Sense or Faith?
(Hebrews 11:1-3)

When we are faced with problems, whether we use sense or faith in understanding those problems has significant influence on solving them. Jesus tested Phillip with a daunting problem, which was to feed 5,000 men, 10,000 including women. Phillip made a quick judgment with the state-of-the-art sense and scientific observation and responded that he couldn’t do this. Despite being terrified by the enormous attack of doubt, however, Andrew used his faith as small as a mustard seed, confronted the problem, and came forward to Jesus with 5 barley loaves and 2 small fish. When facing the same problem, Philip found solution in sense, science, and reason while Andrew found solution in his faith as small as a mustard seed despite the oppression from sense and reason and brought the barley loaves and fish to Jesus expecting for miracles to happen. Those who believe in the Lord ought to regard their faith as a yardstick for everything at all times. Therefore, miracles are always solution to problems.

1. The life by sense
1) The tool through which Phillip, the disciple of Jesus made judgment of the situation
① There were no facilities to feed 5,000 people.
② There were no money to feed 5,000 people.
③ There were nowhere to buy bread for 5,000 people.
2) What went wrong
① He was not filled with the Holy Spirit.
② He did not believe in the capability of Jesus.
③ He did not believe in miracles.

2. The life by faith
- How Andrew, another disciple of Jesus made judgment
1) He was terrified by the crowd who filled the desert.
2) But he had a belief that if Jesus wanted to feed His people, He could do this.
3) Though there were no money nor any place to buy bread, he had a belief as small as a mustard seed that Jesus can do this.
4) Miracles are performed only through Jesus - He wanted to plant the seed of faith.
5) He brought the lunchbox of a child.

3. What we should know
1) Our life consists of desert large and small.
2) Not only there are problems of desert but also there is Jesus with us.
3) We all have faith as small as a mustard seed.
4) Plant the mustard seed of faith in Jesus, believe that miracles will happen, and confess our faith.

We Christians ought to live with Jesus at all times, entrust everything to the Lord by praying in faith, and live in peace, joy, and thanksgiving.