Kopp Disclosure
(John 3:19-21)
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Scratching the Surface
of
Rejuvenating
Faith
(A
Brief and Incomplete Guide to Overcoming Fainting Faith)
A son’s friend with fainting faith wrote to him, “Does
your dad know of any books that would help me with struggling faith?…I am just
struggling to believe…I want something…”
When life’s challenges, disappointments, and sorrows along
with the meanness, madness, misery, and miscreance of life in the modern world
start piling up, it’s not uncommon for faith to faint.
Surely, the best method to rejuvenate faith is the one
that works for you; so the encouragement below, in no particular order, is a
smorgasbord of options for anyone counseling someone with fainting faith or
anyone, as my son’s friend confessed, struggling to believe.
Testimony – What has a personal relationship with
Jesus as Lord and Savior done for you?
Recall to rejuvenate! The only
gospel that some people will ever hear or see is the gospel according to you! The best testimonies follow an outline like
this: “Before I knew Jesus as Lord and Savior, I was…Jesus became a part of my
life when…Now that Jesus is a part of my life, I am…If I could leave you with
one thing, it would be…”
1 Peter 5:6-11 – Read the following sentences aloud
and say your name when a ___ appears: “If ___ will humble her/himself under the
mighty hand of God, in His good time, He will lift ___ up. Let Him have all ___’s worries and cares, for
He is always thinking about ___ and watching everything that concerns ___. Trust the Lord; and remember that other Christians
all around the world are going through these sufferings too. After ___ has suffered a little while, our
God, who is full of kindness through Christ will give ___ His eternal glory. He personally will come and pick ___ up, and
set ___ firmly in place, and make ___ stronger than ever. To Him be all power over all things, forever
and ever. Amen!”
Invitation Prayer – For the first time or again,
pray, “Lord, I invite you into my heart as Lord and Savior. I am sorry for how I have hurt You and hurt others
which is the same as hurting You. I need
Your love, mercy, and forgiveness. I
welcome You into my heart. I thank You
for being in my heart now and forever. I
ask You to help me to be Yours from now on in all things at all times in all
places with all people for Christ’s sake; as I pray in His name. Amen!”
Bible – Read it!
It is God’s personal love letter to you/us/everyone! Find one that you like to read! There are many translations; and the best one
is the one that works for you! Start
with John and Psalms! Then let the Holy
Spirit direct you and enlighten you and rejuvenate you!
Read the Red Letters – Find a Bible with the words
of Jesus in red and read them over and over and over until you feel Him in your
heart and can say with Paul, “It is no longer I who live; but it is Jesus
living in/through/for me!”
Worship – God inhabits the praises of His
people! God honors those who honor
Him!
Those are promises from God in the Bible for
you/us/everyone. The message, music, and
entire liturgy may stink in the service; but God still works supernatural
miracles of strong calm sanity along happiness and wholeness and joy and safety
and eternal security in/through/for people who show up to worship Him. It/He happens most in worship!
Holy Communion – Often! Jesus did not say, “Do this in remembrance of
Me quarterly…or monthly…or when it’s convenient.” What happens during the sacrament?
Dr. Macleod always answered, “We get Christ better!” Read
the previous paragraph on worship again!
Worship services faithful to Jesus by the book always include the
sacrament.
Fellowship and Mission – Garbage in! Garbage out!
Hang out with Christians! Our
Lord expects us to love the hell out of those who do not know Him; but never to
become like them! Show everyone love and
mercy; but never become like people whose beliefs and behaviors insult His
holiness and hurt others! Serve! You will get closer to Jesus by serving
others for Jesus; for He said, “As you do it to/for them, you do it to/for Me!”
Back to the Book – Stop wasting so much time
reading books about the Bible. Read the
Bible! Spend more time reading the book
from God than books about the book from God.
There are only so many hours in every day for
reading. Why spend more time in
secondary sources when God’s primary source is available to you?
As a struggling ballplayer, I asked my coach, “How can I
get better?”
He said, “Practice!
Practice! Practice!”
Get it?
If you do and do, you will get Him!
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Blessings and Love!
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Shatter the sound of silence!
Wake up! Look up! Stand up! Speak up! Act up for Jesus!
Salt! Shine! Leavenate!
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