A Life of Faith

Faith Lived Out Genesis 12 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. Mat 6:19-20 Faith is our response to God’s love Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Gen 12:1-4 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? Luke 9:23-25 • Faith is initiated by God And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Long ago, your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods. Jos 24:2 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. John 15:16 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. John 15:19 • Faith oftentimes requires a radical reorientation of priorities Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. Gen 12:1 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Rom 8:7 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Rom 12:2 • Through faith we receive God’s blessings and promises And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Gen 12:2-3 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” Gen 11:4 Faith isn’t faith until we act on it So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Gen 1:4 3 components of faith: Notitia : knowledge or the content of the faith Assensus : assent, agreement that it is true Fiducia : ordering your life to live according to this truth For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 1 Cor 1:26-30 • Col 3:2 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. Jam 2:22-23 Next Steps: • • • • If you have not taken the first step of faith in God, place your trust in his son Jesus Christ to forgive your sins. Start reading the bible with an eye and ear for what God is calling you to do. Consider what steps of faith you need to take, what priorities need to change in your life? Tell a friend about it. Make a list of promises that God gives to you as believers in Jesus Christ, and meditate on them. Start with these: James 1:5, 1 Cor. 10:13, John 10:28–29, Heb. 13:5, Phil. 1:6, Luke 12:40, Rom 8:37-39, Phil 4:19, Rom 10:9, Rom 6:23 Additional Resources: • “The Reason for God” by Tim Keller • “Mere Christianity” by C.S. Lewis • “Abraham: One Nomad's Amazing Journey of Faith” by Charles Swindoll