Embracing Now Faith: Trusting God in Every Moment
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delved into the concept of "now faith" as described in Hebrews 11:1-2. This passage defines faith as the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. We explored how the heroes of faith in the Bible obtained their good testimonies through their unwavering faith in God. Faith is not about understanding everything; it's about trusting that God is who He says He is, even when we can't comprehend His ways. Numbers 23:19 reminds us that God is not a man that He should lie; everything He speaks, He accomplishes, and everything He accomplishes is good.
We also discussed the importance of recognizing our inherent goodness because we are created by God. Romans 8:28 assures us that all things work together for good to those who love God. Psalm 37:25 and Lamentations 3:22-24 further emphasize God's faithfulness and mercy, which are new every morning. In every season of life, God remains constant and good.
The essence of "now faith" is having faith in the present moment. It's not about yesterday's faith or tomorrow's faith; it's about trusting God right now. This faith is rooted in the Greek word "pistis," which means to believe, trust, and have confidence in God's faithfulness. We must have confidence in God's Word, which is forever established in heaven and on earth.
Faith is the substance (hypostasis) and the assurance of things hoped for. It's a belief system that supports us even when we can't see, taste, or touch it. Just as we believe in the wind without seeing it, we must believe in God. Faith is also the evidence (elenchos) of things not seen, providing an inner conviction that God will fulfill His promises.
We are called to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Even when we can't see God's work, we must trust that He is in control. Elisha's story in 2 Kings 6:15-17 illustrates this beautifully. When his servant saw the enemy surrounding them, Elisha prayed for his eyes to be opened, revealing the heavenly army protecting them.
In conclusion, faith gives us the strength to face adversity head-on, just like bison running towards a storm. Philippians 4:13 reminds us that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. This strength is not for trivial tasks but for enduring life's storms. Trust in God, for He is always at work, even when we can't see it.
### Key Takeaways
1. Faith in the Present Moment: "Now faith" emphasizes the importance of trusting God in the present moment. It's not about relying on past experiences or future expectations but having confidence in God's faithfulness right now. This present faith is the foundation of our relationship with God and our ability to navigate life's challenges. [06:43]
2. God's Unchanging Goodness: Everything God does is inherently good, and His faithfulness is constant in every season of our lives. Even when circumstances seem dire, we can trust that God is working all things together for our good. This assurance allows us to face life's uncertainties with hope and confidence. [02:55]
3. Walking by Faith, Not by Sight: True faith requires us to trust in God's unseen work. Just as Elisha's servant's eyes were opened to see the heavenly army, we must believe that God is at work even when we can't see it. This spiritual sight helps us to remain steadfast and hopeful in the face of adversity. [22:57]
4. Facing Adversity Head-On: Like bison running towards a storm, faith empowers us to confront challenges directly. Instead of avoiding or merely enduring difficulties, we can trust that God has a purpose for allowing them and that He will provide the strength to overcome. This proactive approach to adversity is rooted in our confidence in God's sovereignty. [34:45]
5. Contentment in Christ: True contentment comes from trusting in God's provision and timing. Whether we have much or little, our faith in God's goodness and faithfulness allows us to remain content and hopeful. This contentment is a testament to our deep trust in God's plan for our lives. [39:17]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[00:54] - Introduction to Now Faith
[01:47] - God's Superior Ways
[02:55] - God's Unchanging Goodness
[03:52] - Faith in Every Season
[04:47] - New Mercies Every Morning
[05:29] - Finding Hope in God
[06:06] - The Concept of Now Faith
[06:43] - Present Tense Faith
[07:54] - Confidence in God's Word
[09:16] - Substance of Faith
[10:30] - Believing Without Seeing
[11:10] - God's Presence in Every Situation
[12:08] - Shadows and Light
[12:44] - The Meaning of Hope
[14:44] - Active Waiting for God
[15:25] - Evidence of Faith
[18:23] - Trusting God's Plan
[22:57] - Walking by Faith, Not by Sight
[28:07] - Elisha's Spiritual Sight
[34:45] - Facing Adversity Head-On
[39:17] - Contentment in Christ
[41:07] - Jesus' Peace
[42:00] - Storms Will Come
[44:01] - Hope in Christ
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Hebrews 11:1-2
2. Numbers 23:19
3. 2 Corinthians 5:7
### Observation Questions
1. According to Hebrews 11:1-2, what is the definition of faith? How did the elders obtain a good testimony? ([00:54])
2. What does Numbers 23:19 tell us about God's nature and His promises? ([01:47])
3. In 2 Corinthians 5:7, what does it mean to walk by faith and not by sight? How does this relate to Elisha's story in 2 Kings 6:15-17? ([22:57])
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of "now faith" differ from past or future faith? Why is it important to have faith in the present moment? ([06:43])
2. What does it mean to have confidence in God's Word, and how does this confidence support our faith? ([07:54])
3. How can recognizing God's unchanging goodness help us face life's uncertainties with hope and confidence? ([02:55])
4. What lessons can we learn from Elisha's servant's experience about seeing God's work in our lives even when it is not immediately visible? ([22:57])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a current situation where you need to exercise "now faith." How can you trust God in this present moment rather than relying on past experiences or future expectations? ([06:43])
2. Think of a time when you doubted God's goodness due to difficult circumstances. How can you remind yourself of God's unchanging goodness and faithfulness in every season of life? ([02:55])
3. How can you practice walking by faith and not by sight in your daily life? What steps can you take to trust in God's unseen work? ([22:57])
4. When facing adversity, do you tend to avoid it, endure it, or confront it head-on? How can you adopt a bison-like approach to face challenges directly, trusting that God has a purpose for them? ([34:45])
5. Identify an area in your life where you struggle with contentment. How can you cultivate true contentment by trusting in God's provision and timing? ([39:17])
6. How can you actively wait for God's fulfillment of His promises in your life? What does it look like to have an inner conviction that God will fulfill His promises? ([14:44])
7. Reflect on a time when you felt surrounded by challenges. How can you pray for spiritual sight like Elisha's servant to see God's protection and provision in your situation? ([22:57])
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting God in the Present Moment
Faith in the present moment, or "now faith," emphasizes the importance of trusting God right now, not relying on past experiences or future expectations. This kind of faith is about having confidence in God's faithfulness in the current moment. It is rooted in the Greek word "pistis," which means to believe, trust, and have confidence in God's faithfulness. This present faith is the foundation of our relationship with God and our ability to navigate life's challenges. By focusing on the present, we can better see God's hand at work in our lives and trust that He is in control, even when we don't understand His ways. [06:43]
Hebrews 11:1-2 (ESV): "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to trust God in the present moment? How can you actively choose to trust Him today?
Day 2: Recognizing God's Unchanging Goodness
God's unchanging goodness is a cornerstone of our faith. Everything God does is inherently good, and His faithfulness remains constant in every season of our lives. Even when circumstances seem dire, we can trust that God is working all things together for our good. This assurance allows us to face life's uncertainties with hope and confidence. By recognizing God's unchanging goodness, we can find peace and strength in His promises, knowing that He is always at work for our benefit. [02:55]
Psalm 100:5 (ESV): "For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations."
Reflection: Think of a recent challenging situation. How did you see God's goodness in that situation, even if it was hard to recognize at the time?
Day 3: Walking by Faith, Not by Sight
Walking by faith, not by sight, requires us to trust in God's unseen work. Just as Elisha's servant's eyes were opened to see the heavenly army, we must believe that God is at work even when we can't see it. This spiritual sight helps us to remain steadfast and hopeful in the face of adversity. By trusting in God's unseen work, we can navigate life's challenges with confidence, knowing that He is always in control and working for our good. [22:57]
2 Corinthians 4:18 (ESV): "As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find it difficult to trust in God's unseen work? How can you remind yourself of His faithfulness today?
Day 4: Facing Adversity Head-On
Faith empowers us to confront challenges directly, like bison running towards a storm. Instead of avoiding or merely enduring difficulties, we can trust that God has a purpose for allowing them and that He will provide the strength to overcome. This proactive approach to adversity is rooted in our confidence in God's sovereignty. By facing adversity head-on, we can grow in our faith and trust in God's plan for our lives, knowing that He is always with us and will never leave us. [34:45]
James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Reflection: Think of a current challenge you are facing. How can you confront this challenge head-on with faith, trusting that God will provide the strength you need?
Day 5: Finding Contentment in Christ
True contentment comes from trusting in God's provision and timing. Whether we have much or little, our faith in God's goodness and faithfulness allows us to remain content and hopeful. This contentment is a testament to our deep trust in God's plan for our lives. By finding contentment in Christ, we can experience peace and joy regardless of our circumstances, knowing that He is always with us and will provide for our needs. [39:17]
1 Timothy 6:6-8 (ESV): "But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle with contentment? How can you practice trusting in God's provision and timing today?
Quotes
1. "See, that's it right there. God is who he says he is. I have faith that he is simply who he says he is. I don't have to understand it. In fact, the Bible tells me that I'm not going to understand it. I don't have the ability in my finite mind to understand an infinite God. The Bible tells us that his ways are higher than our ways. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. And that doesn't just mean that he has better thoughts than us. It just means that he is so far superior to anything that we could think, imagine, or know. That's the God that we serve." [01:47] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "In every season of my life, no matter where I am on the scale of my age, no matter where I am in life, in every season of my life, he's been faithful. He's been so good. There will never be a season of your life where you look back and say, you know what? God didn't show up in that season, but man, he sure did show up in that one. No, he's constant. He is a good, good God." [04:47] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Every morning you get a new dose of God's mercy and God's grace and his faithfulness in your life. He says, great is your faithfulness. Then he goes on to say this in verse 24. The Lord is my portion, says my soul. Therefore, I hope in him. Anybody need hope today? Anybody feeling hopeless? Anybody feeling broken? Anybody feeling like an outcast today? Let me tell you something. You can find your hope in him. You can find your hope in the Lord today." [05:29] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Now faith. But if you'll just allow me to have a little bit of a play on words for a second, let me just tell you what I am going to share with you about now faith, okay? Again, all you English teachers. I know that it's just a conjunction word. There's no power in it. But if you just look at it from this perspective with me real quick, now faith. Now is present tense, right? It's right now. It's right here in this moment. Now faith. It's not yesterday's faith. It's not tomorrow's faith. You've got to have now faith. Can somebody say now faith?" [06:06] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "I want you to leave this place today looking for the enemy because you want to kick him in his high end. I want you to just today walk out with so much peace and so much victory and so much that he would do, even when it's not on my time schedule, even when it's not how I would have done it. Even if he chooses. He chooses to do it in a way that I don't necessarily agree with. My trust in him and his word says, I have faith now that God will do what he said he would do. And not only will God do what he said he was going to do, but it's going to be good. Because God only does good stuff." [07:10] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "People will let you down. This government will let you down. This world will let you down. Your boss will let you down. Your pastor will let you down. People will let you down. But the word of God will never, ever fail you. It'll never let you down. It is forever. It's forever established in heaven and on earth. The Bible tells us that heaven will pass away and earth pass away. But he said, my word will remain. You can stand on the word of the living God today. It is forever established." [08:43] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "I know that God is there. And sometimes he's so thick it's tangible. And sometimes it's non-existent it seems like. But I know because I have faith that God is who he says he is. That he's there. He's there in the hospital room. He's there in the doctor's office. He's there when you're alone and depressed. He's there when you're on the biggest breakup of your life. He's there when your spouse says I don't love you anymore. He's there when your kids break your heart. He's there when you drop your kids off at college and you have to leave. He's there in every season of your life." [10:30] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Faith gives us the ability not to run from adversity but run through it. Did you know that I read this week that bison are the only animal when a snowstorm comes, they run directly to it instead of away from it? Every other animal, when a storm comes and when a snowstorm or any kind of thing comes, they try to run and hide, run, outrun the storm or they try to hunker down and just endure the storm but bison are the only animals that when they see a storm coming, they run directly to it." [34:45] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "Faith says that no matter what, God will be with me. He will not leave me. He will not forsake me in every situation, every circumstance of life. I know I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I can hit a lion. I can take a bear. I can take this uncircumcised Philistine. Every situation of your life, you can endure it. You can get through it and you don't need to try to run from the storm. You don't need to try to hide from the storm. You need to be like those crazy storm chasers and go straight to the storm because in Christ is the safest place you'll ever be." [40:40] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "I just want you to understand today that I've got to have faith now not let my circumstances dictate my faith. My response is not based upon what I see. It's not based upon what I feel. It's not based upon anything else except my faith in God. I know that God is who God is. And God is who He said He is. And if I have faith in that, I know I'm going to be okay." [51:01] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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