Connecting The Dots - Week 3 Notes

Connecting The Dots Week 3

                   “Faith”

Key Verse: “But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak” (2 Corinthians 4:13, Ref. Psalm 116:1-12)

 Paul is referencing a sentiment from Psalm 116:1-10 in this verse. I picked it as our key verse this week because it has been so often misused in many Faith movements as a green light to “Name it and claim it”, no matter what “it” is. Two important things to see here are the underlined portion above “according to what is written”, and also the way Paul finishes his thought in verse 18.

“…while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18)

According to Scripture saving Faith absolutely knows and declares something beyond our five senses, but never beyond God’s revealed will. That is still no small thing, but it’s important that we see it unfold:

1.

“  "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, theevidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1 NKJV)

2.

“. "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6 NASB)

3.

“. "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” (Romans 10:17 NIV)

Now, the in the context of our key verse let’s see what Jesus had to say about Faith; believing God:

1.

"  "This is the confidence which we have before Him, that,if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him." (1 John 5:14-15)

2.

"  "Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Meanything in My name, I will do it." (John 14:13-14)

3.

"  "Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it will happen. And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." (Matthew 21:21-22)

The point I want to drive home is that we are given authority by Jesus Himself to speak, ask, and declare God’s revealed will over any and every circumstance in our lives. If He promised it, we have it when we ask in Faith. Speaking in Faith is asking, declaring God’s will, by His Word, according to what we know it says.

Discussion:

 

1. What are some things God has promised us in His Word?(2 Corinthians 1:20, Hebrews 10:22-23)

2. Is there an area in your own life when your Faith has been tested recently in some way? If so, how? (James 1:2-5)

3. God's Word says that when we speak His promises, according His will and what He desires, good things happen. What are some unexpected ways God has blessed you or someone you know when you've applied your Faith in that way? (Matthew 7:7-11, Isaiah 55:11-12)