Faith: An Active Trust in God's Promises
Summary
Faith is often perceived as an abstract concept, but it is, in fact, a tangible and active force in our lives. Hebrews 11:1 tells us that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. This means that faith has content and is not vague. The essence of faith lies in the object of our trust, not the quantity of faith we possess. True faith is demonstrated through action, as it involves acting as though God's promises are true, even when circumstances suggest otherwise. It is about moving in obedience to God, reflecting faith through our actions rather than our feelings, which are transient.
The "hall of faith" in the Bible illustrates how individuals acted in faith and how God responded to their actions. Faith is a crucial mechanism that allows us to experience the supernatural in our natural lives. It is substantive, dealing with unseen realities, and is closely linked to hope, which is the anticipation of what we expect from God. When we align our actions with God's will through obedience, we witness more of His presence in our lives.
Faith does not compel God to act against His will but accesses what He has already planned. It is essential to ask ourselves if we are doing what God has asked in light of our expectations. The absence of faith can hinder God's actions, as He waits for faith to fulfill His conditions. To grow our faith, we must expand our understanding of God. A larger view of God makes it easier to trust Him, while a limited view makes trust difficult. Faith should not be an isolated event but a lifestyle, allowing us to see more of God in our daily lives. By trusting Him, we open ourselves to the greater things He is ready to do.
Key Takeaways:
1. Faith is not about the amount you have but the object of your trust. It is demonstrated through action, reflecting a belief in God's truth even when circumstances suggest otherwise. Faith is about moving in obedience to God, not relying on fluctuating feelings. [00:54]
2. The "hall of faith" shows that faith involves action and God's response to it. Faith is a mechanism to experience the supernatural in our natural lives, dealing with unseen realities and linked to hope. Aligning our actions with God's will allows us to witness more of His presence. [01:36]
3. Faith does not force God to act against His will but accesses what He has planned. We must ask if we are doing what God has asked in light of our expectations. The absence of faith can hinder God's actions, as He waits for faith to fulfill His conditions. [02:39]
4. To grow faith, expand your understanding of God. A larger view of God makes it easier to trust Him, while a limited view makes trust difficult. Faith should be a lifestyle, not an isolated event, allowing us to see more of God in our daily lives. [03:39]
5. Faith is about trusting God to do what He has planned when we align our actions with His will. It is not about forcing God but accessing His plans through trust. By making faith a lifestyle, we open ourselves to the greater things God is ready to do. [04:08]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:24] - Understanding Faith
- [00:41] - The Object of Faith
- [00:54] - Faith in Action
- [01:06] - Concretizing Faith
- [01:19] - Obedience and Movement
- [01:36] - The Hall of Faith
- [01:52] - Faith and the Unseen
- [02:06] - Hope and Expectation
- [02:21] - Experiencing God
- [02:39] - Faith and God's Plan
- [02:57] - Aligning with God's Will
- [03:10] - The Absence of Faith
- [03:39] - Growing Faith
- [04:08] - Faith as a Lifestyle
- [04:20] - Trusting God for More
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Understanding and Living by Faith
Bible Reading:
- Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Observation Questions:
1. According to Hebrews 11:1, how is faith described in terms of substance and evidence? What does this imply about the nature of faith?
2. In the sermon, what is emphasized as more important: the amount of faith one has or the object of one's faith? ([00:41])
3. How does the "hall of faith" in the Bible illustrate the relationship between faith and action? ([01:36])
4. What role does obedience play in demonstrating faith according to the sermon? ([01:19])
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of faith as a "substance" and "evidence" challenge the common perception of faith as abstract or vague?
2. Why might the object of our faith be more crucial than the quantity of faith we possess? How does this understanding affect our daily walk with God? ([00:41])
3. In what ways does aligning our actions with God's will allow us to experience more of His presence in our lives? ([02:21])
4. How does expanding our understanding of God contribute to the growth of our faith? What practical steps can be taken to achieve this? ([03:39])
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent situation where you acted based on feelings rather than faith. How might you approach a similar situation differently in the future? ([01:06])
2. Identify an area in your life where you struggle to trust God fully. What steps can you take to shift your focus from the quantity of your faith to the object of your faith? ([00:41])
3. Consider a promise of God that you find difficult to believe. What actions can you take to demonstrate faith in that promise, despite your current circumstances? ([00:54])
4. How can you make faith a lifestyle rather than an isolated event in your life? What daily practices can help reinforce this mindset? ([04:08])
5. Think of a time when the absence of faith may have hindered God's work in your life. How can you ensure that your faith aligns with God's plans moving forward? ([03:10])
6. What specific actions can you take this week to expand your understanding of God and, consequently, your faith? ([03:39])
7. How can you encourage others in your small group to grow their faith by focusing on the greatness of God rather than their own limitations? ([03:39])
Devotional
Day 1: Faith is Rooted in Trust, Not Quantity
Faith is not about the amount you have but the object of your trust. It is demonstrated through action, reflecting a belief in God's truth even when circumstances suggest otherwise. Faith is about moving in obedience to God, not relying on fluctuating feelings. True faith is not measured by how much you have but by whom you place your trust in. It is about acting on the belief that God's promises are true, even when the world around you seems to contradict them. This kind of faith requires a deep trust in God's character and His word, leading to actions that align with His will. When you act in faith, you are not swayed by your emotions, which can change from moment to moment, but are grounded in the steadfastness of God's truth. [00:54]
Hebrews 11:6 (ESV): "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you have been relying on your feelings rather than trusting in God's promises. How can you take a step of faith in that area today?
Day 2: Faith in Action Invites God's Presence
The "hall of faith" shows that faith involves action and God's response to it. Faith is a mechanism to experience the supernatural in our natural lives, dealing with unseen realities and linked to hope. Aligning our actions with God's will allows us to witness more of His presence. Faith is not passive; it is active and dynamic. The individuals in the "hall of faith" acted on their belief in God, and their actions invited His presence into their lives. When you align your actions with God's will, you open yourself to experiencing His supernatural presence in your everyday life. This alignment is not about forcing God to act but about positioning yourself to receive what He has already planned. [01:36]
James 2:17-18 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."
Reflection: Consider a situation where you need to act in faith. What specific action can you take today to align with God's will and invite His presence into that situation?
Day 3: Faith Accesses God's Plans, Not Our Demands
Faith does not force God to act against His will but accesses what He has planned. We must ask if we are doing what God has asked in light of our expectations. The absence of faith can hinder God's actions, as He waits for faith to fulfill His conditions. Faith is not a tool to manipulate God into doing what we want. Instead, it is a means of accessing the plans He has already set in motion. When you act in faith, you align yourself with God's purposes, allowing Him to work in and through you. It is important to examine whether your actions are in line with what God has asked of you, as faith is a prerequisite for experiencing His plans. [02:39]
Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Reflection: Reflect on your current expectations of God. Are they aligned with what He has asked of you? How can you adjust your actions to better align with His plans?
Day 4: Expanding Your View of God Grows Your Faith
To grow faith, expand your understanding of God. A larger view of God makes it easier to trust Him, while a limited view makes trust difficult. Faith should be a lifestyle, not an isolated event, allowing us to see more of God in our daily lives. Your perception of God directly impacts your ability to trust Him. When you have a limited view of God, it becomes challenging to place your faith in Him. However, as you expand your understanding of His greatness, love, and power, trusting Him becomes more natural. Faith is not meant to be a one-time event but a continuous lifestyle that allows you to experience more of God's presence and work in your life. [03:39]
Ephesians 3:17-19 (ESV): "So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
Reflection: In what ways can you expand your understanding of God today? How might this expanded view help you trust Him more deeply in your daily life?
Day 5: Faith as a Lifestyle Opens Doors to Greater Things
Faith is about trusting God to do what He has planned when we align our actions with His will. It is not about forcing God but accessing His plans through trust. By making faith a lifestyle, we open ourselves to the greater things God is ready to do. Living a life of faith means consistently trusting God and aligning your actions with His will. This lifestyle of faith opens the door to experiencing the greater things God has in store for you. It is not about trying to control or manipulate God but about trusting Him to fulfill His promises in His timing and way. When faith becomes a part of your daily life, you position yourself to receive the fullness of what God has planned. [04:08]
2 Corinthians 5:7 (ESV): "For we walk by faith, not by sight."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can begin to make faith a daily practice? How can this shift open you to the greater things God has planned for you?
Quotes
Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Faith has content to it; it's not vague. The issue of faith has to do with the object that you're trusting in, not so much the amount of faith that you have. [00:30:08]
Faith is reflected in motion, in action. Faith is acting like God is telling the truth. It's acting like it is so even when it's not so, in order that it might be so simply because God said so. [00:55:84]
When you look at the hall of faith, you'll find a person, you'll find what they did, and then you'll see what God did based on what they did. So you'll see the movement of God in response to faith. [01:27:36]
Faith is a critical mechanism to experience and see the supernatural enter into the realm of the natural. So faith is substantive, but it deals with what you do not see yet. [01:41:36]
Faith does not force God to do what God never planned to do, but what faith does is access what God has already planned to do when he sees we're trusting in him to do it. [02:36:40]
The absence of faith can block God. In other words, the absence of faith can cause God not to do what he intended to do because if it's something that is conditional to faith, he's waiting on faith before he does what he's determined to do. [03:13:28]
If you want to know how to grow your faith, grow the size of God. The bigger God is to you, the easier it is to trust him. The smaller God is, the harder it is to trust him. [03:39:84]
You don't grow your faith by growing faith by going faith hunting. You grow your faith by coming to know God better because then you can have greater confidence in him for the realities of life. [03:52:48]
Faith is not merely an event; it's supposed to be a lifestyle. So let's grow our lifestyle of faith so that we can see more of God in our daily choices, actions, and expectations. [04:08:80]
There's a lot more he's ready to do when he knows we are trusting him to do it. [04:20:79]
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