What Happens When You Use Faith Wrong? | Bobby Schuller | Podcast Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

What Happens When You Use Faith Wrong?

Shepherd's Grove • Jun 19, 2025 • 20 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

In this message, Pastor Bobby Schuller addresses critical misconceptions about faith, sickness, self-help, and forgiveness. He explains that sickness is not God's punishment or will for believers, but an opportunity to exercise Christ's authority to heal. Moreover, true faith requires total submission to Jesus, warning against secular self-help manifestation practices while encouraging believers to walk in verbal forgiveness, holy authority, and unified fellowship at the Lord's table.

Themes

Healing and Divine WillKingdom Tribulation vs Physical SicknessBiblical Faith vs Self-Help ManipulationVerbal ForgivenessSacramental Communion

Key Points

1.
Sickness is not sent by God as punishment or a generational curse, but serves as an opportunity for God's healing power to be displayed (John 9:3).
2.
Kingdom tribulations refer to enduring social rejection, persecution, and self-sacrifice for the gospel, not physical sickness (Acts 14:22).
3.
Believers are given active authority in Christ to heal the sick and rebuke demonic affliction rather than accepting illness as God's will.
4.
Popular self-help manifestos like "The Secret" hijack biblical faith principles while excluding Jesus, turning faith into self-serving manipulation and witchcraft.
5.
Unforgiveness blocks God's abundance and spiritual freedom in a believer's life, whereas choosing to forgive releases divine debt (Mark 11:25).
6.
Biblical forgiveness is a decision to tear up another person's emotional IOU, regardless of whether your feelings or affection align right away.
7.
Taking communion "unworthily" in scripture addresses creating division and showing favoritism toward the wealthy in the church, not personal moral perfection (1 Corinthians 11:27-29).
8.
Communion is a sacred participation in Christ's grace and spiritual nourishment, mirroring how Israel partook of the Passover lamb.

Sermon Moments

“"The only reason in the Old Testament that God would make someone sick is to punish them. But today we believe that because of Jesus Christ and the covering of the blood that people are not punished by God with sickness."”

“"The hard times is not sickness. The hard times is things like discipline, self-sacrifice, serving others, that type of thing."”

“"If nobody has ever gotten upset at something you've said or done for the gospel, you're probably a little bit ashamed of the gospel."”

“"Taking a Christian principle which is to believe something by faith... and then removing Jesus from it... is actually demonic because you're trying to manifest and manipulate nature and life using biblical principles without the Lord."”

“"Unforgiveness puts up a huge wall against God... If you tear up your IOUs, God tears up His IOUs."”

“"We don't want to be feelings and emotions led. We don't want to be thought-led. We want to be word-led. So say it aloud."”

“"Taking communion unworthily was not about needing weeks of good behavior—it was about Paul confronting favoritism towards the rich over the poor in the church."”

This Week

Speak declarations of healing over your body and others using kingdom authority, refusing to view physical illness as a punishment from God.

Endure social rejection or opposition with grace, recognizing that persecution for Christ's sake is part of walking the narrow road.

Examine your reading material and spiritual practices, discarding any self-help philosophies or "manifestation" methods that exclude submission to Jesus.

Identify anyone you harbor bitterness toward and verbally declare aloud: "I forgive them and release their debt, in Jesus' name."

Rely on God's Word rather than fluctuating emotions when choosing to obey Him in forgiveness and prayer.

Approach the Lord's Table with intentional self-examination and equal love for all believers, rejecting favoritism or division within the body.

Teach children in your care the sacred meaning of communion so they can participate in Christ's grace with understanding.

Remember This

True biblical faith requires submitting to Jesus Christ and walking in His authority, forgiveness, and truth, rather than manipulating spiritual principles for self-serving desires.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.