Swing Your Swing

 

I’ve had a bad swing for a long time.  For the first eleven years could not break 100. I quit for 5 years. The first time I watched my swing on video I was shocked. In my mind I swung like Jack Nicklaus, in the video I swung like Charles Barkley!

 

My Swing has gotten better over the years and I will tell you something that has encouraged me; That commercial- I know you have all seen it, voiced over by Arnold Palmer.  He says; 

 

“Swing your swing; not a swing you saw on TV, Not that swing you wish you had. No, swing your swing! Capable of Greatness, Prized only by you; Perfect in its imperfection.  Swing Your Swing.  I did.”

 

No I do not want to talk about your swing, other than to recognize that all of us have a unique swing. No, I want to talk for a minute about your Faith, the Belief you have in Jesus. I want us to recognize that for each of us, our faith is as unique and changing as our golf swing. Someone’s faith is weaker than others, some stronger; But it is your Faith.   If I can play off the words of that commercial, encourage you tonight to; 

 

“Live  Your Faith.  Not a faith you saw in some preacher on TV. ; Not that Faith you wish you had. No, Live your Faith. Capable of Greatness, Prized only by you.  Perfect in its imperfection.  Live your faith.  I do. "

 

I want to say a few words about Your Faith and My faith;

1. It is Capable of Greatness 
Faith can do great things because it is built on the greatness of God as revealed to us in His word; Which is the main source of our Faith. Faith puts God in Charge!

With God in Charge why wouldn’t great things happen? 

•     “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” Rom 10:17. The scriptures are the foundation on which our Faith is built. 
•    Think about this: everything you know about Jesus, God, Salvation, came from the Holy Scriptures. (2 Tim 3:16,17)
 

The scriptures are under attack by the world.  Sadly they are also under attack by some Christian groups. There is a lack of regard for what the scriptures teach.  No wonder Faith is waning in our nation. 

I believe in the scriptures because Jesus believed in the scriptures and I believe in Jesus.

 
•     He believed the story of Noah (Luke 17:26,27). How can someone say that they have faith in Jesus but do not believe the story of Noah?  
•    He believed that God created the world in “the beginning”(Mk. 13:19.) How can you believe in Evolution and believe in Jesus?
•    In speaking of the marriage Jesus said, “from the beginning made them male and female” (Matt. 19:4) Jesus believed that marriage was between a man and a woman. 
•    He quoted the Psalms of David, and the writings of Isaiah. Jesus never belittled scripture, but scolded the Sadducees, “You do err,” he said, “not knowing the scriptures” (Matthew 22:29). Jesus knew the scriptures and quoted from the Old Testament 78 times in the Gospels. 
•    I believe Jesus died on the cross for my sins.  I believe he arose on the third day, because Jesus said he would do these things. 

 

I do not believe in university professors, or television preachers, or scientists and their theories, or men and their creeds, or Muhammad or Buddha. I do not believe in my own conscience or wisdom.  I believe in the word of God, and the Christ that is revealed in that word.  And…

 

I believe in Jesus, I really do! Our Faith is capable of Greatness because it connects us to God through His word.

2. Prized Only by You

Faith is a personal thing.  You can no more be saved by the Faith of someone else, than you can play a round of golf with Tiger Woods swing. 

 

Your Faith is prized only by you, only you know how your faith has grown, and what demons you have overcome.  When you standing in your church on a Sunday morning and you are singing praises to God, you sit back down in that pew and a little smile crosses your lips, because only you know how far you have come- how Faith has changed your life- a faith prized only by you. 

 

You play in the USCGA, not because of the golf,  but really, because of your Faith. Be proud of your Faith. And how far you have come.

 
3. Perfect in its Imperfection

You do not have to have perfect faith to accomplish some great things for God! 

 

I hate to break this to you, but Some of you have really bad golf swings.  I know, I‘ve seen them, But guess what, many of those swings still beat me at every tournament. They are “perfect in their imperfections.”  

•    Our faith is the same way.  I am sure all of us doubt our faith at times, and feel that our faith is very weak at times. But it still can accomplish some great things. Even though imperfect- “It is capable of Greatness”! 
•    Even a little Faith can do great things; To the Apostles: “Truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, move from here to there, and it will move, and nothing will be impossible to you.” (Matt. 17:20).
•    A Faith that is haunted by doubt is capable of Greatness;   “He Said to Jesus” If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us!”  And Jesus said to him “If you can?  All things are possible to him who believes.“And immediately the boy’s father cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help my unbelief."—Mark 9:24.
•    Well, his faith must have been perfect in its imperfections, because Jesus healed his little boy. 

 

All of us deal with unbelief!  Thomas doubted, but his faith still brought him to the upper room that second Sunday Morning.   Every Christian has a consciousness of our his or her present feebleness. "Yes," one may say, "I trust the past is blotted out, but then how can I know that I am saved? OH I BELIEVE, HELP MY UNBELIEF! 

 

“I try to pray, But then I realize I have gone a week without praying. I say I am not going to miss church again, then I stay out late  Saturday night and don’t get up Sunday morning.  OH I BELIEVE, HELP MY UNBELIEF!

 

“I was tempted yesterday, and I gave in to that temptation.  I said something I should not have said, I did not defend the cause of my Lord and Master against that skeptic as I ought to have. I say I am a save person, washed by the blood of the lamb, but why am I behaving like this?  I BELIEVE, HELP MY UNBELIEF!” 

 

Some unbelief ALWAYS lingers, but  faith always reigns supreme. Understand that a measure of doubt is consistent with saving faith; that weak faith is true faith, and a trembling faith will save the soul. 

 

Conclusion;  There are different views regarding salvation. My view probably differs from yours. But make sure you get your nose in the book, and you study it, and learn for yourself what God wants you to do to be saved. (See Phil. 2:12,13).  

 

And then, “Swing your swing- Live your Faith- Capable of Greatness-Prized only by you, perfect in its imperfection! Live Your Faith!” 

 

by: Dennis Doughty, Pastor

Tunica Church of Christ, Tunica, MS