Faith Beyond Boundaries

by Rev. James Wong

There is a story about a super market that sells human brains. All kinds of brains are available except with different price tags. There is a brain that is new and beautiful but very cheap. It is cheap because this brain is seldom used. There is another brain on one shelf that cost a fortune and the reason being that it is a brain that has been used extensively, stretched to the limits of its usefulness. It was an inventor’s brain. Yet, there is another brain which is the most expensive of all. It is a brain that is not only well used but it is made up of ‘faith’ cells all over it; full of imagination and a vision into the future of hope and endless possibilities. It is a brain that is connected to the invisible power of God.

The brain is the residence of reasoning, memory, imagination, visualization, creativity, thoughts, attitudes, faith and emotion. The greatest discovery is that we can choose our thoughts, therefore our actions. Our mind can develop patterns of thinking and finally it forms its own habit. Habit dies hard. The habit of thinking thoughts of fear and doubts eventually undermine our potential whereas thoughts of faith can bring us beyond the boundaries of lack and limitations.

A life of lack and misery can develop a scarcity mentality in us. Although we claim to have faith in God we are seldom able to live a life that is governed by thoughts of faith in our daily living. Thoughts of possibilities are undermined by the constraints of the present. Vision into the future are clouded by the negative circumstances of the present. The power for living is negated by doubts and unfavorable experiences. The future is held hostage and crippled by the failures of the past. We stunt our own progress and the progress of those over whom we have influence and control.

‘Thinking outside the box’, a phrase that is commonly used in the business environments, is to think differently, unconventionally or from a new perspective. This phrase often refers to novel, creative and smart thinking. Faith thinking is more significant than thinking outside the box or positive thinking. It is not simply searching for an answer to some life problems but it is a transformation of the habit of the mind, creating a new pattern of thoughts that is fueled by faith in the omnipotent God. The mind is taught a new inner voice that affirms “with man this is impossible but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

Faith in the living God liberates the soul from captivity. The potential of the future can only be realized by a change of thinking. When we learn to live by faith in God we move beyond our human limitations and see a whole new world of possibilities lay bare before us. “I cannot do it’ becomes “I can do everything through him who gives me strength’ (Phil 4:13). How would you handle a problem that your 8 months salary would not be able to solve? How would five loaves and two fishes be the solution? That is the focus of the sermon this Sunday.