Faith in Action: A Dynamic Relationship with God

Faith is a vast and multifaceted reality, much like the old tale of the six blind men and the elephant—each man touched a different part and described it accurately, but none had the whole picture. In the same way, faith cannot be reduced to a single formula or perspective. It is a living, dynamic relationship with God that touches every part of our lives. Faith is not just believing; it is acting on what we believe, initiating change, connecting with God’s power, and, most importantly, knowing and trusting the God to whom we belong.

Faith acts. It is not passive or theoretical. The friends who brought the paralyzed man to Jesus didn’t just believe in healing—they tore open a roof to get their friend to the source of healing. Their actions demonstrated their faith. Similarly, the woman with the issue of blood didn’t wait for an invitation; she pressed through the crowd to touch Jesus, initiating her own miracle. Faith is not content to sit and wait; it moves, it initiates, it does whatever it takes to lay hold of God’s promises.

But faith is also about connection. The power of God is always present, even in the midst of opposition, doubt, or spiritual darkness. Yet, it is faith that plugs into that power and draws from it. The woman who touched Jesus in the crowd was surrounded by many, but only she connected with the power that healed her. Faith is the hand that reaches out and receives what God has made available.

At its core, faith is rooted in relationship. It is not a mechanical process of confessions and rituals, but a deep trust in the God we know as Father. Paul, in the midst of a storm, could declare, “I believe God, the One to whom I belong and whom I serve.” This kind of faith is born from time spent in God’s presence, in His Word, and in prayer. It is the fruit of knowing God’s character and trusting Him, even when circumstances are dire.

Most of life is lived “in the meantime”—in the waiting, the hoping, the enduring. True faith is not just about the outcome, but about how we live day by day, trusting God in the process. The father of the prodigal son, Joseph in Egypt, Paul in prison—these are examples of faith that endures, that keeps working, loving, and hoping even when the promise is not yet seen. Faith is a joyful journey, not just a destination. Whether we see the miracle, endure hardship, or even face martyrdom, faith is the lifestyle of those who know and trust their Father.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Faith is demonstrated by action, not just belief. The friends who broke through the roof and the woman who pressed through the crowd both showed that true faith moves beyond mental agreement to tangible steps, even when obstacles seem insurmountable. Faith that does not act is incomplete; it is in the doing that faith is made visible. [05:32]
• 2. Faith initiates rather than waits for perfect conditions or invitations. David confronted Goliath without being asked, and the woman with the issue of blood took her healing by force. This kind of faith refuses to be passive, choosing instead to step out and seize what God has promised, regardless of opposition or delay. [15:41]
• 3. Faith connects with the ever-present power of God, even in hostile or spiritually dark environments. The power of God is not limited by the presence of critics, doubters, or even demonic opposition; it is faith that draws on that power and makes it effective in our lives. We are called to be those who reach out and connect, not just those who observe. [23:49]
• 4. The foundation of faith is relationship, not ritual. Faith grows out of knowing God as Father—belonging to Him, serving Him, and trusting His character. It is not about finding the right formula, but about cultivating intimacy with God through His Word and presence, so that our confidence is rooted in who He is, not just what He can do. [34:39]
• 5. Most of life is lived “in the meantime,” and true faith is a lifestyle, not just a means to an end. The father of the prodigal son, Joseph, and Paul all modeled faith that endures through waiting, disappointment, and suffering. This day-to-day faith is not measured by outward success, but by steadfastness, joy, and trust in God, even when the outcome is unseen. [49:07]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:34] - The Multifaceted Nature of Faith
• [02:24] - The Blind Men and the Elephant: A Parable for Faith
• [04:16] - Avoiding Dogmatism in Faith
• [04:54] - Faith Acts: The Example of the Paralyzed Man
• [09:57] - Breaking Through Obstacles: Faith in Action
• [13:14] - Faith Initiates: Taking the First Step
• [15:41] - The Woman with the Issue of Blood: Initiating Your Miracle
• [18:48] - Faith Connects: Plugging into God’s Power
• [25:42] - Faith in the God I Know: Relationship over Ritual
• [34:39] - Pursuing God’s Presence: The Foundation of Faith
• [42:45] - Faith in the Meantime: Living Between the Promises
• [49:07] - Day-to-Day Faith: A Lifestyle, Not a Destination
• [53:02] - Joy in Trials: The Maturity of Faith
• [58:19] - Faith’s Many Outcomes: Receiving, Enduring, and Believing
• [62:07] - Responding to God as Father

Bible Reading

Luke 5:17-26 (ESV) — > On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” ... And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”

2. Mark 5:25-34 (ESV)
> And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” ... And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

3. Acts 27:21-25 (ESV)
> Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.”

Observation Questions

1. In the story of the paralyzed man (Luke 5), what did Jesus “see” that led him to respond to the man’s need? What specific actions did the friends take that demonstrated their faith? [[06:47]]
2. In Mark 5, what did the woman with the issue of blood do that set her apart from the rest of the crowd? How did Jesus respond to her initiative? [[15:41]]
3. According to Acts 27, what was the foundation of Paul’s confidence and faith during the storm? What did he declare about his relationship with God? [[28:50]]
4. The sermon mentions that the power of God was present even among critics and doubters. What does this suggest about the environment in which faith can operate? [[08:05]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Jesus respond to visible actions of faith rather than just inward belief? What does this teach about the relationship between faith and action? [[05:32]]
2. The woman with the issue of blood did not wait for an invitation but initiated her own miracle. What does this reveal about the nature of faith and how we approach God’s promises? [[15:41]]
3. Paul’s statement, “the God to whom I belong and whom I serve,” shows a deep relationship with God. How does knowing God personally change the way we experience faith, especially in difficult circumstances? [[30:04]]
4. The sermon says most of life is lived “in the meantime”—in waiting, hoping, and enduring. How does this perspective challenge the idea that faith is only about getting quick answers or miracles? [[42:45]]

Application Questions

1. The friends of the paralyzed man went to extreme lengths to get him to Jesus, even tearing open a roof. Is there a situation in your life or someone else’s where you need to take bold, practical steps of faith instead of waiting for things to change on their own? What would “tearing open the roof” look like for you? [[11:18]]
2. The woman with the issue of blood pressed through the crowd to touch Jesus, initiating her own miracle. Are there areas in your life where you have been waiting passively for God to move? What is one step you could take this week to “initiate” faith in that area? [[16:22]]
3. The sermon emphasizes that faith is not about formulas or rituals, but about relationship—knowing God as Father. How would your daily walk with God change if you focused more on relationship than on “doing things right”? What is one way you can intentionally pursue God’s presence this week? [[34:39]]
4. Paul’s faith was rooted in knowing to whom he belonged, even in the middle of a storm. When you face uncertainty or hardship, do you find it easy or difficult to trust God’s character? What helps you remember that you belong to Him? [[30:04]]
5. The sermon says most of life is lived “in the meantime.” Think of a promise or hope you are still waiting for. How can you live with faith, joy, and steadfastness in the waiting, rather than just focusing on the outcome? [[49:07]]
6. The examples of Joseph, the father of the prodigal son, and Paul in prison show faith that endures through disappointment and suffering. Is there a disappointment or ongoing struggle in your life where you need to keep trusting God? What would it look like to live out “day-to-day faith” in that situation? [[47:09]]
7. The sermon challenges us to see faith as a lifestyle, not just a means to an end. What is one practical way you can make faith part of your everyday routine, especially when you don’t see immediate results? [[51:12]]