[00:00:00] Speaker A: You're listening to the message podcast of High Ridge Church, Longview, where our vision is to help you know God, find freedom, discover purpose, and ultimately make a difference. We are so glad that you're here, and we pray that this message impacts your life as you apply the spiritual truths from God's word in practical ways.
[00:00:18] Speaker B: Let's listen in.
Y'all can grab a seat. I want to welcome everyone online as well. Have you been enjoying this sermon series by Pastor Tim, living a life that matters? Hasn't it been incredible? You know, as I have been watching, so normally I'm on the other side joining this congregation of that camera. And one of the things I just want to say to Pastor Tim and to Pastor Tina, I'm reminded of Proverbs 20, verse 6. This is jumping in my head.
Most men proclaim their own goodness, but who can find a faithful man? And you are a faithful man. This is a faithful house, and we are grateful for your faithful leadership. So it's obedience. But can we honor the obedience in Pastor Tim and Pastor Tina and the elders here in this house?
We love you guys so much.
Hey, so if you have your Bibles, I'm going to start in second Corinthians 5, and we're going to be popping around just a little bit, looking at the life of Abraham, and we actually are going to be continuing the sermon series, living a life that matters. And today we're going to be focusing on faith and the burden that I feel like the Holy Spirit put on my heart. As I was praying for our time, thinking about this moment, what I heard him say was, it's time to take a step.
It is time to take a step. Now, what is that step for you? That step might be writing that really generous check to whoever God is putting on your heart, and it's stretching you, and you're going, God, I don't know if I can do that. Maybe it is time to take a step for you to start serving in this house. You've been blessed by this place, you've been attending this place. You've heard about this thing called Dream Team. Maybe that is the step that you're wanting to take. Maybe this step is inviting that barista that you talk to once or twice a week and saying, hey, I know of this really, really great place called High Ridge Church, and I'd love to invite you to be a part. I'll buy you a coffee. I'd love to hang out with you. I don't know what that step is, but I believe that as I was praying about this sermon. It's like God the Father was sitting down with me, grabbing my full attention and saying, I want my sons and daughters at High Ridge to hear.
I'm with them. I've got them. And it's time to take a step.
Speaking of taking steps, I was at the Daddy Daughter Dance last night. How many guys were at the Daddy Daughter Dance just last night? Y'all cannot dance at all. And it's a beautiful thing. How many of you have seen that movie Hitch? You know, where Will Smith and Kevin James, some of y'all, you know, he's like baking a pizza. Baking a pizza. I saw that last night. I saw the Sprinkler last night. I saw some 1980s stuff. Look. And I'm part of that. We just need to keep it right here. Just, just right here. I got you, girl. We just need to keep it right there. But I do want to show you guys a picture of my family. I was able to take two of my daughters last night. So that is my wife Bethany. We've been married for almost 20 years. I know I don't look it, but I am only 41. Thank you, Jesus. I've got a 14 year old Lily who wasn't able to be here this time. She's actually in the Dallas Fort Worth area. She might be watching right now. What's up, girl? I love you. And then I was able to take Ella and K. They were so embarrassed of their daddy's dancing last night. So that is my family and I am so, so blessed to have them in my life. But living a life that matters is always going to include. Watch this. Obedient steps of faith. I'm not talking about performance.
I'm not talking about conjuring things up. I'm not talking about forcing yourself to do something because someone else thinks that you should do it. I am talking about obedient steps, steps of faith. What are obedience steps of faith? It's always going to line up with God's word. It's always going to line up with the way of Jesus. And it's always going to line up to the wisdom of healthy leadership that God has placed over you. So a Pastor Doug, a Pastor Tim, some of the leaders, your group leaders in this house. That is obedience. Even if it might not make sense to you, God is calling us to take steps of faith here in this next season.
You know, my wife and I, we lived overseas for about five years. I served on a missions organization. We served in about 17 different nations. And while we Were over there. That is the season that the Lord was allowing us to have children. And by we, my wife praise her holy name. You women in the house that have given birth, I don't even, not even know. You are stronger than what I could ever imagine. But during our first child, she was about two months old. This movie called the Help came out just by a raise of hands. Those online, you can raise your hands too. How many of you have seen that movie, the Help? Okay. It's based in a time of segregation in the United States. And in this one particular scene, this family that is riddled by addiction, riddled by sin, riddled by brokenness, there's this argument going on between husband and wife, father and mother, and there's a young, young girl. Right in the middle of it, some of you are nodding your heads. You know this scene. And it ends up speaking lies and curses and it ends up really hurting the young girl. Well, this movie called the Help. It's called the Help because on the other side of the railroad tracks, a certain group of people would come over and help this wealthy families clean, prepare food, take care of the kids. And so in the moment of this nuclear family brokenness, this girl is in tears by her mommy and daddy. They leave the room and the maid, the help, pulls this little one and a half, two year old daughter close.
And she says, sweetie, you is kind, you is smart, you is impotent, you is smart, you is kind, you is impotent.
And my oldest daughter was 2 months old at the time, and I thought, you know what, she can't even talk yet. But I have the opportunity. Every single night as she goes to bed, I am going to say, lily. And I've done this with Ella and Kate as they're young, but with Lily, you are smart, you are kind, you are important, you are courageous. You've got this. And God has great plans for your life. Lily, you are smart, you are kind, you are important.
Fast forward two years. She's two years old, learning how to talk and walk. And she's got the big bow in her hair and all the different things Mommy's putting the ponytail in. And I'm working from home one day in Berlin, Germany, and I hear this little voice down the, down the hall going.
And I kind of look down and my daughter, watch this, is standing in front of the mirror.
And what she sees is smart, kind, important.
You've got this.
What she saw was what her father sees in her, what you see. And living a life that matters. God, the father wants to Say to all of us as his sons and daughters today, you are smart, you are kind, you are courageous, you are important. And my word stands, and I believe in you, and your life matters.
I love how Martin Luther King says this about faith. Faith is taking a step even when we don't see the full staircase. Thank God. That. That is wonderfully terrifying. I can't see the full staircase. I don't know where this is going to lead. But, God, if you said it, I'm going to do it, and I'm going to take a step and. Oh, my goodness, there's a step there and I couldn't even see it.
Second Corinthians says this. So we.
Who's the we? The people of God. We are always of good courage. And we know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord. Watch this. So we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes. We are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. Walking by faith. This is a no duh moment, but walking by faith, y'all. It begins with a step.
And if you can't take a step, take a half a step. And if you can't take a half a step, take a quarter of a step. And if you can't do it courageously, y'all, take the step of faith scared. Because God has a plan for you and for me. So what is faith? Many of you know where I'm about to go, and we're gonna start there foundationally. I just saw that we are doing sign language over here. That is incredible. I wish that I could do that. That is awesome. What is up? That is amazing. I just wanna say, hey, I don't even know how to do it, but highlight you guys. That is incredible. Like, I love that High Ridge is doing that. We just gotta wave. That's incredible. So what is faith? Sorry. Squirrel moment. That was a spiritual squirrel moment. Hebrews 11:1. This is the foundation right now. Faith is confidence, the core substance in reality. That's what confidence is in what we hope for and the assurance about what we do not see. This is the foundation of faith. And many of us would go to this scripture and be like, this is what faith is. And you're right. This is the foundation of faith. According to Romans 10:17, how does faith come? So faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God. The word of God is absolute truth. The word of God is the Perfect plan for your life, y'all. We've got to be intimately aware of what he says and how he has chosen to self reveal himself to you and and me for the purpose of relationship and to impact our community. This life matters. So faith comes by hearing the word of God.
Faith is also a gift. I mentioned this earlier, but I'm not talking about this religious system. I need to do something to get to God. That is not what I'm talking about. It's not performance. Faith is a gift given by. By God. And in the context of the Apostle Paul, this pastor writing to this church in Corinth, he's writing about these gifts that the Holy Spirit gives. I don't know about y'all. I like gifts. I remember when I first heard this when I was 10, 11, and I was understanding it, I was going, God, I want every single gift that you can give because I like gifts, y'all. I don't know about you, but I like gifts. So in this context, Paul is writing to this church and it's still speaking today. The same spirit, God, the Spirit. Keep in mind capital S Spirit. Anytime you see capital S Spirit, pay attention to what he is saying.
The same spirit gives great faith to another.
And faith and grace are always holding hands. So this was the foundation. This is how faith comes. Faith is a gift. And I need to say that any space that you find faith, you're going to find grace. Grace being unmerited favor, y'all. It's unearned. I don't deserve it. We don't deserve it. This is how good and great our God is that he would send his Son to die on a cross to pay the penalties that I deserve because he loves me. Faith and grace are always holding hands. And it says this in Ephesians 2:8. So for by grace you have been saved.
Through what faith. Can we say that together? Faith through faith. And it's not of yourselves. It is the gift of God.
So this is the foundational understanding of faith, the gift that it is, how it comes, how it's always holding hands with grace. But I want us to just take a little bit of a step further. And as we have matured in our faith, faith also says that one God is who he says he is.
Our God is a God of grace. Our God is perfect love. Our God is comfort. Our God is power. Our God created the cosmos. I don't understand everything, but my God, our God, our God is who he says he is. He is our salvation. He is our strength. He is our Everything. God is who he says he is.
A step further says that God can do whatever he wants and empower me to do whatever he wants. God is. And God can.
Thirdly, God will. God is. God can. God will. God will what? God will do whatever he wants, whenever he wants, however he wants, through whomever he wants. If he can speak through a donkey, y'all, he can speak through me and you. Our God is powerful and good, and he wants us to take a step and look again. I understand that some of us are going, I don't know if I can take that step. God's been talking to me about that for three months. He's got you.
He's got you. You don't have to understand it all. If you did understand it all, it probably wouldn't be full faith.
I mean, I'm about 80% sure that in this current season of my personal life, as we have left the church that we were called to for 10 years, God has called us to be a part of a new thing in the midst of the high rich family. I'll just be honest. I'm about 80% sure that I'm right.
Well, that other 20% is that faith. It's wonderfully terrifying. What am I doing? I don't know. Faith. Faith.
God is. God can. God will. And don't despise the small steps, and don't despise the failed steps.
No one in this room or online came out of the womb perfectly running like Usain Boat. No one. We fell, we fumbled, we didn't make it, we hit our head, but we can get up and keep going. And I want to say this, that in this step of faith, that whatever God is speaking to you, living this life of matters, the primary attack that is going to come against your mind. My mind and my heart, my soul, my spirit, is fear.
It's going to be fear. Why? Because fear wants to prohibit you from stepping into the good and great plans that God has for you. My wife actually said this. But faithful conviction encourages the people of God.
Faith. Fearless cowardice crumbles the people of God when we are filled with his faith, that it's a gift that he gives. There's an encouragement that lifts up and I go, I can't do this on my own. But God, you can do it through me because you are who you say you are.
Second Timothy one says it this way, and I love the way he says it in the amplified version, so just stick with me for a quick second. It says, for God does not or did not Give us a spirit of timidity, of cowardice, craven cringing and fawning fear. But he has given us a spirit of power and of love and a calm, well balanced mind that is disciplined in self controlled. God has given us a spirit that is full of power, full of wisdom, full of his presence. And you can take that step. You're smart, you're kind, you got this with Him.
So what is the result of faith? It's like our God, the Father is peering over the balcony of heaven. And y'all, when he sees faith, even if it's just a millimeter of a step, first of all, faith is pleasing to God. He's going, oh my gosh, look at Timmy there.
Look at Murray, look at Claudia. Oh, they're about, oh, look at James.
They're about to take a step of faith that they believe who I say I am. That is awesome. Faith is pleasing to God. Hebrews 11:6. It's impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. Faith pleases the Lord. 2. Faith provokes the Lord. So I don't have time to go into the full context, but the context in the scripture that I'm about to share here is King Asa in Second Chronicles. And King Asa, in the early part of his life, chose to step out in faith even when it looked foolish to the people around him. And God met him where he was and took him where he needed to go. In the second half of Asa's life, he chose to please man, to succumb to fear, to not take those steps. And he was even diseased in his feet. Taking a step of faith. It's time to take a step. There's something here. He was diseased in his feet and he died. And he was unwilling to repent in his old age. So in this context it says this in 2nd Chronicles 16:9, the eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.
What a fool you have been. From now on, you will be at war. Faith pleases the Lord.
Faith provokes the Lord.
Faith empowers our life, your life, my life.
They are going to put up Hebrews 11:1 here, but go and read Hebrews 11.
By faith, Moses desired and left the comfort of Egypt. He had it good. Kick back. He was a prince.
By faith, Noah decided to build a boat in the middle of a desert when it had never rained from heaven. By faith, Deborah decided to step out and lead and judge when no one else would. By faith, mothers were empowered to believe that their sons and daughters would come back to life, would come back to the Lord. By faith. Tim desired to come here to High Ridge Church and to see something new birthed here by faith. Longview Christian Fellowship men and women stepped out and said, we are going to plant ourselves in this place and be a beacon of light to the community around us. By faith, we are empowered to live a great life that matters. By faith. Ten years ago, my wife and I decided to come back from Berlin, Germany, because God had said, so, you're done. The assignment is complete, and I need you to move back to the United States. And so they're going to throw up a photo here in terminal D at DFW Airport, where we have 13 suitcases and three little girlies. My oldest daughter is full of excitement there because she sees her family and, y'all. It looked like foolishness to many, even those that are a part of the kingdom of God. When we were leaving this incredible ministry, like, I had the Euro haircut. I had, like, the tight jeans. You know, I looked all the part of Berlin. We had the beautiful apartment. We had made a community by God's grace. It was awesome. But when God says it's time to go and it's time to take a step, it is time to take a step. You can do this. You can do this. And so for the last 10 years, my wife and I have had the opportunity to serve at this local church in Dallas, Fort Worth, called Gateway Church.
Well, now we are in a season where it feels like we're not taking a step of faith, we're taking a leap of faith. And God has called us out of that place. So, y'all, I am preaching to my heart right here and right now, going, God, this is who you say you are. So I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna do it. Sometimes in tears, sometimes full of expectant faith, but I'm gonna take that step by faith. So living a life that matters will include faith, you, your faith, my faith, our faith, our faith matters.
So point number one, My faith matters. If I was sitting in your seat, Claudia, my faith matters. If I was sitting in your seat, if I was sitting at home, my faith matters. There is an obedient legacy that God has in store for each and every one of us. And yes, there's a kingdom legacy, for sure. We're going to a place that we're not fully in, but there is a legacy that God has for each and every One of us right here on the Earth, that we have been called to in our community, in our school, in our space. My faith matters. And as we look at Abraham, just think about this for a second. Because in Genesis 11, it said that his dad was going to the land of Canaan, but he made it halfway to Haran. And it literally says, at the very end of Genesis 11, he stopped and he settled. My prayer is that none of us would settle in any land, any space that God has not called us to settle. Now, he's good. He's great, he's gracious. His plans for you are good, and he is going to come alongside. But there is a great life, a life that matters, that God has for us, and it's going to include faith. And so as Abrams, soon to be Abraham, father dies. The very first scripture in Genesis 12:1 says this. The Lord then said to Abram, leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and go to the land that I will show you. Hebrews 11:8 says it this way. It was by faith that Abraham obeyed. When God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as an inheritance, he went without knowing where he was going. That is crazy, crazy faith. But oftentimes, we as the people of God, oftentimes we will need to go before God fully shows. Oftentimes we will need to leave that place and that land that maybe we've gotten comfortable in so that he could give us the land that he wants to. Oftentimes, we will need to, by faith, take a step out to receive the fullness of God that he has for our life. This faith life matters. So point number one, my faith matters. It matters. Living a life that matters is going to include an obedient walk of faith.
Point number two, your faith matters.
Your faith will always benefit another. Your faith will always strengthen another.
Your faith is important. Romans 4:23 says it this way. And when God counted him, Abraham as righteous, it wasn't just for Abraham's benefit. It's not just for your benefit. My benefit. It was recorded for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus as our Lord from the dead. My life matters. Your life matters. And can I tell you specifically, High Ridge Church, your faith has mattered. In my personal life, in this last season, in the last year and a half, I've probably walked through the most difficult ministry season of my life. Many of you know the spiritual and emotional fire that gateway Church has walked through. So not just the fire that we've walked through, the questions of people asking what is going on, not having the full answers in that space, literally, the building that I was serving as a pastor at physically caught on fire. And in the midst of all of this, the spiritual fire, the emotional fire, the physical fire, I am so grateful for Tim and Tina Ingram that saw where I was believed in my family and reached out and grabbed hold of us and said, you can keep standing. I know that you might not think you can, but, Matt, have faith. Do not give up, y'all. We came here to the Discovery meetings. There was traffic. It was difficult to get here, but I knew that I had to get here. And as I walked in, the elders and their wives came up to me and they started saying, matt, we're praying for Bethany. We're praying for your girls. You can do this, y'all. Your faith matters. I can show it on a photo right here of Tim just reaching out and hugging me. We need men and women in our life when our faith is being challenged and we're tired and exhausted and God, I don't know if I can do this anymore. There needs to be people in your life that says, yes, you can.
Yes, you can. Because I heard what God said about you. I've seen what he's done in your life. Our God is a good God, and he will not fail you. And I know it hurts. I know it's hard, but don't give up.
Your faith matters. In church, I want to say, my daughters were like, daddy, you're so sensitive. You love to cry. It's not that I love to cry.
I just get overwhelmed by the presence of God. Hyrudge your faith has mattered in my life, in my daughter's lives. And I need you to hear that. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you.
My faith matters. Your faith matters. Our faith matters. Three years ago, when I came to High Ridge Church for the very first time, I didn't know Tim super well yet. I didn't know Tina super well yet. I didn't know Paul super well yet. I didn't know you guys super well yet. And I walked into this place, and literally my thought was, what is going on in here? Like, what is that?
Hey, Matt.
That's me. God.
And as I started thinking about that, my mind started to rest on Psalms 133, that this was a place of unity, faith filled unity. That as we gather together our faith, whether strong or struggling, we come together. And you know what God says about a place that is full of unity.
He says that my precious anointing is going to be there. He says that my refreshing spirit and heart is going to be there. He says that that place I am going to command my blessing. God is blessing this place and our faith matters. When the hurt and broken and addicted that I was before I became a son of God come into this place, place they go, what is going on in here?
It's the gift of faith. It's unity. It's the presence of God that is here. My faith matters, your faith matters, our faith matters and church.
I don't know where or when or how, but I believe that God is saying it is time to take a step.
Whatever that step is for you, it's time to take a step and he's got you.
Can I pray for you real quickly before I invite Pt Buff here?
Lord, I thank you for this church, this people that is passionately pursuing your presence.
God, I know that you are speaking in this place, here in this room, also online.
God, you're encouraging us to take steps right now in obedience, in faith. God, I pray that there would be an impartation, a gift of faith that would be poured out and rest upon your people.
God, we so desire to live a life that matters because we know that we matter.
So God, I pray for my friends. I pray that there would be a lifting up, God, that there would be a holding up, there would be a calling up of faith right now here in this place.
And Jesus, we choose to say in our hearts, I'm gonna obediently take that step when you call me to because it matters.
In Jesus name, Amen. Amen.
[00:32:24] Speaker A: Thank you so much for listening in today. Our prayer is that you are encouraged and strengthened by the mess done so yet. Be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave us a review wherever you're listening. If you want to be a part of our online community, connect with us through Facebook or Instagram with the handle hyridgelv or you can check out our
[email protected] lastly, if this ministry has impacted your life and you'd like to support its work, visit highridgelv.com give we appreciate your support and we're believing with you today for God's best in your life. Have an incredible week and we will see you next time.
