• A pastor was asking the Sunday school children how to get to heaven. So he asked the children “If I sell all I have and give all the money to the poor, would that get me into Heaven?” The children shouted “NO!” “If I serve the poor and care for them, would that get me into Heaven?” Again, the children answer “NO!” “What if I am kind all the children and give them candy, love my wife, would that get me into Heaven?” They all answered, “NO!” “Well, then how can I get into Heaven?” A young shouted out, “You have to die first!!!”
  • The teacher was hoping that the children will answer the question “How do you get to heaven?” is “Jesus”. That is faith. However, the child answers the fact.
  • Here lies the challenge. Faith versus fact, how do we respond to them?
  • Do we call this “Faith”? (Qualify: Not meant to put anyone or any church down)
  • Churches continue to meet in defiance against the law of the nation – do you call that “Faith”?
  • Churches close their door and have it online – do you call that “Faithless”?
  • The problem often or not, is not about faith or facts, but feelings.
  • It does not matter how we feel, it is faith that counts.
  • For example, we have faith that a chair can hold our weight, a pilot and the plane will take us safely to our desired destination, etc. The very fact that we do not check on the quality of the chair or the capability of the pilot or the quality of the plane that is faith. We trust the chair manufacturer and likewise we trust the airline industry to do their due diligence to ensure all their pilots are qualified and the planes are in good condition. That’s why there are airlines which we will avoid at all cost. So it is not how we feel about it, but having the assurance and the faith in the industry to ensure quality and safety. That is fact and faith.
  • Unfortunately often feelings are taken for faith resulting in undesirable results or even worse ending.
  • So for those who believe in the phrase “Follow your heart” which essentially means follow your feelings, you are going to be disappointed.
  • Just because we feel strongly about a certain thing, it is not necessarily a fact nor it is real.
  • Having said that, let me qualify a word about faith: Just because we put faith first or have enough faith in believing in God means we can make anything come to pass manipulating God.
  • God wants us to have faith, but our faith must rest in His Word and His will.
  • I am not belittling feelings here for all of us feel about certain things in life and some even intensely. Key is feelings cannot be the guiding principles in life.
  • Today being Resurrection Sunday, it is a fact that the tomb of Jesus was empty and witnessed by more than 500 people. That is a fact, but we still need to keep faith and continue to trust in Him.
  • Faith and facts – How do they work out?

 

  1. Fact supports Faith
  • Exodus 17:8 Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim.
  • Who is this Amalek?
  • “Dweller in a valley”.
  • Son of Eliphaz by his concubine Timnah.
  • Genesis 36:12: Grandson of Esau and Esau is Jacob’s brother.
  • Fact: Up to this point in time, the Israelites had not fought any war since they were slaves in Egypt. Even when he came out of Egypt, it was God Who fought for them.
  • Fact: Fighting the Amalek (the descendant known as Amalekites) is their first and they had to depend on God in this battle. Looking at this fact can be frightening.
  • Amalek is the enemy of Israel and it represents the enemy of our souls.
  • The place where they fought this battle:
  • It is called Rephidim and it is in the wilderness between Egypt and Sinai.
  • It means “Rests” or “Resting places” – it is when we put our trust in Him, in no matter what circumstances, that we can find rest or the place becomes a resting place.
  • Can we find rest in the midst of this current Covid-19 pandemic? If based on facts, we have a lot to be concerned about. However when based on faith in God, yes and amen.
  • Exodus 17:9 And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.”
  • Interesting to note that Moses called his rod the rod of God and in Exodus 17:5 it is called the rod of Moses. By calling it the rod of God, Moses is honouring God. When it is called the rod of Moses, God is honouring Moses. There is no magical power in the rod, but the key here is the relationship Moses has with God.
  • The fact for us here is how is our relationship with God?
  • If God is not a fact in our lives but merely just superficial faith for us to exercise when needed, then we miss what it really means to have a relationship with God. Without a true relationship with God, our faith is futile. Our faith is only found in our Lord Jesus.
  • Does fact support faith? Yes.
  • Resurrection Sunday reminds us of the fact of what Jesus has done for us on the cross and His resurrection.
  • We need to combine it with our faith to believe and trust in Him.
  • Faith rests on facts.

 

  1. Fact supports Faith.
  2. Faith supersedes Fact.
  • Exodus 17:10-1110So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
  • Imagine whether winning or losing the battle, literally life or death for Joshua and his troop is dependent on the prayers of Moses.
  • What does that tell us? Prayer is never an option nor is prayer the last resort. Prayer is our priority because it is the only mean besides worship and reading His word, to connect with God.
  • We are living in the end of days and the more we need to pray.
  • Here for Joshua is physical life and death, what about eternal live and eternal death?
  • We must pray because our lives are dependent on it; Life and death not only on this earth but also eternally is dependent on prayer.
  • Faith combines with actions produce miracles.
  • Joshua’s victory in battle was dependant on Moses intercession and Moses intercession needs Joshua to fight the battle.
  • The key here is when faith is combined with actions, it accomplishes great works and great miracles.
  • While fighting a battle is hard work, but prayer is also hard work: and our victory is dependent on it.
  • Exodus 17:12-1312But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
  • Aaron and Hur came alongside and supported Moses.
  • There is no such thing as superheroes, we need one another. We need to intercede for one another, especially such a time like this. We need to pray for all our healthcare workers, pray for our government, pray for all at Shekinah Joy Church, pray for Singapore and for the world.
  • After holding up his rod for some time, Moses’ hands become heavy or tired and that is how it will be.
  • Very much the same, we all too will get tired. That is why we need one another.
  • Moses held his hands up in prayer, Aaron and Hur partnered with him in intercession. Moses alone could not win the battle and he needed Aaron and Hur to come alongside him.
  • This intercession by Moses, Aaron and Hur resulted in Israel defeating the Amalek.
  • While Joshua still needed to fight the battle, prayer was the key to his victory.
  • Today we need to rise up in prayer with so many things going around us.
  • Faith in God through prayer (notice it is faith in God and not faith in prayer) supersedes fact.
  • Our faith does not make God’s facts true. They are true whether we believe them or not.
  • It is our faith in God that supersedes fact making our experience real.
  • Does faith supersedes facts? Yes.
  • Faith rise above facts. Faith can supersede facts; that’s a fact.

 

  1. Fact supports Faith.
  2. Faith supersedes Fact.
  3. Faith synonymous with Facts.
  • Exodus 17:14-16 14Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” 15And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner; 16for he said, “Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”
  • “Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it – Why write down? Because we forget.
  • This is how we should live: Our faith is synonymous with facts and facts is in alignment with our faith.
  • Recall the many answered prayers in our lives, even miracles we have experienced.
  • I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven: Amalek had committed grievous sin against Israel: Amalek was the first nation to make war and literally attacking their cousin. They did not stop and went all the way out to attack against Israel. What was most grievous was they were actually going directly against God.
  • Moses built an altar and called it THE-LORD-IS-MY-BANNER (Yahweh-Nissi) because Moses knew that while his prayer was important, but it was God Who gave him and Joshua the victory.
  • Faith synonymous with Facts
  • Today we can liken Amalek like that of our flesh, constantly at war with our spirit man.
  • Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another so that you do not do the things that you wish.
  • Though we all have our constant struggles, today we want to be able to grasp the reality of faith becoming synonymous with facts.
  • Let us strive towards it. Let us spur and encourage one another towards it.

 

Response towards what is going on around us concerning Covid-19:

  1. Submit to and Supplicate to God on behalf of our authority. Yes, submit to the authority as long as it does not contradict the word of God.
  2. Sensitive and Sensible towards our community, our neighbours; we are called to love our neighbours as ourselves. We are not called to “proof” our faith but to live up our faith.
  3. Stumble no one and be Socially responsible: It is different if prayer, fellowship, reading the Bible, worship are prohibited. That is what we call “Persecution”. For that, we have to remain faithful unto the Lord.

 

Application

Share the love of God: Preach the Gospel and demonstrate our love in a tangible manner.