Talks

Talk 4: Living by Faith

Intro: I prayed the prayer once now on with life!

Discussion Question:

What are the most common words people use when talking about living as a Christian?

• The future orientation of faith

Faith and God’s Promise

The trustworthy God makes promises to his people
Ps 119:41, 50, 76, 116, 133, 140, 148 ; Eph 3:6; 2 Tim 1:1

Commended faith waits for God to keep his promises
Ps: 119:38, 82, 123; Rom 4:21; Gal 3:18; Heb11:1–3

Assurance of things hoped for     

Conviction of things not seen

This is the faith God commends

Just as we understand creation

Faith in the now and not yet of the Christian life

Enjoying partial fulfilment of the promise in Christ
Luk 1:72; Acts 2:3; 13:32; Rom 15:8; 2 Cor 1:20

Waiting for final fulfilment of the promise at the return of Christ
2 Tim 1:1; Heb 4:1; 9:15; 12:26; Jam 1:12; 2 Pet 3:9, 13

Totally worth the Wait
Rom 8:18–23; Phil 3:21–21; Rev 21:1–4

Faith needs to endure to receive what is promised
Luke 8:13; 1 Cor 15:2; Col 1:23; Heb 10:36–39

• The marks of Enduring Faith

Obedience

Noah and Abraham/Sarah
Heb 11:7–12

Works demonstrate faith
Rom 1:5, 16:26; Gal 5:6; 1 Thes 1:3; James 2:7, 14–26

Patience

Abraham’s descendants waiting their whole lives
Heb 11:13–16

Waiting as central to Faith
Rom 8:24–25; Col 1:11; 1 Thes 1:9–10

Content not to see the way ahead

Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Issac
Heb 11:17–19

Paul’s willingness to move on not knowing what will happen
Acts 20:22

Looking Ahead
Heb 11:20–22  

Courageous

Moses’ mother
Heb 11:23

There are hard things to say
Acts 4:29–31; 2 Cor 10:2; 1 Thes 2:2

Self-Denial

Moses leaving the palace
Heb 11:24–28

Choosing Jesus over the world
Matt 6:19–21; Mark 8:34; Rom 13:14; 1 John 2:15–17

Strengthened for great works

Old Testament saints
Heb 11:29–35

Ordinary believers today
Mark 11:10–25; John 14:12

Enduring Suffering

Old Testament saints
Heb 11:35–38

Present day reality
2 Tim 3:12

• Living by Faith and not by sight

Trusting the promise vs going with what you can see
Rom 4:18–20

Trusting God vs being overcome with suffering
2 Cor 5:1–9

A Newton Hymn: I asked the Lord that I might grow!

I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith and love and ev’ry grace,
Might more of His salvation know,
And seek more earnestly His face.

‘Twas He who taught me thus to pray,
And He, I trust, has answered prayer,
But it has been in such a way
As almost drove me to despair.

I hoped that in some favored hour
At once He’d answer my request
And, by His love’s constraining pow’r,
Subdue my sins and give me rest.

Instead of this, He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart
And let the angry pow’rs of hell
Assault my soul in ev’ry part.

Yea, more with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe,
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Humbled my heart and laid me low.

“Lord, why is this,” I trembling cried;
“Wilt Thou pursue Thy worm to death?”
“’Tis in this way,” the Lord replied,
“I answer prayer for grace and faith.”

“These inward trials I employ
From self and pride to set thee free
And break thy schemes of earthly joy
That thou may’st find thy all in Me.”

Application: Run the Race with Endurance
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." (Heb 12:1-2 ESV)