WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?
What is Faith?
Faith is trust in God’s character, rooted in an inner conviction based on the Word of God.
When we trust God’s Character, faith, then, leads to action. Faith is not passive. It’s demonstrated in daily actions and, choices.
What are some pitfalls that can hinder us from walking by faith?
1. The pitfall of Prioritizing other things before God
By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead. —Hebrews 11:4
3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. —Genesis 4:3-5
2.The Pitfall of Pleasing Self, Others.
5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”[a] For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. —Hebrews 11:5-6
3. The pitfall of Clinging to Comfort and Security
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise —Hebrews 11:8-9
……15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. —Herbews 11:15-16
4.The pitfall of conditional faith
35 ………..There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning;[e] they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. —Hebrews 11:35
5. The Pitfall of speaking curses over our families
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff. —Hebrews 11:20-21
6. Pitfall instant gratification Moses
23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. —Hebrews 11:23-24
How do we stay away from falling into these pitfalls?
CHAPTER 12
“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. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” —Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV
1. Remember the crowd of witnesses
2. Throw off whatever easily entangles you
3. Run the race marked for you
4. Fix your eyes on Jesus
What actions of Faith is God calling you to take today?
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