God’s Call Faith
Speaker: Steve Little (Pastor)
Date: January 11, 2026
Scripture Reading
Hebrews 11:1-3 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.”
Genesis 12:1-4
Now the Lord had said to Abram:
“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
So, Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him….
Good morning, all. Last week we started a new series to start 2026, “God’s Call, God’s Ways”.
Our first message in this series was, “Follow Me”.
Our main scripture was Matthew 16:24 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”
Our focus points were on five words taken from our text: Disciple, Deny, Cross and Follow Me.
Disciple
Greek word meaning a learner, student, or pupil who follows a Rabbi or philosopher. Then, become like them, imitate them.
Deny
Jesus is saying: renounce the self as the final authority over your life.
Cross
First what “taking up your cross” does not mean: Enduring minor annoyances or practicing self-improvement
S,o what is “Taking up the cross” It is choosing Christ’s ways over self, every day—even when it costs.
Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me..."
Follow Me
The most amazing thing in the Bible is seeing everyday ordinary people called by God, interact personally with His Spirit or His presence.
A question for all of us: Are we, as His disciples today, to have personal spiritual experiences with Him as we follow Him?
The answer is a resounding, YES!!!!! John 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me."
If you know this song, sing along:
1. I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back; no turning back.
2. If no one joins me, still I will follow;
If no one joins me, still I will follow;
If no one joins me, still I will follow;
No turning back; no turning back.
3. The cross before me, the world behind me;
The cross before me, the world behind me;
The cross before me, the world behind me;
No turning back, no turning back.
This week in our series: Faith
Pastor and writer, A W Tozier made this observation concerning faith and I have to agree with him:
‘In the scriptures there is practically no effort to define faith outside of a brief 14-word definition in Hebrews 11 verse 1, I know of no biblical definition and even there, faith is defined functionally and not philosophically. That is what faith is in operation not in essence. It shows what faith results in not what it is. ‘
Hebrews 11:1 NKJV Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 AMP Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].
Our Focus Points
· Where Faith Comes From
· How We Grow in Faith
· The Results of Faith
Where Faith Comes From
Gen. 12:1 Now the Lord said to Abram…
Romans 10:17 So, faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of God.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast"
Hebrews 12: Jesus is the author and finisher of your faith
How We Grow in Faith
So, I asked my grandson the other day what he learned in school today and he said, “Apparently not enough because I have to go back tomorrow.”
Thomas A’ Kempis “I would rather exercise faith than know a definition of it…”
Gen. 12:4 So Abram departed….
James 2:23-24 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
While Paul speaks of being declared righteous by God through faith (a forensic, declarative act), James uses justified to describe how a person's works serve as proof or vindication of their genuine faith to others.
The wrestling with the man on the cross theology.
James uses ergon, Greek word for faith, to emphasize that true, living faith is demonstrated through observable actions.
The Results of Faith
Gen. 12:3 And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.
Hebrews 11:10 For he (Abraham) waited for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
As we read through Hebrews 11 all of the people who believed God, the faith family, always believed that their was an eternity with God after their physical body perished.
Paul finishing his early following of Christ
2 Timothy 4:6-8 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
