Faith That Inspires: Risky Faith
“32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection, and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; 36 and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated 38 (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.” (Hebrews 11:32–38, NASB95)
It’s easy to have faith when our prayers have a miraculous outcome. Without a doubt, that happens sometimes, and it’s never wrong to pray for it. There are other times, however, when our prayers aren’t answered the way we want.
Does Faith That Inspires only apply when God blesses us with favor?
It’s easy to have faith when our prayers have a miraculous outcome. Without a doubt, that happens sometimes, and it’s never wrong to pray for it. There are other times, however, when our prayers aren’t answered the way we want.
Does Faith That Inspires only apply when God blesses us with favor?
Discussion Questions
- Who have you known who could express faith when life was difficult? Who has a story?
- When did you pray for a miracle? What were the circumstances, and how did it turn out?
- Read Daniel Chapter 3. What do we learn about prayer from these men? When they say, “Even if He does not,” does that suggest a lack of faith?
- Read Job 13:15. How can Job hope in God even though God may kill him? The end of the verse says, “Nevertheless I will argue my ways before him.” What does that teach us about prayer?
- Read Matthew 14:1-12. What did obedience to God mean for Jesus’ cousin John the Baptist?
- Read 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 and 12:10. What perspective can we gain about suffering from these verses?
Dig Deeper: Does Everyone Who Believes Get Rescued?
In our passage today, we find a list of people – some who, by faith, were rescued from dire circumstances and some, by faith, who were not.
Pastor Russell taught us that answers to prayer don’t depend on our faith’s quantity or quality but on God’s sovereign will. Correct faith is faith that trusts in Him.
Correct prayers of faith:
1. Don’t stipulate God’s response.
2. Accept any answer God gives, and
3. Always results in our obedience to Him.
We cannot be sure that God will answer any prayer the way we have asked, except for the prayer for the forgiveness of sins. Sometimes God says yes. Sometimes God says no. And sometimes God says, “Wait.” Sometimes we pray that God takes this thorn in the flesh from us, and God responds only with “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:6).
Jesus prayed, “Let this cup of suffering be taken away from me” (Matthew 26:39). God didn’t take it away. Faith is not being certain that God will positively answer any prayer—only that his answer will be what’s best.
Pastor Russell taught us that answers to prayer don’t depend on our faith’s quantity or quality but on God’s sovereign will. Correct faith is faith that trusts in Him.
Correct prayers of faith:
1. Don’t stipulate God’s response.
2. Accept any answer God gives, and
3. Always results in our obedience to Him.
We cannot be sure that God will answer any prayer the way we have asked, except for the prayer for the forgiveness of sins. Sometimes God says yes. Sometimes God says no. And sometimes God says, “Wait.” Sometimes we pray that God takes this thorn in the flesh from us, and God responds only with “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:6).
Jesus prayed, “Let this cup of suffering be taken away from me” (Matthew 26:39). God didn’t take it away. Faith is not being certain that God will positively answer any prayer—only that his answer will be what’s best.
Posted in Sermon Notes