Faith in Action: Embracing Challenges in the New Year
Summary
As we step into the new year, it's a time of reflection and resolution. We've experienced both joyous and challenging moments in the past year, and these challenges often bring us to a crossroads where we must decide whether to lean more on God or drift away. Resolutions are common, but we must be cautious about the promises we make. Jesus taught us not to rely on external affirmations to substantiate our promises but to depend on the sincerity of our hearts. The power of our word lies within us, and our faith in God's word is what truly matters.
As we face the uncertainties of 2025, we must recognize that challenges are inevitable. Our natural inclination is to avoid adversity, but often, life brings us back to the same challenges to test our growth and understanding. True success in life, whether personal, communal, or spiritual, hinges on faith. We all possess a measure of faith, much like the trust we place in our cars to steer us in the right direction without a second thought. Similarly, faith should guide our lives, allowing God to steer us toward our divine purpose.
The story of Jesus healing a boy with a deaf and mute spirit illustrates the power of faith. The boy's father approached Jesus with a measure of faith, but his doubt was evident in his words, "if you can." Jesus challenges us to move from "if" to "when," to have unwavering faith in God's ability to work miracles in our lives. Faith requires action, even when the path is unclear. It demands that we step out, take risks, and trust that God will provide the resources needed to fulfill our calling.
Faith is not just belief; it is action. It is doing what God calls us to do, even when we don't have all the answers. When we act in faith, God has a way of showing up, bringing us through challenges, and accomplishing what seemed impossible. As we enter this new year, let us be ready to act without everything in place, to give up what we hold dear for something greater, and to trust that with God's faith in us, we can achieve the unimaginable.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Power of Our Word: Our promises should not rely on external affirmations but on the sincerity of our hearts. The true power lies within us, and our faith in God's word is what matters. [02:43]
2. Facing Challenges with Faith: Life's challenges often test our growth and understanding. True success in life hinges on faith, which should guide us like a steering wheel, allowing God to direct our paths. [09:55]
3. From 'If' to 'When': The story of Jesus healing the boy teaches us to move from doubt to certainty in God's power. Our faith should be unwavering, trusting that God can work miracles in our lives. [13:55]
4. Faith Requires Action: Faith is not just belief; it is action. It requires us to step out, take risks, and trust that God will provide the resources needed to fulfill our calling. [24:34]
5. God's Faith in Us: With God's faith in us, we can achieve the unimaginable. We must be ready to act without everything in place and trust that God will accomplish what seemed impossible. [25:58]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:24] - The Nature of Resolutions
- [02:43] - The Power of Our Word
- [03:58] - Avoiding Superstition
- [04:50] - The Role of Faith
- [05:54] - Facing Life's Challenges
- [07:17] - Ingredients for Success
- [09:55] - Faith as a Guide
- [10:46] - Dreaming Big with Faith
- [11:59] - The Transfiguration Experience
- [13:00] - The Healing of the Boy
- [13:55] - Moving from 'If' to 'When'
- [15:24] - Opportunities to Increase Faith
- [17:57] - A Personal Story of Faith
- [22:25] - God's Presence in Our Trials
- [23:41] - Faith in Action
- [25:58] - Conclusion and Encouragement
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 5:33-37 - Jesus' teaching on oaths and the sincerity of our word.
2. Mark 9:14-29 - The story of Jesus healing a boy with a deaf and mute spirit.
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus say about making oaths in Matthew 5, and how does this relate to the sincerity of our promises? [02:43]
2. In the story from Mark 9, what was the father's initial approach to Jesus, and how did Jesus respond to his expression of doubt? [13:00]
3. How does the sermon describe the connection between faith and the direction of our lives, using the analogy of a steering wheel? [09:55]
4. What role does faith play in overcoming life's challenges according to the sermon? [07:17]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5 challenge the way people often seek external validation for their promises? [02:43]
2. In Mark 9, what does the father's statement "if you can" reveal about his faith, and how does Jesus' response encourage a shift in perspective? [13:55]
3. The sermon suggests that faith should guide our lives like a steering wheel. What does this metaphor imply about the nature of faith and decision-making? [09:55]
4. How does the sermon illustrate the idea that faith requires action, even when the path is unclear? [24:34]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a promise or resolution you have made recently. How can you ensure that it is grounded in sincerity rather than external affirmations? [02:43]
2. Think of a challenge you are currently facing. How can you apply the principle of moving from "if" to "when" in your faith journey? [13:55]
3. Consider a situation where you have avoided taking a risk due to uncertainty. How might stepping out in faith change the outcome? [24:34]
4. Identify an area in your life where you feel God is calling you to act. What steps can you take to trust that God will provide the necessary resources? [24:34]
5. How can you cultivate a deeper connection between your faith and the direction of your life, ensuring that God is steering your path? [09:55]
6. Reflect on a past experience where you felt God's presence during a trial. How can this memory encourage you to trust God in future challenges? [22:25]
7. What is one specific way you can demonstrate faith in action this week, even if you don't have all the answers? [24:34]
Devotional
Day 1: The Sincerity of Our Promises
Our words hold power, and the sincerity behind them is crucial. In a world where external affirmations often validate promises, it's essential to remember that true integrity comes from within. Jesus emphasized the importance of letting our "yes" be "yes" and our "no" be "no," highlighting the need for honesty and authenticity in our commitments. As we navigate through life, our faith in God's word should be the foundation of our promises, ensuring that they are not just empty words but reflections of our true intentions. [02:43]
"Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil." (Matthew 5:37, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a promise you made recently. How can you ensure that your actions align with the sincerity of your words today?
Day 2: Faith as Our Guiding Force
Life is filled with challenges that test our growth and understanding. These moments often bring us to a crossroads where we must choose between fear and faith. Just as we trust a steering wheel to guide us safely, our faith should direct our paths, allowing God to lead us toward our divine purpose. True success, whether personal, communal, or spiritual, hinges on this unwavering faith, which provides the strength to face adversity with courage and hope. [09:55]
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a current challenge in your life. How can you actively choose faith over fear in this situation today?
Day 3: Moving from Doubt to Certainty
The story of Jesus healing a boy with a deaf and mute spirit illustrates the transformative power of faith. The boy's father approached Jesus with doubt, saying, "if you can." Jesus challenges us to shift from "if" to "when," encouraging us to have unwavering faith in God's ability to work miracles in our lives. This shift requires us to trust in God's power and timing, believing that He can accomplish the impossible when we place our faith in Him. [13:55]
"And Jesus said to him, 'If you can! All things are possible for one who believes.'" (Mark 9:23, ESV)
Reflection: Consider an area of your life where you have doubts. How can you begin to replace "if" with "when" in your prayers and expectations today?
Day 4: Faith in Action
Faith is not merely a belief but an active force that requires us to step out and take risks. It demands that we trust God to provide the resources needed to fulfill our calling, even when the path is unclear. Acting in faith means moving forward without having all the answers, knowing that God will show up and accomplish what seems impossible. This active faith is a testament to our trust in God's plan and His ability to guide us through life's uncertainties. [24:34]
"So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." (James 2:17, ESV)
Reflection: What is one step of faith you can take today, even if you don't have all the answers or resources?
Day 5: Trusting in God's Faith in Us
With God's faith in us, we can achieve the unimaginable. This trust requires us to act without everything in place, believing that God will accomplish what seems impossible. As we enter new seasons, we must be willing to let go of what we hold dear for something greater, trusting that God's plan for us is far beyond our understanding. This trust in God's faith in us empowers us to pursue our divine purpose with confidence and courage. [25:58]
"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us." (Ephesians 3:20, ESV)
Reflection: What is one thing you are holding onto that you need to release to trust in God's greater plan for your life today?
Quotes
"Jesus says you should never say that. and he's not saying you shouldn't keep your promises. What he's saying is you shouldn't try to use something other than you to substantiate your promise, that what you genuinely choose to do in your heart is all the power that you should choose to depend on." [00:02:38]
"That sometimes we think the capacity for us to accomplish something is external to the power that is already within us. That the power of this word is our faith in the word. And so often we, you know, we have people who swear in, you know, I mean, I've seen it in a court of law." [00:04:12]
"And so we try to attach these external accoutrements to our word. To create some substantiation of the authenticity of the word when the power is in your word. And so often we'll even make, you know, a proclamation for the year. Oh, I'm going to do this. I'm going to do this. But you know something?" [00:04:50]
"But as your brother and as your friend, what I want to, encourage you with today is that why all of those things are certainly necessary and are ingredients for us to overcome whatever challenge that might come before us, for us to be genuinely successful in life, in your personal life, in the life of the church, life of your community." [00:07:17]
"The most important ingredient is faith. because it's possible to be handsome I'm trying to find a handsome man in here David you can have this distinguished professorial look like David all right he's a oh I wish if I could just be like David yeah you know oh my gosh then I could really have it going on you know okay you know so so you know you you you you can you you can have all of these different things but at the same time you know in your heart of hearts you're not doing what God has called you to do you haven't fulfilled your divine mission and it's usually because a limitation in faith it usually isn't an absence it's a limitation now I maintain that we all have faith I maintain that we all have faith we all have a measure of it I mean when you get in your car get in your car turn on your car you drive out of the parking lot here you turn left or right on 16 and a half sometimes your your mind is gone you're thinking about something else you're thinking about the next thing you're gonna do you're just turning but every time you turn that wheel" [00:09:55]
"Your car is going in the direction that you want it to go without the slightest second or third thought of it. You don't think about the connection between your steering wheel and the wheels of the car. You don't even know whether it's a mechanical one or it's a drive -by -wire, whatever. You just know, if I turn it, it's going to go because that's what it always does." [00:11:59]
"However, all too often, we don't realize the connection between faith and the direction of our lives. That there is a linkage there that we don't really have to think about. But we should appreciate the reality of that connection enough to take our lives by the wheel through our faith in God so that he's really the one who's steering our lives." [00:13:00]
"And a man comes up and says, please have pity on me or mercy on me, depending upon your scripture, your understanding. Your version of scripture. He comes up and says, my son has a deaf and mute spirit. And this spirit will throw him into the fire, into the water. And he says, if you can, have mercy or pity on us. And I like what Jesus says." [00:13:55]
"He basically says, if? If? In other words, the guy had a measure of faith, otherwise he wouldn't have brought the child to Jesus to begin with, right? He believed that this guy is really like everything that everyone has been saying. Word has been spreading like wildfire. This is my chance." [00:15:24]
"So I think that as we go into 2025, God is going to bring us challenges, opportunities, adversity, and the real challenge is not going to be the hardship. But whether we're going to go to God and say, if, or we're going to say, when. Are we going to have enough faith in God to ask him and say, if?" [00:17:57]
"to take some risk, it requires us to step out. But the more we move, it is the evidence of our faith. When we move without knowing where all the pieces are, without knowing how it's all going to come together, when we just do what God has called us to do, he has a way of bringing all the resources that are needed to accomplish that which you've set out to do in his name." [00:24:34]
"be ready to give up something that is important to you so that you can get something that's more important than what you thought was important and that is the faith to be able to make it through the challenge that is before you faith does work and when we have God's faith in us we can do things that we thought were not possible amen" [00:25:58]
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