How Can I Walk by Faith?
A Rick Warren Sermon Summary
We need faith to please God (Hebrew 11:6). How do we walk by faith and not sight (2 Corinthians 5:7)?
Many suffer, not getting God’s promises (Hebrew 11:39-40). Through suffering, we learn. In this fallen world, we won’t understand many things. Trust that God is good, with better plans and eternity to keep His promises.
To have such faith, read His words (Romans 10:17). Focus on His power. Remember what He has done for us and look forward to the joy before us. Our anchor is Christ; He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
“Trust and obey, for there’s no other way.”
Summarized from two Rick Warren’s sermons:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQNP6dQj20c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xz6ow5ad7T0
- Believing when we don’t see it (Heb 11:1).
Faith sees things in advance before them happening. Great achievements require believing something becoming reality before doing them. - Obeying God when we don’t understand it.
Noah built the ark before experiencing rain (Hebrews 11:7). The rich Abraham, at 75, left his hometown with no details from God (Hebrews 11:8). The Israelites walked across the Red Sea through parted water (Hebrews 11:29). Mary obeyed, leading to virgin pregnancy (Luke 1:38). Like parents to their young children, God doesn’t owe us an explanation. - Persisting when we don't feel like it.
We persist by focusing on the invisible (Hebrews 11:27, 11:1). Great people accomplish things through persisting even when no one, including themselves, feels like continuing. - Announcing before we have it.
Words have tremendous power when said in faith. Abram, putting his reputation on the line, changed his name to Abraham (many nations’ father) at 99, when he had no child with his wife and when at least initially he was skeptical (Romans 4:17, Hebrew 11:22, Genesis 17:17). - Giving when we don't have it.
Love requires giving. Be like God, who gives (John 3:16). Money tests our faith. If we trust God in our eternal salvation, we should trust Him in our finances too. Give to God first, and He will provide (Proverbs 3:9-10). If we train our faith through giving, like training our muscles, we will experience God bailing us out. - Thanking God before we receive it.
Before receiving, we should thank God as if we have (Mark 11:24, Matthew 9:27-30). The Israelites walked around the highly-fortified Jericho walls for seven days, thanking God. Then the walls fell (Hebrews 11:30). - Trusting if we don't get it.
Many suffer, not getting God’s promises (Hebrew 11:39-40). Through suffering, we learn. In this fallen world, we won’t understand many things. Trust that God is good, with better plans and eternity to keep His promises.
To have such faith, read His words (Romans 10:17). Focus on His power. Remember what He has done for us and look forward to the joy before us. Our anchor is Christ; He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
“Trust and obey, for there’s no other way.”
Summarized from two Rick Warren’s sermons:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQNP6dQj20c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xz6ow5ad7T0