The Man of Faith

Objectives

1. Understand what faith is as we look at Abraham and his example

2. Have faith like Abraham and experience the tremendous consequences of faith

I. Introduction

Our theme this year is Firm in Faith, Founded on Love. Let’s start this year by learning to become a Man of Faith. Abraham is the man of faith. He is our father and we look to him and his example. “He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not exist.” (Rom 4:17b). What could be more wondrous and miraculous than giving life to the dead and creating out of nothing? These God is able to do. And these we can experience as we put our faith in God.

II. Faith

CCC 143 By faith, man completely submits his intellect and his will to God. With his whole being man gives his assent to God the revealer. Sacred Scripture calls this human response to God, the author of revelation, "the obedience of faith".

Faith is a free gift, available to us during our time in our situation. “For this reason, it depends on faith, so that it may be a gift, and the promise may be guaranteed to all his descendants not to those who only adhere to the law but to those who follow the faith of Abraham, who is the father of all of us. (Rom 4:16). God has already shown us what he can do. Abraham has shown us by which we can tap on to God’s mighty works. We just need to have faith.

III. How can we have such faith?

1. Do not doubt

Abraham “did not doubt God’s promise in unbelief’ (Rom 4:20a). This is precisely what faith means. It is believing, trusting and hoping in God. It is knowing that God powerfully in our lives. It is looking not to ourselves and all our shortcomings, but to God in His awesome majesty and power. It is taking God His word, knowing that He does not lie, and knowing that He is able to accomplish whatever He says He will do.

2. Hoping against hope

It is looking at desperate and hopeless situation, and knowing that God is sill in control. It is realizing that from the human perspective, something cannot be done, but precisely knowing that it is God who acts in and through us, and He certainly can accomplish what is impossible for us.

3. Standing on and trusting in the promises of God

Abraham “was fully convinced that what he had promised he was able to do.” (Rom 4:21). It is not about us, it is about God. We know who God is, we know what God can do, and we simply stand on that. God makes many promises in the Bible, and while we might not readily see how most of these promises can come to pass in our lives, we must be convinced that God will do what He says He will do.

4. Look to such wonders as giving glory only to God

Abraham “was empowered by faith and gave glory to God.” (Rom 4:20b). When we look at human situation and what God promises He will do, our focus is not on reaping the benefit of God’s action (though that is a given), but on the glory accrues to God whenever he performs signs and wonders.

IV. Tremendous consequences of Faith

1. Faith leads to righteousness

God points us to “the righteousness that comes from faith.” (Rom 4:13b). We are supposed to live righteousness lives, to be holy as God is holy. It is faith that enables us to walk along the path of righteousness. It is a difficult and challenging path, and we can only persevere by faith.

2. Faith leads to empowerment

Abraham “was empowered by faith” (Rom 4:20b). It is power of God that is at work in our lives. We can stifle that power when we have the wrong focus, that is, on ourselves and our humanity rather than God. God intends to work in and through us. He intends to work in power. We enable God to work in power when we turn our lives over to Him and know our place as His instruments.

3. Faith glorifies God

Abraham “gave glory to God” (Rom 4:20c). Since it is God who acts, the glory belongs to Him. When signs and wonders are accomplished through us, then people look to God and give Him the glory that is His due. Our work of evangelization stands on such manifestations of power, and consequently our faith.

V. Conclusion

 CCC 146 Abraham thus fulfills the definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1: "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen": "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness." Because he was "strong in his faith", Abraham became the "father of all who believe".

Faith indeed is freely given, it works wonders. As we start the New Year, just look at Abraham the Man on Faith. With the power of God may we able to truly be firm in our faith. May we truly respond with faith to our Heavenly Father who is always faithful.

Discussion Questions:

How have you persevered in faith in the face of seemingly impossible situation?