!\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Or maybe you need to begin praying:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGod, restore my joy! Let me laugh again. Heal my broken heart. Give you a new lease on life. Help me. Deliver me from this pain and set me free to live for you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Or maybe you need to pray:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGod bless my children. Allow them to excel in everything they do. Keep them faithful to you \u2014 and give them a position of greatness where they can influence many for you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I encourage you to <strong>PRAY<\/strong> <strong>BIG<\/strong> because that\u2019s what a <strong>HEART<\/strong> <strong>OF<\/strong> <strong>FAITH<\/strong> will produce in you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Jesus said, <\/strong><em>\u201caccording to your faith it will be done unto you\u201d <\/em><strong>(Matthew 9:29).<\/strong> If you will pray bold prayers, and put your faith in <strong>God<\/strong> \u2014 He will do big things in you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the converse is true as well. And so, if you pray without faith \u2014 and you ask God for a little, that is what you\u2019ll receive!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Faith operates on that supernatural principle of <strong>SOWING AND REAPING.<\/strong> If you so with seeds of doubt you\u2019ll reap the fruit of that prayer. But if you\u2019ll pray with seeds of faith \u2014 you reap the bountiful harvest of that prayer! If we can learn to <strong>pray bold prayers<\/strong>, filled with great expectation, then <strong>God<\/strong> <strong>will<\/strong> <strong>begin<\/strong> to do big things in our lives! <em>(And in our Church)!<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I&#8217;m reminded of the <strong>prophetic verse <\/strong>in <strong>Psalm 2:8, <\/strong>where<strong> God<\/strong> instructs<strong> King David<\/strong> saying:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-2-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cAsk Me and I will give you the nations as your inheritance.\u201d&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As <strong>David<\/strong> discovered, <strong>being a child of the King of Kings<\/strong> has its privileges. Ask your <strong>Heavenly<\/strong> <strong>Father<\/strong> for what you will, and <strong>in<\/strong> <strong>faith<\/strong>, <strong>believe<\/strong>, and<strong> it shall be done<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Listen folks, we\u2019ve been beat down by<strong>small thinking<\/strong> and<strong> little faith<\/strong> for too long. It\u2019s time for us to <strong>ask God for greater things<\/strong>. It\u2019s time for us <strong>to dream bigger <\/strong>and<strong> pray with greater boldness!&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I invite you in the days to come, to join with me in asking <strong>God<\/strong> to do the miraculous:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ask Him for those <strong>hidden<\/strong> <strong>dreams<\/strong> planted in your heart.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ask Him even for the <strong>unspoken hopes and silent<\/strong> <strong>desires<\/strong> that might otherwise never come to pass in the natural.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ask him to <strong>restore<\/strong> <strong>the<\/strong> <strong>broken<\/strong> <strong>ties<\/strong> between you and your family.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ask him to <strong>heal<\/strong> <strong>your<\/strong> <strong>disease<\/strong> and give you <strong>a<\/strong> <strong>life<\/strong> <strong>free<\/strong> <strong>of<\/strong> <strong>illness<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ask him for <strong>increased<\/strong> <strong>giftedness<\/strong> and <strong>abilities<\/strong> or maybe the a <strong>mind<\/strong> <strong>to<\/strong> <strong>conceive<\/strong> <strong>better<\/strong> <strong>thoughts<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And ask Him to <strong>bring your dreams into reality<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I believe God wants you to rediscover the joy found in faith \u2014 so, <strong>dream big <\/strong>and free your heart leap within you!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A HEART OF FAITH<\/strong> will always lead you to <strong>PRAY BIG PRAYERS.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And likewise,\u00a0a hearth of Fatih will also lead you to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-headings-color has-text-color has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>2. <\/strong><strong>EXPECT GOD\u2019S BEST<\/strong><strong>!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you have a <strong>heart<\/strong> to <strong>please<\/strong> <strong>God<\/strong> and to <strong>live<\/strong> <strong>in<\/strong> <strong>faith<\/strong>, then you overcome the <strong>fear<\/strong> of <strong>circumstances<\/strong> and begin to <strong>expect<\/strong> <strong>God<\/strong> to care for you from the depth of His love.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Get rid of that mindset that views God as some COSMIC TASK MASTER who wants to watch humanity fall under the weight of some LEAGAL BURDEN to be perfect.\u00a0Instead, begin to see God for who He is \u2014 our gracious and loving Heavenly father who longs to shower you with His favor and blessing.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you view God in light of <strong>Hebrews 11:6<\/strong>, you\u2019ll come to know Him as<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-2-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201ca rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So look to Him and expect His best. And if you\u2019re struggling with this right now \u2014 and you\u2019re not sure if God really wants to answer your prayers and sow GOOD THINGS into your life \u2014 then just consider the words of the Psalmist from <strong>Psalm 84:10-11 (ESV<\/strong>). As he acknowledges,\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-2-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>10\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><em>\u201cFor a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. <\/em><strong><em>11\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><em>For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. <\/em><em>No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you seek to trust in the Lord \u2014 and you FILL YOUR HEART WITH FAITH IN HIM . . . when you have the courage to face your challenges with a sense of confidence that GOD IS both GOOD and ALL POWERFUL, then as His Word declares, <em>you will not be disappointed, because the Lord will not withhold any good think from you!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He will certainly meet your needs, but that\u2019s not all \u2014 He will exceed your needs and bless you in ways than you\u2019ve ever imagined.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I know that many here today have been through some\u00a0hardships and challenging times in the past.\u00a0Maybe your challenge was an economic challenge \u2014 maybe it came through the loss of income or a job, or an investment failed and with it \u2014 you felt panic deep within your heart as you watched your wealth diminish before your eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Or maybe your challenge has been a <strong>relationship<\/strong> <strong>challenge<\/strong> \u2014 where you witnessed the failure of your marriage. And as it crashed and burned, you felt your heart skip a beat as the pain of loss and emptiness set in.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Or maybe your challenge has been one of <strong>sickness<\/strong> and <strong>failing<\/strong> <strong>health<\/strong>. Maybe you used to be known for your great strength \u2014 but in recent days you\u2019ve become known by your weakness. And with it, you\u2019ve felt your joy escape and your heart become heavy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Or maybe your challenge has been one of <strong>loneliness <\/strong>or <strong>emptiness.<\/strong> Maybe you to be filled with laughter and were the life of the parry\u2014 but now you feel empty and dry inside and have lost all interest in life and faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Whatever the challenge you\u2019ve faced <\/strong>(in days gone by), <strong>God wants to encourage you<\/strong> today.\u00a0 He wants to remind you that your life is not over, all hope is not lost, He is able to restore and replenish and revive your life.\u00a0So hold your head high as He fills your HEART WITH FAITH once again!\u00a0He fills you with a faith to believe \u2014 and faith to behold His goodness and His glory!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Be encouraged by the words of <strong>Psalm 30:5 (ESV). <\/strong>It tells us to,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-2-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>4 <\/em><\/strong><em>\u201cSing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. <\/em><strong><em>5 <\/em><\/strong><em>For his anger is but for a moment, and <\/em><strong><em>his favor is for a lifetime<\/em><\/strong><em>.<\/em><em>Weeping may tarry for the night<\/em><em>, but <\/em><strong><em>joy comes with the morning.<\/em><\/strong><em>\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>psalmist<\/strong> reminds us that <strong>God\u2019s<\/strong> <strong>favor<\/strong> is ever-present \u2014 and it lasts a lifetime. Even when life is hard and challenges are great.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While we all face heartache and heartbreak \u2014 God declares that though our <em>\u201cweeping may last through the night\u201d <\/em>\u2014 our \u201cjoy comes with the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For that reason, it\u2019s so important that we never abandon a <strong>HEART OF FAITH<\/strong> \u2014 because<strong> <\/strong>this could be your day<strong>!<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This could be the day that you awaken to discover the answer you\u2019ve been praying for!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This could be the day you see your health turn around.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This could be the day your finances increase \u2014 and you receive that promotion or raise that you\u2019ve been praying for.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Or this could be the day that you meet find that peace that you\u2019ve desired for so long.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This could be the day that God brings you the friend, or companion you\u2019ve dreamed of.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All I\u2019m saying is DON\u2019T LOSE HEART! This could be your day! <em>While weeping last through the night, JOY COMES IN THE MORNING!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You know what\u2019s so unique about the morning? The darkness is dispelled by the light! What loomed over you in the shadows is changed into hope and <strong>life<\/strong> and wonder in the light. And what is true in the natural is also true in the spiritual. God has not left you \u2014 and I believe He\u2019s about to awaken some of you to something new and more wonderful than you\u2019ve ever dreamed!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A HEART OF FAITH WILL ALWAYS LEAD YOU TO:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Pray Big Prayers<\/strong> &amp; <strong>Expect God\u2019s Best!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-headings-color has-text-color has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>CONCLUSION<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#410469\">I recently read a story about a man and woman who were celebrating their love and wedding anniversary together in <strong>Hawaii<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#410469\">The man was a good man \u2014 and he had achieved a fair amount of success in life. But if he was honest, he would tell you that he had begun to coast along. He had quit striving for greater things in life. He had long quit seeking to accomplish anything new for God or his church, or his family. He believed he had already achieved the extend of his dreams and reached the limits of his life.\u00a0Well, one day, a friend was driving the couple around the island, showing them the sights. They stopped to admire a gorgeous house set high on a hill. The property was replete with beautiful palm trees and lush green gardens in a picturesque, peaceful setting with a panoramic view overlooking the ocean. As the man gazed at the magnificent home, he commented to his wife and friend, \u201cI can\u2019t even imagine living in a place like that.\u201d Right there, something inside him said, <em>Don\u2019t worry. You won\u2019t. You will never live in a great place like that.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dreaming big will always require you to see through the eyes of faith. And as talked last week \u2014 that\u2019s really what faith is. It\u2019s choosing to believe for God\u2019s best. It\u2019s choosing to view life and it\u2019s potential from God\u2019s point of view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s seeing things from God\u2019s perspective!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes, the barrier to experiencing God\u2019s best is a barrier in your heart \u2014 or mind.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s never God\u2019s lack of resources or even your lack of skill or giftedness that prevents you from achieving greater things for His glory. Sometimes its your own wrong thinking that limits you and keeps you from God\u2019s best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#33096a\">Some of you may know the name <strong>William Carey<\/strong>. Carey wasborn in the late 1700\u2019s in England. By way ofprofession, hewasa self-taught shoe cobbler. Not a very impressive job. But he who had a HEART OF FAITH \u2014 and he dreamed of taking the gospel of Christ to India. When he began sharing his dream with others \u2014 he was met with doubt and disbelief. Some even called him a <em>\u201cmiserable enthusiast\u201d<\/em> and told him that God would never use him to reach the lost of India. While this was incredibly discouraging, Carey never lost his joy and overcame setback after setback. He refused to believe the negative voices \u2014 and wouldn\u2019t allow fear or doubt to root itself into his heart. For years he prayed and held on to the belief that God would use Him. In time, Carey made it to India, and went on to learn many Indian languages and eventually translated the Bible into nearly 40 different Indian dialects. He also founded a Christian University that exists to this day, and through it all \u2014 he was able to be used by God to win countless numbers of people to Jesus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#33096a\"><strong>Carey\u2019s<\/strong> motto was this,\u00a0<strong>\u201cExpect great things from God; attempt great things for God!\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we close this morning, I challenge you to embrace that motto for your life. Dare to believe God for greater things. Pray big prayers and expect God to come through for you in BIG WAYS!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I realize that FAITH is always the hardest in the waiting. And some of you have been waiting on God to BLESS your life, and HEAL your bodies, and STRENGTH your walk and devotion to Him for a long time.\u00a0But DON\u2019T LOSE HEART!\u00a0And DON\u2019T GIVE UP!\u00a0KEEP BELIEVING!\u00a0Reject fear and doubt and unbelief. Guard your heart and refuse to listen to negative voices and nay-sayers. Remain optimistic and full of faith in Jesus.\u00a0Trust in the Goodness of God. And PRAY BIG PRAYERS \u2014 then AND EXPECT GOD\u2019S BEST!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-headings-color has-text-color has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>INVITATION FOR PRAYER<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we prepare to close . . . I want to invite you to come to the altars again this morning. And if you need prayer, or you want to be encouraged, or you want someone to just stand with you today \u2014 then this is your moment!\u00a0We are a church of FAITH! So come, and let\u2019s pray together and for one another before we go.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>So, let\u2019s pray!<\/strong> And as we do, let&#8217;s remember what Paul said in <strong>Ephesians 3:20<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-2-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>20&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><em>\u201cNow all glory to God, who is able, through <\/em><em>his mighty power at work within us<\/em><em>, to accomplish <\/em><strong><em>infinitely more than we might ask or think<\/em><\/strong><em>. <\/em><strong><em>21&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><em>Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-headings-color has-text-color has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">CLOSING PRAYER<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A HEART OF FAITH! Proverbs 4:23-27, 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, and Psalm 84:10-11 Well good morning. It\u2019s great to see you all here today. Thanks for &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-877","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/877","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=877"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/877\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2662,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/877\/revisions\/2662"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=877"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}