Introduction

• Matthew 20:29-34
• Mark 10:46-52
• In that time, there was very little in the way of a social safety net for a blind man.
• Bartimaeus could possibly have heard that Jesus had previously been healed near this area.

He inquired … Have we lost our curiosity?

• God despises a lack of curiosity and knowledge.
• Hosea 4:6

He cried out … Have we lost our urgency?

• He called out to Jesus as “Son of David.”
• Luke 7:22 – The Messiah would be able to heal people. Jesus could do that!
  • [Note: Verses may have been quoted incorrectly here. The correct references are Isaiah 29:18-19; 35:5-6; 61:1. Thanks to Joel for the correction! -MRW]
• Bartimaeus sprang up and ran to Jesus.
• Luke 16:24
• Revelation 3:15-17
• II Corinthians 8:10-11 – We can fail if we are not persistent.

He followed Jesus … Have we lost our way?

• Mark 10:52 – Bartimaeus immediately followed Jesus.
• Matthew 13:4-23 – Have we gone back to being beggars after hearing the gospel? We must not go back to our old ways of living.
• Mark 10:46-52

We can develop and strengthen our faith

• Luke 17:5 – The apostles said to the Lord, “increase our faith.”
• John 20:24-29 – Thomas believed with evidence. Jesus said those who believed without seeing were blessed.
• Christ expects our faith to grow
  • Matthew 16:8-12; Hebrews 5:12-14

Why study faith? Why build our faith?

• Faith is challenging because it is under attack in our age. Some view faith as opposed to fact and reality.
• It is important for new Christians to help them grow.
• It is important to those who grew up in the church. I’ve seen many that take their faith for granted.

Goals for this quarter

• Study examples of faith and make application.
• Use these lessons to strengthen our relationship with God.
  • John 3:16; Hebrews 11:6 – Two parts: belief and action
  • Hebrews 10:35-39
  • Jesus is looking for us to have faith. Will he find it? Luke 18:7-8; 17:11-19

Building our faith requires action

• II Peter 1:5 – This process to build our faith ends in love!
• Faith is active!
  • James 2:18-19, 20-24
  • Not just an intellectual assent to the promises laid out by God.
  • It is an embracing of those promises in their fully glory and detail, and the effect that has on our lives!
  • Faith is more than simple belief; it is an active trust in the future God has assured us. Hebrews 10:39
  • Faith is active and it should be active in our lives.

Faith establishes trust

• Trust: the assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.
• Matthew 6:25-30 (worry)
• Matthew 14:28-31 (doubt)

Introduction

• “You’re in good hands.”
• Isaiah 41:10

We are protected in God’s hands

Protection from our enemies

• Psalms 31:14-15; 138:7-8
• Hebrews 13:5-6
• (Ephesians 6:11-12)

Inseparable from His hands

• John 10:29; Romans 8:37-39

We are made beautiful in God’s hands

Beauty in Creation

• Psalms 95:1-7; Genesis 1:2, 31; Ecclesiastes 3:11

Made beautiful by the potter

• Isaiah 64:8
• Jeremiah 18:2-11; 19:1-6, 10-12
• I Corinthians 6:9-11

Being moldable clay

• Stay pliable so God can form you to His purpose.
• Psalm 51:1-12 – David did not try to hide his sin from God. He asked forgiveness and put his life in God’s hands.
• I Peter 5:6

We are taken care of in God’s hands

The hand that provides

• Job 12:7-15; Psalms 145:1-3, 14-17
• (Genesis 22:7-8, 13-14; Matthew 6)

Faith in God’s provisions

• Poem: “Footprints in the Sand”

One night I dreamed I was walking

along the beach with the Lord.

Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.

In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.

Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,

other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed that

during the low periods of my life, when I was

suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat,

I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,”You promised me

Lord, that if I followed you,

you would walk with me always.

But I have noticed that during the most trying periods

of my life there have only been

one set of footprints in the sand.

Why, when I needed you most,

you have not been there for me?”

The Lord replied,

“The times when you have

seen only one set of footprints,

is when I carried you.”

[Due to technical difficulties, the first few minutes of this lesson were not recorded. Sorry about that! -MRW]

Introduction

• Where do we turn in times of trouble?
  • We should be turning to God.
• We must put our trust in God.
  • II Chronicles 16:7
  • II Kings 16; Isaiah 7
  • If we look to ourselves rather than God, the outcome will not be good.
  • Isaiah 39; II Kings 20 – Hezekiah’s mistake
  • II Kings 17:3-6 – King Hoshea
  • It is foolish to look to man for protection.
  • Hardship builds character and trust in God.

Psalm 91

• Psalm 91:1-2 – We should have an intimate relationship with God.
• Psalms 91:3-4 – Compare Job’s hardships and challenges.
• Psalms 91:5-6 – God will protect you whether you see it coming or not.
• Psalms 91:7-8 – See Joshua 23:10.
• Psalms 91:9-10
• Psalms 91:11-13 – See Luke 4:10-11. Satan uses this verse when tempting Christ.
• Psalms 91:14-16 – God is not promising there will not be trouble, but that He will be with us when that trouble does come.

Applications

• Trust in God’s protection.
• Obedience to God is crucial to receiving God’s peace and protection.
• God’s protection goes beyond the physical.

Conclusion

• See II Kings 6:16-17. God opened the eyes of Elisha’s servant so he could see God’s protection.

Introduction

• Ezra 7:6-10
• Ezra 9:3-4, 6-8 – Ezra was appalled at the sin of Israel and prays to God.
• Ezra 10:3-5

Spend time in the Bible.

• Psalms 119:161-168 – We should rejoice in our time in the Bible.
• Colossians 4:16
• I Thessalonians 2:13
• Luke 11:28
• If you want peace, stability, and wisdom in your house, spend time in the Bible!

Live the Bible.

• Matthew 7:15-27 – People can tell who you truly are by your actions. Beware of hypocrisy and empty lip service to God.
• There must be:
  • Forgiveness
  • Thankfulness
  • Handling criticism well
  • Prayer – Romans 12:12
• Ephesians 5:25
• Ephesians 6:4
• Genesis 12:11-13; 20:2; 26:6-7 – Isaac told the same lie as Abraham.
• I Kings 12:28; 15:25-26
• What bad habits are my kids picking up from me?

Plan with the Bible.

• Genesis 17:7-8; 18:19
• Deuteronomy 6:7
• Psalms 78:6-7
• II Timothy 2:2
• II Peter 3:18
• God wants us to grow.