Putting Faith to Work in Trying Times II
Scripture Reading: Matthew 24:9 -14
Introduction
Ever since Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden due to sin, humans have faced all manner of challenges. The Adamic race has since produced after his kind rather than God’s kind (Genesis 5:1-3). The consequences of sin have ravaged the earth, threatened people everywhere. Difficult times and situations anywhere they occur and at any point in time reveal the worst and best in human behavior.
The goal of the enemy is to truncate our faith because he knows what faith in God can do. Jesus said, “Have faith in God…” The Scriptures we have read at our opening show Jesus speaking of a time when it becomes difficult to follow Him and some would jump ship. Do you think we are in those times now?
Jesus’ descriptions include the words “cold” and “hate.” What other descriptive phrases (negative or positive) do you find in the text that adequately capture our times. What can you relate with?
Study & Discussion
With each section following please read the scriptures and use the questions to discuss your findings as it relates to challenging times for our faith.
The reality of the times: 1 Timothy 4:1-15, 2 Timothy 3:1-9
- What do you think will cause some people to depart from the faith?
- Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed and think of dropping your faith in Christ?
- Will COVID 19 cause some people to have doubts about God? Yes or No?
Faith that reaches the finish line: 2 Timothy 4:5-8, Ephesians 6:10-19
- From Paul’s writings to Timothy in the verses above can you list some things you think could have stopped him from “…finishing the race?” These same things are waging war against us too. (See Acts 20:22-24)
- What do these scriptures teach about continuing to the end?
- What constitutes God’s armor that we have been given to fight effectively? List them (Ephesians 6:13-19)
- Take 1 minute to pray as a group that our faith is built up and to know how to use the weapons of our warfare against satanic harassment. Please read Jude 1:20
- For your interest here is a weblink to an article on how to use the 7 pieces of the “Armour of God” https://connectusfund.org/7-pieces-of-the-armor-of-god
Conclusion
True faith in God is active so much so that it does things. Paul writes that “it is in Him we live and move and have our being.” While there are many challenges before us many have travelled this path before us as we see in Hebrews 11 and if they made it we shall also succeed by His grace in Jesus name.
Next week our study in the series will focus on studying how God employs the visions He has placed in our heart to power us through the finish line.
Prayer
- Pray for everyone at JFC to grow in faith
- Stand against the lies of the enemy being whispered into the ears of anyone
- Pray for all manner of miracles to happen for 106 Burnett Avenue.
- Pray that despite COVID 19 we shall have all the money we need for the new location
- Pray for God to add new members to us at this time of COVID 19
- Add any prayer requests from small group members
Announcements
- Small-Groups
Small Groups will run each Wednesday to the end of May 2020 - April 24 – Online Young Adult Hangout at 7pm
Zoom call – details on our events page - April 27 – Online Women’s Fellowship 7pm
Zoom call – details on our events page