Date: 03-June-2024
Name: Simon
Topic: THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH
Content:
The Just Shall Live By Faith
It's essential for believers to live by faith if we want to please God.
â€Hebrews 11:6 NKJV‬
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
â€Hebrews 10:38 NKJV‬
Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”
In today's devotion we'll explore the powerful truth that "the just shall live by faith."This is such a profound truth and a guiding principle for the life of a believer.
"The just shall live by faith" is a phrase that originates from Habakkuk 2:4 and is repeated in Romans 1:17 Galatians 3:11 and Hebrews 20:38. It emphasizes that those who are righteous (just) in God's sight will live their lives guided by faith.
Living by faith is supposed to be normal for believers. That's why we are called believers. It's actually in our nature in Christ to believe The One who is perfectly faithful.
Faith is a powerful weapon that empowers us to live a victorious, overcoming life in Christ!â€(Ephesians 6:16 ESV‬ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; )
Meaning of "The Just Shall Live by Faith"
What does it mean to "live by faith"?
- It means to trust in God's sovereignty, goodness, and His promises, regardless of whether we understand how things will work out.
- It means trusting the unseen:â€(2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV‬ for we walk by faith, not by sight). We trust in God's sovereignty and goodness, even when we can't see the outcome or the future and can't see what lies ahead.
- It means not to be limited by human understanding: We don't rely solely on our human reasoning or understanding, but on God's wisdom and guidance.
â€(Proverbs 3:5 NIV‬
[5] Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding)
- Living by faith means trusting in God's promises, provision, and guidance, even when circumstances are uncertain or challenging.
- Living by faith requires submission and walking in obedience as we surrender to God's will, even when it's difficult or counterintuitive.(Proverbs 3:6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.)
Living by faith means choosing faith over feelings: We choose to trust God, even when our emotions or circumstances scream otherwise.
- Living by faith is a daily dependence on God. It is a continuous process that requires us to rely on His strength, grace, wisdom, and guidance in every area of our lives.(Acts 17:28 NIV‬
[28] ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’)
- Living by faith requires us to have an eternal perspective: it requires us to We focus on eternal realities, not just temporal ones, and prioritize God's kingdom and glory.
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â€2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV‬
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Examples of Faith in Scripture
Hebrews 11 is often referred to as the "Hall of Faith" or the "Faith Chapter" of the Bible. It provides examples of how faith was demonstrated in the lives of various biblical figures, showing that faith is not just a feeling or an idea, but an action that leads to tangible results.
Here's how faith is demonstrated in Hebrews 11:
1. Abel's offering (v. 4): Abel's faith led him to offer a better sacrifice than Cain.
â€Hebrews 11:4 NKJV‬
By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.
2. Enoch's walk (v. 5): Enoch's faith enabled him to please God and be taken up to heaven without experiencing death.
â€Hebrews 11:5 NKJV‬
By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
3. Noah's obedience (v. 7): Noah's faith led him to build an ark, saving his family and animals from the flood.
â€Hebrews 11:7 NKJV‬
By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
4. Abraham's journey (v. 8-10): Abraham's faith led him to leave his home, family, and inheritance, trusting God's promise of a new land and descendants.
â€Hebrews 11:8 NKJV‬
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
5. Sarah's conception (v. 11-12): Sarah's faith enabled her to conceive Isaac, despite being barren and beyond childbearing age.
â€Hebrews 11:11 NKJV‬
By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.
6. Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac (v. 17-19): Abraham's faith led him to obey God's command to sacrifice his son, trusting God would provide a way out.
â€Hebrews 11:17 NLT‬
It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac,
7. Isaac's blessing (v. 20): Isaac's faith led him to bless his sons, trusting God's promise for their future.
â€Hebrews 11:20 NLT‬
It was by faith that Isaac promised blessings for the future to his sons, Jacob and Esau.
8. Jacob's worship (v. 21): Jacob's faith led him to worship God, even in his final moments.
â€Hebrews 11:21 NLT‬
It was by faith that Jacob, when he was old and dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff.
9. Joseph's trust (v. 22): Joseph's faith led him to trust God's plan, even in slavery and imprisonment.
â€Hebrews 11:22 NLT‬
It was by faith that Joseph, when he was about to die, said confidently that the people of Israel would leave Egypt. He even commanded them to take his bones with them when they left.
10. Moses' choice (v. 24-25): Moses' faith led him to choose to suffer with the Israelites rather than enjoy the comforts of Egyptian royalty.
â€Hebrews 11:24-25 NLT‬
[24] It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. [25] He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin.
11. The Israelites' crossing (v. 29): The Israelites' faith led them to cross the Red Sea, trusting God's power and protection.
â€Hebrews 11:29 NLT‬
It was by faith that the people of Israel went right through the Red Sea as though they were on dry ground. But when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were all drowned.
12. The Israelites' victory over Jericho (v. 30):(Joshua 6) The Israelites' faith led them to defeat Jericho as they obeyed God's instructions.
â€Hebrews 11:30 NLT‬
[30] It was by faith that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down.
These examples demonstrate how faith led people to:
- Trust God's promises and plans
- Obey His commands
- Take risks and step out in obedience
- Believe in His power and protection
- Persevere through challenges and difficulties.
Throughout the bible, it highlights various other people who demonstrated faith.
For instance:
Job: Maintained his faith in God despite suffering and loss (Job 13:15, 19:25).
David: Faced the giant Goliath with faith in God's power and protection (1 Samuel 17:45-47).
Esther: Risked her life to save the Jewish people, trusting in God's sovereignty (Esther 4:15-16).
Daniel: Refused to compromise his faith, even in the face of persecution and danger (Daniel 1:8, 3:16-18).
Mary, the Mother of Jesus: Believed the angel's message and surrendered to God's plan (Luke 1:26-38).
Peter: Stepped out of the boat and walked on water, trusting in Jesus' power (Matthew 14:22-23).
The Centurion: Believed Jesus could heal his servant from a distance (Matthew 8:5-13).
All these examples demonstrate what it means to live by faith, trusting in God's promises, power, and sovereignty.
Conclusion:
In essence, "the just shall live by faith" reminds us that our relationship with God is built on trust, dependence, and surrender.
Walking by faith and not by sight requires courage, trust, and surrender. It's a daily choice to put our confidence in God's character and promises, rather than our own limited understanding or sight. As we do, we experience God's peace, guidance, and strength, and we become a testimony to His power and grace.
Prayer Points:
Prayer points for living by faith:
1. Live a life that pleases God:
Dear Lord, my desire is to please you by living a lifestyle of faith. Help me to remain faithful at all times for the just shall live by faith and without faith it is impossible to please You.
2. Faith to trust God's sovereignty and
courage to face challenges and strength to persevere:
Lord, help me trust in Your goodness and sovereignty, even when I don't understand Your ways. Give me courage, Lord, to face my fears and challenges, knowing that You are with me and will see me through. Give me the strength to persevere in the face of obstacles and difficulties, knowing that You are my rock and refuge.
3. Wisdom to discern God’s will and faith to believe His promises:
Grant me wisdom, Lord, to discern Your will and plan for my life and the faith to follow it. Help me, Lord, to believe Your promises and trust in Your faithfulness, even when circumstances seem contrary.
4. Humility to depend on God and faith to trust His timing:
Keep me humble, Lord, and dependent on You, recognizing that apart from You, I can do nothing.Help me, Lord, to trust in Your timing and plans, even when they differ from my own.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Teach me to rest. I relinquish my cares, my worries, my anxieties to you. Free me from these limitations of unbelief. Release my soul from the entanglements of fear.
I choose to believe you are the God of restoration. You will use even difficult seasons to springboard me into something beautiful and amazing. .
May the mountains of doubt move as I choose to live by faith.Nothing is too hard for you.
Holy Spirit, help us to live by faith, trusting in Your goodness and Your promises. Help us to rely on your strength, wisdom, and guidance in every area of our lives. We receive the grace to walk by faith and not by sight. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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