But Now. . . Faith

Faith is not Complicated

Before getting to the illustration below do an introduction to the series, this is a 3-part series, with focus on 1 Corinthians 13:13 “13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.” - - - - Paul ends one of the most powerful chapters in scripture with these three enduring words: faith, hope, and love. These are not optional accessories to the Christian life — they are the foundation of it. Faith believes, hope endures, and love acts. .

Over the next three weeks when I am preaching, we are going to walk through each of these, faith, hope, and love, not just to learn about them, but to live them.

Faith: Trust in action

Hope: Confidence in God’s future

Love: The greatest of all, flowing from the heart of God Himself.

I hope this series challenges us to examine where these qualities show up, or maybe where they are missing in our walk with Christ.

(Transition) Today we begin with faith. Faith is not complicated - it is trust put into action.

(Illustration) chair under sheet, other chair hold up, ask someone to come up and tell them there is a chair under the sheet, they can sit in that chair or they can sit in the chair I just sat down, where will they sit? Faith is sitting down because you believe the chair will hold you.

Almost every time someone is going to chose the visible chair. Why? because we trust what we can see. But faith— real, biblical faith, trusts what God says even when we can’t see it.

Faith is sitting in the unseen chair because you trust the person who told you it’s there. That is what faith looks like.

Have everyone turn to Heb11:1-6

Hebrews 11:1–6 NASB95

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the men of old gained approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. 4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. 6 And 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 seek Him.

(v.1) Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen . . .

Well that really is not the definition so much as a description of what faith does. Faith gives substance to what we hope for; it brings God’s invisible promises into visible reality.

Faith believes God is who He says He is

Hebrews 11:6 NASB95

6 And 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 seek Him.

Faith is not optimism or positive thinking.

It is not saying, “Things will work out somehow.”

Faith is the conviction that GOD is who He says He is and that he can be trusted.

(Transition) Think about this and Hebrews 11, Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah. They were not perfect, they struggled. Yet, they believed God enough to act!

Faith acts on what God says

Turn to Jm2:14-26

James is not contradicting Paul — he is complementing Him

Faith is not just believing in your head; it is moving your feet.

James 2:14–18 “14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. 18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.””

James 2:19–22 “19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;”

James 2:23–26 “23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”

Faith is not passive. Faith obeys, faith moves

Abraham believed and offered Isaac

Rahab believed and hid the spies

Neither of them saw the full picture — but both acted on what God said.

Again faith is not passive, faith obeys, faith moves.

You can say, “I trust God,” but if it never changes your choices, that is not biblical faith.

(Biblical Illustration) Peter stepping out of the boat Mt14:22-33) - He did not wait for certain conditions, He said Lord if it is You bid me to come, the Lord did and Peter stepped out. Now that is faith in action.

(Transition) Sometimes we want to wait for everything to make sense before obeying. But faith obeys first — and understanding comes later.

Faith stands even when we do not see results yet

Faith not only acts, it endures

Habakkuk 2:4 “4 “Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; But the righteous will live by his faith.”

and then 2 Corinthians 5:7 “7 for we walk by faith, not by sight—”

Faith stands when the answer is delayed, when the healing has not come, when the relationship has not mended, when the door has not been opened. True faith says, God, I trust You, even here.”

Faith is not sight. we trust God’s promises even when our circumstances have not yet changed.

Biblical Illustration: Abraham waited 25 years for Isaac; Joseph trusting God through betrayal, slavery and prison. They could not see how it would work out, but their faith kept them standing.

Reflection: What are you praying fro right now that has not happened yet? Could it be that Gog is growing your faith before He gives your answer?

Application

Faith is not complicated — but it is costly. It requires us to surrender our control, our understanding, our timing and ask:

Where do we need to step out in faith this week?

What’s one area you know God is calling you to obey — but You have been waiting for yet another sign?

Remember: Obedience is always the next step of faith. Faith that never moves never matures.

Trust God to enough to forgive someone

Give generously when finances are tight

Serve when you feel unqualified

Share the gospel with someone even when you feel nervous.

Conclusion

Faith is not complicated: Believe God enough to take Him at his word.

Faith is not pretending: It is trusting

Faith is not standing still: it is moving when God speaks

Sit in the chair - - Faith is obedience in action.

(Invitation) (Song) (Prayer)