Resource Five - Faith
Notes
Transcript
A sober mind
A pure heart
A courageous spirit
Wisdom
We need to relate to God on His terms. Process that requires us to act in faith.
The God of all creation - He has a path for you!
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
I have 100% of God’s attention
God’s eye is on me
God’s clear guidance as long as I’m leadable, teachable, and guidable
Be ye not as the horse, Or as the mule, which have no understanding: Whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, Lest they come near unto thee.
Be ready to respond
This is a relationship of faith
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Decisions without faith will not be made right
Starts with “I Believe” - this is not experiential or sensory
God is not hiding, He wants to be found - He responds to our “leaning our understanding” towards Him
He answers, He reveals, His blessing
Faith is the nature of our relationship with God
Ps 34:8
O taste and see that the Lord is good: Blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
No force - invites us
Ps 34:22
The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: And none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.
This is a process
We want to see everything before we step out in faith
God says, Believe me and I’ll show you.
God wants us to decide and then see.
Faith doesn’t work by sight. Faith is trusting God when I cannot see the outcomes or even how this will work out.
Even when things don’t make sense.
Abraham - pack your stuff up and go
Follow me
Children - sand as the seashore
They continued doing what God had instructed until God directed otherwise
Lazarus - move the stone
Jesus knew the outcomes, but gave them the next step
Trust that I have your best interest at heart
Faith fulfills God’s eternal purposes
1 Pet 5:4
And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Jam 1:12
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
2 Tim 4:8
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Lu 18:8
I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Lu 7:9
When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
Mark 6:6
And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.
Faith is the preeminent concern of God when it comes to planet earth
All that God has planned for eternity hinges on the decisions of faith we make
Somehow God unfolds all that He plans according to matters of faith we decide
This speaks to our all-knowing God Who knows what we will do and what will happen, and yet leads us to decisions of faith to help us see His plan unfold
He is a rewarder - Not selfishly, but rather like the smile of God
Intelligent faith not blind faith
Smart faith not dumb faith
God builds our faith
Muscle
Faith is often mistaught and misunderstood
There’s a lot of bad theology about faith
Like it’s a Genie in a lamp
If I buy the handkerchief that that man’s prayers for the £20 then this disease will suddenly be healed
Teaching that states I’m not here to serve God or follow Him, but rather God is here to serve me
Arrogant
Proud
Better sense than what God would
I know more than God does
I have a greater plan
Take good desires that we hijack - force it and God you must do this
Examples:
Pray in faith God will heal
Crushed in my own sense - or disappointed in God
Faith is believing and trusting God regardless of the outcomes
Job - though He slay me yet will I trust Him
Shadrach - We will not bow, but if not
Faith is trusting God no matter the outcome
Faith is stepping forward with no guarantees
If I obey, I trust You even if that makes life harder
Lu 1:38
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Let it unfold the way You determine. Faith is trusting God no matter what He does.
Trusting God when God doesn’t make sense
Moses go to Pharoah - Let my people go - Pharoah will say no
Ex 4:21
And the Lord said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.
God’s plan often kills our plans
Often goes against human math
Abraham - Isaac - go kill Isaac and sacrifice him
Abraham trusted God
Wait, what?! That is way different than I envisioned or dreamed.
God responds to real expressions of faith
Heb 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Trust and God rewards
You step and God shows the next step
He moves in ways that brings glory to God
Faith always brings God’s best rewards.
God calls a play that doesn’t make sense, but faith leads to right decisions