Only Believe: Faith that Overcomes Death and Doubt

Devotional

Day 1: Faith in the Face of Crisis

When life's most urgent needs arise, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and to let fear take root. This passage reminds us that even in the midst of desperate circumstances, a choice remains: to succumb to fear or to hold onto faith. It highlights that God's power is not diminished by our crises; rather, our faith is the key that unlocks His supernatural intervention. Trusting Him, even when the situation seems dire, is where miracles begin to unfold. [01:05:58]

Luke 8:49 (ESV)
While he was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying, “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the teacher anymore.”

Reflection: When faced with a situation that feels overwhelming, what is one specific fear that tries to grip your heart, and how can you intentionally choose to focus on God's promises instead?

Day 2: The Power of Believing "He Will"

We often acknowledge that God can do amazing things, but true faith goes a step further. It's the conviction that God will act on our behalf, even when circumstances suggest otherwise. This belief is not based on logic or evidence, but on the character and promises of God revealed in His Word. Embracing this deeper level of trust allows us to step into the miraculous power He offers. [01:03:31]

Luke 8:50 (ESV)
But when Jesus heard this, he answered him, “Do not be afraid, only believe, and she will be made well.”

Reflection: In what area of your life are you currently believing that God can help, and how can you shift your perspective to believe that He will bring about a breakthrough?

Day 3: Pushing Past Our Positions for God

Our own sense of status, pride, or ingrained beliefs can sometimes create barriers to experiencing God's power. This story shows a respected leader humbling himself, bowing at Jesus' feet despite potential social repercussions. It's a powerful reminder that when our need is great, we must be willing to set aside our personal positions and inhibitions to pursue God wholeheartedly. True faith often requires us to push past what feels comfortable or expected. [01:10:42]

Luke 8:41 (ESV)
And behold, there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus' feet, he implored him to come to his house.

Reflection: Consider a time when your own pride or a desire to maintain a certain image might have hindered you from fully engaging with God. What is one small step you can take this week to be more vulnerable and open with Him?

Day 4: Navigating God's Unconventional Timing

God's timing doesn't always align with our urgent needs or our understanding of priority. This narrative illustrates how Jesus paused to address one person's need, even as another faced a critical crisis. It teaches us that God is moved by faith, not just by urgency, and that His divine plan unfolds in ways we may not always comprehend. Trusting His timing, even when it feels delayed or out of order, is essential for receiving His best. [01:18:27]

Luke 8:44 (ESV)
She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

Reflection: Think about a situation where you've felt God's timing was not what you expected. How can you practice patience and trust in His plan, even when it feels slow or confusing?

Day 5: Overcoming the Obstacles to Faith

The journey of faith is often met with challenges, from negative reports to the unbelief of those around us. This passage reveals that even in the face of death and ridicule, Jesus offered a powerful command: "Do not be afraid. Only believe." This is not a passive suggestion but a vital choice. We are called to actively combat doubt and fear, choosing to anchor our hope in God's unwavering promises, no matter the circumstances. [01:22:38]

Luke 8:50 (ESV)
But when Jesus heard this, he answered him, “Do not be afraid, only believe, and she will be made well.”

Reflection: When you receive news that contradicts what you are believing God for, what is your immediate internal response, and how can you consciously choose to speak words of faith and encouragement to yourself?

Sermon Summary

When Jesus meets two desperate stories in Luke 8 — Jairus, a synagogue leader begging for his dying daughter, and a woman who had suffered a bleeding condition for twelve years — heaven’s priority shows itself through faith rather than human urgency. The narrative frames faith as an active decision under pressure: Jairus must press past social status, impatient timing, competing testimonies, and ridicule to keep an atmosphere of faith around his request. The healing of the woman, achieved by her bold touch of Jesus’ garment, interrupts urgency and models faith that perceives power leave Jesus; her testimony strengthens, not diminishes, Jairus’s claim because Jesus points to faith as the decisive factor that activates God’s power.

The sermon insists that miracles are not random but happen where faith perseveres. Faith is portrayed not merely as intellectual assent to what God can do, but as an expectant trust that He will act — even when circumstances scream otherwise. The account exposes common barriers that erode belief: position and pride that constrain desperate prayer, human timing that misunderstands God’s economy, negative reports that demand a choice between fear and trust, and public unbelief that ridicules hope. The remedy offered is practical: cultivate an atmosphere of faith, surround oneself with committed believers, refuse to yield to fear when facts appear final, and return to the hunger of a new convert who still believes everything is possible.

Toward the close, a pastoral invitation presses urgency for faith renewed: unbelief can be confessed and healed; those who long for revival are encouraged to “come and meet” for a deeper encounter; and those not yet reconciled to God are invited to receive Christ. The conviction is strong and pastoral: resurrection power remains available, and faith that chooses God’s word over discouraging reports will find Jesus willing to come where faith leads.

Key Takeaways

1. Faith trusts that God will act Faith is more than acknowledging God’s ability; it is staking one’s present hope on His promise to intervene. When circumstances deliver bad news, faith chooses the word of God as the governing reality and refuses to reorganize identity around loss. This posture produces an expectancy that shapes behavior, prayer, and endurance rather than panic. [63:01]
2. Protect an atmosphere of faith Faith is not merely private sentiment but an environment to be guarded — in homes, workplaces, and congregations — because unbelief spreads quickly. Maintaining an atmosphere of faith involves resisting cynicism, choosing persistent praise, and creating space where testimonies can be spoken without comparison or envy. That environment invites God’s presence and allows ordinary moments to become openings for the miraculous. [66:43]
3. Choose belief over fearful reports When the natural report conflicts with God’s word, a decisive choice is required: fear or belief. Holding both simultaneously robs faith of its power; believing God requires silencing the louder, plausible report and obeying the divine word instead. This discipline trains the heart to live by promise rather than by the instability of circumstance. [82:10]
4. Surround yourself with faith people Spiritual breakthroughs are often reinforced by companions who carry faith, zeal, and intimacy with God. Choosing a company of believers like Peter, James, and John means inviting faith that catalyzes courage, not doubt, when stakes are high. Such community strengthens resolve, provides practical prayer, and resists the isolating effect of discouragement. [85:36]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[59:25] - Transition to Scripture (Luke 8)
[60:22] - Jairus and the Dying Daughter (Luke 8:40)
[61:33] - Woman Healed by Touching Jesus
[63:01] - Faith: God Who Will Act
[68:39] - Four Obstacles To Faith Introduced
[69:02] - Pushing Past Position and Pride
[75:34] - God’s Timing vs Human Urgency
[82:10] - “Do Not Be Afraid; Only Believe”
[92:59] - Pray Against Unbelief; Night of Fire
[100:26] - Altar Call and Response
[103:28] - Next Steps and Invitation to Return

Bible Study Guide

Here is a Bible study guide based on the sermon summary:

Bible Reading

Luke 8:40-56 (ESV)
> 40 Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. 41 And there came a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader. He fell at Jesus' feet and begged him to come to his house, 42 for he had only one daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As Jesus went, the crowds almost crushed him.
>
> 43 And a woman, who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and had spent all her living on physicians, and could not be healed by any, 44 came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her flow of blood stopped. 45 And Jesus said, “Who touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and press in on you!” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I sensed power going out from me.” 47 And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. 48 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
>
> 49 While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler of the synagogue’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the teacher anymore.” 50 But when Jesus heard this, he said to Jairus, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” 51 When he came to the house, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, and John, and James, and the father and mother of the girl. 52 And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” 53 And they ridiculed him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he took her by the hand and said, “Rise, my child.” 55 And her spirit returned, and she instantly rose. And he ordered that she be given something to eat. 56 And her parents were astonished, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.

Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)
> Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Isaiah 53:1 (ESV)
> Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

Observation questions

Jairus, a synagogue leader, begged Jesus to come to his house for his dying daughter. What social or personal barriers might Jairus have had to overcome to approach Jesus in such a public way? [01:09:02]
The woman with the bleeding condition had suffered for twelve years and spent all her money on physicians. What does her action of touching Jesus’ garment reveal about her understanding of Jesus and his power? [01:01:33]
When Jesus heard that Jairus’ daughter had died, he told Jairus, “Do not fear; only believe.” What does this instruction suggest about the relationship between fear and belief in the face of overwhelming circumstances? [01:22:10]
The sermon mentions that Jairus had to wrestle with "God's timing" and that Jesus stopped to heal the woman. How did this interruption potentially challenge Jairus's urgency and his understanding of God's priorities? [01:15:59]
The passage states that when Jesus arrived at the house, he said the girl was "sleeping," and the people "ridiculed him." What does this reaction from the crowd reveal about the prevailing atmosphere of unbelief? [01:02:11]

Interpretation questions

The sermon highlights that faith is not just believing God *can* do something, but believing God *will* act. How does the woman’s healing and Jairus’ daughter’s resurrection demonstrate this active, expectant trust, even when circumstances screamed otherwise? [01:03:01]
The sermon suggests that miracles are not random but happen where faith perseveres. Considering Jairus’s journey, what does it mean to "fight to keep an atmosphere of faith around his life" when facing crisis? [01:06:43]
The sermon identifies four obstacles to faith: position, timing, negative reports, and unbelief. How do these obstacles, as seen in Jairus's story, represent common challenges that can erode our belief today? [01:08:39]
The sermon emphasizes that "faith chooses the word of God as the governing reality and refuses to reorganize identity around loss." How did Jairus have to make this choice when he received the report that his daughter was dead, and how did Jesus’ response guide him? [01:22:10]
The sermon notes that Jesus brought Peter, James, and John into the room where he raised the girl. What might be the significance of surrounding oneself with specific kinds of believers when facing significant challenges? [01:25:36]

Application questions

The sermon stresses that faith trusts that God will act, even when circumstances deliver bad news. When have you faced a situation where the natural report conflicted with God’s word, and how did you choose between fear and belief? [01:22:10]
We are encouraged to protect an atmosphere of faith in our homes, workplaces, and congregations. What are some practical ways you can actively cultivate and guard an atmosphere of faith in your daily life, resisting cynicism and choosing persistent praise? [01:06:43]
The sermon points out that Jairus had to push past his position and pride to seek Jesus. What personal pride or social inhibitions might be holding you back from fully expressing your faith or seeking God in desperate times? [01:09:02]
The sermon highlights that Jesus is not moved by human urgency but by faith. How can you shift your focus from the urgency of your circumstances to the power of your faith, trusting that God’s timing is perfect and His power is sufficient? [01:18:27]
The sermon challenges us to choose belief over fearful reports, stating that holding both simultaneously robs faith of its power. What specific fearful report are you currently facing, and how can you actively silence it by choosing to believe God’s word instead? [01:22:10]
The sermon encourages us to surround ourselves with people who carry faith, zeal, and intimacy with God. Who are the "Peter, James, and John" figures in your life, and how can you intentionally lean on their faith and support when your own resolve is tested? [01:25:36]
The sermon invites those who long for revival to "come and meet" for a deeper encounter, and those not yet reconciled to God to receive Christ. If you feel a hunger for a renewed faith or a fresh encounter with God, what is one tangible step you can take this week to pursue that? [01:32:59]

Sermon Clips

``and that was a negative report. Bible says, well, Jesus was still speaking. Servants from the house said, master, stop troubling the teacher. Other translations, stop troubling the master. She's gone. I love that Jesus is celebrating one miracle, but he's so aware. He turns around. He he didn't say, oh, no. They're wrong. But he simply said, he said, don't be afraid. He grabbed I don't know if he grabbed him. Don't be afraid. Only believe. Don't don't be afraid. Only believe. [01:21:58] (43 seconds) #OnlyBelieve

Excuse me, Jesus. Nice to meet you. I'm a bit of a significant person in my community. My daughter's not, you know, it's actually a big honor for you to be invited to my house. Would you come? He just said, I need a miracle. I love that he was willing to do it, and the bible says Jesus went with him. Faith will always let me try that again. Jesus will always go where faith takes him. If there's faith, Jesus will follow faith. And and so he had to push past his position. [01:15:23] (26 seconds) #FaithLeadsJesus

He he gets told, you you you your daughter's your daughter's passed, man. It's it's not gonna happen. And Jesus jumps in. He says, have faith only. Believe in and and Jairus, right there, he had a choice to make. Am I am I gonna give up or am I gonna trust this Jesus, and am I gonna stay in faith? I I have discovered that when trials come, the best thing that we can do is even when it doesn't make sense, stay in faith. [01:05:40] (27 seconds) #StayFaithInTrials

and so let me say this. If you're dealing with something insignificant or significant, god's not looking at it. Okay. I I I'm gonna come back and sort out your car problem on Tuesday because right now, I I got somebody dealing with something that that that's a major concern. So you wait. I'm gonna deal with this first. No. No. He he's just dealing with faith, and and to him, he can meet any need. He doesn't run out of power. And so he he's getting ready to do something right there for her. In terms of natural priorities, it's upside down. But the whole realm of faith is upside down. [01:18:37] (34 seconds) #FaithUpsideDown

he had to fight to keep an atmosphere of faith around his life. And I I wanna encourage you whether the situation's dire or whether you're in a season of blessing, I believe it's so important for us as believers to keep an atmosphere of faith in our home, in our family, in our business. Some of us jump into faith when there's a problem, but you we should stay in faith in seasons of victory and blessing. [01:07:00] (23 seconds) #AtmosphereOfFaith

then we have to we have to doubt our doubts and go, no. He he he he had two reports right there. He had the report from the house, the real report, the facts. But then he had the report. And in this case, he had a word from God. There there will be times when our faith is tested that are we gonna trust what we're hearing in the natural, or are we gonna believe what god's word says in that situation? That's not an easy thing. [01:23:13] (34 seconds) #DoubtYourDoubts

He's not even game to necessarily tell anyone that knows him too well from around here, so he just rings me. I wanna be the guy that'll go, oh, that's terrific. Even if it goes down in flames, I'm with him. I'm I'm I'm all in. I wanna be the kind of guy that somebody can ring and go, hey. I had a big decision to make. I don't know how this is gonna happen. Without god, we're sunk. What do we do? Come on. Let's believe god together. Let's go after it. I wanna be I wanna be the person that somebody rings when when when sickness hits their family and goes, hey. I I've been told something terrible. What do you what I don't know I don't know what to do. I wanna be the guy that goes, we're gonna believe God. We're gonna we're gonna pray the prayer of faith. I can assure you, I'm I'm a pastor. I don't do a hospital I do hospital visits all the time, but I won't do a hospital visit and just pray some kind of, oh, Lord. [01:28:44] (45 seconds) #BeTheEncourager

God spoke to me and said, you need to get on the plane. Don't worry about going to Sunday night church. Get on the plane. Fly to Melbourne. God's gonna do something. I went to the meeting. I came hungry. I wasn't coming as a pastor. I just came hungry. And I said to pastor Russell, said, I feel like god wants to do something in my heart. He never engineered anything. Nathan basically stopped ministering. And just as he's went to leave, he goes, brother from Adelaide, lays his hands on me. The power of god touches me. I felt I felt that thing just leave my life. And and I wanna tell you, you I'm not an expert on anything. I just knew I had a challenge, and I needed to get to an atmosphere of faith. [01:31:25] (37 seconds) #GoWhereFaithIs

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Only Believe: Faith that Overcomes Death and Doubt

Devotional

Day 1: Faith in the Face of Crisis

Day 2: The Power of Believing "He Will"

Day 3: Pushing Past Our Positions for God

Day 4: Navigating God's Unconventional Timing

Day 5: Overcoming the Obstacles to Faith

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Only Believe: Faith that Overcomes Death and Doubt

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