Go! And Take The First Step Of Faith Series

Go! And Take the First Step of Faith

Opening Prayer

Gracious Father,

As we gather around Your Word, we ask that You ignite our faith. Help us to trust You even when we cannot see what’s ahead. Speak clearly today. Challenge our comfort. Confront our fears. Convince us to step forward in obedience and confidence in Your Son, our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Introduction: A Step into the Unknown

Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”

This powerful image of faith reminds us that God rarely reveals the full journey. But He always calls us to step forward.

When God calls you, He doesn’t hand you a map—He offers you His hand.

Today, we’re going to explore what it means to Go! And take the first step of faith, especially when the path is unclear. We’ll examine the journey of faith that begins with trusting God’s promises, continues with obedient action, and culminates in a Gospel-transformed life.

Point 1: Faith Begins with Trusting God’s Word

Hebrews 11:1 (NLT): "Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see."

This verse sets the tone for everything we will explore. Faith is not blind—it is anchored in the reality and evidence of God’s promises, even when they’re invisible to human sight.

The Greek word for faith is p?st?? (pistis)—which means a firm conviction or trust. It is active and relational, rooted in confidence in God’s nature and His Word.

Romans 10:17 (NLT): “So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.”

Faith doesn’t grow from guesswork. It grows from the Gospel—the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. His Word gives substance to our hope.

R.T. Kendall: “Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation.”

I love how Kendall clarifies this—faith is not irrational; it is radical trust. When God speaks, we believe—not because we understand everything, but because we trust Him.

Don’t wait to understand before you obey. Step forward on the truth of God’s Word.

Trust the Bible, even when the circumstances around you scream otherwise.

Point 2: Faith Often Requires Stepping Before Seeing

Genesis 12:1–4 (NLT): "The Lord had said to Abram, 'Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.' … So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed…"

Abram didn’t know the destination. All he had was a command and a promise.

“Go” in Hebrew is ????-???? (lekh-lekha) – it literally means “Go for yourself” or “Go forth”. It implies movement for your benefit—God is inviting Abram into a better future.

Foggy Journey:

Imagine walking a path on a foggy morning. You can only see one step ahead. But with each step, the path is revealed. That’s what walking by faith looks like.

Max Lucado: “God never said the journey would be easy, but He did say the arrival would be worthwhile.”

When Max says that, he reminds us: God doesn’t promise clarity, but He always promises His presence and His purpose.

Is God calling you to take a step—into ministry, forgiveness, generosity, evangelism—but you’re frozen by uncertainty?

Take the first step. God will meet you there.

Point 3: Faith Means Obeying Even When It’s Costly

Matthew 14:28–29 (NLT): "Then Peter called to him, 'Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.' 'Yes, come,' Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus."

Peter walked—literally—by faith. It wasn’t about the water. It was about Jesus.

The word for “come” is ????? (erchou)—a present imperative. A command to come now, without hesitation.

Peter didn’t need the sea to become calm. He needed Jesus to call him—and that was enough.

John Piper: “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”

When our satisfaction is in Christ, not our comfort, we’ll step out of the boat—even onto stormy waters—because we know He is enough.

The Firefighter’s Leap:

A firefighter once shouted to a trapped child, “Jump—I will catch you!” The child couldn’t see him through the smoke. “I can’t see you!” the boy cried. “But I can see you,” the firefighter said, “and that’s all that matters.”

That’s faith. We jump because He sees.

Faith means obeying even when it's uncomfortable.

Don’t let fear silence the voice of God’s calling.

Point 4: The Greatest Step of Faith Is Trusting in Christ for Salvation

Ephesians 2:8–9 (NLT): "God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done…"