Faith and Life

WHAT IS FAITH?

Faith is one of the most often misunderstood concepts in our culture today. This is due to the fact that most of what we know about faith is gleaned from the observation of the lives of "big-named" evangelists instead of seeking God to develop in us a powerful and biblical faith.

Have you ever wondered what kind of faith it takes to have your prayers answered? Have you ever wanted the kind of faith that offers up prayers for the sick and they are healed (not that everyone will be healed)? Have you ever wondered why some people are able to believe God for anything and some people can't? If so, in this lesson you will discover how to be a person of faith and walk with God as people in the Bible did. You will see how you can ask God for the "big thing" and what it will take to have your prayers answered in the affirmative.

A CLOSER LOOK AT FAITH AND MIRACLES

If we want to see miracles happen in our lives, we need to understand where they come from. They come from God alone. He alone is the miracle worker. Although Satan can imitate some miracles, he does so to demonstrate his power. God is so great and so awesome that He never has to prove who He is. God does not perform miracles because he has an identity complex; He does them to demonstrate His love and kindness to us. Every supernatural miracle that God performs is an act of His grace and mercy toward mankind. God is not on an ego trip; He doesn't need to prove to us how powerful He is. However, He does want us to know that His power is holy and gracious and is lavished on us freely through His love. The two following verses help us discover why faith is important and where it comes from:

"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 11:6).

“'Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, seaming its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2).

BECOMING A PERSON OF FAITH

Developing great faith in God is a process. God is looking for a people of faith who are willing to learn to walk with him. The reason for the process is the development of our character. God is more interested in our character than in charisma that can impress people with miracles. God is not looking for a gifted people, but for those whom He can trust with His gifts. Let's discover some key ingredients to becoming a person of faith.

In the book of James, Abraham is described as God's friend. Look up the following verses to discover what Abraham did to earn the title of God's friend. How did faith develop in his life? How did he do it? What did he do?

• Genesis 12:8
• Genesis 13:4
• Genesis 13:18
• Genesis 22:9
• James 2:17-26

Abraham was a man of faith because he developed a pattern of prayer that enabled him to live a life of obedience. Every act of obedience demonstrated that he believed God. Through his life he became a man of faith through what he suffered, and it was his belief of God that brought him through the tough times.

Through obedience we really learn how to Love God with all of our being. Through obedience we learn to "walk the talk" and surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. We demonstrate to Him that we really love and trust who He is in the universe: Lord of all. Jesus will call us His friend if we learn how to obey."You are my friendsifyou do what I command" (John 15:14).

Hebrews chapter 11 is often referred to as God's Hall of Faith. It is called so because each person mentioned has a unique story of faith and obedience. They not only believed in God; they had a belief of God and knew who He is. On a sheet of paper, list the following: the name of the person, Bible verse where the main story is found, the test of faith, the act of obedience, the result of obedience, and any additional comments you might observe.

BIBLICAL FAITH IS ABOUT KNOWING GOD

Consider the following story as an anecdote. Three little boys were playing outside and were bragging that their dads were important and knew important people. One boy said, "My dad knows the mayor." Another boy said, "That's nothing! My dad knows the governor." The third little boy, a preacher's son, emphatically declared, "Oh yeah? Well, my dad knows God!"

Knowing God is the whole key to faith, miracles, and believing God for the "big thing." The more you know God, the more you will be able to seek His face and know His will. Our faith is no longer an act that we voice through prayer while in agreement with others; it becomes an innate part of our being through an active relationship and walk with God.

The following verses explain how seeking God allows us to have more faith and see miracles happen in our lives more often:Jeremiah29:11-14;John 15:1-8

As we have already discovered, the power of faith is found in the person of faith who walks in obedience. The power of faith comes from knowing God personally through an intimate walk with Him. Powerful faith that witnesses miracles often is a faith that comes from the knowledge and the belief of God. Biblical faith is a faith that goes beyond the belief that God exists. The person growing in faith and in the knowledge of God understands that the more he discovers about God, the less he knows and understands God. There is so much about God that is misunderstood because many acquire their relationship with God through someone else rather than pursuing Him personally. As a disciple, seek to know God on a personal level as Paul did (Philippians 3:10-14).

IMMEDIATELY APPLYING FAITH TO YOUR LIFE

Today there is an unhealthy tendency to drift away from corporate prayer meetings or praying with and for others. We are either too busy, or too shy, apathetic, or intimidated by others, so we don't attempt to meet with others to touch God together and believe Him in faith for miracles. Jesus said:

“Itell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, arid whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them" (Matthew 18:18-20)

For the remainder of this lesson we will join together and follow a biblical pattern for corporate prayer meeting as designed in James 5:13-20. We will approach this prayer meeting in structured segments as outlined in Scripture. In each segment we will study the Scriptures, then respond to its direction for our power-prayer meeting.

Scripture Reading: James 5:13-20 "A Time for Prayer"

FOCUSING FAITH-FILLED HEARTS TOWARDS GOD

"is anyone of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise" (James 5:13).

If you are in trouble, pray to be cleansed from the cares of this life.

• Read and respond to Luke 12:22-34.

• Read and respond to John 14:1-4,6.

• Read and respond to 1 Peter 5:6,7.

If you are happy, sing songs of praise.

• Read and respond to Psalm 100

Prayer for the sick

"is anyone of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And they prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up" (James 5:14,15).

• Read and respond to Acts 3:1-10.

Oil was used to anoint both sick and healthy people. The oil normally used was olive oil. It was a symbol of the Holy Spirit coming over a person.

Prayer for restoration and righteousness

“if he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the earth produced its crops" (James 5:15-18).

Read and respond to the following verses as they relate to unconfessed sin:

·Psalm 32

·1 John 1:7-10

·Psalm 51:1-3,6,7,10

A prayer of intercession

"My brothers, ifone of you should wonder from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins" (James 5:19,20).

• Read and respond to Galatians 6:1,2

FAITH IN CONCLUSION

ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE NEXT CLASS

1. Memorize the following verses: Jeremiah 29:11-13

2.Do a study on a person in the New Testament era and discover how he or she learned faith. On a sheet of paper, list the following: the name of the person, verse where the main story is found in the Bible, test of faith, act of obedience, result of obedience, and additional comments.

3.Complete Accountability Sheet. Focus your prayer time this week on your faith in God by knowing Him. Make a list of things that are acts of obedience to God that sometimes get overlooked in your life.

4.In your Bible reading time, look up five miracles in the Bible. Describe what happened with each. How did it happen? What human involvement was there? Why did the miracle take place?

5.Contact your accountability partner at least one time this week outside of church.

Get his input on how he sees his faith and knowledge of God growing.

6.Complete Sermon Notes for every service you attend (minimum of one).

7.Pray a minimum of 15 minutes per day