Living And Walking By Faith

Living and Walking by Faith

Is.7:9 - When Ahaz, King of Judah was attacked by multiple countries God told him,

“If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” True then, true today!

Why is Faith so important to God?

Eph.2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.

Faith is just the conduit.

Heb.11:6 - without faith it is impossible to please God.

Rom.14:23 - everything that does not come from faith is sin.

2 Cor.5:7 - What does it mean to live by faith and not by sight?

If faith is so important to God, what really is faith?

Heb.11:1 - faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

If you’re sure of what you hope for you act on it (ex: I bought Erin an expensive ring because I was sure of my hope that she would be my wife).

If you’re certain of what you don’t yet see you act on it (ex: your debit card).

Faith is a life of action based on what you believe to be true.

Faith is not conjuring up enough feelings of anticipation to force God’s hand.

Faith is doing your part trusting God to do His part.

Jesus said, in Mt.17:20 - I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ’Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Do you think that kind of faith is possible?

So how do I get that kind of Faith?

Rom.12:3 - Each of us has been given a measure of faith. What does that mean?

You don’t get more but instead, grow what you have.

James 2:22 - Putting faith into action makes your faith complete.

2 Cor.10:15 - As you put your faith into action your faith will grow.

What happens when you don’t grow what you have?

What happens when you DO grow what you have?

How do you grow the faith God has given you?

Rom.10:17 - Faith comes from “hearing” God’s Word

The word “Hearing” - Greek Akoe (ak-o-ay’) - here has more meaning = Paul ex.

Not just hearing, but understanding - Word meant to be understood applicationally.

Grow faith by knowing and understanding God’s Word.

James 1:22 - Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Get in the Word, apply what God is teaching you.

What happens if you know and don’t do? (unbelief)

Know and do = faith.

That’s why Heb.4:2 says God’s Word, not combined with faith, is pointless.

That’s why James 2:26 says faith without works is dead.

Grow faith by applying God’s Word.

James 1:2-4 - As your faith grows, God will test you, and that process refines you making you who God wants you to be.

Grow faith by trusting Him through any and all circumstances.

How does God want you to grow the faith you have now?

Faith is so important to God because it develops relationship.

Intimacy requires trust, which is built incrementally through a series of small steps (ex. Dating).

A confident step of faith (no such thing as a leap, with Christ) develops trust in Him.

Faith’s biggest adversaries:

Fear - Believing circumstances, imaginations, expectations or statistics instead of God.

Pride - Believing myself over God.

Pride destroys faith because pride involves trusting myself which is the opposite of faith, which is trusting God.

A note about pride: false humility and arrogance are both pride and both a way of doubting God.

Unbelief - believing nothing of God or everything but God.

Tozer - “Unbelief is actually perverted faith, for it puts its trust not in the living God but in dying men.”

Defined - Believing and acting based on my and the world’s lies instead of God’s Truth in His Word.

Unbelief involves not believing God, His Word or that His way is best.

Unbelief is related to doubt: doubt dwelt on, not confronted and challenged.

2Cor.10:5 - “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

A doubt can be a positive catalyst to growth - doubting and unbelief aren’t.

What doubts have helped your faith grow?

What doubts have you let grow into unbelief?

Unbelief is a big deal - Here are a few ways it affects us.

Practically You lose.

Jn.10:10 a not b! - “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”