Power Of His Word Series

Hebrews Sermon Series #16 June 25, 2014 Power of His Word

A Hebrews 11.1-3 is a glimpse into faith defined before we see a list of faith displayed.

Hebrews 11:1-3 (NKJV) 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 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.

1 Faith is not measurable, gaugeible, open to experimental science.

a Believing that God is the creator, sustainer, source of life is a conviction that isn’t apprehensible to our senses.

aa We don’t need scientific proof, mathematical formula to set our minds at ease.

bb Vs. 3 “By faith we understand...”

b “Understand” means “to perceive with reflective intelligence.”

aa We don’t have to see something to believe it is real.

bb In our day when each of us are on surveillance camera daily, we can see video of nearly every crime. (Running a stop light, armed assault/robbery.) The video gives witness that convicts the law breaker - convinces the jury.

cc We have no footage of the creation, audio recording of God speaking the universe into existence... but faith does not require scientific proof.

c When we see a beautiful sunrise/sunset, blade of grass, tree, river, mountain, rainbow, new born baby... our inward perception/comprehension is that all things are a work of God.

aa Not tectonic plates making mountain ranges, seed fertilizing and egg, light passing through water... God’s hand!

bb Faith requires zero explanation, proof, convincing.

2 Our faith is not limited to just the created physical order of the universe, but also the created periods of time.

a “Worlds” can also be translated as “ages.”

b It includes not only space... but also time... conditions that God is not bound by or to.

aa Time & space didn’t exist independently from God.

bb They are real because they are the word of His word.

c Faith doesn’t require proof (or understanding) that He is the author of creation.

B God created time & space (and all that fills both) with a purpose/plan for all that he created. (Vs. NASB “prepared”, NKJV “were framed”)

1 Everything was made for a reason, purpose to fit together with the whole end also for it’s time.

a In other words, everything, everyone, every event unfolds & develops per God’s plan/purpose, chance, luck... everything has it’s place in what God framed/prepared.

b Our girls didn’t live the life that we envisioned/hoped for... but my faith tells me they accomplished what God created them for.

aa I don’t need proof, convincing... I’ve got Hebrews 11.3.

bb I’ve got faith in the written word of God, vs. 1 “the evidence of things not seen.”

2 How did I come to trust Jesus as Lord? Confess Him as Lord? ... Faith in His Word.

Show Clip of Clinton

C The word “Word” is all in how it’s defined.

1 John 1:1,14 (NASB) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

We discover Jesus is the “word” - Logos

a He is the living Word of God, Word made flesh, all that is deity, expressing itself not in verbs/words/text, but in the revelation of a person.

aa Logos is word used as a designation of the Son of God.

bb Jesus, who is truth, became very specific truth in the incarnation; He became God’s personal message to humanity - God’s final word to us is Jesus!

Hebrews 1:2-3 (NKJV) 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

b As discussed last week, the word “word” in vs. 3 is not logos, but “Rhema.”

aa Author Ralph Speas helps us understand the different between logos and rhema.

Differences on Screen

bb Jesus was/is the living expression of the reality of God’s character.

2 “Rhema” is what happened when God spoke the Word & the world came into existence. (All the pieces fit into place, ages into exact precession.)

a The earth roared to life, mountains sprang forth in stately majesty.

aa At His word... lions roared, birds sang, trees waved their branches.