Living Faith: Trusting God in Every Circumstance
Summary
In my sermon, I began by emphasizing the importance of faith in the life of a believer. I recounted the biblical definition of faith from Hebrews 11:1, explaining that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. I stressed that faith is not merely a mental agreement with the truth of God's Word but a confident assurance that brings the unseen into reality. I shared how Jesus exemplified this confidence in various situations, such as calling Lazarus from the grave, calming the storm, and forgiving those who crucified Him.
I then moved on to discuss the practical application of faith in our lives, using personal anecdotes to illustrate how faith has been a driving force in my own experiences. I shared a story about a motorcycle accident involving a friend named Eddie, who was hit by a car. Despite the dire circumstances, I chose to exercise faith by praying and declaring life over him. Miraculously, Eddie survived and recovered beyond medical expectations, which I attributed to the power of faith in God's promises.
I also talked about the importance of corresponding action with faith, using the example of Jesus instructing Simon Peter to cast his nets into the deep water. Although Peter had fished all night without success, his obedience to Jesus' command resulted in a miraculous catch. This story served as a reminder that faith requires us to act on God's Word, even when it seems illogical.
Throughout the sermon, I emphasized that faith is not passive but active, involving both belief and action. I encouraged the congregation to cultivate a heart of faith by renewing their minds daily with the Word of God and to stand firm on the promises of God, regardless of the circumstances.
I concluded by reminding the congregation that faith is a lifestyle, not a one-time event. It's about walking by faith and not by sight, continually trusting in God's faithfulness and His ability to do the impossible.
Key Takeaways:
1. Faith is the confident assurance that what we hope for will come to pass, even when we cannot see it. This confidence is not based on our own abilities but on the trustworthiness of God's promises. Just as Jesus was confident in His actions and words, we too must have this unwavering confidence in God's faithfulness to His Word. [45:06]
2. Our actions must align with our faith. Faith without corresponding action is dead. When Jesus told Peter to cast his nets into the deep, it required Peter to act on Jesus' word. Similarly, we must be willing to take steps of obedience, even when they defy our understanding or experience. [12:40]
3. The power of life and death is in the tongue, and we must speak life by declaring God's promises over our situations. Just as I declared life over my friend Eddie after his accident, we too have the authority to speak life and see God's power manifest in our circumstances. [01:36:15]
4. Faith is not just for the extraordinary moments but for everyday life. It's a lifestyle of trusting God and walking in His ways. Whether we're facing trials or going about our daily tasks, faith should permeate every aspect of our lives, guiding our decisions and actions. [01:43:53]
5. We must believe before we see the manifestation of our prayers. Faith knows that if God's Word says it, then it is already ours. We must stand firm on this truth, regardless of what our physical senses may tell us. This heart faith is what moves mountains and brings the promises of God into our reality. [01:00:48]
Remember, faith is not a passive stance but an active trust in God that compels us to live out His Word in every area of our lives.
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
2. James 2:17 - "Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."
3. Mark 11:23-24 - "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Hebrews 11:1, how is faith defined in the Bible?
2. What does James 2:17 say about the relationship between faith and works?
3. In Mark 11:23-24, what does Jesus say about the power of belief and prayer?
4. In the sermon, what personal story did the pastor share to illustrate the power of faith in action? ([01:05:26])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the biblical definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1 challenge or affirm your current understanding of faith?
2. Why do you think James emphasizes that faith without works is dead? How does this align with the pastor's example of Peter casting his nets? ([12:40])
3. What does it mean to "speak life" over a situation, as illustrated by the pastor's story about Eddie? How does this relate to Mark 11:23-24? ([01:36:15])
4. How can the concept of faith as a lifestyle, rather than a one-time event, change the way you approach daily challenges? ([01:43:53])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a situation in your life where you need to exercise faith. How can you apply the principle of "confident assurance" from Hebrews 11:1 to this situation?
2. Think of a recent challenge you faced. Did your actions align with your faith? How can you ensure that your future actions reflect your faith in God's promises? ([12:40])
3. The pastor shared a story about declaring life over his friend Eddie. Is there a situation in your life where you need to "speak life"? What specific words or promises from God can you declare over that situation? ([01:36:15])
4. Faith requires both belief and action. Identify one area in your life where you need to take a step of faith. What specific action can you take this week to demonstrate your faith? ([12:40])
5. How can you cultivate a heart of faith by renewing your mind daily with the Word of God? What practical steps can you take to make this a consistent habit? ([01:43:53])
6. Reflect on a time when you had to believe before seeing the manifestation of your prayers. How did that experience strengthen your faith? How can you apply that lesson to your current prayer life? ([01:00:48])
7. The pastor emphasized that faith is a lifestyle. What changes can you make in your daily routine to ensure that faith permeates every aspect of your life? ([01:43:53])
Devotional
Day 1: Unseen Realities Become Certain
Faith is not a mere acknowledgment of religious truths but a firm assurance that shapes reality. It is the confident expectation that what is hoped for will indeed happen, despite it being unseen. This assurance is deeply rooted in the character and promises of God, not in human strength or wisdom. It is the kind of faith that Jesus demonstrated when He performed miracles and forgave His enemies, showing that what is unseen is not unknown to God and can be brought into existence through unwavering trust in Him. This faith transforms how one perceives and interacts with the world, anchoring in the certainty of God's faithfulness rather than the shifting sands of circumstance. [45:06]
"For we walk by faith, not by sight." - 2 Corinthians 5:7
Reflection: How can you exercise faith today in an area of your life where the outcome is not yet visible?
Day 2: Obedience Activates Faith
True faith is never idle; it compels action that aligns with God's Word. It is not enough to believe in the promises of God; one must also take steps that demonstrate this belief. This is exemplified in the story of Peter, who, after a fruitless night of fishing, obeyed Jesus' instruction to cast his nets once more, resulting in a miraculous catch. This act of obedience, despite seeming illogical, was an expression of faith in Jesus' word. Faith, therefore, is not passive but requires one to act, sometimes against conventional wisdom, trusting that God's ways are higher than our own. [12:40]
"And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching." - Mark 1:21
Reflection: What is one step of obedience you can take today that may seem illogical but is in line with God's Word?
Day 3: Speaking Life Through Faith
The power of the spoken word is a profound principle in the realm of faith. Words are not merely sounds but carriers of life or death, blessing or curse. By declaring God's promises over situations, believers exercise their God-given authority to speak life and align their reality with God's truth. This is not a mere positive confession but a declaration made in faith, knowing that what is spoken in alignment with God's will has the power to change circumstances, as demonstrated when life was declared over a gravely injured friend, resulting in a miraculous recovery. [01:36:15]
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits." - Proverbs 18:21
Reflection: What situation in your life needs a declaration of faith today, and what specific promise of God can you proclaim over it?
Day 4: Faith as a Daily Walk
Faith is not reserved for the extraordinary moments but is a daily journey of trust and reliance on God. It is a lifestyle that permeates every aspect of a believer's life, influencing decisions, actions, and attitudes. Walking by faith means continually trusting in God's faithfulness and His ability to do the impossible, regardless of the trials faced or the mundanity of daily tasks. It is a conscious choice to live out God's Word in every situation, knowing that faith is the lens through which believers view their entire existence. [01:43:53]
"And he said to them, 'Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.'" - Luke 12:15
Reflection: In what mundane aspect of your daily routine can you more consciously walk by faith?
Day 5: Believing Before Seeing
The essence of faith is to believe in the fulfillment of God's promises before any physical evidence is apparent. It is a heart conviction that what God has said is already an accomplished fact, regardless of sensory experience. This kind of faith is not swayed by what is seen or felt but stands firm on the truth of God's Word. It is the type of faith that moves mountains and brings the promises of God into one's lived reality, knowing that if God has declared it, it is already possessed in the spiritual realm. [01:00:48]
"For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?" - Romans 8:24
Reflection: What promise of God are you holding onto, and how can you affirm your faith in its fulfillment today, despite what you see?
Quotes
1) "I walk by faith and not by sight. I walk by faith and not by sight. I walk by faith and not by sight. I walk by what and not by what? I'mma show you it right now. The world says this is two things: you're an optimist or a pessimist. One says this is half empty, and the other says it's half full. That is fact, correct? But do you go on fact, or do you go on truth? The truth says you are full and overflowing." [01:52:36]
2) "Now faith means that we are confident of what we hope for and convinced of what we don't see. How confident are you? Jesus was confident when he said Lazarus come forth. Jesus was confident when he said Peace be still. Jesus was confident when he said father forgive them for they know not what they do." [45:06]
3) "I walk in faith when I know that I'm here to keep pushing and keep planting. I know that I have a life better than ever. That better than ever is a life through Jesus Christ. So why do I know that? It's because of Psalms 27 right here. The Lord is the strength of my life." [49:31]
4) "We set that groundwork, we set that President, we put that expectation and that whole time we were in the hospital. Praise God, I didn't have to kick anybody out except for one person. You know what the sad thing was? It was another Pastor. I don't care what they say, I don't need you to tell me nothing. I know what the word says." [01:22:31]
5) "I remember hitting the ground and rolling up and say by His stripes I am healed. Thank you, Lord, that I'm good to go. I'm a little guy, and you know what? God healed me. It was a miracle that my nose wasn't broken and my blade, and I kept on playing and I was good." [01:03:55]
6) "I'm telling you if a guy can put his hand and get bitten by a viper by a snake and not hurt him, do you not think I can have that same authority when ants get on me? Why? Because I'm doing God's purpose, I'm doing his will. No respect to a person, that's just one example of faith in action." [01:46:47]
7) "I'm telling you that I know that I know that I know that's the power of your God, which is my God. He's no respecter of persons, but when you try to figure it out, get in your head faith instead of your heart faith, and start asking why God, why God, why God, you miss the point of faith." [01:16:37]
8) "I'm telling you, you're going to do whatever's inside of you. That's why the Bible says hide God's word in your heart so you might not sin against Him. And you know what? It is a sin not to walk in faith. So, I know there's power in the name of Jesus, and I know that God spoke life." [01:10:15]
9) "I'm telling you, I did this over and over and over, and then Eddie goes 'uhh,' and that going 'uhh' was like him saying, 'Hey, I'm fine dude, thanks, appreciate it.' That's what I heard, but in the natural, I heard life. Here's the cool thing, so that's that part." [01:13:10]
10) "I'm telling you, that's the power of your God, which is my God. He's no respecter of persons. But when you try to figure it out, get in your head faith instead of your heart faith, and start asking why God, why God, why God, you miss the point of faith." [01:16:37]
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