Category: Faith Is…

John 1:12, 14 NIV
12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

“John proceeds to bring out the importance of faith. He has said that Christ died for people, but that does not automatically bring salvation. No one is saved without believing…To believe ‘in the name’ of the Word, then, means to trust the person of the Word. It is to believe in him as he is. It is to believe that God is the God revealed in the Word and to put our trust in that God. This is more than simple credence. It is not believing that what he says is true, but trusting him as a person. It is believing ‘in’ or ‘on’ him” (L.Morris, The Gospel according to John, NICNT).

To believe in Jesus is to know him — to fully turn away from self and put our trust, our very lives into God’s hands and experience His supernatural love. To know him, is to see his great mission, initiated in Genesis, and his love that underpins it all.

Prayer: Jesus, we believe in you, with all of our hearts, souls, minds, and strength (Mark 12:30). In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship to “The Lord is My Salvation” by Keith and Kristyn Getty

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– AW

 

 

 

Let’s proclaim the following Scripture out loud:

Hebrew 12:1-2 NIV – Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

Luke 17:5 MSG – The apostles came up and said to the Master, “Give us more faith.”

“Jesus is our champion, he is the author and perfecter of our faith. On one level, the Word assures us today Jesus is our forerunner who has run the race before us. He knows every obstacle, every stumbling block we will ever face on the path. He shows us how it’s done and we follow in his footsteps.

But Jesus is more than just our example. Our very faith begins and ends with Jesus. Jesus is right there at the beginning of the race and the promise is that he will run with us right though the finish line. What assurance there is for any of us who sense we lack faith or haven’t lived faithfully. We can be faithful because his faithfulness to us means we can run this race well.” (P. Lee)

Today, let’s humbly ask Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, “Lord, give us more faith.”

Prayer: Jesus, thank you that you are our Champion who enables us to run the race well and live by faith as we fix our eyes on you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s sing “Endless Alleluia” by Cory Asbury (click here)

-JL

 

 

Hebrews 11:1 NLT
Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.

2 Kings 6:15-17 NLT
When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha. “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes and let him see!” The LORD opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.

“Our faith is the organ by which we are enabled to see the invisible order—and to see it with certainty, just as our eyes behold the physical world around us…I have never seen a flaming seraph or cherub or one of the lesser angels with my physical eyes. But I do see them every day through my eyes of faith. They are everywhere around me ministering to me and my family and my church—in fact, to all those who are God’s elect children.” (R. Kent Hughes, Hebrews: An Anchor for the Soul)

Let’s pray for one another in our missional groups and campus ministries for this next season of ministry, “Lord, open our eyes, so we may see.”

Prayer: Lord, with eyes of faith, may we see and participate in the unstoppable reality of your kingdom even more. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s sing “Faith To Believe“ by Shane & Shane (click here)

-JL

Hebrews 11:1 NLT
Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.

Mark 9:23-24 NIV
“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

“Faith is the channel that makes God’s possibilities available to us. Through faith, all that is possible to God becomes equally possible to us. No wonder that the Bible, from beginning to end, consistently emphasizes the unique and supreme importance of faith.” (Derek Prince, Faith to Live By)

“There’s this moment in the list of faith where Paul says – by faith ‘women received back their dead, raised to life again.’ How can this be? The certainty of the future resurrection was so real it broke through into the present moment…Consider all that we look forward to when we are finally with Jesus in his great city – healing, restoration, wholeness. As people who live by faith, as we exercise that faith, miracles and God’s supernatural power and love inevitably breakthrough into our lives.” (P. Lee)

Let’s pray in this way for our churches, “Lord, we do believe; help us overcome our unbelief!” As the Spirit helps us to believe, may God’s supernatural power and love break through even more into our lives.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for making all that is possible for you available to us through faith. So we confess, we do believe; help us overcome our unbelief! In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s sing “Miracles” by Jesus Culture (click here)

-JL

 

Hebrews 11:1 NRSVUE
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

“The believer’s faith gives him such an inner certitude that the return of Christ, the resurrection, the glorification, a place in Heaven, and a coming reign all become present to him! As William Lane explains: ‘Faith celebrates now the reality of the future blessings which make up the objective content of Christian hope. Faith gives to the objects of hope the force of present realities, and it enables the person of faith to enjoy the full certainty that in the future these realities will be experienced.’ Think of the staying power that comes to a life where, through faith, all the above are present realities!” (R. Kent Hughes, Hebrews: An Anchor for the Soul)

God’s gracious gift of faith enables us to supernaturally know the reality of our future blessings in our present circumstances. Today, let’s ask for the Spirit’s power to increase and exercise our faith, so that the certainty of our future shapes our daily attitudes, actions, and decisions. In this confidence, may we surrender and entrust our concerns and needs to the Lord. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you that through faith, the certainty of your promises is so immediate and real to me. Today, may I make concrete decisions to obey and follow you because my future is guaranteed by your Spirit living in me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s praise the Lord by singing “Let There Be Wonder” by Matt Redman (click here)

-JL

Psalm 86:15 NIV
But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

“God’s faithfulness confirms Christians in their calling (1 Cor. 1:9), especially since God remains loyal to all his promises (Heb. 11:11; cf. 10:23). God faithfully preserves his people until Christ’s second coming (1 Thess. 5:23) and offers strength in temptation (1 Cor. 10:13), before evil (2 Thess. 3:3), and in suffering (1 Pet. 4:19). The tenacity of God’s faithfulness takes on dimensions of his OT covenant love that cannot be moved by humankind’s erratic commitment (2 Tim. 2:13)… In biblical theology, therefore, faithfulness lies at the heart of covenant relationship. God pledges consistent fidelity to his promises, thus expressing himself through covenants. God pledges a lasting relationship, and we are invited—indeed, called—to commit our lives with commensurate faithfulness.” (Gary Burge, “Faithfulness,” Evangelical Dictionary of Theology)

The Lord is our starting point as we begin the Faithful Faith series, for it is through the faithfulness of God in Jesus Christ that we receive and grow in the gift of faith. Today, let’s give thanks for God’s faithfulness as attested by each Scripture reference above, and pray that we would more fully step into and live within the assurance and confidence of God’s 100% faithful love and care for our lives.

Prayer: God, I proclaim that you are abounding in love and faithfulness. In surrender, trust, and obedience, may I know and live within your faithfulness in new measure. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s sing “This We Know” by Passion (click here)

-JL