I Have Heard of Your Faith: Psalm 149: 1-5; Ephesians 1: 11-19
Paul writes to the Ephesian church, “Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly.” Essentially Paul is telling them, “I’ve heard of your faith.” It’s a powerful testimony. It’s the equivalent of Pope Francis, Rick Warren, Joyce Meyer, David Jeremiah or some other powerhouse figure coming here and saying to our church, “I’ve heard of your faith.”
We use that theme over and over in the church when we talk about how our lives tell the story of the redeeming love we know and believe. It is known and said when we show grace to others, live in a Christ-like way here on earth, and make a difference in someone’s life once they have met us. We also often say a version of that phrase at funerals in talking about the faith of the departed saint.
Of the four saints we have candles for today, I know two of them personally, had met and talked several times with a third, and spent much time with the family and friends of the fourth. This was the radiating theme of each of their lives. We had all heard, knew of, and experienced the beauty of their faith.
Bill Hammonds was a preacher. I don’t think you can get any closer to this idea of hearing about a person’s faith than them talking about in the pulpit all over the southeastern United States for decades. He was a wise and gentle man, and believe you me I needed that wisdom a lot starting out. I would routinely call or visit him for help. I’ve joked with him and Morris Wood that when it came to my faith, I said, “What would Jesus do?” When it came to pastoring, I asked, “What would Bill or Morris do?”
Fran Miranda was a member here for many years after I became pastor. She had great big glasses and the most wonderful, warm facial expressions. She was brilliant, spiritual, and full of love to offer. She was 79 or 80 when she volunteered to do the kids program once a month. But the next week, she said it might not be a good idea cause once and 80-year-old gets down in the floor, getting up becomes a problem.
Nancy Chapman was one of the most full of life people you could meet, and she never met a stranger. Her family talked of her love and her faith all throughout her life. Our own Regional Minister remembered her as the person at her church in Waycross who was excited with every new plan and ministry they could think of, and said, “Let’s try it!” And there’s Doris McFarling. I need only look to my right or down in front of me to know the indelible mark of love and grace that “Doe” left on her family in her grandchildren. Her love, her kindness, and her unlimited supply of grace for others will live on in their lives for generations.
In the saints of the church both living here and living out their reward, we see the power of this idea of someone recognizing, “I have heard of your faith.” I fear, though, these days that as churches shrink, members dwindle, and ministries close all over the country, the idea of that phrase will change. People may soon end up saying, “I have heard of your faith,” as if it is a distant memory. Keeping the flame of faith’s hope alive is a hard task. And the decline of the church into a distant memory would leave a void little else could fill.
The life and work of faith is done by those who live it. The vastness of God’s love is lived and known from those who believe and show it daily. The same Paul who wrote here: “I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him,” also wrote what that power was in one of his last works of Romans. Paul wrote, “For God so loved the world,” just very simply and plainly put We must continue to live up to that goal, so that our faith does not become a distant memory, so that others will know of this perfect love of God, and so that those who teach hateful things whether in this world or in our own churches do not win. For within us, we know the power of God’s redeeming love, and how that forgiveness and grace has changed us.
When doubts and struggles come to us, there are four saints with candles today who gave us wonderful examples. Many of us here also have our own example of loved ones still with us or gone one: a mother who brought smiles to everyone’s faces at her get-togethers; a father whose birthday is still honored 15-20 years after his death; the desire to build on a legacy left to do good work in the world. And, there are so many more. We are guided by our faith in God, but we are shaped by those who taught us, loved us, and showed us how to practice the faith we’ve come to believe.
At the end of the day, what matters most is that the legacy we leave with the faith we live. When people encounter us, they should feel the loving presence of Christ within us reaching out to love and encourage them along their way here. That’s the same work that these saints did for us. It’s hard when our parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and all who took part in shaping and raising us are gone. It’s hard when we eventually realize that we are the adult in the room. But I pray that as people meet us, much like our beloved saints of the church, we will also hear those words, “I have heard of your faith.” And I pray that the next thought is, “I want to know more.”
Worship Video: https://www.facebook.com/fccmacon/videos/485955739979405