Faith In The Gap
Sermon Notes
The GAP between God’s promise and God’s fulfillment is where FAITH is formed.
[Hebrews 11:1] Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.
[Genesis 12:1] The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. [2] I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.
God doesn’t use the PERFECT. He uses the AVAILABLE.
[Hebrews 11:8] It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.
The Gap is not God’s DELAY. It’s God’s DESIGN.
[Genesis 15:2] O Sovereign Lord, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son?
[Genesis 15:5] Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”
Faith isn’t the ABSENCE of doubt. It’s choosing to LOOK UP Anyway.
[Genesis 15:6] And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.
[Genesis 21:1-2] The Lord kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised. [2] She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would.
God is often PREPARING you while He prepares the PROMISE.
Faith grows when we trust God’s CHARACTER over our CIRCUMSTANCES.
[Romans 4:18] Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!”
God wastes NOTHING that is SURRENDERED to Him.
Discussion Questions
Icebreaker: What is something you waited a long time for? Was it worth the wait?
Read Romans 4:18 & discuss what stands out.
Share about a season in your life where you were in a gap? What did that feel like?
Tell about someone who encouraged you to keep believing when you wanted to give up?
What is one gap you are willing to name this week and bring to God?
Is there anything this group can pray for?
Bonus - Read Zephaniah 3:17 & discuss w/ group.