Living a Faith-Fueled Life: Transforming the World
Summary
### Summary
Tonight, we delved into Hebrews 11, focusing on the theme of "Your Life on Faith." This chapter is a powerful testament to the lives of the righteous and faithful, showcasing how faith has been the driving force behind monumental acts and miracles throughout biblical history. We explored the stories of various biblical figures like Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, and Samuel, who through faith, subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, and stopped the mouths of lions. These stories remind us that faith is not passive; it is active, dynamic, and transformative.
Faith is the medium through which we connect with God's will and act upon it without wavering. It is not about avoiding hardships but facing them with the assurance that God is with us. We are called to live for our faith, and in doing so, we become more like Christ. This journey of faith is not solitary; we are never alone. God’s presence is with us, guiding and empowering us through every trial and tribulation.
We also touched on the importance of standing firm in our faith, even when it leads to persecution or martyrdom. The examples of historical figures like Hugh Latimer and Ridley, who were martyred for their faith, serve as powerful reminders of the cost of discipleship and the eternal impact of a life lived in unwavering faith.
In our current times, we are called to exercise our faith to influence and transform the world around us. This includes praying fervently for our nation and standing up for righteousness. Faith is not just about personal piety but about engaging with the world to bring about God's kingdom on earth.
### Key Takeaways
1. Faith in Action: Faith is not a passive belief but an active force that drives us to act upon God's will without wavering. It is through faith that we face and overcome impossible situations, becoming more like Christ in the process. Faith is the vehicle that takes us to the mission, the cause, and the battle that God has set before us. [13:19]
2. Never Alone: As believers, we are never alone in our journey of faith. God's presence is always with us, guiding and empowering us. Even in the most challenging situations, like Daniel in the lion's den, we can trust that God is with us, and through faith, we can overcome any obstacle. [11:27]
3. Faith and Persecution: The stories of biblical and historical figures who faced persecution and martyrdom for their faith remind us of the cost of discipleship. Standing firm in our faith, even in the face of death, is a powerful testimony to the world and a means through which God accomplishes His purposes. [37:12]
4. Transforming the World: Our faith is not just for personal edification but for transforming the world around us. Through faith, we can influence political realms, work righteousness, and bring about God's kingdom on earth. This includes praying fervently for our nation and standing up for justice and righteousness. [21:30]
5. Continuous Renewal: We need to continuously seek the filling of the Holy Spirit to empower us for the journey of faith. This involves a daily commitment to surrender to God's will, allowing His Spirit to guide and transform us. It is through this continuous renewal that we can live powerful, impactful lives for God's glory. [47:19]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[00:38] - Reading from Hebrews 11
[01:29] - Faith in Action
[02:47] - Prayer for Transformation
[03:20] - Your Life on Faith
[04:22] - Living for Your Faith
[05:21] - Facing Impossible Situations
[06:19] - Never Stand Alone
[07:31] - The Role of Women in Faith
[10:29] - Through Faith
[13:19] - Practical Use of Faith
[18:49] - Subduing Kingdoms
[21:30] - Transforming the World
[26:47] - Working Righteousness
[37:12] - Faith and Persecution
[47:19] - Continuous Renewal
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Hebrews 11:30-40
#### Observation Questions
1. What are some of the miraculous acts accomplished through faith as mentioned in Hebrews 11:30-40?
2. How does the sermon describe the role of faith in facing impossible situations? [05:21]
3. What examples from the sermon illustrate that believers are never alone in their journey of faith? [11:27]
4. How does the sermon connect the concept of faith with the idea of transforming the world around us? [21:30]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean to have "faith in action" according to the sermon, and how does this concept relate to the examples given in Hebrews 11? [13:19]
2. How does the sermon explain the relationship between faith and persecution, and what historical examples are provided to illustrate this? [37:12]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that faith can influence political realms and bring about righteousness? [21:30]
4. How does the sermon describe the continuous renewal of faith and the role of the Holy Spirit in this process? [47:19]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you faced an impossible situation. How did your faith influence your response, and what was the outcome? [05:21]
2. Have you ever felt alone in your faith journey? How did you experience God's presence during that time, and what did you learn from it? [11:27]
3. The sermon mentions the cost of discipleship, including persecution and martyrdom. How do you feel about the potential costs of standing firm in your faith? [37:12]
4. In what ways can you actively use your faith to influence and transform your community or workplace? What specific actions can you take this week? [21:30]
5. How can you incorporate a daily practice of seeking the Holy Spirit's renewal in your life? What changes might you need to make to prioritize this? [47:19]
6. The sermon encourages praying fervently for our nation. How can you incorporate this practice into your daily routine, and what specific issues will you pray for? [22:53]
7. Think of a current challenge you are facing. How can you apply the principles of faith discussed in the sermon to navigate this challenge? [19:54]
Devotional
Day 1: Faith in Action
Faith is not a passive belief but an active force that drives us to act upon God's will without wavering. It is through faith that we face and overcome impossible situations, becoming more like Christ in the process. Faith is the vehicle that takes us to the mission, the cause, and the battle that God has set before us. The stories of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, and Samuel illustrate how faith can lead to monumental acts and miracles. These figures did not merely believe; they acted on their faith, subduing kingdoms, working righteousness, obtaining promises, and stopping the mouths of lions. Their lives serve as powerful examples of how faith can transform our actions and lead to extraordinary outcomes. [13:19]
Hebrews 11:32-34 (ESV): "And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight."
Reflection: Think of a situation in your life that seems impossible. How can you actively apply your faith to face and overcome this challenge today?
Day 2: Never Alone
As believers, we are never alone in our journey of faith. God's presence is always with us, guiding and empowering us. Even in the most challenging situations, like Daniel in the lion's den, we can trust that God is with us, and through faith, we can overcome any obstacle. This assurance of God's presence provides us with the strength and courage to face trials and tribulations. It is a reminder that our faith journey is not solitary; we have a constant companion in God who supports and sustains us. [11:27]
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV): "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent challenge you faced. How did you experience God's presence with you during that time? How can this assurance help you in future trials?
Day 3: Faith and Persecution
The stories of biblical and historical figures who faced persecution and martyrdom for their faith remind us of the cost of discipleship. Standing firm in our faith, even in the face of death, is a powerful testimony to the world and a means through which God accomplishes His purposes. The examples of Hugh Latimer and Ridley, who were martyred for their faith, serve as powerful reminders of the eternal impact of a life lived in unwavering faith. Their sacrifices highlight the importance of remaining steadfast in our beliefs, regardless of the consequences. [37:12]
2 Timothy 3:12 (ESV): "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
Reflection: Consider a time when you felt pressured to compromise your faith. How can the examples of those who stood firm in their faith inspire you to remain steadfast in your beliefs?
Day 4: Transforming the World
Our faith is not just for personal edification but for transforming the world around us. Through faith, we can influence political realms, work righteousness, and bring about God's kingdom on earth. This includes praying fervently for our nation and standing up for justice and righteousness. Faith calls us to engage with the world actively, using our beliefs to effect positive change and promote God's will in our communities and beyond. [21:30]
Micah 6:8 (ESV): "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
Reflection: Identify one area in your community where you see a need for justice or righteousness. How can you use your faith to make a positive impact in that area?
Day 5: Continuous Renewal
We need to continuously seek the filling of the Holy Spirit to empower us for the journey of faith. This involves a daily commitment to surrender to God's will, allowing His Spirit to guide and transform us. It is through this continuous renewal that we can live powerful, impactful lives for God's glory. By seeking the Holy Spirit's guidance and strength, we can remain steadfast in our faith and be effective instruments of God's will. [47:19]
Ephesians 5:18-20 (ESV): "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Reflection: What daily practices can you incorporate into your life to seek the continuous filling of the Holy Spirit? How can these practices help you stay aligned with God's will?
Quotes
1. "Faith is active. It's a verb. It's moving. It lives. It breathes. It doesn't stop. Faith. Incredible. And we learned that in verses 30 to 31 that it's your life on faith. And when that happens, it's the fact that you and I will face impossible situations in life. You're not gonna escape that, everybody. We're not supposed to escape impossible situations. You and I experience the same hardships and difficulties that unbelievers experience. The difference is, we have a purpose and we have a purpose and that purpose is that as we go through those difficulties, we become more like Christ." [05:21] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "You will never stand alone. You will never stand alone in all of that. In fact, remember verse 32, it says, what more shall we say then for time would fail me to tell of Gideon. And then the author goes through this almost shotgun version of these names that come rolling off of his tongue. His memory goes and these names come flying out. Gideon, amazing. And I encourage you to read the book of Judges. It's pretty short but super powerful. Gideon, an amazing man that God called." [06:19] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The Bible is the very book that has given women's rights and argument. It's the Bible that says that male and female are the same. It's the Bible that honors women. Did you know that? Don't swallow the woke, garbage that's out there. Oh, you know, Christians, you know. No, no. You don't know. You look at all the great movements that brought liberty and freedom and rights and they're Christian. Christian driven. You think about even in our modern time of Martin Luther King Jr. Does anybody remember that he was a pastor and an activist?" [08:02] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Real faith is to know God's will and to act upon it without wavering. Can I read that again? This is the practical use of faith. When the Bible says who through faith, so this is the practical use of faith. The Bible literally gives man the definition of what real faith is. Real faith is to know God's will, and to act upon it without wavering. You know that this is what God has spoken to you. And by the way, you can be sure of it because the directive that you've been given can be found in the Bible. It's Bible-based. It's not feeling-based." [13:19] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Faith is not the end. Oh, I have faith. I have so much faith. And you talk about your faith. Don't talk about your faith. Do it. Faith is not to be talked about. Look, I'm pushing up against some things right now about if you have enough faith, you'll never be poor. If you have enough faith, you'll never be sick. If you have enough faith, fill in the blank. What is this? What is this? It's silly. It's nuts. It's putting faith in faith. You don't put faith in faith. Faith is the vehicle that drives you to the mission. Faith is the vehicle that takes you to the cause." [16:23] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Faith does that. Lord, I need you. God, I need you to move in my life. I'm calling out from here to him, and it's faith that connects me to the very will of God. The response of God is going to come through faith. Many times we have prayed and asked God to move, but we weren't praying in faith, and God didn't move. Or God is saying, that's not my will. Maybe we asked something out of his will. And that's always going to happen in our lives because we're imperfect. But God's desire is for you and I, in all that we do, know this, you're never standing alone, and God will advance you as you seek him through faith." [18:14] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "You don't have some accidents in your life. Look, even when we have an accident, it's not an accident. Well, my car just got hit last week and it was an accident. Was it an accident to God? No. It was an accident to you, but not to God, which makes it not an accident to you. He's involved. He's in all of that. And I just love, I love, watch this. Subdued. So through faith, kingdoms can be subdued. Wow, really? The word subdued, look at this. The word means this. To struggle against. To struggle until conquered. To war on or to fight until. Until." [20:30] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "As believers, you and I are living right now and with all that's going on in the world around us, according to God's word, we can change, we can change kingdoms through faith. My question is, I hope it's not too late, meaning it's not that God can't do it, it's that God gave us the time and the opportunity to seek him and we didn't. Has the window closed? I'm going to let the cat out of the bag right now. But see, this won't affect you guys because you're Wednesday nighters. So in the not too distant future, I'm going to deliberately call, I don't have the date yet, I'm going to deliberately announce in advance, intentionally, this is our secret, that on a certain Sunday, for each of the three services, as Jesus said, my father's house shall be called the house of prayer. On a Sunday morning, we are going to dedicate that service, first and second and then third, all to prayer for our nation and for our country." [21:30] (80 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "You will never stand alone. Look at verse 33. It says this. Who through faith, Mark the word through. It's not by faith. In verse 33, it says, who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, and stopped the mouths of lions. I want you to write this down. Where it says through faith, we're going to study this right now. But just know this. In chapter 11, write it down in your margins 18 times. In chapter 11, it says, who by faith did their great exploits for God. By faith. Okay? This argument in verse 33 is that you and I stand and we do not ever stand alone when we're standing in God's will to live for God's purposes. Never." [10:29] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "Faith is the vehicle that takes you to the cause. It takes you to the answer. It takes you to the battle. It takes you to the issue. The Bible says, you know this, Hebrews 11 verse 1 says, now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith. Remarkable. Another quote. To use faith biblically is to take your, or to, yeah, to take your existence, issue, reliance, and dependence in any given situation, for example, life itself, and placing your existence, your issue, your reliance, your dependence in the hands of God." [16:57] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?