Annie Perkins Ministries
Resolute: Developing “Even If” Faith
Lesson 2: Group Session
Throughout the remainder of Hebrews 11, the writer ends his list with this:
Hebrews 11:32 NIV
___________ was an Old Testament prophet who is mentioned in the New Testament more than any other Old Testament prophet.
The book of Daniel, another prophet, tells not only the story of Daniel, but also the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the men who spoke this famous statement of faith:
But even if he [God] does not [deliver them from the fiery furnace], we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:18, NIV)
Background
In both stories,
They lived during a time of _______________ and uncertainty.
Were forced to adapt to a __________________.
Their lives were being ____________ for their faith.
Comparing Responses
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego:
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18, NIV)
Elijah:
Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” (1 Kings 19:1-4, NIV)
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego focused on their _________, but, in that moment, Elijah focused on his ___________.
Comparing Focus
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego:
FOCUS (on God) ⟶ FAITH ⟶ PEACE
They were confident in and sure of what they knew to be true about their God.
They were resolute in what they __________________ do.
But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:18, NIV)
Sometimes resolute faith is about what we will _________ do.
Elijah:
FOCUSED ON FEAR---------------------BROKE THE REST OF THE CYCLE
In the Bible, more than we are told NOT to fear, we are told TO fear - God!
Fear is one word with two meanings: __________________ or
_____________________.
Fear is our human response to situations which are beyond our control and understanding. It’s what we do with that response that matters.
The only thing that can overcome ____________________ is ____________________.
1Praise the Lord,Blessed are those who fear the Lord…
7They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
8Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. (Psalm 112:1a,7-8, NIV)
We have two choices when we face situations bigger than ourselves:
When we focus on the fear of our situation, we become _______________.
When we focus on the awe of our God, our fear fades to ______________.
When our focus is on God, and our eyes are fixed on Jesus, our faith turns our “what if” into an “even if.”
Fear is not the __________________ of faith, fear is the _______________ for faith!
The Expected vs. The Unexpected
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego:
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had time to ___________________ in preparation for the moment when their life was threatened.
Elijah:
This wasn’t the first time his life had been threatened. When Elijah encountered Obadiah, the king’s administrator, Obadiah told him this:
As surely as the Lord your God lives, there is not a nation or kingdom where my master [Ahab] has not sent someone to look for you. And whenever a nation or kingdom claimed you were not there, he made them swear they could not find you. (1 Kings 18:10, NIV)
This time Elijah was _____________ in this threat against his life.
Unmet expectations or unexpected calamities often instinctually cause us to react in fear and feel defeated.
Community vs. Isolation
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego:
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had _________________.
This passage is found just before the faith chapter in Hebrews 11. They are included in a section of Scripture titled A Call to Persevere in Faith (in the NIV):
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25, NIV)
Solomon describes it like this in Proverbs:
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17, NIV)
Staying in community with other Christians strengthens our ability to have resolute faith by keeping us ________ and ________.
Elijah:
Elijah had been doing life _________________.
If doing life in community keeps us encouraged and sharpened, then doing life in isolation has the potential to make us ____couraged and ____sharpened.
Believing Lies:
Elijah believed a lie against his________ and against __________.
Elijah said this to King Ahab on Mt. Carmel:
Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets.” (1 Kings 18:22, NIV)
And Elijah said this to God TWICE after he runs for his life:
The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” (1 Kings 19:10b & 14b, NIV)
In Elijah’s encounter with Obadiah, Obadiah had also told him this:
Haven’t you heard, my lord, what I did while Jezebel was killing the prophets of the Lord? I hid a hundred of the Lord’s prophets in two caves, fifty in each, and supplied them with food and water. (1 Kings 18:13, NIV)
The ______ he had believed was so loud that he couldn’t even hear the ____ when it was told directly to him.
Elijah believed a lie against __________________.
He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die.
“I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” (1 Kings 19:4b, NIV)
The accuser (Satan) comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus came to give ________! (John 10:10)
God Shows Up
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego:
God sent an angel to be __________________ in the fire! Even if God allows us to go through the fire, he will be with us.
Elijah:
God never left Elijah (1 Kings 19). He...
- Met Elijah where he was at - twice
- Sent an angel to ____________ him
- Let him speak and pour out his complaint
- Reminded Elijah of his [God’s] _____________ (wind, earthquake, fire)
- Spoke to him the way he needed in that moment - a gentle whisper
- Let him go back to where he left off and gave him an assignment of _________
- Told him he was not alone
God never left Elijah. God went to him when he ran. So God was still __________, even when Elijah’s faith faltered.
He’s the God who meets us where we’re at, provides the nourishment we need, lets us pour out our complaint before him, reminds us of his power, speaks to us in gentleness and compassion when we struggle, gives us second chances, brings us back to our purpose, and never leaves us alone!
Oh God, we are so grateful for who you are! Keep us in relationship first and foremost with you, and also with one another. Thank you that we don’t have to neglect gathering together with others, and thank you that you are building relationships even in the midst of isolation.