Seeing Beyond: The Power of Faith in Action
Summary
### Summary
Welcome to the Summer of One series, where we focus on discovering one way God wants us to have an impact. Today, we delve into the gift of faith, distinguishing it from saving faith. Saving faith is the measure of faith that allows us to receive salvation, while the gift of faith enables us to see beyond the ordinary and perceive God's truth with greater clarity. This gift empowers us to witness and believe in miracles, as illustrated by the story of Lazarus. Jesus asked Martha to believe in the impossible, showcasing the profound faith required to see God's glory.
We often live in a managed reality, influenced by societal narratives and personal experiences that cloud our vision. This managed reality can distort our perception, making us skeptical and anxious. However, the gift of faith allows us to see through these distortions and recognize the greater reality of God's kingdom. This kingdom is not just a future promise but a present reality that surrounds us and is more real than our current circumstances.
To build this faith, we must suspend our unbelief and pray with the authority that Jesus has given us. This involves praying with full faith and full submission, trusting God to act in His way and in His time. The story of Lazarus teaches us that when we see through the lens of faith, we can perceive God's kingdom and His power to bring life to dead situations.
Jesus spoke extensively about the kingdom of heaven, emphasizing its presence in our midst. Understanding this helps us see beyond our immediate reality and trust in God's greater plan. The gift of faith enables us to see things as already done in God's kingdom, encouraging us to act on our faith. We are called to take steps of faith, believing that God can and will act according to His will.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Gift of Faith vs. Saving Faith: Saving faith is the measure of faith that allows us to receive salvation, while the gift of faith enables us to see beyond the ordinary and perceive God's truth with greater clarity. This gift empowers us to witness and believe in miracles, as illustrated by the story of Lazarus. [08:30]
2. Managed Reality and Distorted Vision: Our perception is often clouded by societal narratives and personal experiences, leading to skepticism and anxiety. The gift of faith allows us to see through these distortions and recognize the greater reality of God's kingdom, which is more real than our current circumstances. [16:28]
3. Praying with Full Faith and Submission: To build our faith, we must suspend our unbelief and pray with the authority that Jesus has given us. This involves praying with full faith and full submission, trusting God to act in His way and in His time. [28:11]
4. Seeing the Kingdom of Heaven: Jesus emphasized the presence of the kingdom of heaven in our midst. Understanding this helps us see beyond our immediate reality and trust in God's greater plan. The gift of faith enables us to see things as already done in God's kingdom, encouraging us to act on our faith. [31:30]
5. Acting on Our Faith: We are called to take steps of faith, believing that God can and will act according to His will. This involves seeing things as already done in God's kingdom and taking practical steps to act on our faith, trusting in God's power and provision. [38:36]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[06:37] - Discovering Your Impact
[08:05] - The Gift of Faith
[11:13] - The Story of Lazarus
[14:50] - Managed Reality and Distorted Vision
[19:10] - Faith in the Face of the Impossible
[22:49] - Praying with Full Faith and Submission
[28:32] - Full Faith and Full Submission
[31:30] - Seeing the Kingdom of Heaven
[34:55] - Jesus and Lazarus: Seeing It as Done
[38:36] - Acting on Our Faith
[40:17] - Encouragement to Strengthen Faith
[41:09] - Closing Prayer
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. John 11:21-27 - "Lord, Martha said to Jesus, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask. Jesus said to her, your brother will rise again. Martha answered, I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
#### Observation Questions
1. What is the difference between saving faith and the gift of faith as described in the sermon? [[08:30]]
2. How did Jesus respond to Martha when she expressed her belief that her brother would rise again? [[11:56]]
3. What does the sermon suggest about the impact of societal narratives and personal experiences on our perception of reality? [[16:28]]
4. According to the sermon, what does it mean to pray with full faith and full submission? [[28:11]]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the story of Lazarus illustrate the gift of faith and its power to see beyond the ordinary? [[11:13]]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our managed reality can distort our vision of God's kingdom? [[16:28]]
3. What does it mean to see the kingdom of heaven as a present reality, and how does this perspective influence our faith? [[31:30]]
4. How can praying with full faith and full submission change our approach to seemingly impossible situations? [[28:11]]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you faced a seemingly impossible situation. How did your faith influence your perception and actions during that time? [[20:43]]
2. The sermon mentions that societal narratives can cloud our vision and create skepticism. What are some specific societal narratives that have influenced your perception of reality, and how can you counteract them with the gift of faith? [[16:28]]
3. How can you practice praying with full faith and full submission in your daily life? Identify a specific situation where you can apply this approach. [[28:11]]
4. Jesus emphasized the presence of the kingdom of heaven in our midst. How can you cultivate an awareness of God's kingdom in your everyday life? [[31:30]]
5. The sermon encourages us to act on our faith by taking practical steps. What is one specific action you can take this week to demonstrate your faith in God's power and provision? [[38:36]]
6. Think of a situation in your life that seems "dead" or hopeless. How can you apply the gift of faith to see it as already done in God's kingdom? [[34:07]]
7. How can you support and encourage others in your small group to build their faith and see beyond their immediate reality? Share a practical way you can do this. [[37:44]]
Devotional
Day 1: The Gift of Faith vs. Saving Faith
The distinction between saving faith and the gift of faith is crucial for understanding how God works in our lives. Saving faith is the measure of faith that allows us to receive salvation, a foundational belief in Jesus Christ as our Savior. On the other hand, the gift of faith is a special endowment from God that enables us to see beyond the ordinary and perceive His truth with greater clarity. This gift empowers us to witness and believe in miracles, as illustrated by the story of Lazarus. When Jesus asked Martha to believe in the impossible, He was inviting her to exercise this profound faith to see God's glory.
The gift of faith allows us to see through the limitations of our human understanding and recognize the greater reality of God's kingdom. It is a faith that goes beyond mere belief and enters into a realm where we can witness God's miraculous power at work. This kind of faith is not just about believing in what is possible but trusting in God's ability to do the impossible. [08:30]
Hebrews 11:1 (ESV): "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
Reflection: Think of a situation in your life that seems impossible. How can you ask God to give you the gift of faith to see His power at work in that situation today?
Day 2: Managed Reality and Distorted Vision
Our perception of reality is often clouded by societal narratives and personal experiences, leading to skepticism and anxiety. This managed reality can distort our vision, making it difficult to see God's truth and His kingdom. The gift of faith allows us to see through these distortions and recognize the greater reality of God's kingdom, which is more real than our current circumstances.
Living in a managed reality means that we are often influenced by the world's standards and expectations, which can lead to a limited and distorted view of life. However, when we receive the gift of faith, we are able to see beyond these limitations and understand that God's kingdom is present and active in our midst. This perspective helps us to trust in God's greater plan and to live with a sense of peace and assurance, knowing that His reality is more significant than our own. [16:28]
2 Corinthians 4:18 (ESV): "As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent experience where you felt anxious or skeptical. How can you ask God to help you see His greater reality in that situation?
Day 3: Praying with Full Faith and Submission
To build our faith, we must suspend our unbelief and pray with the authority that Jesus has given us. This involves praying with full faith and full submission, trusting God to act in His way and in His time. When we pray with this kind of faith, we are acknowledging God's sovereignty and His ability to bring about His will in our lives.
Praying with full faith means that we approach God with confidence, believing that He hears our prayers and is able to answer them. Full submission, on the other hand, means that we trust God's timing and His methods, even when they differ from our own expectations. This kind of prayer requires a deep level of trust and surrender, recognizing that God's ways are higher than our ways. [28:11]
James 1:6 (ESV): "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind."
Reflection: Think about a prayer request you have been bringing to God. How can you pray with both full faith and full submission, trusting Him to act in His way and in His time?
Day 4: Seeing the Kingdom of Heaven
Jesus emphasized the presence of the kingdom of heaven in our midst. Understanding this helps us see beyond our immediate reality and trust in God's greater plan. The gift of faith enables us to see things as already done in God's kingdom, encouraging us to act on our faith.
The kingdom of heaven is not just a future promise but a present reality that surrounds us. When we understand this, we can live with a sense of purpose and confidence, knowing that God's kingdom is at work in our lives. This perspective helps us to trust in God's greater plan and to take steps of faith, believing that He can and will act according to His will. [31:30]
Luke 17:21 (ESV): "Nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you."
Reflection: How can you live today with the awareness that the kingdom of heaven is present in your midst? What steps of faith can you take to align your actions with this reality?
Day 5: Acting on Our Faith
We are called to take steps of faith, believing that God can and will act according to His will. This involves seeing things as already done in God's kingdom and taking practical steps to act on our faith, trusting in God's power and provision.
Acting on our faith means that we do not just believe in God's promises but also take practical steps to live out those beliefs. This requires courage and trust, as we step out in faith, believing that God will provide and guide us. When we act on our faith, we are demonstrating our trust in God's power and His ability to bring about His will in our lives. [38:36]
James 2:17 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to take a step of faith? How can you act on that faith today, trusting in God's power and provision?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "That idea is this summer, during the Summer of One series, what we want you to do is to discover one way that God wants you to have an impact. That's right. That's our laser focus. That is the one thing we're going to be encouraging you to do this summer throughout this series is to discover one way that God wants you to have an impact." [06:37] (11 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Faith enables us to peer over the veil of our day-to-day normal routines and see more of God's truth. And so the gift of faith, allows us to do that more potently, right? The gift of faith allows us to see with even greater clarity. And I want to say like this, the gift of faith enables us to see beyond the ordinary, right? It enables us to see with a clearer view of God's truth in our lives, right? A clearer view of even the world around us." [10:32] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "We all need to see clearer past what our reality tells us. So we can have a stronger confidence in who God is. So we can have stronger trust. When life is telling us a different story, we all need more clarity. So again, I'm going to encourage you to lean in because the truth is the world we live in, it can constantly cloud our vision, right? Like we're not at a neutral point. Like the world we live in is constantly blocking our vision, constantly putting things in our way, you know, so we can't even really see what's right in front of us." [14:09] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "When you pray a prayer of faith, leave the way and leave the how to God. And as a pastor, I could tell you this is a tension point, right? Because we don't want to sit here and teach that a everything you pray for will happen, right? You know, just go to that go play at lottery pray with faith bad me instant millionaire. We don't we don't want to teach that right? We want to teach that you have to know the will of God that you have to know the heart for your God. And we want to teach you that it's important that God, I can do anything. And so we need to pray with full faith, but also full submission." [28:11] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The kingdom of heaven is not just some far off place that we will go to someday, right? Although this truth to that there, there is a day of future fulfillment for us in God's kingdom, but it's so much more than that. Let's listen to Jesus own words in Luke 1720. He says the coming of the kingdom of God is not something that could be observed. No, what people say here it is or there it is. Guess what? Check out what he says. He says, because the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of God is in your midst. Jesus will let us know. He's teaching us that the kingdom of heaven, the spiritual realm of God is here within our midst. It's in our hearts as believers is are all around us, right?" [31:30] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "I want us to assume that we all have these gifts, right? I want us to just lean in by assuming, hey, maybe I do have this gift of faith because the truth is, even if you're not heart wired towards one of these gifts, the truth is that God, he doesn't use any of these gifts at any time through any of us. So I want to encourage you to exercise as we, as we're learning about this exercise, whatever faith you do have, because here's the truth. We all need a little bit more clarity. We all need to see clearer into the things of God." [13:31] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "So in turn, what we end up doing is we limit God, right? And instead of being a church of faith, we just end up being a church of managed expectations. And I got to believe this is not what God desired for us to be as believers because this greatly impacts our ability to see God for who he is and this greatly impacts our ability to see God as being greater than all of our anxiety and our fear. So let me ask you again. What do you see? I think about what do you see when somebody comes and actually to pray because they got a cancer diagnosis, you know, we say, oh my gosh, of course, I'll pray, of course, but secretly in our hearts, right? We may brace ourselves for the worst." [22:00] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "If we're going to take a step of faith, if we're going to really do this thing, we have to learn how to suspend our unbelief. We have to learn how to suspend our unbelief and start praying with the authority that Jesus died and rose to give us church. This is what we must do is not an is not a luxury, but it's a necessity for the strengthening of the church. Even when it seems silly, even when it seems unrealistic, we have to be willing to say, hey, hey, I'm going to I'm going to I'm going to walk in this Authority, right?" [24:24] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "And this is why we need the gift of faith, right? We need those who could stand up and say, hey, I believe in God, even though it's hard, even though everything is telling me that I shouldn't even though my reality, it seems to be against me. I still believe in God. We need those who have that clarity and I want to encourage you to lean into it. I'm encourage you to lean into it because I believe there's a major key for all of. To do this, right? There's a major key. I'm going to share with you. I just want you to track with me for a moment, right? As I in this, I believe there's a major key in leaning in that type of faith." [29:42] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "When we see through the kingdom of heaven, we get to see beyond the ordinary and see what God has in store for us. And this is why we need the gift of faith. This is why we need to get the fifth of faith. We need those who have the gift of faith to stand up and be an encouragement to us when we can't believe it when we're struggling. We need those to stand up and say hey, I know I you see yourself as a failure, but I see you as the child of God. I know you see yourself as struggled and has made the mistakes. But when I see you, hey, I see promise and I see purpose and I see potential and I see calling." [37:44] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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