Have you ever played the game…trust fall? Trust fall is an exercise or activity done for the purpose of building trust amongst teammates. Generally, one person stands up straight, closes their eyes and falls back; relying on the others to catch them before hitting the ground. Many companies do trust fall activities as a way to build connection amongst their employees, but today we’re gonna discuss how ‘faith toward God’ can feel like a trust fall.
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Have you ever played the game…trust fall? Trust fall is an exercise or activity done for the purpose of building trust amongst teammates. Generally, one person stands up straight, closes their eyes and falls back; relying on the others to catch them before hitting the ground. Many companies do trust fall activities as a way to build connection amongst their employees, but today we’re gonna discuss how ‘faith toward God’ can feel like a trust fall.
Thank you for joining us today on Manifold Witness Podcast, "where faith & witness are practiced." If you enjoyed the show, we would love to know, drop us an email or follow us on our social media platforms.
Manifold Witness Podcast manifoldwitnesspodcast@gmail.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/manifoldwitnesspod
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CeUt6dWus45/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Twitter https://twitter.com/ManifoldWitness
“MANIFOLD TRUTHS”
BIBLICAL ESSENTIALS FOR OUR MODERN TIMES.
ABC’s of Christianity…Faith toward God is a trust fall!!!
⮚ Have you ever played the game…trust fall? Trust fall is an exercise or activity done for the purpose of building trust amongst teammates. Generally, one person stands up straight, closes their eyes and falls back; relying on the others to catch them before hitting the ground. Many companies do trust fall activities as a way to build connection amongst their employees, but today we’re gonna discuss how ‘faith toward God’ can feel like a trust fall.
⮚ Who do you trust?
▪ The second fundamental doctrine of the Christian faith is “faith toward God”
▪ Hebrews 6:1, reads like this…
▪ Hebrews 6:1
● Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God…
▪ The Hebrew believers were struggling to put their faith solely in God and not also in their religious traditions and culture of Judaism. They were trusting in a multitude of religious works to help make them right with God. The phrase “faith toward God” is translated from three Greek words, which describes a faith that is leaning on God and trusting wholly in Him. It is the picture of complete trust. It depicts no self-reliance but, instead, a faith that rests only on God.
▪ The writer of Hebrews qualifies faith as being “toward God.” Everyone in the earth has faith in something or toward something be it, science, technology, religion, or the economy! Well, something similar happens when a person is born again or born from above, Christ enters their heart, and they begin to develop ‘faith toward God.’ In simple terms, faith is a state of trust and peace in the heart. This trust or confidence is a natural response to having a personal encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ, just as one would have if someone were to catch you before you fall. (I believe this is the root to all of our worries as human beings, that on an intrinsic level we truly don’t trust the heart of God)
▪ Psalms 78:5-22 tell us…
● “For he issued his laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, so the next generation might know them even the children not yet born and they in turn will teach their own children. So, each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands. Then they will not be like their ancestors stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God. The warriors of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned their backs and fled on the day of battle. They did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by his instructions. They forgot what he had done the great wonders he had shown them, the miracles he did for their ancestors on the plain of Zoan in the land of Egypt. For he divided the sea and led them through, making the water stand up like walls! In the daytime he led them by a cloud, and all night by a pillar of fire. He split open the rocks in the wilderness to give them water, as from a gushing spring. He made streams pour from the rock, making the waters flow down like a river! Yet they kept on sinning against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert. They stubbornly tested God in their hearts, demanding the foods they craved. They even spoke against God himself, saying, “God can’t give us food in the wilderness. Yes, he can strike a rock so water gushes out, but he can’t give his people bread and meat.” When the Lord heard them, he was furious. The fire of his wrath burned against Jacob. Yes, his anger rose against Israel, for they did not believe God or trust him to care for them.”
▪ So one would think that God would be through with people with an ungrateful attitude like this, but wait wait wait…there’s more. In Psalm 79:23-33 the faithless saga continues…
● “But he commanded the skies to open; he opened the doors of heaven. He rained down manna for them to eat; he gave them bread from heaven. They ate the food of angels! God gave them all they could hold. He released the east wind in the heavens and guided the south wind by his mighty power. He rained down meat as thick as dust birds as plentiful as the sand on the seashore! He caused the birds to fall within their camp and all around their tents. The people ate their fill. He gave them what they craved. But before they satisfied their craving, while the meat was yet in their mouths, the anger of God rose against them, and he killed their strongest men. He struck down the finest of Israel’s young men. But in spite of this, the people kept sinning. Despite his wonders, they refused to trust him. So, he ended their lives in failure, their years in terror.”
▪ Hence the reason God said long ago in Genesis…
● “My Spirit will not put up with humans for such a long time, for they are only mortal flesh. In the future, their normal lifespan will be no more than 120 years.”
▪ Nevertheless, ‘faith toward God’ is the kind of faith Jesus said He would be looking for when He returns to earth, Luke 18:8 tells us this…
▪ Luke 18:8
● When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
▪ What an amazing statement. Jesus is saying that on His return He is not going to take inventory of all the church buildings we have built nor is He going to review all the non-profits we have sponsored. Here is the heart cry of the Heavenly Father. When He sends His Son to establish His reign in the earth as a physical kingdom, will He find people who are living in simple trust or faith toward him? That is what will satisfy His heart as opposed to all the superficial things men supposedly do to His glory. Hebrews 11:6 read like this…
▪ Hebrews 11:6
● But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
▪ It is good and right to do good works, especially things that will benefit others. In fact, good works are a sign that we are saved (James 2:17, 18). However, our good deeds and behaviors do not in any way earn us our salvation. The only way to be saved and spend in eternity in Heaven is to trust in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and His resurrection from the dead. It is through faith in His righteous blood alone that we are made right with God. If we are trusting in anything other than Christ, we are in eternal trouble.
▪ If we truly desire to please the Lord then we need to do so by childlike faith. It is impossible to please the Father any other way. He is not influenced by our sacrifice, diligence, religious observance, or suffering unless these things are born of childlike faith. These things are no pleasure to the Father unless they have been initiated in a heart of simple trust in Him.
▪ According to the writer of Hebrews, faith has two components. First, faith requires a belief that “God is,” and secondly, ‘He is a rewarder’ of them who diligently seek Him.
▪ Faith that believes “God is” believes that He will be who He has revealed himself to be. When you are sick, He is the God who heals you; when you are in financial need, He is the God who provides for you; and when you are troubled, He is the God who is peace in the midst of the storm. This part of faith addresses your attitude… ‘you believe that He is the answer to your every need.’ The second part of faith addresses your actions… ‘because of who God is, you will live in trust toward Him, expecting Him to be faithful to the promises of His Word.’
▪ Hebrews 11:1 tells us this…
▪ Hebrews 11:1
● Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
▪ Faith substantiates or brings into reality the things that one wishes for himself or herself. You can wish for things to change and hope that they will get better, but until you direct that faith at Jesus who died to bring deliverance and salvation, nothing will ever happen. However, when you turn to Him in faith and confidence that He will deliver, save, and redeem you in every area of your life, then you will see things begin to turn around. If you truly believe this to be so, then maybe it’s time for you to take that trust fall in God, and we promise…he won’t let you fall.
Spiritual Applications
● Have you struggled to believe and accept what Christ has done for you through His death, burial, and resurrection? He wants you to stop struggling and learn to rest in Him. Take some time to read and meditate on Hebrews 3:12-19 and Hebrews 4:1-11and explain what your part is in entering God’s rest. How do these verses encourage you?
● Hebrews 3:12-14
♦ Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.
● Hebrews 4:2-3
♦ For this good news that God has prepared this rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God…For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest…”
▪ So “Like”, “Share”, & “Subscribe” with “Family” or a “Friend”, and until we meet again. “Love”, “Joy” & “Peace”