As leader of Today’s Community Church, I am a strong advocate of creating environments that look good, feel good, smell good, sound good, and taste good. I believe that, as a new breed Church, we need to intentionally design experiences that appeal to the five senses. I am a strong advocate of this, believing that everything we say, and everything we do, sends out a strong message of who we are. But, if this important emphasis is placed on the senses, we must ask the question, how easy it is it for feelings to override faith? This is a subtle challenge of which we all need to be aware.
I am reminded in Hebrews 11 that we build by faith – not feelings.

   “by faith Noah… built an ark”
    Hebrews 11:7

Noah must have felt all kinds of things during that process - from the blisters that covered his hands and the ridicule of many a passer-by, right through to the celebration of his achievement. His experience engaged all his senses and was, I suppose, an emotional roller coaster. However, everyday he got up, packed his toolbox and went off to work, by faith – even when he didn’t feel like it! He did this, day after day, month after month, year after year, decade after decade, until he saw the full manifestation of what he believed for.

By faith Abraham birthed Isaac with Sarah in old age, according to the promises of God (Hebrews 11:11). By feelings, the option of Hagar appealed to all of Abraham’s senses. She looked better, smelt better and probably tasted better – and the idea certainly sounded better. Abraham felt he could help God out here.
But this deal had to go a whole lot further then feelings, and be brought about by faith.

So many Christians are motivated and directed by their feelings. A clear message needs to be voiced that, whilst feelings are part of a wholesome life, they are not a directive for life. We walk by faith and not by our feelings!

Vision Carrier, when you feel like it’s not going to happen; Leader, when your people do not feel like worshipping this week; Individual, when you feel like you’ve had enough; walk by faith!

Therefore, I will pick up my bucket of nails and my hammer in the morning, and I will build the ark that God has called me to build – whether I feel like it, or not. I will continue to do this the following day, and the next day. I will do this by faith, until I see the full manifestation of what God said.

I challenge you to do the same.