Notes
Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see... And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
Hebrews 11:1, 6
Faith is like a tool. And everyone has faith, but how we use it determines whether it builds us up or tears us down. Faith in the wrong things leads to disappointment and destruction, but faith in Jesus gives us a firm foundation.
Some of us think we have faith in Jesus, but it may not be the Jesus of Scripture. If our faith is in a version of Jesus shaped by culture, personal preferences, or partial truths, then we're not truly walking in the faith that God calls us to.
...let's run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1b-2 (NASB)
Jesus is the author of our faith. A good author knows the entire story, from beginning to end. Faith means trusting that Jesus, the one who knows our whole story, is the best one to direct our steps.
Ask yourself questions like: do I really believe Jesus lived a perfect life? Do I really believe He rose from the dead? Do I believe He is returning one day and that eternity with Him is real?
Maybe God is asking you to give the pen back to Him. When we let other things--our job, social media, relationships, or even our own emotions--define our identity, we are letting the wrong author write our story. If Jesus is not the foundation of our faith, then our faith is misplaced.
Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. The Son radiates God's own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.
Hebrews 1:1-4
Jesus doesn't just start our faith--He perfects it. He models what a life of faith looks like, fully dependent on the Father, walking in love, and standing firm in truth. When Jesus faced temptation, He fought back with Scripture. He shows us how to interact with others, with compassion and love.
But Jesus told him, "No! The Scriptures say, 'People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" ... Jesus responded, "The Scriptures also say, 'You must not test the Lord your God.'" ... "Get out of here, Satan," Jesus told him. "For the Scriptures say, 'You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.'"
Matthew 4:4, 7, 10
If we want to stand strong in faith, we must do the same as Jesus. When temptation comes, we declare that we live by the power of the Holy Spirit, that we follow God's Word and not the desires of our flesh, and that we serve God alone, not the temporary things of this world.
"I have told you these things so that you won't abandon your faith... There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can't bear it now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, 'The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.'"
John 16:1, 12-15
"In the last days, "God says, "I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants--men and women alike--and they will prophesy."
Acts 2:17-18
Faith isn't a one-time decision--it's a lifelong race. God pours out His Spirit on all believers so that we can walk in His truth. This means we don't live by what we see, but by faith, trusting in the Spirit's leading every step of the way.
Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Paul never wanted to lose sight of Jesus - the one who lived a perfect life, paid for our sins, defeated death, and will return for His people. Our faith should be fully in Him. It's time to put our faith in the true Jesus, let Him lead our story, and run the race with endurance.
Group Questions
- What are some misconceptions people have about Jesus that might cause them to put their faith in a different version of Him rather than the Jesus of Scripture?
- How can you intentionally "give the pen back to the Author"?
- What are some practical ways you can train spiritually to strengthen your faith?
- How did Jesus fight temptation, and how can we follow His example when we face struggles?
Prayer
Thank you for being the author and perfecter of our faith. Give us the strength to rust you completely. Help us to fix our eyes on Jesus in all that we do.