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.”
At an even bigger level eternity and others lose.
Rom.10:13-14 - “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
Ultimately God loses (Really)!!!
Mt.13:58 - Unbelief hindered God’s work
Doubt comes from:
Satan: John 8:44 - Satan is the father of lies.
The World: 1 Jn.2:15-17 - “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”
My heart: Jer.17:9 - “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”
And, again, not applying God’s Word.
If I don’t destroy it, Heb.3:13 says I will be deceived and sin will harden me.
Destroy unbelief and don’t let it grow back (weed analogy).
1st, Persevere through it!
Learn to recognize it - Get in Word!
Walk by faith, building your faith by knowing and applying God’s Word!!!
Pray God will help you with your unbelief -
Mk.9:17-27 - Father of demon posed boy asks Jesus, “if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” Jesus replies, “If you can’?" “Everything is possible for him who believes.” The Father then replies, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
Do these Holy Spirit’s power.
The Holy Spirit empowers me to radically believe and obey God.
We don’t have to let unbelief kill us -
What lies does our culture try to make us believe?
What is the result for us and for God?
Evangelism: Confront evangelism lies again.
Earn right to be heard..., they don’t care how much you know..., friends first..., use words if necessary...,
What is the result when we believe these lies?
The Truth!!! Harvest ripe, all being drawn (Mt.9:37, Jn.12:32-33).
Depravity is evidence of searching.
2 Tim.4:5 - Discharge the duties of your ministry, do the work of an evangelist.
So where, when and how do we start?
Lk.16:10 - Faithful with little.
1 Cor. 4:2 - read.
The Big Idea: Be faithful with little FOR THE SAKE OF THE LITTLE.
Faithful with little for the sake of the little means that the little is not a stepping stone to the big.
1 Cor.7:17 - remain where God has put you, 1 Cor.10:31, Col.3:23 working steadfastly as unto the Lord, not men.
1 Sam.16:14-23 - Erin - v.13 anointed, I don’t need to open my own doors.
ASK: What is the little we’re called to be faithful with?
Fellowship with Him (prayer and Word), Wife and fam, fellowship (action oriented) with other believers, GC (Mt.28:18-20 - third greatest command...), specifically evangelism (2 Tim.4:5), prayer (Jer.10:21, 12:10-11 - When leaders are “senseless” and don’t inquire of the Lord, the fail and their flocks are scattered, and because they don’t care, they trample down God’s work, making it a desolate and parched wasteland) and the Word (Acts 6:4), serving others (Mt.20:25-28, least...), integrity, honesty, humility, support...
ASK: What does faithfulness with little for the sake of the little practically look like.
ASK: What are the results of faithfulness with little for the sake of the little?
I learn what God wants me to (I don’t miss it), I become who He wants me to be, Expectations don’t deceive me, my confidence in Him is built, trust in Christ and the corresponding intimacy are developed, joy, passion (Rom.12:11), hope and perseverance in ministry (1 Thes.1:3), capable of more later (Wineskins - Mt.9:17, Mk.2:22, Lk.5:37-38)
Mt.25:14-30 - Parable of the talents.
Examples of being faithful with little for the sake of the little:
A bad example: Numbers 20:7-12
Moses had only very little to be faithful with here (speak to the rock): Instead of being faithful with little he tried to force God’s hand, he tried to reproduce past results (Ex.17:1-7), he did things his way, he was reactive not proactive, he operated out of pride and anger not in a godly way,
The results of his sin were terrible.
When I fail to be faithful with little for the sake of the little, getting ahead of God, I am not made faithful with more and there are other consequences (ex. discipline Heb.12:7-11), but...
2 Tim.2:13 - God still remains faithful to me, developing me and using me.
Good examples:
Mt.3:11, Mk.1:7, Lk.3:16, Jn.1:27 and Acts 13:25 John the Baptist’s example.
Acts 5:41 -The disciples’ heart - overjoyed at being found worthy of persecution.
Practically: Faithful with little FOR THE SAKE OF THE LITTLE!
Nothing God calls me to is too small or below me.
Just being Co-Laborers with Him is our purpose and joy (1Cor.3:9).
The goal is that no matter what doors God opens, the little will continue being my context and focus!
Success is not measured by results but by faithfulness.
ASK: Why “for the little?”
The little is where everything important is formed, developed, realized and achieved - personally and in ministry.
True trust, authentic motives (faithful with little for the sake of little is about my motivation for faithfulness), correct ministry expectations and perspective, perseverance, joy, etc.
I want intimacy with God and His blessing in my life and ministry - remember why He blesses and acts...
Ultimate goal of being faithful is to please God in every way (COl.1:10) eventually hearing - “Well done good and faithful servant.” Mt.25:21
Mt.20 - The greatest will be the least - What areas of ministry are hardest to be content with and how do you see those as important in your personal and ministry life? How is God using them?
Rom.1:17 - The just will live by faith.
Trust and obey God and His Word over circumstances and emotions.
Grow your faith by applying God’s Word.
Deal with doubt and unbelief.
Get yourself into situations where if God doesn’t show up, you’re dead.
Develop a lifestyle of walking by faith, taking risks for God obeying Him, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Discussion Questions
Review the train diagram. How can you apply this principle in your life?
What command of scripture are you most afraid or reluctant to obey?
Why is it that knowing God’s Word and not applying it creates unbelief?
Name 3 specific ways you can grow and build your faith when you return home.
