Growing Faith Through Challenges and Intentional Action
Summary
Exercising faith is a journey that involves growth, challenges, and intentional action. Faith is not about how gifted we are in ministry but about the faith we exercise. This is encouraging because it means that everyone can grow in faith, regardless of their natural abilities. Faith is like a muscle that strengthens when exercised, especially during challenging times. The Bible provides numerous examples of faith being tested, such as when losing a trusted friend, facing overwhelming tasks, or enduring relentless opposition. These challenges are opportunities for growth if we trust in the Lord.
Faith is manual, not automatic. It requires intentional engagement, much like shifting gears in a manual car when climbing a steep hill. We must actively apply our faith to the specific challenges we face. This is a conscious decision to trust God in every situation, knowing that faith does not operate on autopilot.
The testimony of Philip Ryken, who faced a period of deep discouragement, illustrates how faith can be exercised through maintaining daily rhythms, seeking support from friends, engaging in worship, and immersing oneself in God's Word. These practices are gifts from God that sustain us through dark times. Similarly, a church in a challenging community found strength by praying for faith every Saturday night, resulting in a vibrant and joyful congregation.
In summary, faith can grow, will be challenged, and must be exercised intentionally. By trusting God in difficult circumstances, we not only strengthen our own faith but also inspire others to do the same.
Key Takeaways:
- Faith Over Ability: Success in ministry is not about our abilities but the faith we exercise. This is encouraging because it means everyone can grow in faith, regardless of their natural talents. Faith is the key to being useful in God's service. [00:11]
- Faith Grows Through Challenges: Faith is like a muscle that grows when exercised, especially during challenging times. When we face difficulties, such as losing a friend or facing overwhelming tasks, these are opportunities for our faith to grow if we trust in the Lord. [04:56]
- Manual Faith: Faith is not automatic; it requires intentional engagement. Like shifting gears in a manual car, we must actively apply our faith to the challenges we face. This conscious decision to trust God in every situation is crucial for spiritual growth. [16:27]
- Support in Darkness: During times of discouragement, maintaining daily rhythms, seeking support from friends, engaging in worship, and immersing oneself in God's Word are vital. These practices are gifts from God that sustain us through dark times and help us exercise faith. [20:12]
- Community of Faith: A church in a challenging community found strength by praying for faith, resulting in a vibrant congregation. When we exercise faith, especially in difficult circumstances, we not only strengthen our own faith but also inspire and uplift others. [26:53]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Importance of Faith Over Ability
- [00:32] - Encouragement in Ministry
- [01:05] - Expect Great Things
- [02:17] - Faith Can Grow
- [03:29] - Strengthening Faith in Thessalonica
- [04:56] - Faith Grows Through Challenges
- [06:54] - Facing Overwhelming Tasks
- [08:15] - After Great Works
- [09:10] - Relentless Opposition
- [10:42] - Evil and Injustice
- [12:41] - Tired of the Battle
- [14:34] - Faith is Manual, Not Automatic
- [18:16] - Exercising Faith in Challenges
- [19:16] - Philip Ryken's Testimony
- [25:40] - Community of Faith in Hard Times
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Exercising Faith
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 14:31 - "Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. 'You of little faith,' he said, 'why did you doubt?'"
2. Romans 4:20 - "Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God."
3. 2 Thessalonians 1:3 - "We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing."
Observation Questions:
1. What does Jesus' response to Peter in Matthew 14:31 reveal about the nature of faith and doubt?
2. How does Romans 4:20 describe Abraham's faith journey, and what was the result of his unwavering belief?
3. According to 2 Thessalonians 1:3, what are the two things that Paul is thankful for in the Thessalonian church?
4. In the sermon, what are some of the specific challenges mentioned that can test and grow our faith? [04:56]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How might the different degrees of faith mentioned in Matthew 14:31 and Romans 4:20 apply to the challenges faced by believers today?
2. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between faith and ability in ministry? How does this perspective encourage believers? [00:11]
3. How can the analogy of faith being like a muscle, as mentioned in the sermon, help us understand the process of spiritual growth? [04:21]
4. In what ways does the sermon illustrate the importance of community and support in sustaining faith during difficult times? [20:12]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent challenge you faced. How did you exercise your faith in that situation, and what was the outcome? [04:56]
2. The sermon emphasizes that faith is manual, not automatic. Identify a current situation where you need to consciously apply your faith. What steps will you take to do this? [16:27]
3. Consider the role of daily rhythms, such as prayer and Bible reading, in strengthening your faith. How can you incorporate these practices more intentionally into your life? [20:12]
4. Think about a time when you felt discouraged or overwhelmed. How did the support of friends or community help you through it? How can you be that support for someone else now? [22:22]
5. The sermon shared a story about a church praying for faith in a challenging community. How can your small group or church community intentionally pray for faith and support each other in difficult times? [26:53]
6. Reflect on the analogy of shifting gears in a manual car. What "gear" do you need to engage in your faith journey right now, and why? [17:06]
7. Identify one area in your life where you feel your faith is being tested. What practical steps can you take to trust God more in this area? [18:16]
Devotional
Day 1: Faith Over Ability
Faith is not about our natural abilities or talents but about the faith we exercise. This is a profound encouragement because it means that everyone, regardless of their inherent skills, can grow in faith and be useful in God's service. Faith is the key to success in ministry and life, as it allows us to rely on God's strength rather than our own. When we focus on exercising faith, we open ourselves to God's transformative power, which can work through us in ways we never imagined. This perspective shifts our focus from self-reliance to God-reliance, enabling us to serve with humility and effectiveness. [00:11]
1 Corinthians 1:27-29 (ESV): "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God."
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you feel inadequate. How can you begin to exercise faith in that area, trusting God to work through your perceived weaknesses?
Day 2: Faith Grows Through Challenges
Faith is like a muscle that grows stronger when exercised, especially during challenging times. When we face difficulties, such as losing a friend or dealing with overwhelming tasks, these are opportunities for our faith to grow if we trust in the Lord. Challenges are not meant to break us but to build us up, refining our character and deepening our reliance on God. By viewing challenges as opportunities for growth, we can approach them with a mindset of faith, knowing that God is with us and will use these experiences to strengthen our faith. [04:56]
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 recent challenge you faced. How did you respond, and how might you approach a similar situation in the future with a mindset of faith and growth?
Day 3: Manual Faith
Faith is not automatic; it requires intentional engagement, much like shifting gears in a manual car. We must actively apply our faith to the specific challenges we face, making a conscious decision to trust God in every situation. This intentionality is crucial for spiritual growth, as it keeps us engaged and reliant on God rather than coasting through life on autopilot. By actively choosing to trust God, we cultivate a faith that is dynamic and responsive to the circumstances we encounter. [16:27]
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: Consider a current challenge in your life. What specific steps can you take today to intentionally engage your faith in this situation?
Day 4: Support in Darkness
During times of discouragement, maintaining daily rhythms, seeking support from friends, engaging in worship, and immersing oneself in God's Word are vital. These practices are gifts from God that sustain us through dark times and help us exercise faith. By leaning on these supports, we can find strength and encouragement to persevere, knowing that we are not alone in our struggles. These practices help us to keep our focus on God and His promises, providing a foundation of hope and resilience. [20:12]
Psalm 119:105 (ESV): "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
Reflection: Reflect on your current spiritual practices. How can you incorporate more intentional support, such as community or scripture, into your daily routine to sustain your faith during difficult times?
Day 5: Community of Faith
A church in a challenging community found strength by praying for faith, resulting in a vibrant and joyful congregation. When we exercise faith, especially in difficult circumstances, we not only strengthen our own faith but also inspire and uplift others. A community of faith can be a powerful source of encouragement and support, as we share our burdens and joys with one another. By praying for and with each other, we create an environment where faith can flourish, and God's presence is tangibly felt. [26:53]
Acts 2:42-47 (ESV): "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common."
Reflection: How can you contribute to building a community of faith in your church or small group? What specific actions can you take to encourage and support others in their faith journey?
Quotes
Success in the Lord's service is very generally in proportion to Faith, it is certainly not in proportion to Ability according to your faith be it unto you it is essential then he says that we should have faith if we are to be useful and that we should have great faith if we are to be greatly useful. [00:11]
What matters most is not how gifted you are for Ministry what matters most is the faith that you exercise in Ministry and that's good news because all of us as we're going to see today can grow in faith. [00:43]
Faith is like a muscle and it grows by by being exercised think about it if you break your arm and it's wrapped in a plaster cast then the muscles in your arm they're going to weaken and when after a few weeks the cast comes off you're going to have to do a whole lot of exercise to rebuild the strength of the muscles again. [04:23]
The times that most challenge your faith are the times when your faith can grow so let's look at some of these times that challenge our faith together we've seen that your faith can grow and it's going to grow when your faith is challenged. [05:00]
Your faith will be challenged when you lose a trusted friend friend this happened to the Apostle Paul on several occasions he says Deus in love with this present world has deserted me and gone to thessalonica cresence has gone to galatia Titus to Dalmatia here were three men friends colleagues with whom the Apostle Paul served. [05:24]
Your faith will be challenged when You Face Relentless opposition now this is what happened to Jeremiah over a long period of time and he says oh Lord you have deceived me and I was deceived you are strong stronger than I and you have prevailed I have become a laughing stalk all the day everyone mocks me. [09:13]
Faith is not something that acts automatically faith is not something that acts magically this he says I think is the blunder of which we have all at some time or another we seem to think that faith is something that acts automatically. [15:39]
Faith is an activity it is something that has to be exercised it does not come into operation itself you and I have to put it into operation that is exactly why our lord said to these men where is your faith which means why are you not taking your faith and applying it to this position. [16:27]
Faith does not act automatically you're going to have to engage Faith Like engaging a gear and you're going to have to exercise faith in regards to to the particular challenge that you are facing at any particular time I have to trust God in regard to this this is what faith does faith trusts God for the hill that you're climbing. [17:44]
Philip riken president of Wheaten College he shares his story of how his faith was tested through a time of great Darkness he's written about it in a book called when Trouble Comes and I quote it was the spring semester of the Academic Year and I was in trouble real trouble over the course of several long and difficult weeks. [19:16]
Rhythm, friends, worship and the word first Rhythm riken speaks about the value of a good night sleep eating a healthy meal and getting proper exercise I didn't have much appetite but I made sure that I ate something healthy every day I pushed myself to get physical exercise even when I didn't have a lot of energy. [21:04]
When you exercise faith is especially in the hard circumstances of Life your faith will be strengthened and more than that you're going to lift others up when you trust God others will see it and they'll be helped to do the same. [27:28]
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