Heroes Of Faith #1: Enoch: Walking With God Series

HEROES OF FAITH #1: ENOCH: WALKING WITH GOD

INTRO TO TOPIC:

This morning we’re going to look at one of the most important topics in the Bible: Faith!

FOUR TIMES in the Bible it says, “The just shall live by faith!”

(Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38).

Mark 11:22: Jesus told His disciples to “Have faith in God.”

He talked about people having little faith or great faith.

2 Cor. 5:7: For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Eph. 2:8: For by grace you have been saved through faith…

1 Tim. 6:12: Fight the good fight of faith.

But – what is faith? And how do we live by faith and walk by faith?

To answer that question, we’re going to go to the hall of faith chapter – in Hebrews 11!

THE BIG IDEA: As Christians, God wants us to walk by faith. This is the key to pleasing God, and experiencing His goodness in our lives.

I. WHAT IS FAITH?

“1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

• The word “substance” (hupostasis) in the Greek, means ‘to stand under or to support.’ Faith is the foundation that gives the believer the confidence to stand.

• The word “evidence” means “conviction.” This inward conviction enables the believer to believe things not yet seen, that God will perform what He has promised.

• The more we know God, the more we will trust Him.

ILLUSTRATION:

There was a little boy who was caught in a fire at home. He could not get out of the burning house. He climbed up out onto the roof of the burning home, and began to cry for his father’s help. The father looked up at his son from the ground, and told him to jump. “I can’t see you though daddy, how will you catch me?” said the son. The father said, “I can see you.” Without further hesitation the boy jumped into his father’s arms. That’s faith!

2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 3 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.

• In the Apostle’s Creed, we declare that we believe: “In God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth, and in Jesus Christ His only begotten Son our Lord…”

4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.” (Heb. 11:1-4).

• When we have faith and believe in God, we will worship Him, as Abel did.

THREE ASPECTS OF FAITH:

1. KNOWLEDGE: You can’t believe what you don’t know.

• “For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Rom. 10:13-14).

2. AGREEMENT: To agree with what we hear or read. Just because you know something doesn’t mean you have faith in it! Assent means I believe the Bible is true!

3. TRUST: To rely on or receive it into your life. See illustration…

ILLUSTRATION:

Charles Blondin's greatest fame came in June of 1859 when he attempted to become the first person to cross a tightrope stretched over a quarter of a mile across Niagara Falls.

He walked across 160 feet above falls several times - once on stilts, on a bicycle, and in the dark! On one though, he asked for a volunteer. A buzz of excitement ran along both sides of the river bank. The crowd “Ooohed!” and “Aaahed!” as Charles carefully walked across one dangerous step after another -- blindfolded and pushing a wheelbarrow.

Upon reaching the other side, the crowd's applause was louder than the roar of the falls! Charles suddenly stopped and addressed his audience: "Do you believe I can carry a person across in this wheelbarrow?" The crowd enthusiastically shouted, "Yes! You are the greatest tightrope walker in the world. You can do anything!"

"Okay," said Charles, "Get in the wheelbarrow....." No one did!

• Real faith – trust – gets in the wheelbarrow.

II. HOW DO WE WALK BY FAITH?

“21 Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah. 22 After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. 23 So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. 24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” (Genesis 5:21-24).

• Enoch is an excellent example of someone who walked closely with God.