Lessons From The Past Series

Introduction: Living a life of faith. What do I mean when I say living a life of faith? Living by faith is daily taking serious the reality that we are God’s children and He is in control. It is daily taking seriously the reality that without Jesus I would be hopelessly lost. It is daily taking seriously the reality that because of Jesus’ sacrifice, I can know God. It is daily taking seriously that my life is not my own. I have been bought with a price. The precious blood of Jesus has purchased my life and I am no longer my own master! I have been redeemed by the grace and mercy of God therefore I will live by what He says. He is boss! He runs my life. In every situation of my life – He is in charge. The decisions I make; the things I involve myself in; the things I allow into my life through movies, TV, reading, music, etc., all pass through His filter. If anything is not in line with Him and His desire for my life – I get rid of it or avoid it altogether! That is living a life of Faith!

Will living a life of faith make a difference? Will it really or is this just a bunch of religious stuff that we can throw away as irrelevant? I believe living a life of faith will make a difference! I believe that because it has already made a difference in my life. But I believe it also makes a difference in the lives of those around you and those who come after you!

Let’s read together Hebrews 11:1-12.

There are 3 key things about each of these and the rest of the heroes of the faith in this chapter that bears mentioning. If you go back and read about each of these real people who lived a real life of faith you will find that when God spoke they listened! Not only did they listen but they believed what He said. Finally they acted on that belief in obedience.

Write this down.

1. When God speaks I need to listen.

How does God speak? Through His word, by His Spirit; through circumstances; through other people; through the quietness of your spirit. Larry Dilay your former Pastor WRAP’s up each funeral he does with this idea. Watch – watch to see what God is trying to teach you in this moment. Jesus said that the Father is always at work. We just need to pay attention. Yesterday, one of the speakers asked the men if any of them had seen a real true miracle of God in their lives. Sadly not everyone in the crowd raised their hands. I leaned over to John and said if you haven’t seen a miracle you aren’t paying attention. God has not stopped performing them! We just stopped watching for them. And maybe more sadly, we’ve stopped asking for them! God is doing things all around us if we will just slow down long enough to pay attention. God is speaking – constantly – are you listening?

2. I need to believe what He says!

Now this may sound almost silly but how many times do we question something we sense God is

saying to our spirit? My grandpa had a saying that always made me laugh. When he felt like we were not listening to him he would say, “I’m not talking to hear my head rattle!” Can I tell you God doesn’t speak to hear His head rattle! When He says something He means it and everything He says is backed up by who He is! He is the ultimate authority. We can feel very confident in the trustworthiness of what God says! So, do you believe what God says? If you are going to live a life of faith you better! But we can’t stop there.

3. I need to act in obedience to what I believe He is saying.

Every one of these heroes of the faith didn’t just listen and believe – they acted on what God said. That is where the rubber meets the road! Listening and believing does absolutely no good if we do not act on what God has said.

Hear is an example. The Bible says that the demons believe and tremble. They have heard God speak – they know He is real. They believe it beyond any doubt. What is the difference between their belief and ours as Christians? The difference is as God’s children we have acted on that belief. Our action was we called on the name of the Lord. We have placed our faith and trust in Jesus alone for salvation. Salvation comes as we act in obedience to the revealed truth of who Jesus is and who we are - The revealed truth that He is the only way; our only hope for forgiveness and heaven. This acting on belief is essential to our salvation and yet somehow we think we can live the Christian life without being obedient. God’s ways certainly haven’t changed! We must learn to act in obedience to everything He says. That is living a life of faith.