CE 1 YEAR: 9 Your Faith

Week 9

Your Faith

Understanding biblical faith

What is faith? It is a belief that is not based on what we have experienced with our physical senses (Heb 11:1). We have not seen, heard, or touched it, but still believe it. For example, you believe there is a place called London, England but you have probably never personally been there. That is faith.

What determines the strength of your faith? Evidence. The evidence for our faith does not come from directly experiencing what our faith is in. But the strength of our faith always depends on evidence.

For example, why do you believe the Bible’s statement that God created the Universe (Gen 1:1)? You did not personally see Him do it, so it is a matter of faith. But the massive size and complex design of Creation gives you undeniable proof that He did. God always gives you abundant evidence for whatever He wants you to put your faith in. This is why Jesus encouraged faith in God’s provision by telling us to observe how your Father feeds the birds (Matt 6:26).

There are generally two kinds of faith in the Bible. The kind that God gives us, and the kind we are responsible for. For example, the Scriptures indicate that God gives us saving faith and a faith to do miracles (Eph 2:8-9; 1 Tim 1:14; Matt 17:20; 21:21-22; Luke 17:6; Acts 3:16; 1 Cor 12:9-10; 13:2). We cannot take credit for saving or miracle faith because we cannot choose them or produce them. God must give them.

The faith we are discussing in this study might be called “empowering faith.” It is a faith we choose and that empowers us to believe the Bible’s promises and doctrines, and obey its commands. It is the shield of faith that we choose to take up to extinguish the fiery arrows of Satan’s lies (Eph 6:16). Because we choose empowering faith, it is the kind of faith that pleases God and that we are commended for (Heb 11:2, 6, 39).

How do we know when we do not have God pleasing faith? Whenever we worry or are afraid. Fear is the absence of faith in God. Trusting God in everything is so important to God that “Do not fear” is the most repeated command in Scripture.

The value of faith

Why is God pleased with our faith? Why would He commend and reward us for it? Because faith in God is really love for God. Job illustrated that the ultimate expression of faith is an unconditional love for God. A faith that trusts and honors God even when He allows painful things to occur in our life. The Bible describes this when it says we love and trust God even though we have not seen Him (1 Pet 1:8).

Being tested for this kind of faith in God is a primary purpose for our lives. The fact that we live in the Age of Testing explains why God allows painful suffering in the lives of His people. The ultimate question in the entire Universe being asked and answered is will we love and trust a God we have never seen and who allows suffering?

As noted in week 5, since the cross of Christ, it is no longer God’s love for you that is on trial. God has loved you unconditionally. Now He wants to see if you will love Him the same. Again, the primary goal of this life is not to be blessed, but to be tested, so we can glorify God.

But the Day is coming when there will be no more tests or hardships or opportunity to glorify God with our faith and unconditional love. When Jesus appears again, the Age of Faith and Testing will end, and the Age of Paradise and Blessing will begin. We rejoice in that. But understand that you will never have another opportunity to do something really hard for God. You can love and glorify God now in a way that can only happen in this life. One day the Age of Faith and Testing will be done, and we will stand before our King at the Great Awards Ceremony (Matt 16; Rev 20). And we will wish we had loved, trusted, and suffered for Him more on this Earth.

We noted in the earlier chapter regarding Job that God and spiritual beings marvel at our faith in God. Why is this? Because we are doing something they have never done. Even God has never had to have faith in anything, because He sees everything. And because the Angels have the privilege of personally seeing the majesty and power of God, they do not have the privilege of living by faith. Faith is a remarkable, God-glorifying thing.

We are often tempted to hate living by faith, and we yearn to see and hear God. But that is because we underestimate how much God values faith. Jesus said that those who believe Him without seeing Him were more blessed (John 20:29). Why has God chosen to reveal Himself most clearly through a Book? Why wouldn’t He encourage, bless, and radically transform every Christian instantly and forever with just a brief glimpse of Him in Heaven now? Because God loves faith.

Many people claim to have communication from God that goes beyond Scripture. Signs they see, prophesies they speak, whispers they hear, and impulses they feel. Such people claim that such a life is more pleasing to God. But Jesus warned that those who seek miraculous signs are wicked and adulterous (Matt 12:39). The search for guidance or confirmation apart from Scripture may sometimes be a rebellion against God’s desire for us to live by faith. God likes it when we see and hear nothing, but still believe, trust, and obey what His Book says.

Growing in your faith

We stated in chapter 5 that the most important thing you need to believe is God’s love for you. If you want to love and obey God more, you simply need a deeper and stronger faith in God’s love for you. God is constantly and completely loving you. But only the love that you believe in and trust will empower you to love God.

How then do you grow in your faith in God’s love for you? As explained above, your faith in God’s love is based on personal evidence and experience. Where will these come from? First, Scripture gives us a revelation of God’s love for us through its promises and examples of God loving His people. As stated in week 5 about God’s Love, Christ going to the cross for us is certainly wonderful evidence that God loves us (Rom 5:8).

However, you have evidence of God’s love that is more recent than the cross 2000 years ago. And you have proof that is more personal than the examples in Scripture. You have personally experienced the love of God in your own life.

The life of David shows you how your faith in God grows through experience. Why did David have such certain faith that he would kill Goliath? Because He experienced God helping him to kill a lion and a bear (1 Sam 17:34-36). David told King Saul that the same God who rescued him from the claws of a lion and a bear, would help him conquer Goliath (v. 37).

Do you see how God grew David’s faith through revealing Himself in difficult and scary circumstances? God will grow your faith in Him in the same way. God allows difficulties in your life to be opportunities to experience His help.

Do you see how important it was for David to remember what God had done for him? It enabled David to tackle the next test of faith God brought into his life. This is why David made a commitment to never forget the good things God did for him (Ps 103:2). And then he went on to list them (vs. 3-18).

Do not make the same mistake as the warriors of Ephraim. They were armed with weapons but fled from the enemy on the day of battle. Why? Because they forgot the miracles God had done for them (Ps 78:9-11).

Never forget all of the good things God has done for you and given to you! This is especially important because bad things also happen. Things that imply God does not care about you. He lets you get hurt. He lets people you love die. He sometimes does not grant your prayers. And these painful experiences are a powerful attack on your faith in God’s love.

We have offered a biblical perspective on God’s purposes for evil and pain in the previous chapter. But we will add here that God often allows painful events to actually reveal more of His love to you. Many who have been through the “deserts” of life with God are very thankful for them because they experienced God’s love in extraordinary ways. The Psalmist said it was good for him to suffer because through it he gained a deeper understanding of God’s promises (Ps 119:71).

Practical Application: You have learned that your faith in God grows not just through Scripture but experiences in real life. The more you have experienced God’s love, the more you are convinced of it. List the “Top 10” events, experiences, and blessings in your life that are examples of God personally loving you. Share these with your small group this week.

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In your small group meeting this week, share praises and prayer requests and then discuss these questions:

1) What is faith? What is the strength of our faith based on?

2) What are different kinds of faith in Scripture? Why would it be important to distinguish these?

3) How do we know when we do not have God pleasing faith?

4) What is a perspective on divine guidance that may be a rebellion against living by faith?

5) How does our faith grow?

6) Can you share a testimony about a “lion” or “bear” that God brought into your life? What did you learn through it?

7) What was most meaningful to you in this chapter? Why?