The Well | Faith | 02.24.15

Until we meet again at The Well, read the Scriptures below and ask God to show you the life changing truths He wrote to us in each of these verses. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to the importance of having faith by revealing what faith is and where we get our faith as you seek to gain a greater understanding of faith.

Read the following verses and write down the meaning of each verse.

• Romans 1:17

• Galatians 3:11

• Hebrews 10:38

What is the common message in each of these verses? Did you notice the word “live?”

When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he shared how to walk as a believer. How do we walk? (2 Corinthians 5:7, Galatians 2:20)

Would you say the Christian life is measured by one’s faith?

Below are a few ways we live by faith. As you read each one, ask God to show you how to live in light of these truths.

1. It is by faith we please God. (Hebrews 11:6)

2. It is by faith the impossible becomes possible. (Matthew 19:26, Mark 9:23)

3. It is by faith we overcome the world. (1 John 5:4)

4. It is by faith we conquer the problems of life. (Mark 11:22-24)

5. It is by faith we are secure. (1 Peter 1:5, Luke 22:32)

6. It is by faith we receive all God has promised us. (Matthew 21:22, James 1:6-7)

Can you see that a lack of faith is our problem, not our circumstances? We must know that true faith is authenticated by its object. The power of faith lies in its object. And faith is only valid as its object. The crucial issue is not really faith, but in what or in whom we are putting our faith.

How would you describe faith in God versus faith in faith? Faith in faith has no power. It‘s not faith that moves mountains; God moves mountains.

What are you facing today you need to trust God for? Is God capable of taking care of your needs?

How would your attitude, emotions, and activities look if you believed God was going to do what is best for you in your current situation?

Are you willing to trust God to take care of you and the circumstances in your life?

Do you know faith comes from God? If you are lacking in faith, ask God to give you the faith to trust Him.

The object of our faith is Jesus so we must keep our eyes on Him rather than wondering if we have enough faith. James McConkey said, “True faith pays no attention whatever to itself. It centers all its gaze upon Christ... When Satan cannot beguile us in any other way he gets us to scrutinizing our faith, instead of looking unto Christ… That faith is the strongest which pays no attention to itself….Nothing will quicker weaken faith than the constant endeavor to discover it. It is like a child’s digging up a seed to see if it’s growing. It is a curiosity which brings disaster to the seed… Therefore do not worry about your faith…Take care that you are depending upon Jesus, and faith will take care of itself.”

Since Jesus is the object of our faith, these weeks before we meet again, read the gospels and look at the heart of Jesus. Look at His responses, His words, His actions, and His love.

—OR—

Find a good resource on the attributes of Jesus and meditate on who Jesus is and how He responded to the situations He faced and the people He loved.