Small Group Leaders Facilitation Worksheet:
Produced by Rhema Bible Church North:
THE BIRTHRIGHT OF FAITH
[Fourth of a four part series]
ICEBREAKER: Can anyone tell me how their walk of faith is going?
[Allow one minute feedback from each person]
1. What Faith Is?
INTRODUCTION: Today I would like us to look at the enemies of our Faith. It is our faith, our God given faith that allows us to live and operate outside the realm of the natural. This is the realm that is manipulated, controlled by the devil and his forces of evil. He does not want us living by a higher law as this renders him limited in controlling us. In fact faith to the devil is like the bullfighters red cape to his bull.
READ: 2Corithians: 4v4 Old King James
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
QUESTION: Who do you think this is referring to as the god of this world?
[Allow for feedback]
CLARITY: Looking at this we understand that satan is the god of this world system and does not want us enjoying the truths of the gospel of Christ. So how can he cause us to nullify our faith?
READ: Galatians: 5v6
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
QUESTION: Can anyone explain what we have just read?
[Allow for feedback]
CLARIFY: The word is telling us that FAITH works THROUGH love. So one way for satan to nullify our faith is to challenge our love walk, because faith cannot effectively work where there is bitterness, unforgiveness, anger, revenge, hatred in other words where there is no love.
READ: Hebrews: 11v1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
QUESTION: What does this verse show us that faith requires in order to function effectively?
[Allow for feedback]
CLARIFY: Here we can see that faith needs hope to give it direction and purpose. SO, if the devil can get us to lose our hope or have no hope, then our faith has nothing to aim at or reach to manifest for us!
READ: Mark: 11v23-24
Verse 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
Verse 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
QUESTION: In this scripture what is the Lord showing us that could be an enemy to our faith?
READ: Matthew: 14v31
And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
CLARIFY: Here we see that Jesus is showing us that the reason that they had little faith was because of their DOUBT. Doubt has the ability to nullify our faith to the point of becoming useless.
READ: Matthew: 21v21
So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done.
CLARIFY: Do you notice the potential that our Lord is showing us in this verse, that if we can learn to control our doubt, our faith becomes very effective for the glory of God and blessing our lives
LET US RECAP:
Enemy no 1 It’s anything that attacks or impacts our love walk.
Unforgiveness, anger, bitterness, resentment……
Enemy no 2 It’s losing our hope or having no hope, as this gives our Faith no direction or goal to accomplish.
Enemy no 3 It is doubt that will often lead us into areas of fear and in this environment our faith cannot operate.
READ: 2Timothy: 1v7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
The Amplified Bible:
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.
1John: 4v18
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
QUESTION: What can we see from these scriptures so far?
[Allow for comment and feedback]
CLARIFY: So far we have seen that our faith can be affected through our love walk, losing our hope and walking in fear and doubt. Let’s have a look at a few more areas that the devil loves to use to nullify our faith.
READ: James: 1v2-4
Verse 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
Verse 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
Verse 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
QUESTION: Can anyone point out what James is showing us that can also be a threat to our faith?
CLARIFY: James, by the Spirit of God is warning us that we must allow PATIENCE to have its
completing work so that we may be PERFECT and COMPLETE, LACKING IN NOTHING.
Our patience keeps us strong from the time of asking until the manifestation. HOWEVER,
what is the negative of this?
If we become impatient we do not allow our faith time to bring what is ours in Christ through the veil of the supernatural. In other words, we can cause our dreams, our visions to be aborted before they have time to be birthed purely because of our own impatience. We must grow in character, trust and faithfulness, Daddy will never leave us or forsake us and His will SHALL be done.
READ: Psalm: 27v14
Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!
Psalm: 37v7
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
Psalm: 130v5
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope.
Proverbs: 20v22
Do not say, "I will recompense evil"; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you.
Isaiah: 40v31
But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
Proverbs 3v5-8
Verse 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
Verse 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Verse 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
Verse 8 It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.
The Message Bible
Verse 5 Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own.
Verse 6 Listen for GOD's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track.
Verse 7 Don't assume that you know it all. Run to GOD! Run from evil!
Verse 8 Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life!
PRACTICAL: let us learn to take our God at His word and exercises our faith that both pleases Him and glorifies Him and at the same time blessed us!
Produced by Rhema Bible Church North:
VM 2/2012 Page 1 of 4