Faith
“Lack of faith” was the only thing that Jesus ever reproved his disciples for
Faith was key for Jesus’ ministry of healing, miracles, forgiveness of sin
2 Cor. 5:7 For we live by faith and not by sight
Heb. 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God
If we don’t understand what faith is, we don’t understand our Faith
Heb. 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
How can we be sure of things we don’t see?
Pattern: God spoke, people believed enough to obey
Seem to be easier to have confidence in the unseen if God said it
Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the (a) word of Christ.
You have to hear Christ’s Word(s) in order to have faith
God said it, I will trust it’s true and act in harmony with that
Faith originates with God
James 4:3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.
It isn’t about speaking OUR words! It’s about speaking HIS words, thereby His will!
Isaiah 55:11 so is MY word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Faith Originates with God
2 Thess. 1:11 May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.
God’s leading in prayer is like a seeing eye dog’s tug on the leash!
Col. 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving (Eph. 6:18)
Faith is confidence in things unseen, I can be confident when God speaks
Faith is strongly related to trust
Matthew 17:15-16 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”
Matthew 17:17 “O unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.”
Matthew 17:19-20 Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “Because you have so little faith. 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.
Mark 9:29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.” (“and fasting” in some texts).
Their faith was defective because it was in THEIR self-sufficiency, rather than in God’s sufficiency!
John 15:4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
Faith is initiated by God’s words and we trust in Him enough to obey
Faith is a confidence in what God says
Faith has an active trust that confident
The Challenge
Faith in prayer is an active trust praying in concert with God’s leading
The Step Prayer Challenge
Faith is a confidence in what God says
Faith has an active trust that confidence
