Chapter 22

Having Faith in God

Sections

1. Faith and Hope
   1. Have Faith in God
      • Have faith in God and Jesus Christ
      • Live by faith
      • Pursue faith – and grow in faith
      • Have strong faith . . .
      • . . . For faith is tested
      • Persist in faith
      • Reasons to trust in God: God’s steadfast love; . . .
      • . . . God’s power; . . .
      • . . . and God’s past deliverance
   2. What Faith in God Involves Doing
      • To have faith in God and Jesus Christ: believe in them and what they say; . . .
      • . . . and trust in God
      • Have faith that God will fulfill what he promises
      • Have faith that God will care for you
      • Have faith that God and Jesus Christ will do what you ask
      • Note: Faith involves believing in what we do not see
   3. The Importance of Faith (I): Godly Living
      • By faith we stand firm
      • Faith produces obedience to God
      • Faith produces work in service to God
      • Faith is vital to prayer, for God to grant requests
      • If we have faith nothing will be impossible
      • Further points on the importance of faith in living the Christian life
   4. The Importance of Faith (II): Blessings
      • By faith we remain in a right relationship with God and Jesus Christ
      • Like Abraham, by faith we receive what God has promised . . .
      • . . . By faith we will receive the promises and salvation of the afterlife
      • By faith our needs are met
      • Trusting in God leads to his deliverance and protection
      • Trusting in God brings joy and peace
      • Further blessings of trusting in God
   5. Have Hope in God
      • Put your hope in God and Jesus Christ
      • Put your hope in God’s promises
      • Set your hope on God’s timely care
      • Set your hope on Jesus Christ’s return and what will follow
      • Reasons to have hope in God: God’s steadfast love and faithfulness; . . .
      • . . . and the deeds of God, our Savior
      • Other godly sources of hope
      • Further general points on hope
   6. The Importance of Hope
      • Hope is vital for faith
      • Hope helps us remain firm
      • Further ways hope is important for living the Christian life
      • Note: The depressing plight of a lack of hope

2. What Not to Do
   1. Do Not Lack Faith
      • Do not be lacking in faith . . .
      • . . . Do not doubt
      • Do not test or question God
      • Lack of faith is associated with not obeying God
      • Lack of faith can have other detrimental effects
      • Lack of faith can even bring God’s punishment
   2. Do Not Be Afraid (I): Instructions
      • Do not be afraid . . .
      • . . . Do not be afraid or dismayed
      • Do not be afraid – have faith in God and Jesus Christ, trusting in them
      • Do not be afraid – be confident and bold
      • Do not be afraid – be strong and courageous . . .
      • . . . Look to God and Jesus Christ for your strength
      • Do not even be afraid of death
   3. Do Not Be Afraid (II): Reasons
      • God is far more powerful than our enemies
      • God is always with his people
      • God helps his people
      • God saves his people
      • God is a refuge for his people, protecting them
      • God’s promised blessings
      • Further reasons to not be afraid
      • Note: Being afraid has grave consequences
   4. Do Not Worry
      • Do not worry – trust God with your concerns . . .
      • . . . Ask God to provide for your needs
      • Do not worry about the cares of this life for God will provide; focus instead on things of God
      • The futility and dangers of worrying about the cares of this life
   5. Do Not Trust in Other Things
      • Do not trust in other people, but rather trust in God . . .
      • . . . People are not worth trusting in
      • Do not trust in yourself
      • Do not trust in riches
      • Do not trust in worldly power
      • Do not trust in wickedness
      • Do not trust in idols

 ➜Major headings in: 22. Having Faith in God (and all of Unit E)

Pray for persecuted Christians