Courageous Faith: Confidence in God's Promises
Summary
In today's message, we explored the theme of "Courageous and Contagious Faith," focusing on the challenges many believers face in maintaining their confidence in God. In our current culture, there's a noticeable trend of believers losing their spiritual edge, not necessarily abandoning their faith but becoming less confident in it. This is akin to an athlete losing their competitive edge. Spiritually, we need to live with confidence and boldness, embracing the challenges that come with faith.
We discussed the concept of deconstructing faith, where individuals leave the church but not necessarily God, and the dangers of forming a faith that suits personal preferences rather than adhering to God's standards. Hebrews 10:35 reminds us not to throw away our confidence, as it holds great reward. The journey of faith requires endurance, and the reward comes after we've been tested and pressed.
Hebrews 11:1-6 emphasizes that faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen. True faith is intentional and present, trusting in God's promises for future outcomes. We are reminded that Jesus Christ is superior to all, and His work secures our salvation, making it a done deal. This assurance should give us confidence and victory in our spiritual walk.
However, many struggle with faith due to limited exposure to God's truth and a reliance on personal experiences over divine revelation. We must critically examine God's character and work to strengthen our faith. The opposition to faith often comes from the consequences of humanity's decisions, the corruption of human perception, and the construction of secular humanism. These challenges can lead to disillusionment, but we are called to trust in God's revelation over human experience.
Ultimately, the objective of faith is to move from merely asking God to please us to living a life that pleases Him. This requires intentional trust in God's person, providence, and promises. Despite opposition, we must remain rooted, built up, and established in our faith, continually seeking to grow and mature in our relationship with Christ.
Key Takeaways:
1. Living with Spiritual Edge: Just as athletes need an edge to compete, believers need spiritual confidence to navigate life's challenges. This edge comes from living boldly for God, embracing the risks and rewards of faith. Living on the edge is where spiritual growth and fruitfulness occur. [04:27]
2. Faith Beyond Experience: True faith is not based on current circumstances but on the assurance of God's promises. It requires trusting in what is unseen and believing in God's future outcomes. This faith is intentional and present, not hypothetical or subconscious. [07:43]
3. The Assurance of Salvation: Our salvation is secure because of Christ's once-and-for-all sacrifice. This assurance should give us confidence and victory in our spiritual walk, knowing that we are sealed until the day of redemption. [12:35]
4. Opposition to Faith: Believers face challenges from the consequences of humanity's decisions, the corruption of human perception, and secular humanism. These can lead to disillusionment, but we must trust in God's revelation over human experience. [17:13]
5. Objective of Faith: The goal of faith is to move from asking God to please us to living a life that pleases Him. This requires intentional trust in God's person, providence, and promises, and a commitment to grow and mature in our relationship with Christ. [32:51]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [04:27] - Courageous and Contagious Faith
- [07:43] - Assurance of Things Hoped For
- [12:35] - The Superiority of Christ
- [17:13] - Opposition to Faith
- [21:52] - Learning Christ
- [23:37] - Putting in the Work
- [26:20] - Spiritual Discernment
- [28:56] - Living Beyond Average
- [32:51] - Moving from Please to Pleasing
- [37:02] - Vain Philosophies and Arguments
- [41:03] - The Reliability of God's Word
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide: Courageous and Contagious Faith
#### Bible Reading
- Hebrews 10:35-36
- Hebrews 11:1-6
- Ephesians 4:17-18
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#### Observation Questions
1. According to Hebrews 10:35-36, what is the reward for maintaining our confidence in God? How does this relate to the concept of endurance? [04:27]
2. In Hebrews 11:1-6, how is faith described? What are the key elements that define true faith according to these verses? [07:43]
3. What does Ephesians 4:17-18 say about the understanding of those who do not follow Christ? How does this relate to the challenges believers face in maintaining their faith? [21:52]
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#### Interpretation Questions
1. The sermon mentions that many believers are losing their spiritual edge. What might be some reasons for this trend, and how can Hebrews 10:35-36 help address it? [04:27]
2. How does the assurance of salvation, as discussed in Hebrews 11:1-6, provide believers with confidence in their spiritual walk? What does this mean for someone struggling with doubt? [12:35]
3. The sermon discusses the opposition to faith from secular humanism and human perception. How can Ephesians 4:17-18 help believers navigate these challenges? [17:13]
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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt your spiritual edge was dull. What steps can you take this week to regain confidence and boldness in your faith? [04:27]
2. Hebrews 11:1-6 talks about faith being the assurance of things hoped for. What is one specific promise of God you are holding onto, and how can you remind yourself of it daily? [07:43]
3. The sermon emphasizes moving from asking God to please us to living a life that pleases Him. What is one area of your life where you can shift your focus from self-pleasure to God-pleasure? [32:51]
4. Consider the role of personal experience versus divine revelation in your faith journey. How can you ensure that your faith is grounded more in God's truth than in your experiences? [12:35]
5. The sermon mentions the importance of being rooted, built up, and established in faith. What practical steps can you take to deepen your understanding of Christ and His teachings? [32:51]
6. How can you engage with others who are struggling with their faith, offering support and encouragement without judgment? [17:13]
7. Identify one secular philosophy or argument that challenges your faith. How can you equip yourself with biblical truths to counter this challenge? [37:02]
Devotional
Day 1: Living with Spiritual Edge
Living with a spiritual edge means maintaining a bold and confident faith in God, even amidst life's challenges. Just as athletes need a competitive edge to excel, believers require spiritual confidence to navigate their journey. This confidence is not about arrogance but about trusting in God's promises and stepping out in faith, even when the path is uncertain. Embracing the risks and rewards of faith leads to spiritual growth and fruitfulness. Living on the edge spiritually means being willing to take bold steps for God, knowing that He is with us every step of the way. [04:27]
"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." (2 Timothy 1:7, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you feel God is calling you to step out in faith? How can you take a bold step today to live with a spiritual edge?
Day 2: Faith Beyond Experience
True faith transcends our current circumstances and is rooted in the assurance of God's promises. It requires trusting in what is unseen and believing in God's future outcomes, even when they are not immediately visible. This kind of faith is intentional and present, not based on hypothetical or subconscious beliefs. It challenges us to look beyond our personal experiences and rely on the truth of God's Word. By focusing on God's promises, we can maintain a steadfast faith that is not swayed by the ups and downs of life. [07:43]
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways have you allowed your current circumstances to dictate your faith? How can you shift your focus to trust in God's unseen promises today?
Day 3: The Assurance of Salvation
Our salvation is secure because of Christ's once-and-for-all sacrifice. This assurance should give us confidence and victory in our spiritual walk, knowing that we are sealed until the day of redemption. Understanding the superiority of Christ and His finished work on the cross provides a firm foundation for our faith. It reminds us that our salvation is not based on our efforts but on His grace and mercy. This assurance empowers us to live confidently, knowing that our eternal destiny is secure in Him. [12:35]
"In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit." (Ephesians 1:13, ESV)
Reflection: How does the assurance of your salvation impact your daily life? What steps can you take to live more confidently in the victory Christ has secured for you?
Day 4: Opposition to Faith
Believers face challenges from the consequences of humanity's decisions, the corruption of human perception, and secular humanism. These can lead to disillusionment, but we must trust in God's revelation over human experience. The opposition to faith often comes from external pressures and internal doubts, but by grounding ourselves in God's truth, we can withstand these challenges. It is essential to critically examine God's character and work to strengthen our faith, allowing His revelation to guide us rather than the shifting sands of human opinion. [17:13]
"For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, 'He catches the wise in their craftiness.'" (1 Corinthians 3:19, ESV)
Reflection: What external pressures or internal doubts are currently challenging your faith? How can you intentionally seek God's truth to overcome these challenges today?
Day 5: Objective of Faith
The goal of faith is to move from asking God to please us to living a life that pleases Him. This requires intentional trust in God's person, providence, and promises, and a commitment to grow and mature in our relationship with Christ. By shifting our focus from self-centered desires to God-centered living, we align our lives with His purposes. This transformation involves a daily commitment to seek His will and to live in a way that honors Him, even when it requires sacrifice and perseverance. [32:51]
"So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God." (Colossians 1:10, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways have you been seeking to please yourself rather than God? What practical steps can you take today to live a life that is more pleasing to Him?
Quotes
And I was really trying to argue that biblical faith and faith that pleases God is faith in the present tense, an intentional, not a hypothetical, not a subconscious. It's an intentional confidence in God, in God's person, in God's promises, in God's providence, in the present tense for a future outcome. [00:04:40] (25 seconds)
And so we ought to have victory. Victory belongs to Jesus because Jesus Christ secured our salvation. It's a done deal. It's a contract that cannot be eradicated. It's a contract that cannot be ratified. It's a contract where you are sealed until the day of redemption. Amen? Anybody excited about being sealed in Christ until the day of redemption? [00:07:08] (26 seconds)
So what happens is when we experience something that's contrary to our experience, we allow our experience to rule rather than God's revelation to rule. Are we tracking together? Limited exposure is a dangerous thing. [00:08:06] (19 seconds)
And so when life becomes challenging, we got a decision to make. Am I going to trust my experience, or am I going to trust my exposure to God's revelation? You don't have dutiful trust in God. [00:12:45] (21 seconds)
The objective of faith is to move from please God to pleasing God. It's to move from a request, God please, to saying now I want to live my life in a way that is pleasing to God. When your faith is predicated by what God does for you, it's an ember to a faith. [00:15:33] (30 seconds)
We've got to move from just saying please God to a lifestyle of pleasing God. Without faith, it's impossible to please him. Listen, we've got to exercise intentional trust in the person, the providence, the promises, the person of God for something that is yet future. And that's exercising faith. Amen? [00:16:29] (33 seconds)
The second opposition to our faith is the corruption of humanity's perception. Turn to Ephesians chapter 4, verse 18, and we're coming back here to Hebrews. Hebrews chapter, I mean, Ephesians chapter 4. Y 'all good? [00:19:50] (18 seconds)
One of the challenges for us is that we have not put in the time to learn Christ. I've been to church. I came and served at church. I worship at church. I brought cakes for the bake sale at church. That's not learning Christ. Have you learned the word of Christ? Have you learned the ways of Christ? Have you learned the wisdom of Christ? [00:21:29] (32 seconds)
Stop living to be average. Too many people live to be average. They average on their house. They average on their job. Don't train your kids to be average. We serve a mighty God. We serve a powerful God. We serve a God who's almighty, and we're going to produce average when we trust him. He's equipped you for more than average. [00:28:52] (26 seconds)
God has not called the church to get people to make decisions. God has called the church to get people to become disciples. We don't skip decisions, but that's not the final goal. So, boy, you'll see people put all this stuff online, and, boy, they're clapping, they're applauding. We had 18 billion decisions today, but, boy, the other side is we have not put a mechanism in place for those who have switched from trusting Satan to now trusting God. [00:31:17] (34 seconds)
You want to learn from people who are saved who are studied and who are submitted to the scriptures are we tracking together you know what our world our world celebrates experience over divine revelation but it ain't new turn to second Peter y 'all good. [00:37:10] (22 seconds)
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