BIBLE STUDY WEEK # 4 (LET'S PRAY)

Father God, the God of faith, and the God Who honor faith, we came to You in Jesus' name. Asking that You help our unbelief today. We desire to walk by faith and not by sight. Help us not to walk in fear, but trusting You always. The days of the end maybe upon us now, we ask that You would help not to be in despair of what is happening. Our faith is what we live by in You. Little faith or no faith we want no part in it, because God is the only secure we have, and we need more faith to stand in these days. The Word says, when we have done all to stand, stand therefore. Thank You for helping us to stand on Your Word; You are a faithful God to His people. These studies will help us to grow in faith as we use our faith muscle to honor You in all we do. Lord Jesus, increase our faith in your redeeming love and power that we may always recognize your abiding presence with us. Give us courage and strength to face every difficulty, trial, and temptation with trust in your saving help and guiding presence." This we pray in Jesus' Almighty Name, Amen. 

BIBLE STUDY WEEK # 4 (8/5/14)

In the School of Faith: Bible Study
From a study of Charles Stanley
Date: (8/5/14)
Week # 4

 

SUBJECT:                    The Grades of Faith:
I                                     No Faith:
Key Passage:                Mark 4:35-41
Supporting Scriptures:  Romans 14:23;

 

The disciples were human, and their faith went through a process of development.

 

No Faith—They lacked it during the storm on the sea (Mark 4:40).

Paul taught the Romans to deal with matters of liberty concerning the eating of meat upon this principle: "But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin" (Rom. 14:23).

 

All Christians must live by this principle: Whatever is not of faith is sin. Does this mean that we can just conjure up what is right and wrong in our own minds based upon personal opinions? Does this mean that there is no divine standard of right and wrong? Certainly not! Romans could be called the epistle of faith. Paul begins and ends the epistle stating that we must be obedient to the faith (Rom. 1:16; 16:26). And throughout the epistle, Paul teaches us that we must walk by faith (Rom. 1:17) and that faith comes by hearing God's word (Rom. 10:17).

 Therefore we quickly learn that faith is not based upon mere human wisdom but upon God's word. Peter said: "If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God" (1 Pet. 4:11). And later he said: "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue" (2 Pet. 1:2-3).

 Faith comes from hearing God's word in which is revealed everything we need to know about life and godliness. Therefore, Paul said: "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed" (Gal. 1:8). And the apostle said: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
Now, what does Paul mean by saying, "whatever is not from faith is sin?" The apostle means that we must go to God's word, learn His will, and live according to His will. Thus, we live by faith. And we must be confident that everything we do is according to God's will because he said: "he who doubts is condemned" (Rom. 14:23).
Paul sums up this matter saying: "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" (Col. 3:17). And he said: "Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil" (1 Th. 5:21-22).

Now think about yourself. Have you gone to God's word to test the things that you are doing? Are you fully convinced that you are living according to God's will? Are you doing things that might be wrong?
Remember, he who doubts is condemned because whatever is not from faith is sin.

 

Continue with…………………..

 

Subject:                      The Grades of Faith
II                                  Little Faith
Key Passage:              Matthew 16:5-10
Supporting Scriptures: Matthew 8:26

 

Little faith. We see this weak trust in God demonstrated in Matthew 16:5-10. The Pharisees and Sadducees had asked Jesus for signs. This is why He told the disciples, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees" (v. 6). The disciples thought He told them this because they had forgotten to bring food. Christ responded, "You men of little faith, why do you discuss among yourselves that you have no bread?" (v. 8). Although the disciples had seen Jesus feed 5,000 people and then 4,000 more (vv. 9-10), they were still concerned about their physical provision. In other words, we have little faith when we are focused only on signs and earthly worries instead of learning the greater spiritual principles God wants to teach us. They were anxious about many things, not always trusting that God would provide (Matt. 6:30).

8:23-27 It is a comfort to those who go down to the sea in ships, and are often in perils there, to reflect that they have a Saviour to trust in and pray to, who knows what it is to be on the water, and to be in storms there. Those who are passing with Christ over the ocean of this world, must expect storms. His human nature, like to ours in everything but sin, was wearied, and he slept at this time to try the faith of his disciples. They, in their fear, came to their Master. Thus is it in a soul; when lusts and temptations are swelling and raging, and God is, as it were, asleep to it, this brings it to the brink of despair. Then it cries for a word from his mouth, Lord Jesus, keep not silence to me, or I am undone. Many that have true faith, are weak in it. Christ's disciples are apt to be disquieted with fears in a stormy day; to torment themselves that things are bad with them, and with dismal thoughts that they will be worse. Great storms of doubt and fear in the soul, under the power of the spirit of bondage, sometimes end in a wonderful calm, created and spoken by the Spirit of adoption. They were astonished. They never saw a storm so turned at once into a perfect calm. He that can do this, can do anything, which encourages confidence and comfort in him, in the most stormy day, within or without, Isaiah 26:4.

 

Pulpit Commentary:
Verse 26. - And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? (Matthew 6:30, note). The winds and waves were mastering their souls as well as their bodies. Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea. -Rebuked; cf. Psalm 104:7. The words spoken are recorded by St. Mark. And there was a great calm. Corresponding to the "great tempest" (ver. 24). And he saith unto them, why are ye fearful?.... Though they had some faith in him, yet there was a great deal of fear and unbelief, for which Christ blames them, saying, O ye of little faith: See Gill on Matthew 6:30. In Luke, the phrase is, "where is your faith?" what is become of it? You professed but just now to believe in me, is your faith gone already? In Mark it is, "how is it that ye have no faith?" That is, in exercise, their faith was very small, it could hardly be discerned: some faith they had, as appears by their application to him, but it was very little. They had no faith in him, as sleeping, that he could deliver them; but had some little faith in him that he might, could he be awaked out of sleep; and for this Christ blames them; for he, as the eternal God, was as able to save them sleeping as waking.

 Then he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm: being awaked by his disciples, he raises his head from his pillow, stands up, and with a majestic voice, in an authoritative manner, showing some kind of resentment at the wind and sea, as if they had exceeded their commission; and the one had blown, and the other raged too much and too long; he rebukes them in such language as this, "peace, be still"; , as it is in Mark, be silent, hold your peace, stop your mouth, put a bridle on it, as the words used signify; and go on no longer to threaten with shipwreck and loss of lives; upon which the wind ceased, the sea became calm, and the ship moved quietly on. (26) Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?—St. Luke puts the question more strongly: "Where is your faith?" as though it had all drifted away under the pressure of their fears. Yet the word "of little faith" was singularly appropriate. They had not altogether lost their trust in Him, but they had not learnt the lesson of the centurion's faith, and were only at ease when they heard His voice, and saw that He was watching over them.

 

Rebuked the winds and the sea.—This seems to have been almost, so to say, our Lord's formula in working miracles. The fever (Luke 4:39), the frenzy of the demoniac (Mark 9:25), the tempest, are all treated as if they were hostile and rebel forces that needed to be restrained. St. Mark, with his usual vividness, gives the very words of the rebuke: "Peace, be still"—literally, be dumb, be muzzled, as though the howling wind was a maniac to be gagged and bound.

 

There was a great calm.—As with the fever in Matthew 8:15, so here, the work was at once instantaneous and complete. There was no after-swell such as is commonly seen for hours after a storm.

 

Meaning
This is the rebuke levelled at the disciple of Christ, when seeming to doubt his divinity. The phrase is also more widely used to describe any Christian doubter. In a secular setting it may be intended as a humorous jibe when doubting someone's abilities.

 

Origin
There are several places in the Bible in which this phrase is used with reference to those who demonstrate their lack of faith in Jesus' power to perform miracles. Here is an example from Miles Coverdale's Bible, 1535
Luke 12:27: Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Luke 12:28: If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
In the 17th century, the people that we would now call atheists were called nullfidians. The state of insufficient faith was also of common enough interest to be given a name - petty fidianism.
John Trapp, his Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, 1647, recorded the term:
"O ye of little faith." "Ye petty fidians"; He calleth them not nullifidians.

 

Reflections:
1. Why are you afraid? The Lord is ever present to us. And in our time of testing he asks the same question
2. Why are you afraid? Have you no faith (Matthew 8:26)?
3. Do you recognize the Lord's presence with you, especially when you meet the storms of adversity, sorrow, and temptation?

 

Questions:
1. Describe no faith and little faith.
2. What principle all Christians must live by?
3 Paul begins and ends the epistle of Romans stating that we must be obedient to the what?
4. Faith is based upon God's Word and not upon what?
5. Where does faith come from?
6. We see that weak faith demonstrate in Matthew 16:5-10 is called what?
7. Why was Jesus sleeping during the storm in Matthew 8:23-27?
8. In Matthew 8:23-27 what kind of faith did Christ say the disciples have?
9. What is insufficient faith?
10. What does Paul mean by saying, "whatever is not from faith is sin?"

 

UNWAVERING FAITH: WEEK # 4

 In spite of tremendous trials, some people do not waver in their faith. Match these unwavering Bible people with their trails.

 

Peter (Acts 12:5) a. King's sword
Daniel (Daniel 6:7) b. Childless state
Moses (Exodus 14:21) c. exile on Patmos
John (Revelation 1:9) d. sold into slavery
Noah (Genesis 7:15-18) e. sojourned in a strange country
Sarah (Hebrews 11:11-12 f. beating
Abraham (Hebrews 11:8-9) g. prison
Hosea (Hosea 1:2) h. unfaithful wife
John the Baptist (Mt. 14:10) i. flood
Paul (Acts 21:32) j. Red Sea
Joseph (Genesis 37:28) k. lions' den

 

Prayer:
Father God, the God of faith, and the God Who honor faith, we came to You in Jesus' name. Asking that You help our unbelief today. We desire to walk by faith and not by sight. Help us not to walk in fear, but trusting You always. The days of the end maybe upon us now, we ask that You would help not to be in despair of what is happening. Our faith is what we live by in You. Little faith or no faith we want no part in it, because God is the only secure we have, and we need more faith to stand in these days. The Word says, when we have done all to stand, stand therefore. Thank You for helping us to stand on Your Word; You are a faithful God to His people. These studies will help us to grow in faith as we use our faith muscle to honor You in all we do. Lord Jesus, increase our faith in your redeeming love and power that we may always recognize your abiding presence with us. Give us courage and strength to face every difficulty, trial, and temptation with trust in your saving help and guiding presence." This we pray in Jesus' Almighty Name, Amen.

 

BIBLE STUDY WEEK # 3 (QUIZ)

Saving Faith Quiz:

 

1. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.
(X) True   or  False

2. Faith comes by hearing the word of God.
(X) True   or  False

3. The unjust shall live by faith.
True   or  (X) False

4. A faithful person will abound with blessings.
(X) True   or  False

5. God's people should live by faith.
(X) True   or  False

6. All things should be asked in unwavering faith.
(X) True   or  False

7. Faith expresses itself by love.
True   or  (X) False

8. By God's gift of grace, we are saved through faith.
(X) True   or  False

9. Faith is the helmet in our armour of God.
True   or  (X) False

10. Faith should be placed in the wisdom of men.
True  or   (X) False

11. Christians should fight the good fight of faith wherever they are sent.
(X) True   or  False

BIBLE STUDY WEEK # 3 (Answers to Questions)

1.  What is saving faith to you?

 

Answer:

Saving faith is that we believe to the saving of the soul through our faith that Jesus is the Son of God. One must believe in his/her heart, and then confess that Jesus is Lord, and, that, if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead; and we must be Baptist in water and in the Spirit of God, and receive His Holy Spirit.  We must also obey His Word.

 

2.  What are some of the signs of genuine saving faith?

 

Answer: This is one of the most important questions in the Christian life. Many believers doubt their salvation because they don't see signs of genuine faith in their lives. There are those who say we should never doubt our decision to follow Christ, but the Bible encourages us to examine ourselves to see if we are truly "in the faith" (2 Corinthians 13:5). Thankfully, God has given us ample instruction for how we can know for sure that we have eternal life. The first epistle of John was actually written for that purpose, as it states in 1 John 5:13, "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life."

3.  How can I have assurance of my salvation?

 

Answer:  Many followers of Jesus Christ look for the assurance of salvation in the wrong places. We tend to seek assurance of salvation in the things God is doing in our lives, in our spiritual growth, in the good works and obedience to God's Word that is evident in our Christian walk. While these thing can be evidence of salvation, they are not what we should base the assurance of our salvation. Rather, we should find the assurance of our salvation in the objective truth of God's Word. We should have confident trust that we are saved based on the promises God has declared, not because of our subjective experiences.

4.  If you doubt your salvation, does that mean you are not truly saved?

 

Answer:  Everyone has occasional doubts. Whether or not you have doubts is not what determines whether you are a Christian. Even when a believer is faithless, God is faithful (2 Timothy 2:13). God wants us to be sure and confident of our salvation (Romans 8:38-39; 1 John 5:13). God promises that everyone who believes in Jesus Christ will be saved (John 3:16; Romans 10:9-10). We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). As a result, we deserve death and an eternity apart from God (Romans 6:23). But God loved us enough to die in our place, taking the punishment that we deserved (Romans 5:8). As a result, all those who believe are saved and eternally secure.

5.  What if I don't feel saved?

 

Answer:  This is an all-too-common question among Christians. Many people doubt their salvation because of feelings or the lack of them. The Bible has much to say about salvation, but nothing to say about "feeling saved." Salvation is a process by which the sinner is delivered from "wrath," that is, from God's judgment against sin (Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:9). Specifically, it was Jesus' death on the cross and subsequent resurrection that achieved our salvation (Romans 5:10; Ephesians 1:7). Our part in the salvation process is that we are saved by faith. First, we must hear the gospel—the good news of Jesus' death and resurrection (Ephesians 1:13). Then, we must believe—fully trust the Lord Jesus (Romans 1:16) and His sacrifice alone. We have no confidence in works of the flesh to achieve salvation. This faith—which is a gift from God, not something we produce on our own (Ephesians 2:8-9)—involves repentance, a changing of mind about sin and Christ (Acts 3:19), and calling on the name of the Lord (Romans 10:9-10, 13). Salvation results in a changed life as we begin to live as the new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).


6.  How can I detect a false conversion?

 

Answer: To convert is to be "born again." At the moment of conversion, the converted person is filled with the Holy Spirit and begins a journey of turning away from sin and beginning to worship and serve the Lord. A "false conversion" is no conversion at all. A false conversion may look like a true, Spirit-caused conversion, but it is not. The reasons for false conversions are varied. Sometimes the person experiencing a false conversion doesn't even realize it. At other times, there is intentional deception on his/her part. Not everyone who claims to have been converted has.  Just as those trained to recognize counterfeit money become intimately acquainted with the real thing, in order to detect a false conversion, it is necessary to first know what true Christian behavior looks like. We do this by studying and knowing intimately God's Word. We learn from the Parable of the Weeds in Matthew 13:24–30 that Satan works to deceive the church by mingling his children with God's children, often making it difficult for believers to discern the true from the false. The more we are familiar with Scripture, the easier it will be for us to detect the true Christians from the false converts.



7.  What does it mean to test the spirits?

Answer: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world" (I John 4:1).   Christians are to be discerning hearers and readers of all messages. The reason for the admonition to "test the spirits" or "test all things" is that there are "many false prophets" or "wolves in sheep's clothing" that try to lead Christians astray. Sadly, there are many people who claim to speak for God who are presenting a false gospel that is powerless to save. Such errant teaching leaves people with a false hope of salvation and, in a way, inoculates them from the true message. People who are deceived into thinking everything is fine will be more resistant to the truth

 

BIBLE STUDY WEEK # 3 (Answers to Reflection)

 

 

1.  Do you recall a faith failure in your life?

 

Yes, many time.

 

2.  What or who was standing in the way of you having a perfect faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?

 

Me, not believing in God's Word and His promises

 

3.  What did you do to restore that faith? 

 

I prayed, read His Word, meditated on His faithfulness before.

 

4.  How can you help someone else who is suffering in their faith and lead them to a place of renewed faith?

 

First, I would pray for them, then I would give them God's Word of promise to all who trust and believe in Him.

 

BIBLE STUDY WEEK # 3 (SHARING)

Flooded with Faith:


By faith Noah. . .moved with godly fear. . . (Hebrews 11:7)

We have talked about Godly Faith, and now on Saving Faith. I read this this morning and just wanted to share it because I thought it was a good story for saving faith.

Imagine you're a farmer living in medieval times and a passerby describes the feature of his new smartphone. You are told that it gives a weather report for your harvest season, a rotation schedule for using the oxen that the villager's share, music to listen to while you work, and you can talk to the blacksmith in the next town (and see his face) without leaving your farm. Would you believe him?

It's a thought almost as mind-boggling as Noah hearing that rain, which he'd never seen before-would fall from the sky and flood the earth. And then add God's assignment for Noah. Build a boat to carry your family and sundry creatures to safety. Noah attempted to explain it to his neighbors. But who could believe such a preposterous story? Especially not the wicked generation that he lived around. Faith can be a lonely place.

Noah worked day after day on a boat that attracted contempt. He trusted God implicitly for a flood of rain he'd never seen. His testimony gives every believer the strength to hold on in impossible circumstances. When you wonder how God will ever bring meaning and order out of the broken pieces of your life, take a faithful stand for Him. AMEN! Noah didn't know it but he had saving faith!    

BIBLE STUDY WEEK # 3 (PRAYING)

 


 Let's Pray:
 
 
Father God, we come to You in faith asking for knowledge of how the faith system work, and how we can walk closer to You in faith. Thank You Lord, for the faith You have given us. We ask for You to encourage our faith, and help our unbelief. Help our faith today to stay strong, so we can experience a godly faithful relationship with You, in Jesus' name. Forgive us for the weakness of our faith now. Thank You that our faith has sealed us as a child of God. Today we will walk by faith, and not by sight. We will keep the Word of God in our hearts and mind, so that our faith will stay strong and continue to grow, because we do go from faith to faith. Help us not to walk according to our sight or our feeling. Bless us to walk in conviction, trust in You, and in obedient. When doubt come help us to rise up in faith by putting on the whole armor of God. In Jesus' name, amen.