Understanding and Growing Faith in God's Power
Summary
Faith is a profound and often misunderstood concept. It is not about dismissing reality or logic but recognizing that there is something greater beyond our understanding. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. It is the material that hope is made of, and it requires us to believe in the invisible and the intangible. Faith is not about having all the answers or understanding everything; it is about trusting in God's greater power and ability.
In Hebrews 11:1, faith is described as the essence of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. This means that faith is the very material of our hopes and dreams, the unseen evidence of what we believe in. It is not about seeing to believe but believing before seeing. Faith is needed when the thing hoped for is not present, and it is the very substance of that thing until it arrives.
Jesus demonstrated this when He calmed the storm, showing that faith is not about understanding but about believing. The disciples were afraid of the storm and then afraid of the calm because they did not understand. Jesus asked them, "How is it that you have no faith?" not because He needed an answer but to make them think about their lack of faith. Faith is not about understanding; it is about trusting in God's power and ability.
Prayer is a powerful tool that helps us focus on God rather than our problems. It elevates our faith and confidence, allowing us to see that God is greater than our circumstances. When we pray, we align ourselves with God's will, and our faith grows. We must remember that faith is not about our ability but about God's ability. It is about trusting in His power and authority.
Faith must be developed and grown. It is like a mustard seed, small but capable of growing into something great. We must plant our faith in God, not in our abilities or words. Our faith is in God, and He is the substance of what we hope for. We must align ourselves with His will, becoming unprofitable servants who are completely submitted to His authority. In doing so, we gain authority and the ability to command things in faith.
Key Takeaways:
1. Faith and Reality: Faith does not dismiss reality but acknowledges a greater reality beyond our understanding. It is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen, requiring us to believe in the invisible and intangible. Faith is about trusting in God's greater power and ability, not about having all the answers. [08:17]
2. Prayer and Focus: Prayer is a powerful tool that shifts our focus from our problems to God. It elevates our faith and confidence, allowing us to see that God is greater than our circumstances. Through prayer, we align ourselves with God's will, and our faith grows. [18:20]
3. Faith Development: Faith must be developed and grown, like a mustard seed. It starts small but can grow into something great. We must plant our faith in God, not in our abilities or words. Our faith is in God, and He is the substance of what we hope for. [42:57]
4. Submission and Authority: To have authority in faith, we must be completely submitted to God's authority. We become unprofitable servants, aligning ourselves with His will. In doing so, we gain authority and the ability to command things in faith. [39:03]
5. Aligning with God's Will: Our faith aligns with God's will when we delight in Him. Our desires become one with His, allowing us to ask anything in His name. We must be careful with our words and align our requests with His will, knowing that He will do it. [57:20]
Youtube Chapters:
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [04:01] - Introduction to Faith
- [06:06] - The Power of Faith
- [08:17] - Faith Beyond Understanding
- [11:37] - Faith and Hope
- [13:36] - Jesus Calms the Storm
- [15:14] - The Disciples' Lack of Faith
- [18:20] - The Importance of Prayer
- [22:52] - Peter's Walk on Water
- [26:04] - Overcoming Weakness
- [31:19] - Developing Faith
- [39:03] - Submission and Authority
- [42:57] - The Mustard Seed Faith
- [47:06] - Personal Testimonies of Faith
- [57:20] - Aligning with God's Will
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. Mark 11:24 - "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
3. Matthew 14:31 - "Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. 'You of little faith,' he said, 'why did you doubt?'"
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Observation Questions:
1. According to Hebrews 11:1, how is faith described in terms of hope and evidence? How does this align with the sermon’s explanation of faith as the material of hope? [08:17]
2. In Mark 11:24, what does Jesus say about the relationship between prayer and belief? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on believing before seeing? [08:17]
3. What was Peter's experience when he walked on water, and how did Jesus respond to his doubt in Matthew 14:31? How does this illustrate the sermon’s point about losing focus? [22:52]
4. How did the disciples react to the calming of the storm, and what question did Jesus ask them? What does this reveal about their understanding of faith? [13:36]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of faith as the "substance of things hoped for" challenge our understanding of reality and logic? What does this mean for a believer's daily life? [08:17]
2. In what ways does prayer help shift our focus from our problems to God, as mentioned in the sermon? How does this practice elevate our faith and confidence? [18:20]
3. The sermon mentions that faith must be developed like a mustard seed. What does this process of growth look like in a believer's life, and how can one ensure their faith is planted in God? [42:57]
4. How does submission to God's authority relate to having authority in faith, as discussed in the sermon? What does it mean to be an "unprofitable servant"? [39:03]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a situation in your life where you struggled to believe before seeing. How can you apply the principle of faith as the substance of things hoped for in that situation? [08:17]
2. Consider your current prayer life. How can you use prayer to shift your focus from your problems to God, and what practical steps can you take to align your prayers with God's will? [18:20]
3. Identify an area in your life where your faith needs to grow. What specific actions can you take to nurture your faith like a mustard seed, ensuring it is rooted in God? [42:57]
4. Think about a time when you felt overwhelmed by your circumstances. How can you practice submission to God's authority in that situation, and what does it mean for you to be an unprofitable servant? [39:03]
5. How can you align your desires with God's will, ensuring that your requests in prayer are in harmony with His plans for your life? What changes might you need to make in your approach to prayer? [57:20]
6. Reflect on a recent challenge where you focused on your weaknesses. How can you shift your focus to God's greater power and ability, and what impact might this have on your faith journey? [26:56]
7. Consider a person or situation that tests your faith. How can you apply the lessons from Peter's experience of walking on water to maintain your focus on Jesus and overcome doubt? [22:52]
Devotional
I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:
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Day 1: Faith as the Foundation of Hope
Faith is not about dismissing reality or logic but about recognizing a greater reality beyond our understanding. It is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen. Faith requires us to believe in the invisible and the intangible, trusting in God's greater power and ability. It is not about having all the answers or understanding everything; it is about trusting in God's greater power and ability. Faith is needed when the thing hoped for is not present, and it is the very substance of that thing until it arrives. [08:17]
Hebrews 11:1-3 (ESV): "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible."
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you struggle to trust in God's unseen work? How can you begin to trust Him more in that area today?
Day 2: The Transformative Power of Prayer
Prayer is a powerful tool that shifts our focus from our problems to God. It elevates our faith and confidence, allowing us to see that God is greater than our circumstances. Through prayer, we align ourselves with God's will, and our faith grows. Prayer is not just about asking for things but about aligning our hearts with God's desires and purposes. It is a way to cultivate a deeper relationship with Him, trusting in His power and authority. [18:20]
James 5:16 (ESV): "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."
Reflection: How can you make prayer a more integral part of your daily routine to help shift your focus from your problems to God?
Day 3: Cultivating Faith Like a Mustard Seed
Faith must be developed and grown, like a mustard seed. It starts small but can grow into something great. We must plant our faith in God, not in our abilities or words. Our faith is in God, and He is the substance of what we hope for. As we nurture our faith, it becomes a powerful force that can move mountains and transform lives. It is essential to trust in God's ability to grow our faith beyond what we can imagine. [42:57]
Matthew 17:20 (ESV): "He said to them, 'Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.'"
Reflection: What small step can you take today to nurture and grow your faith, trusting in God's ability to do the impossible?
Day 4: Submission to God's Authority
To have authority in faith, we must be completely submitted to God's authority. We become unprofitable servants, aligning ourselves with His will. In doing so, we gain authority and the ability to command things in faith. Submission is not about losing our identity but about finding our true purpose in God's plan. It is about trusting in His wisdom and guidance, knowing that His plans are greater than our own. [39:03]
Luke 17:10 (ESV): "So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’"
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to submit more fully to God's authority? How can you take a step towards that submission today?
Day 5: Aligning Desires with God's Will
Our faith aligns with God's will when we delight in Him. Our desires become one with His, allowing us to ask anything in His name. We must be careful with our words and align our requests with His will, knowing that He will do it. This alignment is not about getting what we want but about desiring what God wants for us. It is about trusting that His plans are for our good and His glory. [57:20]
Psalm 37:4-5 (ESV): "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act."
Reflection: How can you align your desires more closely with God's will today, and what steps can you take to ensure your requests are in line with His purposes?
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Quotes
1) "Faith, faith, faith, such a little word, you know, such a big word. It's a, it's a, it's a small word, but, boy, is it a big word, amen. You know, Jesus made some statements. He said in Mark 11, 24, therefore, I tell you, whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believe that ye have received it, past tense, and you'll have it. You got, you got to believe for something that's not there as though you've already got it. In other words, it's done, it's done. And you shall have it. Now, tell me that doesn't defy your calculations, logic, all of your, your intellect. There's something so amazing about this simple thing, faith." [08:17] (59 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "Faith is needed when the thing hoped for is not present. And faith is its very substance, if you will. It's nature or its essence for the thing until it arrives. It's the atoms it's made of. After it arrives, faith's no longer needed. When Jesus stood at the boat, He walks up to the bow. That boat. And He rebukes the wind and the sea. And says, peace, be still. The disciples, this is kind of ironic. I get it, but it's still ironic. They were afraid of the storm. And then when the storm stopped, it said they were afraid. They're afraid of the wind and the sea. And they're afraid of no wind and a calm sea. They were afraid." [13:36] (73 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "Prayer pulls our focus away from the daily things of life to a God that's greater than life. To a God that's greater than the mundane, ordinary. To a God that supersedes everything else. And therefore, when you start getting there in faith, it elevates you. Your faith starts growing. Your faith starts rising. Your confidence starts growing. All of a sudden, the thing that was beating you down starts getting down a little smaller and a little smaller. You start seeing that thing as, you know what? God, you're greater than that. God, you're bigger than that. God, you can do anything. Something in you yields to this supernatural God and his supreme divine authority." [19:45] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "Faith must be developed. He didn't get rid of them. He grew them. And here he uses logic. Guys, where's your faith? Don't you remember all those, the few loaves and the many I fed? Don't you remember that? Do you remember this? Don't you? How many baskets full you took up after that you fed all the people and the baskets full were more than we started with? And you think I'm worried because we don't have bread on this boat? Once again, I'm greater than that. I've got more ability than that. Amen. Faith must be developed." [31:19] (68 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "Submission to God is the only way to have authority. With faith to command a tree or a mountain to move. One must submit to authority to have authority. You don't get authority unless you're submitted to authority. You know, Jesse, you're an officer. You're an officer. You buck your authority, you're going to lose your authority. And I'll tell you what, top dog in your office and your whole precinct and whatever, top dog bucks his authority, he's going to lose his authority. You don't get authority unless you're submitted to authority." [40:21] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "We know God will do impossible things because nothing's impossible with him. We know God's greater than situations. We know God's bigger than anything. You know, the only thing I've got to do is align myself with him and be an unprofitable servant, completely yielding myself to his will, to his desires for my life. Well, I'm going to do this. I'm going to do that. James said, that's not wise. James said, if the Lord wills, you're going to do it. If the Lord wills, we will do that. Amen. There's something about this unprofitable servant that just says, God, I totally align myself with you." [01:03:27] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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