Learning Faith
LEARNING FAITH
Introduction
- It’s Christmas time again. Do we have reasons to celebrate? Of course. But it takes faith to celebrate at this time.
- How can we develop a faith that can truly celebrate at this time? This is the challenge and it is our theme for the month of December.
- Anticipation is more than expectation. Hebrews 11:1-2 says, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.”
- Based on Hebrews 11:1-2, let us define faith.
Faith is a learned response to various circumstances of life according to the promises of God in Christ that enables us to act with eager anticipation of what God will do now and in the future.
- Today let’s talk about faith as a “Learned Response.”
THREE REALITIES ABOUT US
1. We are spiritual beings who are being formed each day.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
We are not just made up of matter. We are spiritual beings. God created us as living souls and He placed us here on earth to represent Him. Reality is not just made up of what we see but also of what we cannot see — i.e. the invisible realm. This means that we can be influenced by spiritual things, which can be other than God Himself. There are spiritual forces like Satan, demons, and the world that are trying to form us. As spiritual beings, we must become aware that we are not neutral or passive. We are becoming a certain kind of person over time, depending on who or what is forming us.
2. We are being formed by our repeated responses.
4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith, he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
The writer of the book of Hebrews reminds us of the story of Abel and Cain. It is found in Genesis 4. We are told about how Abel brought offerings that were acceptable to God, while Cain’s offerings were rejected, which made him angry. The Bible says in verses 6 and 7, “Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
Cain eventually killed his brother Abel even though God warned him about sin crouching at his door, wanting to rule over him. Our response to God in various responses will eventually form us into certain kinds of persons capable of doing good or doing evil.
3. We can be transformed through new responses over time.
5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 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. 7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith, he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.
Enoch and Noah were two biblical characters who learned how to respond in faith to God over time. In the same way, we must learn to respond to God in faith throughout our lives, not just during certain occasions. It doesn’t happen overnight. Don’t expect to act by faith at the moment of temptation or difficulty unless you have trained yourself to live by faith each day, and repeatedly, over a long period of time.
Turning Point: “Faith is a learned response, not a sudden choice.”
GROUP DISCUSSION (30 minutes)
- What have you learned about faith today that you did not know before?
- Why is it important to know that faith is a learned response over time?
- How would you apply this principle in your situation right now? What practical thing can you do to begin learning faith at this time?
PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER
Please take the time to pray for one another. This is important. Thanks!
YOUR REFLECTIONS
If you want to really grow in your faith, take some time to personally reflect on what you have learned today. Click this link to submit your personal reflection. We can also send you a copy of this if you wish. Just let us know your email. Thanks!