Faith in Gods word Bible Study

Faith in Gods word Bible Study 1.What does the sword of God do? Hebrews 4:12 Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Through God's Word, we can distinguish between right and wrong. 2. How do I activate my faith in God? Faith becomes active and effective when it is built on a strong foundation of accurate answers (truth), when you believe in the integrity of that truth, when you trust in that truth, and when you are hearing that truth on a continual basis. If you do these things, your F.A.I.T.H. will be activated. 3. Do you have faith in God in difficult times? Second Corinthians 5:7 tells us it can be difficult to trust God during uncertain times, but as believers we know that His ways are not our ways, and He will ultimately work all things for good (Isaiah 55:8-9, Romans 8:28). Having faith in difficult times can allow you to find peace in God's presence. 4. What is God sword? The god’s word is a powerful two-handed sword, 5.What is the shield of faith? The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. 6. How Satan knows how to shoot his flaming arrows? 1. Anything to get you to disobey God. 2. Blasphemous thoughts. 3. Critical and hateful thoughts 4. Thoughts of lust, wrath, revenge, or despair 5.Sudden fears, anxieties, panic attacks, a dull feeling like nothing is right, especially with God. 6. Medical attacks, as in the case of Job. 7.Questioning the inspiration and authority of the Bible, or the deity and atoning substitutionary sacrifice of Christ on your behalf, or your salvation by grace, through faith in Christ alone. 6.What is faith? Faith is a gift from God and it is one of the ways He keeps us from being prideful over what “we” do or did. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:8-10). 7. What is a Christian Life? As Christians, our life is intended to be a strategic partnership with God. He needs us to fulfill His purpose and plans summarized in The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). We need Him to give us life “to the full” and to protect us. Always remember that the armor of God enables you to “stand against the devil’s schemes” because “they have divine power to demolish strongholds!” 8. How to Stand Firm After You Put on the Armor of God? Therefore, put on the full armor of God so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm…” Ephesians 13-14. “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:4 Note that Paul says “when” the day of evil comes, not if. When the devil tempted Christ in Luke 4:1-13, Christ ALWAYS used Scripture, and ONLY Scripture, to take his stand against the devil. Knowing God is much more powerful than Satan and that Scripture’s “divine power to demolish strongholds…, demolish arguments…, and…take captive every thought,” Jesus simply stood His ground with only Scripture as His weapon! 9. Why Satan fears word of God? Because Christ knew Satan fears God the Father and that if He stood on (had faith in) the truth of God’s word, Satan would give up and go away, “When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time” (Luke 4:13). “Is that it?” you ask. “Is that all I have to do?” Yes, that’s all there is and that’s all you have to do! Do not battle with people. Do not battle with your flesh. Just quote Scripture to Satan, believe the Scripture and then trust in God’s power and obey God. “I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the LORD,” (1 Kings 20:28). 10.How do we fight against Satan schemes? 1.Read the Bible Regularly so the Holy Spirit can “remind you” of what Scripture says during Satan’s attacks, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5. 2.Obey Scripture in your daily life, see verses above. 3.Allow the Holy Spirit to sanctify you and teach you obedience, 1 Peter 5:8-9. 4.“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Resist means to repeal, not to agree with, not to receive his thoughts into your mind and soul and not to entertain anything that is contrary to the Word of God! 5.Quote Scripture back to Satan as Jesus did. Memorize a few key verses for this purpose, such as 1 John 5:11-13, 1 John 1:9, Galatians 2:20-21, John 15, John 15:9- 12, and others as the Holy Spirit instructs you to. 6.Focus on overcoming the World and Satan, 1 John 5:4-5. 7.Unity with other Christians. Make a declaration of interdependence with true “believers” and work together. Satan uses the age old strategy of “divide and conquer”, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. 11.what is sanctification? Sanctification is a process, not an event! “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin — because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him” (Romans 6:5- 8). To succeed in sanctification, rely on the power of Christ living in you: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body (of sin), I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” (Galatians 2:20-21). 12. Why is faith so important to God? Because God wants you to trust him. God wants you to judge HIM as FAITHFUL. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. It pleases God to bless you and love you and abide in you. 13. Why do we need Scripture? It is the living and active Word of God that speaks to us and through us. It helps us learn about who God is and what He has done. Also, the Bible is used to teach, correct, and train all believers in righteousness (2 Timothy, 3:16-17). The Bible is God’s truth that cannot be changed and will never fade away (John 17:17, Isaiah 40:8). When we are unsure or doubting, the Bible is a guide for us (Psalm 119:9). But did you know that the Bible is also a weapon – the Sword of the Spirit, in fact? 14.What is The Sword of the Spirit? In Hebrews 4:12, it says “the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” The Bible is described as a weapon used to separate the good and evil intentions of our heart. Also, it is living and active in our lives to grow us closer to God and to help us in our fight against sin! Additionally, Ephesians 6:12 says, “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” But instead of fighting real people, we are fighting against the powers of darkness. And instead of using a physical sword, we use the Bible – the Sword of the Spirit! when we are found in spiritual battles without the Word of God at our side. Our enemy is very crafty and will do everything he can to tear you away from God and His will for your life. So, it is crucial that we prepare ourselves to defend against our enemy’s attacks. Bring your Bible with you wherever you go! The enemy can attack you anywhere, at any time. bring your Bible with you so that you can quickly turn to relevant passages of scripture when the enemy attacks. When it comes to seeking advice for yourself or others, there is no better book to know than the Bible. 15. In the Fight: How Do I Apply Scripture Memory in My Faith? The Word of God extends into every aspect of our faith, so if you’re just getting started then don’t worry. The more you seek the Lord in reading and prayer, the more He will affect your life. He promises us that if we seek Him with all that we have, we will find Him. So, keep seeking. And you’ll find that His scripture will change how you live. For example, whenever you feel tempted or overwhelmed by sin, it is helpful to remember Psalm 61 where it says, “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.” This is how you use the Sword of the Spirit! Remembering God’s words to us and knowing that he is with and in us provides peace when we feel overwhelmed or hopeless. 17. What if I Mess Up? Regardless of how hard you fight; everyone falls to sin at some point in this battle. Take heart, if you believe in Christ, then you have not been defeated! Romans 3:23-25 tells us that we are all guilty of sin but have been given Christ’s righteousness through His sacrifice. When you have fallen to sin or temptation, run to Jesus like the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32 and receive grace from God, who is faithful to forgive (1 John 1:9). He will strengthen you in your time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16, 2 Corinthians 12:9), and be your guiding light (Psalm 119:105). Apply your Scripture Memory strategies with these passages. Train with your Bible – the Sword of the Spirit. Then, you will dwell on God’s Word and be encouraged the next time you are tempted! 18. Why did Peter’s faith fail him when he was walking on water (Matt 14:31)? We are sometimes hard on Peter because of his impetuous nature but who else besides Peter ever walked on water? When Peter asked Jesus that he might come to Him, Jesus said, “Come”, “So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me” (Matt 14:29-30). Why did Peter start to sink (Matt 14:30)? 19. Why did Jesus say “your faith has made you well? And instantly the woman was made well” (Matt 9:22)? Some people say that if you’re not healed, you didn’t have enough faith and they point out this verse to prove their point, but was Jesus really saying that it was the woman’s faith that healed her? Was it her faith that healed her or was it her faith in Christ that allowed God to heal her? 20. What does the author of Hebrews mean by writing that “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb 11:10)? To the author of Hebrews, faith is tangible, concrete evidence of what we hope for in eternity (Rev 22). We have the assurance of God’s Word and not one of His great and precious promises ever have or ever will fail (2 Pet 1:4). Do you have that assurance and conviction of what you hope for, even though you don’t see it now? 21. What does the Apostle Paul mean by writing “The righteous shall live by faith” (Rom 1:17b)? Paul and James are not at odds with each other as some early Bible scholars and teachers believed. God never contradicts Himself. Paul is really saying what James wrote and that’s the righteous shall live by faith and that faith will produce good works. The righteous will live by faith…and the righteous will have evidence of that living by faith (1 John 3). 22. Why does James write that faith without works is dead? James wrote that faith without works is dead (James 2:17). What he means is that if someone says they have faith but have no works, then that is a dead faith or really, no faith at all. We are not saved by works (Eph 2:8-9) but a genuine faith should produce works, otherwise it’s not really faith. At least the faith that saves. We are saved for works that God has prepared beforehand (Eph 2:10). 23. Is believing the same thing as faith? We can believe in something but is that enough? James answers that question by saying “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder” (James 2:19) so if we say we believe, we can only say “congratulations, you’ve qualified to be a demon” for even they believe but that’s not saving faith or belief so I can believe in highway traffic but if I try to cross the interstate, it won’t save my life. 24. Are there references to faith in the Old Testament? We might believe that faith is a New Testament belief or doctrine but faith in God has been around as long as the Bible has been written. Noah believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness, just like Abraham was, as it says in Genesis 15:6 where Abraham “believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness” (Gen 15:6). Abraham had enough faith that he “considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back” (Heb 11:19). 25. Why do they call grace so amazing? We were dead men and dead women walking (Eph 2:1) until the Spirit of God enters our hearts and revives us to new life, much like Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. The fact that we were once enemies of God, being ungodly and wicked sinners shows us that it’s all about God’ s grace and not about us (Rom 5:6-10). 26. Paul writes about “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom 1:16) but what is this power? The power of God is found in His Word and in His Spirit, so when the Word of God is heard, it comes with the power of God to make a new creature in Christ (2 Cor 5:17), It is much like Paul wrote in 1st Corinthians 1:18 where he wrote “the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor 1:18). 27. What does the Apostle Paul mean by writing “the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith” (Rom 1:17)? Does the Apostle Paul mean a different faith than that of saving faith when he writes Romans 1:17 saying that the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith? The faith Paul is talking about is saving faith because that’s the very righteousness of God (2 Cor 5:21) so it is not from works to faith but faith that produces works. Paul may mean the faith of the old covenant led on to the faith of the new covenant, which shows that salvation has been by faith from the call of Abraham to the present time. 28. Does pride interfere with faith? When Elisha asked Naaman, a great commander in the mighty army of Syrian army to dip seven times in the Jordan River so that he could be healed of leprosy, the commander “Naaman was angry and went away, saying, ‘Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper’” (2 Kings 5:11). Did Naaman’s pride interfere with his being healed? Why? 29. Why are we tempted to add to it our own works? We are saved by grace alone and not by works so why is it that we’re so tempted to add works to our salvation? Because it’s just our nature to do so. We don’t like to receive something for nothing. We often want to add baptism, good works, or some other meritorious work to complete our salvation. Yes, we should know that we’re saved by grace alone but grace doesn’t come alone, does it? 30. Why is it hard to have faith in God? When a man came up to Jesus to discuss his mute son, he told Him, “I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able” (Mark 9:18b) so “Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:23-24). The son’s father said he believed but then says, “Help my unbelief” but why? Can Jesus help our unbelief? It is hard to believe today in God Who we can’t see? 31.How to exercise faith? Exercising faith in Jesus Christ means having trust and confidence in Him. Faith is the power to manifest His will in your life. Faith, a gift from God, comes as you are righteous. Faith is having trust and confidence in the Lord. Your faith in Him is a power that will lead you to obey His gospel, and your obedience will help you have more faith, which is a gift from God. As the scriptures say, if you have faith in the Lord, He can do all things for you, such as heal, forgive, comfort, and convert you. But having faith doesn’t mean telling God what to do. It means trusting Him and understanding that all blessings come “according to his will” and “in his own time, and in his own way”. For example, you may not receive an immediate answer to your prayers. But your faith assures you that Heavenly Father hears your prayers and will answer at the right time. To develop and exercise your faith, (1) learn the word of God, whether by reading the scriptures or listening to those who have the authority to teach it (see Romans 10:17). Knowing the word will help you see that God always keeps His promises. (3) Obey the commandments. Your righteousness allows the gift of faith to grow in your life. Show your belief in Jesus Christ by following His example and teachings. Do what He asks of you through the scriptures, the teachings of living prophets, and the promptings of the Holy Ghost. While many people get through life without faith in the Lord, they can never inherit eternal life without faith in Him. Only through the gospel of Jesus Christ—with faith in Him as the first principle—can we enjoy “eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God” 32.What is faith in Christ? Having faith in Jesus Christ means trusting completely in Him and being sure in your mind and heart that He exists and that He is our Savior. We must place our trust in Christ because He knows how to help us overcome the difficulties in our lives. Our lack of faith in Him causes us to be worried about our spiritual state and to doubt God’s promises. Focusing on the Savior has helped me remain firm in the gospel, control my fears, and overcome obstacles. Exercise faith in Christ by obedience. Faith without works is dead. By obeying when we don’t know why, we show our trust and faith in Him. Obeying commandments shows that we trust Him and have faith in what He tells us to do. Prayer and reading the scriptures daily strengthen my relationship with Heavenly Father, giving me more faith in Him. Also, you have to expect answers to your prayers. Pray for help to obtain faith. 33. How can I believe God has not forsaken me? God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. “Hebrews 13:5 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. “Jeremiah 29:11 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. Deuteronomy 7:9 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.Isaiah 41:10 34. DO ALL RELIGIONS LEAD TO GOD? The truth is, all roads don’t lead to Rome and all religions don’t lead to God. You see, it all depends on which direction you take. Jesus said this: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). 35. What is a leap of faith? we find an impressive list of men and women in the Bible who took a “leap of faith,” as it were. These are just a few of the people mentioned who took God at His Word and trusted Him to do what He had promised: By faith, Noah obeyed God and built an ark to save his family from the flood (Genesis 6:9 – 7:24). By faith, Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son, believing God would provide a lamb (Genesis 22:1–19). By faith, Moses chose to side with the Hebrews rather than stay in the Egyptian palace (Exodus 2 – 4). By faith, Rahab risked her life and sheltered enemy spies in her home (Joshua 2:1–24). By faith, David confronted a giant with only a sling and a stone (1 Samuel 17). By faith, Peter stepped out of the boat when Jesus invited him to come (Matthew 14:22–33). The accounts go on and on, each story helping us to understand the biblical meaning of a leap of faith. Exercising faith in God often requires taking a risk. 2 Corinthians 5:7 tells us, “For we live by faith, not by sight.” A leap of faith might mean leaving the safety of your comfort zone. Peter abandoned his safety and comfort when he jumped out of the boat to walk on water to Jesus. He could take that leap of faith because he knew his Lord and trusted that He was good: “The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made” (Psalm 145:9). When Jesus said, “Come,” Peter exercised childlike faith, the type of faith we are all called to possess: “But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these’” (Luke 18:16). 36. What does it mean that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6)? without faith it is impossible to come to God. It is also impossible to live for God—to follow and serve Him daily and persevere until the end—without faith. The entire Christian life is lived out by faith: “For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith’” (Romans 1:17; see also Habakkuk 2:4; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38). The apostle Paul affirmed, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). Scripture refers explicitly to Enoch’s faith as pleasing to God: “It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—‘he disappeared, because God took him.’ For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God”.(Hebrews 11:5, Genesis 5:24). How did Enoch please God? Through living by faith. Enoch walked by faith in God. He obeyed the Word that had been revealed up to that point and lived in the light of its truth. Walking by faith means consistently living according to God’s Word (John 14:15). Without faith, it is impossible to believe God’s Word and obey it. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Joseph, Rahab, Gideon, and David all lived by faith. As they looked toward their future hope, they relied on God to fulfill His promises (Hebrews 11:13–16). And they obeyed God’s Word even when they did not understand it. This kind of walking by faith—accepting as truth the things we cannot yet touch, feel, or see, and then acting on them in obedience—is the prescription for living a life that pleases God. 37. Can faith really move mountains? In the context of Matthew 17, Jesus rebukes the disciples for their weak faith and says that even if they had mustard seed-sized faith, they could command the mountain to move. Contextually, the mountain must refer to the demon that was afflicting the man’s son. Jesus tells His disciples that, if their faith was stronger, they could have commanded the demon to leave the boy, and it would be so. This was clearly the case in Matthew 10 when Jesus sent them out to cure diseases, cast out demons, and spread the gospel. The point Jesus was making is that even a little bit of faith—faith the size of a tiny mustard seed—can overcome mountainous obstacles in our lives. 38. What does it mean that Satan is prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2)? Apostle Paul describes Satan first as a “prince” with power, because he has authentic power in the world (1 John 5:19). This power has been given him by God (Luke 4:6). Satan has power over some illnesses (Luke 13:16; see also 2 Corinthians 12:7—it’s unknown if Paul’s “thorn” was an illness or something else). In some sense, Satan has power over death (Hebrews 2:14). The reason Satan is called a prince rather than a king is that there is only one King—Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 6:15). Satan also has power over some people. The “sons of disobedience” referred to in Ephesians 2:2 are those who have not trusted Christ as Lord and Savior (cf. Acts 26:18; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 13:12). The demons are also under the rule of Satan (Matthew 12:24), and one of his titles is “prince of demons” (Matthew 9:34). Satan has a kingdom (Matthew 12:26) and a throne (Revelation 2:13). Satan is called a prince because he is a ruler and possesses power to manifest evil in the world through influencing people and commanding demons. In Ephesians 6:12, Paul writes, “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” This evil realm called the “air” could be an actual locality, but it could also be synonymous with the “world” of John 12:31. This whole world is Satan’s domain (Matthew 4:8–9). Although Satan has power and authority in the current world system in which we exist, his power is limited, always under the sovereign control of God (Job 1:12), and it is temporary (Romans 16:20). God has not revealed all of the whys and whens concerning Satan’s rule, but He has made it clear that there is only one way to escape the power of Satan’s dominion, and that is through His Son, Jesus (Acts 26:18; Colossians 1:13–14). It is Jesus who, speaking of the impending cross, declared victory: “Now the prince of this world will be driven out” (John 12:31). 38. What can we do if we don't have enough faith? Mark 9:23-24 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" Matthew 7:7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." 39. How do you grow in faith? Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Hearing and studying the Word of God can help us see God's faithfulness in the past and His solid promises for the future. 40. Is believing in God enough? James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. God wants us to believe in Him. For help in strengthening your belief in our Creator God, God also wants us to believe what He says. He wants us to diligently seek Him, which is done through prayer, Bible study, meditation and fasting. 41. What did Jesus Christ tell us to believe? Mark 1:14-15 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." Gospel means "good news," and the news about the return of Jesus Christ to set up God's utopian Kingdom is the best news this troubled world can hear! When we believe the gospel, we will be motivated to share this good news (Matthew 24:14; 28:19-20) 42.What did Jesus Christ tell us to do? John 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments." When we believe what God says, we should do what God says. 43.What is dead faith? Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." James 2:20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Just calling Jesus our Master isn't enough, and just saying we have faith isn't enough. Our growing belief in God will motivate us to strive to obey God—to do His will and obey His law. 44.What is living faith? James 2:17-18 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. Real, living faith motivates our actions. There is no conflict between James and Paul, as some believe. When Paul said faith was a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8), he continued by saying we were "created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10). 45.When we believe in God and believe God, what will we be motivated to do? Matthew 3:8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance... Romans 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? As we saw earlier in Mark 1:15, Jesus commanded us to repent and believe the gospel. God's goodness leads us to this next step in turning our lives toward God. And as John the Baptist mentioned, repentance also involves fruits, or changes in our lives. 46. How does the Bible describe faith? Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith goes beyond what we can perceive with our physical senses, so it does not work by the rules of science. Faith allows us to believe that the invisible God can do what is physically impossible. In that sense, faith is built and grows on a spiritual plane, not a physical or scientific one. But that doesn't mean observation, science and rational thinking aren't part of how we come to believe in our miraculous Creator God in the first place. In fact, there is no contradiction or conflict between godly faith and true science. After all, since God is the Creator of everything, science is the study of God's creation. 47. What are the Examples of Living in Faith? After Abel, Enoch and Noah had lived their lives of faith (Hebrews 11:4-7). Abel Taught Us Faith Can Save Our Souls. 1. Abel Taught Us Faith Can Save Our Souls. Hebrews 11:4 : By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead. 2. Enoch Taught Us Faith Pleases God. Hebrews 11:5 “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” Enoch walked so closely to God that our LORD translated him to Heaven, bypassing the process of death. Faith is central to the Christian life. Without faith, we cannot please God. With faith, we can move mountains! Through faith, we accomplish everything from the ordinary to the impossible. 3. Noah Taught Us Faith Can Save Our Families. Hebrews 11:7 “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” God told Noah to build an ark to save his family and the animals. Why? Rain and floods would overtake the Earth killing all that was not in the ark. There was only one problem. It had never rained! Noah believed God and saved His family. Your faith can save your family, as well. 1 Timothy 4:16 : Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. Believe God. Trust Him in your daily life. Your family will be blessed. 4. Abraham Taught Us Faith Can Guide Our Steps. Hebrews 11:8–10 “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Abraham stepped out by faith. Literally. He followed a direction even though He didn’t know the destination. What a tremendous encouragement for us! Psalm 37:23 The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him. You don’t need all the information to trust God. You won’t know the details before you begin. All you need to know is the next step. As you follow God in faith, the next step will become clear. 5. Sara Taught Us Faith Can Do The Impossible. Hebrews 11:11 “Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.” Sara was beyond child-bearing years. She had always wanted to be a mom, but now that dream was dead. That was until God showed up! God promised Abraham a child and God delivered. Sarah laughed in unbelief at first but then God did the impossible. At times, it will seem that God didn’t keep His Word in your life. Never fear! God always keeps His Word. He will never let you down. Keep believing even though you feel like He is late.God can do the impossible. 6. Abraham Taught Us Faith Can Empower Us To Obey In The Most Desperate Situations. Hebrews 11:17–19 “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.” God told Abraham to do the unthinkable. He was to take the miracle son that God gave Him to a mountain and sacrifice him unto God. What?? God never intended Abraham to complete the task. He would make sure Isaac lived. Yet, God needed to test Abraham’s commitment. He would be the “earthly father” of God’s people, after all. Abraham obeyed. His compliance was not blind faith. It was devoted faith. God had explained to Abraham the Gospel plan. One day God would send His miracle Son to Earth. God would sacrifice His Son for the sins of the World. Then His Son would rise from the dead. Abraham was told to act out the Gospel story. Abraham consented because He trusted God to raise Isaac from the dead. His faith in the coming Messiah proved His faith in God. Abraham was saved by faith. Romans 4:3 : What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness You can trust God in desperate circumstances. Trust God and watch Him work. 7. Isaac Taught Us Faith Brings Future Blessings. Hebrews 11:20 “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.” Faith looks to the future. Faith and hope travel together. If you have faith in God, you can expect good things to come. When you lose faith, you lose the expectation of good. 8. Jacob Taught Us Faith Empowers Us To Bless Others When Facing Trials Ourselves. Hebrews 11:21 “By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.” Jacob was at the point of death, yet he wanted to bless his sons before he died. Doubt causes us to focus on our self and our problems. Faith prompts us to look at others and the possibilities. Live by faith, and you will bless those around you with words and deeds. 9. Joseph Taught Us Faith Looks Beyond This Life. Hebrews 11:22 “By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.” Before Joseph died, he reminded the children of Israel that God would deliver them, restoring them to the promised land. He told them to take His bones to bury them there. Joseph’s entire life was a life of faith. His faith in God brought him safely through tremendous trials. Perhaps, this is the sweetest token of His faith. He didn’t want to be buried in Egypt. He believed that God would deliver the people and wanted to go home. Faith teaches us to look beyond this life. There is a heaven, and there is a hell. Make sure that you reserve your home in Heaven by faith in Jesus Christ. 10. Moses Taught Us Faith Can Overcome The World. Hebrews 11:23–26 “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.” Moses was a miracle child saved from death by his parent’s faith and the tender heart of an Egyptian princess. He grew up in the palace of the wealthiest and most powerful country on the planet. Moses had the best teachers and countless opportunities. He had every pleasure and comfort life had to offer. Ultimately, by faith, He chose God over the world. He became the greatest leader of men, other than Jesus Christ, in History. He led 2-3 million traveling Jews for 40 years with no technology. Through faith, we can overcome the world too. Faith is the victory!1 John 5:4: for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 11. Rahab Taught Us Faith Can Change Lives For The Better. Hebrews 11:31 “By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.” Rahab was a harlot. Yes, that means what you think it means. She was a wicked woman who sold her body for gain. Yet, in a moment, she changed the direction of her life and legacy through faith. Joshua chapter two relates how she helped the spies of Israel escape in exchange for the lives of her family. Faith changed her life and her family’s destiny. Today, she is known for her faith rather than her old profession. Faith can change your life for the better! Regardless of your past, a moment of sincere faith can alter your direction and change your destiny! There are scores of examples of faith in the Bible. Seven more examples of faith are mentioned in Hebrews 11:32. Hebrews 11:32 “And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:” What can their faith teach us? Gideon: The account of Gideon in Judges chapters 6-8. He is introduced as a weak and fearful man hiding and sneaking food to feed his family during a Midianite Invasion. But God saw him as a mighty man of valor. Gideon believed God and delivered Israel in spite of overwhelming odds. Barak: Barak was a man called upon to fight against the King of Canaan, who had 900 chariots of iron and a large army. By faith, he defeated an overpowered foe with only 10,000 soldiers. You can read the account of Barak in Judges chapters 4 and 5. Samson: Samson judged Isreal during a time of Philistine bondage. He was a thorn in the side of the Philistines his entire adult life. The Holy Spirit would come upon Him giving Samson supernatural strength. Samson was a man with serious flaws, but God still used Him. By faith, he was a one-man army killing thousands of the enemy. You can read his story in Judges chapters 13-16. Jephthae:Jephtha is an interesting addition to the Hall of Faith. He was the bastard son of an Israelite who had been exiled that was called upon to deliver the people from the Ammonites. He was a hard man who made bad decisions. He even sacrificed his own daughter to keep a vow. Yet, the Bible is not putting a stamp of approval on every action. God commends His faith. It was faith in God that empowered and encouraged Jephtha to fight the battle. Faith can be exercised by any who will believe God. You can read the account of Jephtha in Judges chapters 11 and 12. David: David’s storied life displays the mountains and valleys of the faith-life. He accomplished the impossible, lived through the unbearable, did the unthinkable, and trusted God through it all. The Book of Psalms gives us an intimate look into the heart of faith. You can read about David’s life in 1 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles. Samuel: Samuel served God from birth. His example of service and piety from youth until death demonstrates the power of faith in everyday life. You can read about his life and ministry in 1 Samuel. The Prophets: Time does not allow us to discuss the exploits of the prophets mentioned in Scripture. Take a moment to remember the accounts of Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Daniel. They are representative of generations of men who lived by faith and spoke for God in a wicked world. These examples of faith are powerful reminders of what God can do in your life! 48.Who did God use in your life to grow your faith? The last verses in Hebrews chapter 11 teach us the power of faith modeled before us. Examples of faith show us what faith can ACCOMPLISH! Hebrews 11:33–35 “Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:” Examples of faith show us what faith can ENDURE. Hebrews 11:36–38 “And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the Earth.” Examples of faith show us what faith can CONTINUE. Hebrews 11:39–40“And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” When a past testimony effects change in us, God rewards both the one who left a testimony and the one who follows the pattern. Their ministries are made complete by our obedience. God has given us many examples of faith. These testimonies of what faith did in others’ lives are powerful illustrations of what God can do through your faith. They convict us of our doubt and encourage us to trust God more. 49. Who are Some Were Counted Righteous by Faith? Holy men and women of God had faith in what God said and they were considered righteous because of that faith. Here is what the Bible says about some of these believers: Abel “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.” (Hebrews 11:4) Enoch “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. (Hebrews 11:5) Noah By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” (Hebrews 11:7) Abraham “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Hebrews 11:8-10) By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.” (Hebrews 11:17-19) Sara “Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.” (Hebrews 11:11) Isaac, Jacob, Esau & Joseph “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.” (Hebrews 11:20-22) Rahab “By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.” (Hebrews 11:31) 50. 3 people in the Bible who showed exceptional faith? 1.The Roman officer – Matthew 8:5-13 2. The woman with an issue of blood – Mark 5:25-34 3. The Gentile woman – Matthew 15:21-28 51.What are the enemies of faith? Worry Jesus said God would take care of our needs, cautioning: "Do not worry . . . Now if God so clothes the grass of the field [splendidly], which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more cloth you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry . Fear While on a boat in the middle of a storm, the disciples woke Jesus and pleaded that He save them from drowning. He answered, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then He rebuked the sea and it immediately grew calm (Matthew 8:23-26). Doubt Peter saw Jesus walking on the water of the Sea of Galilee and asked if he could do the same. Jesus invited him to join Him, and Peter, too, began walking on the water. "But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid" and began to sink (Matthew 14:30). Christ "stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, 'O you of little faith, why did you doubt?'" (Matthew 14:31). Human reasoning without spiritual understanding Jesus warned His disciples, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees" (Matthew 16:6). He was cautioning them against the wrong teachings of these religious leaders (Matthew 16:12), but the disciples initially thought He was talking about the physical leavening of bread since they had not brought any bread with them (Matthew 16:7). Jesus responded, "O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread?" (Matthew 16:8). He then said that they wouldn't have missed His point if they'd kept in mind that He could miraculously provide physical bread if there was a need, having done so to feed thousands on two occasions (Matthew 16:9-11). 52.What are some Examples of Great Faith in the Bible? 1. David 1 Samuel 17: 37, And David said, “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” Long before David became King David, he was a shepherd boy, the youngest member of his family. Over time, he developed a strong faith in God and in God’s Power, as he witnessed the hand of God again and again in his daily life. While running an errand for his father Jesse, he discovered that the giant Goliath had been insulting and terrorizing the people of Israel for many days. David had a confident trust in God, and he knew that as God had done before, God would come through and be glorified. While on this journey of faith, David was misunderstood, looked down upon, insulted, and berated. Well meaning people tried to discourage him from confronting the monstrous terrorist, and when he remained unwavering, they tried to convince him to use someone else’s gifts to carry out the seemingly insurmountable task. But his faith stood firm. David ignored all the negativity, pressed on in faith, used his God given gifts, and conquered the giant – to the glory of God! 2.Queen Esther Esther 4:16-17, Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish. Some consider what Esther did one of the powerful examples of blind faith in the bible. Esther had no idea how things would turn out when she approached the king – in those times, her actions could very possibly have ended in her death. Esther was a brave woman of faith who trusted that God was in control, no matter how she herself personally fared. God honored her faith in a powerful way! 3.Nehemiah: Nehemiah faced a lot of discouragement. Like David, many told him what he hoped for could not be done. But Nehemiah fixed his eyes on God, and found his strength in God. Nehemiah 8:10b, the joy of the LORD is your strength. Nehemiah 2:20, Then I replied to them, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build… 4.The Woman with the issue of blood Mark 5:27-28, She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” Mark 5:34, And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” 5.Daniel: Daniel was a man of integrity. He had a strong prayer life, and displayed consistent faith in God in everything he did. He trusted God and remained devoted to God in the face of adversity. God delivered him from many calamities, including the Lion’s den. Daniel 6:10, When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. 6. Joseph: Genesis 50:20, As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. Joseph was a man of great faith. His life began with an absolutely delightful childhood, as he was much beloved by his father. All of a sudden, his life took a turn for crazy as his jealous brothers sold him into slavery. Over the next several years, he suffered many injustices, he was betrayed, he was tempted, he was falsely accused, and he was mistreated. Through it all, Joseph kept his faith in God, and continued to develop his relationship with God. Through the good and the bad, he kept on trusting God, developed his gifts, became wiser and wiser, and was used mightily by God. Joseph had faith that no matter what the enemy planned for him; God would work everything out for the best. And God certainly did! 53.Who are the Bible characters who wrestled with their faith and won. 1. John the Baptist The famous wilderness preacher who was sent to prepare the way of the Lord started out confident and certain. When talking about Jesus, he said, ”Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! And, I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.” But when he found himself in jail, he questioned if Jesus was really the Messiah. John sent his disciples to ask Jesus if he was the one. Jesus answered with evidence so John could hold fast to his profession of faith. 2. Simon Peter One of the original twelve disciples of Jesus, Peter is known for his boldness. It was Peter who was commended by Jesus for receiving the revelation from the Father that Jesus was the Son of the Living God. But when Jesus was arrested, Peter wrestled between faith and fear. He denied knowing Jesus with cursing and swearing. Peter had been so certain of his faith before that. Jesus knew he really wasn’t. Jesus had predicted Peter's denial and prayed for Peter’s faith to not fail—and it didn’t. Peter’s faith brought him back to Jesus, who not only reconciled him but asked him to feed His sheep. 3. Elijah Elijah is known for prophesying drought and subsequently being fed by ravens and a widow before his epic challenge to the prophets of Baal on Mount Horeb. His faith moved the Lord God to answer by fire; Elijah killed all the false prophets and then prophesied rain. But when the king’s wife, Jezebel, heard about all of this, she threatened Elijah’s life. Elijah’s humanity kicked in as he ran for his life, sat under a broom bush wrestling with his faith and praying to die. The Lord responded with compassion by feeding him, correcting him in grace and giving him a new purpose before he was taken to heaven on a chariot of fire. 4. Thomas Being a disciple of Jesus doesn’t automatically make one a faith giant. Thomas became known as Doubting Thomas because he wrestled with the truth that Jesus rose from the dead. But his wrestling with faith was as human as the labeling of him. Thomas was not the only disciple to wrestle with the truth of the resurrection—all of the disciples wrestled with believing when Mary and the other women came and told them Jesus was alive in Luke 24:10-11. It’s important to point out the grace of God for those who wrestle. The 11 didn’t believe until Jesus appeared to them—and then he appeared again just for Thomas. 5. Father of a Sick Boy I love this story. Here is a father with a son who’s mute and has seizures. He takes his son to the disciples of Jesus to be healed and comes away no different. Wrestling with his faith, he brings his son to Jesus asking if Jesus can help. Jesus points to his faith. But knowing he’s wrestling with his faith, the father responds honestly. He cries for help to win his faith-wrestling match with the words “I believe, help mine unbelief,” and Jesus brought the victory. Jesus will help us win our wrestling matches by his grace. 6. Gideon Israel was in trouble when God approached Gideon, declaring him to be a mighty warrior and calling him to save his people from the Midianites. But Gideon balked at the words and the call. Gideon was wrestling with his faith with questions similar to those we deal with. He wondered, if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? He felt God had abandoned them, but cried out for favor. Gideon’s appeal for grace was answered abundantly and he fulfilled his mission as led by the Lord. 7. Moses One of the most prominent figures in the Bible endured many faith-wrestling matches. He struggled to believe he could deliver his people from Egypt after murdering an Egyptian and being rejected by his Hebrew brothers. After this, he ran into the wilderness until the time when the Lord appeared to him in the burning bush. But when God called him to do what he’d run away from, he wrestled with his faith with questions like, what if they don’t believe me or listen to me? Moses struggled with God’s response, claiming he couldn’t do public speaking. Frustrated with Moses, the Lord allowed him to have his brother Aaron help him. Every wrestling match that Moses went through was met with the grace of God. 8. David He was known as a man after God’s own heart, yet David was no stranger to wrestling with his faith. The book of Psalms is full of his questioning and pain, as well as his victories. David wrestled with his faith after Nabal treated his men improperly. Again, when Ziklag was destroyed, his wives were carried off and his men talked about stoning him. Additionally, there was the time he stayed home from war, commited adultery with Bathsheba and killed her husband after finding out she was pregnant—and these are only three examples. David always emerged from his faith-wrestling matches worshiping the Lord. 9. Jonah The story of Jonah is known for many things, including how Jonah ran away when God called him to preach the destruction of Nineveh, the big fish that swallowed him, how he was spit up onto dry land and finally obeyed, and how Jesus referred to him as a sign. But the reason for Jonah’s wrestling with his faith is made clear in the final chapter of the book using a plant. Jonah didn’t wrestle with his faith because what God asked him to do was hard; Jonah wanted Nineveh to be destroyed. But God had mercy on him. Jonah wrestled with his faith because he knew God was going to be gracious and compassionate to those he felt didn’t deserve it. 10. Mary and Martha Jesus spent a lot of time with these two sisters, along with their brother Lazarus. They followed him, served him, and listened to him, but still wrestled with their faith. Their brother became sick while Jesus was out of town and they sent for him. But Jesus didn’t come right away. Lazarus died, and the sisters wrestled with thoughts such as if you had been here, he wouldn’t have died. Jesus reminded them that he was the resurrection and the life. They believed for the future last day but wrestled with the now. Because Jesus is who he says he is, Lazarus was raised to life that same day. 11. Jeremiah Jeremiah, known as the weeping prophet, is one of the major prophets in the Bible. Israel was in a bad way when he was called, and he wrestled with the call at first. He claimed he didn’t know how to speak because he was too young. But God answered his wrestling with empowerment. He told him not to say he was too young, to not be afraid, and then God touched him putting His words into Jeremiah’s mouth. Like Jeremiah, we can be empowered in the midst of our wrestling. 12. Abraham Abraham is known as the father of our faith. I was intimidated by Abraham’s faith until I learned how much he wrestled with it, and how the wrestling didn’t stop him from receiving from God. The Bible tells us that because he believed God, he was made righteous. Sounds instant and simple. Yet it took God telling Abraham the promise seven times before Abraham was fully convinced. The sixth time God promised, Abraham fell face-down and laughed. After this, God told him to name the son Isaac (which means laughter). This gives me great hope. Abraham is an example that even if we keep wrestling, we can win. 13. Sarah The wife of Abraham went through her own time wrestling with faith while Abraham was going through his. She was barren for many years and passed off as Abraham’s sister two times to different kings. Eleven years passed after God’s promise for a child, and her wrestling led her to a bad plan that ended in the birth of Ishmael. But the promise was for her to have a child, not just Abraham. Thirteen years after Ishmael was born, God declared His promise of a son three more times for a total of seven. After the seventh time, Sarah laughed, unable to fathom having a child at her age. But nothing is too hard for the Lord. 14. Jesus Jesus Christ knew who he was and how he was going to die. He said, "when you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me." But in the garden of Gethsemane he felt our humanity under the intense pressure. He asked if there was another way. He knew there wasn’t, and he stuck with what he knew and fulfilled his mission of laying down his life for us. Jesus won everything for us in his wrestling match. He declared, it is finished! 54. what are Four Types of Faith, Which Do You Have? A person is saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8). A Christian is sanctified by faith (Acts 26:18) and serves others by this same faith (1 Peter 4:8–11). A Christ-follower lives and walks by faith every day (Hebrews 3:10). Dead Faith James informs us that faith without works is dead (James 2:17). In other words, if your faith is real, you will produce fruit. That is, good works are evidence that your faith is genuine. I’ve observed that you don’t have to motivate sincere Christians to do what the Holy Spirit is already urging them to do. If your faith is dead, it will be obvious by a lack of good fruit and an abundance of selfish thoughts, cruel words, and immoral deeds. Demonic Faith James also teaches that even demons believe and shudder at the name of Jesus (James 2:19). Their “faith” is intellectual. That is, the demons have no doubt that Jesus is the Son of the living God, but they rebelliously choose to serve a different master. And their master, Satan, is crystal clear on the fact that Jesus died and rose from the dead. As a matter of fact, Satan’s theology is probably better than yours or mine. But knowing all the answers and possessing a right theology doesn’t save you. Vain Faith Not everyone who says that Jesus is Lord of their lives will enter the kingdom of heaven on the day of His return. Only those who actually do the will of God will be permitted entry. Responding to an altar call, saying the sinner’s prayer, or religiously and generously tithing—these alone will not save you. Please don’t be the person who completes all kinds of religious milestones and cries out on the final day “Lord! Lord!” only to hear the dreadful words “I never knew you; depart from me” (Matthew 7:21–23). Saving Faith: The message of John 3:16 is so clear: God loves every one of us, He sent His only begotten Son to live among us, and whoever believes on Jesus will have eternal life. Ephesians 2:8–10 provides us with some additional details: You are saved by grace through faith. Salvation is a gift. You are not saved because of any good works you ever did. But you were made to do good works and point people to Christ. God prepared many good things for you to do. As you live by saving faith, you will supernaturally produce good fruit, works, and evidence that you are no longer a slave to sin. 55.what are 10 considerations of understanding Biblical faith? 1. Faith is defined for us as “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1-2) 2. Faith believes even when it makes no sense to believe, not because of the proof before you, but because of the trust you place in the object of your faith. 3. Faith is based on the will of that person in whom you place your faith, not my will. You can have faith that the person you love most will never hurt you, for example, but whether they do or not is up to their will, not yours. 4. Biblical faith is in a person, the person of God. (God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit… they are One.) Faith is not in me or my abilities, but on God and His abilities. 5. When Jesus used the illustration of moving mountains He was giving an example of the power of God and how we should place our whole faith in Him. He was not talking about the power of my ability to have faith, but rather the power of the One in whom we place our faith. If God’s will is to move a mountain, He will surely move it. You can even ask Him to by faith. 6. When we talk about faith in God then, we are talking about His will, not our will. That’s how Jesus taught us to pray…. “Our Father, who is in Heaven… thy will be done….” Faith is based on God’s agenda, not my agenda. It’s not your ability to move mountains. It is God’s ability. It’s not your will to move mountains; it’s God’s will. 7. Faith is based on the promises of God, not our hopes or desires. When you struggle with faith, you don’t doubt your ability; you doubt God’s ability. Sometimes we get upset that God hasn’t done something we think He should do, but God never promised to do it. It may have never have been His will. 8. When you pray by faith then, you are praying that you trust God to do His will in your life, based not on your wishes or desires, but on what He has promised to do. Some things we can always have faith that God will do, because he has promised to do them, such as “love you with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3), “work all things for good” (Romans 8:28), and “never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:8). We can’t always know that God will heal every sickness, for example, because He’s not promised that He will. In fact, He promised we would have trials, but that throughout it all we could rejoice in our sufferings. 9. God is trustworthy… worthy of our faith. I love how The Message Version puts 1 Thessalonians 5:24, “The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it!” Do what? His will. Faith in the person of God is based then on your trust that He is who He says He is and He will do what He says He will do. 10. When your faith lines up with God’s will, you can absolutely, positively, unquestionably claim by faith that God’s will be done. One of the reasons it is so important to know God personally is so that we will know His will, so we can know how to pray in God’s will (Romans 12:1-2). 56. What signs of authentic faith do people see when they scrutinize our lives? Is it enough evidence to prove that our trust in God is real? The Bible suggests eight outward marks of authentic faith. We should… display the Beatitudes that Jesus described in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3–16). think with a transformed mind, we express genuine love, and we respect authority (Romans 12:1,2; 13:1–7). overflow with love actions (1 Corinthians 13). display the Spirit’s fruit (Galatians 5:22–26). imitate Christ’s humility and look out for others’ interests (Philippians 2:1–4). pray without ceasing, and in everything we give thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18). carry out works of faith and compassion (James 2:14–17), we control our tongues (3:1–11), and we speak wisdom (3:13). hold to the truth about Jesus (2 John 4; 3 John 3, 4) and defend it (Jude 3). 57. why Jesus death is important? According to Scripture, God is absolutely and perfectly holy (Isaiah 6:3) and everyone is guilty of sin (Romans 3:10-12). God’s holiness and justice demand that all sin be punished by death (Ezekiel 18:4). Even though God’s justice demands death for sin, His love has provided a Savior who paid the penalty and died for sinners (1 Peter 3:18). Christ’s death satisfied the demands of God’s justice, and Christ’s perfect life satisfied the demands of God’s holiness (2 Corinthians 5:21), God provided the means to forgive and save those who place their faith in Him (Romans 3:26). The resurrection of Jesus Christ proved Jesus is God and has power over life and death (Luke 24:6-7, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4) and that He will raise those who believe in Him unto eternal life (John 6:40, John 11:25-26). If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9). 58. Unsaved People Think They’re Saved. Matthew 7:21-23 JESUS says, “Not everyone who says to ME, ‘LORD, LORD,’ will enter the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, but he who does the WILL of MY FATHER who is in HEAVEN will enter. “MANY will say to ME on that DAY, ‘LORD, LORD, did we not PROPHESY in YOUR NAME, and in YOUR NAME CAST OUT DEMONS, and in YOUR NAME PERFORM MANY MIRACLES?‘ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I NEVER KNEW you; DEPART from ME, you who PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.” 59.Lukewarm Unsaved People can look and act Saved ? Attending Church or Christian Functions, Singing in the Church Choir, Lifting their Hands at Church, and being very excited about Jesus in their Youth Group, or at a: Christian Concert, Retreat, or Conference. They might Work at Church, Teach Sunday School, be a Priest, or a Worldwide well known Preacher, Teacher, Priest, or Pastor. Some might have an incredible Christian Ministry, or be working on an a Christian Project, Book, Movie, Magazine, Church, etc. in which they talk to others about their Project or their Ministry MORE than they talk to others about JESUS! (2 Cor 4:5) They might appear to be quite focused on God and appear to be a person of deep Prayer; they might even have a Ministry that teaches people on how to Pray. They might be very zealous, and outgoing for Jesus. They might give Money to Charities, or Tithe at Church, and/or they might have memorized their Bibles inside and out. They might be: Soul Winners, Perform Healings, Miracles, Cast out Demons, and have the Power to Prophecy. They might Follow Church Traditions and Doctrines, and say Christian Clich. They might be a Contemporary “Christian” Singer or a Musician in a very talented “Christian” Band, but when you go to their website or to a “Christian” Concert they have very little mention about the name of JESUS, and/or how one can be Biblically Saved; it’s mainly only info about themselves, and their “Christian” Music, Merchandise, Tours…etc. Lukewarmers can look “HOT” for Jesus by: displaying a Christian Bumper Sticker on their car, and even wearing a WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) wristband. T hey might be a Well-Known Person who took a stand for great “causes” like: Illiteracy, Aids, and Worldwide Famine, or be a Best Selling “Christian” Author, and have a “Christian” Radio or TV Show. They might simply be a: Good Person, a Mom, a Dad, or a Grand Parent, doing Good & Kind Deeds. The Lukewarm Person might be known to the World as a Good Person who was a: “Reverend,” a “Pope,” a “Father,” a “Bishop,” a Religious Nun, or a “Pastor” of a Church; even a very large and prosperous Church that is known Worldwide. Mark 4:12 Jesus says, ”They see what I do, but they don’t perceive its meaning. They hear My words, but they don’t understand. So they will not Turn from their Sins and be Forgiven.” The point is, you can appear to be the most Godly person on Earth, and still miss Heaven and spend Eternity in Hell. You can appear to have your act together with the Lord, but God knows the true condition of each man’s heart. 60. On Judgment Day many Good People who do GOOD DEEDS, who are even “Religious” will be sentenced to spend Eternity in Hell. Why? Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus Warns us, “Not everyone who calls out to Me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually DO THE WILL OF MY FATHER IN HEAVEN WILL ENTER. On Judgment Day MANY will say to Me ‘Lord! Lord! We PROPHESIED (or PREACHED), CAST OUT DEMONS, and PERFORMED MANY MIRACLES IN YOUR NAME.‘ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from Me, you who BREAK GOD’S LAWS.” So many people are Positive they are Saved because they think they are a: Good Person, have once said a “Sinner’s Prayer”, or go to Church. Yet the Bible clearly states you must: Repent & Believe the Gospel, Forsake All Sin, and Obey God’s Word. Then our Faith will be Tested to see if it’s Genuine or Not. (Deut 8:2, Deut 13:3; James 1:12; 1 Pet 1:7) Even Jesus was Tempted by Satan. (Matt 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13) Faith that Fizzles & Fails Before the Finish Line is Not a Saving Faith. Matthew 10:22 Jesus says, “Those who endure until the end, will be saved.” Luke 6:46 Jesus says, “Why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t DO what I say? Judas (the Disciple who “Accepted” Jesus and later betrayed Him), Failed his Tests & Temptations and was Found in the End to be a False Convert who had a Lukewarm “Love” for Jesus and a “Rocky Ground” Heart. Here Judas was a close friend of Jesus (God) Himself. Judas was in Ministry with Jesus working along side Him continually, getting all the latest and greatest Teachings and Revelations about God’s Word. He even “Accepted” and “Believed” in Jesus. Judas Ate, Talked, and Fellowshipped with Jesus on a regular basis, as well as Praying with Jesus, and who knows— maybe he even did some of the same miracles of healing like some of the other Disciples did. Judas however merely Professed with his mouth in Jesus. His Belief in Jesus amounted to NO GOOD FRUIT, because He did not truly LOVE Jesus, as Jesus told His Disciples to do— John 14:15 “If you Love Me Obey My Commandments.” Judas’ Belief in Jesus did not follow through to a true Love and Obedience to God’s Word. In fact, Judas was in the habit of Stealing from the Ministry of Jesus, so his life was actually the total opposite of what Jesus actual taught us in God’s Word. It’s easy to be deceived, even when you are doing much Work for Jesus— even with Jesus Himself! John 12:6 “Not that he (Judas) cared for the poor (he Professed that he did)—he was a THIEF, and since he was in charge of the Disciples’ Money, he OFTEN STOLE (practiced sin) some for himself.” Luke 16:10-13 Jesus says, “If you are DISHONEST (cheat, steal, lie) in LITTLE THINGS, you WON’T be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are UNTRUSTWORTHY ABOUT WORLDLY WEALTH, who will trust you with the TRUE RICHES OF HEAVEN?“ 61. What are the 7 powers of God? The sevenfold ministry of the Spirit Including the Spirit of the Lord, and the Spirits of wisdom, of understanding, of counsel, of might, of knowledge and of fear of the LORD, here are represented the seven Spirits, which are before the throne of God.