LIVING BY FAITH
Hebrews 11:8-19
INTRODUCTION
ILLUSTRATION Two boys were playing in the snow one day, when one said to the other, "Let us see who can make the straightest path in the snow." His companion readily accepted the proposition, and they started. One boy fixed his eyes on a tree, and walked along without taking his eyes off the object selected.
The other boy set his eyes on the tree also, and, when he had gone a short distance, he turned, and looked back to see how true his course was. He went a little distance farther, and again turned to look over his steps. When they arrived at their stopping place, each halted and looked back. One path was true as an arrow, while the other ran in a zigzag course.
"How did you get your path so straight?" asked the boy who had made the crooked steps. The other boy said, "I just set my eyes on the tree, and kept them there until I got to the end; while you stopped and looked back and wandered out of your course."
This is a perfect picture of the Christian life. If we fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perferter of our faith then we would able to walk a straight path in life. Many have followed this admonition in the past and they were able to live a life of faith, one of them is Abraham. Why should we examine the life of Abraham?
• He was God’s instrument in pioneering the nation Israel.
• He lived by faith for 100 years. Started at the age of 75 years old. (Genesis 12:4) Died at the age of 175 years old. (Genesis 25:7)
• He was called the friend of God. (Isaiah 41:8)
What can we learn from the life of Abraham? Read Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19.
EXPOSITION
1. He Promptly Obeyed God’s Calling. (vv. 8-10)
ILLUSTRATION Someone once wrote and asked Emily Post, the etiquette expert of another generation, "What is the correct procedure when one is invited to the White House but has a previous engagement?" Replied Post, "An invitation to dine at the White House is a command, and it automatically cancels any other engagement." THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ABRAHAM WHEN INVITED BY GOD.
Read verse 8. This verse in its original language indicates a very prompt obedience. It means that he obeyed the call while it was still sounding in his ears. What was the calling? Read Genesis 12:1-5. Abraham’s response was significant due to the nature God’s calling.
• The calling requires leaving his familiar environment. (Genesis 12:1) “Your country, your people, and your father’s household,” these are expressions of security and familiarity of environment that Abraham needs to abandon.
Application Living by faith demands obedience which may requires leaving our familiar and secure environment. This may not necessarily be our country, people and household but perhaps our former way of life, our peer groups, our worldly habits and vices, the places we hang out and associate our selves. I know it is not easy but that is the way to live by faith. (Read Ephesians 4:17-24)
• The calling requires embracing a great responsibility. (Genesis 12:2-3) God’s concept of greatness is not just a position of authority and prosperity. Greatness in the mind of God is a position of humility and service. (Read Matthew 20:25-28)
Application Living by faith requires obedience which leads to embracing a great responsibility. God promises reigning with Him in glory but also serving him in the interest of His kingdom – worship, nurture, evangelism, mission, and service.
• The calling requires accepting huge sacrifices. (Genesis 12:4-5) Abraham was not in an ideal situation when he said yes to God. He was 75 years old, married, and with a nephew. He traveled with his properties and servants.
Our sacrifices can be in the form of persecution, sufferings, temptations, and giving up of old habits. (Read Hebrews 13:15-16)
What can we learn from the life of Abraham about faith? Living by faith demands prompt obedience to God’s calling. Prompt obedience that requires leaving your familiar environment, embracing great responsibility, and accepting huge sacrifices.
2. He Fervently Believed God’s Plan. (vv. 11-12)
Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born and when it was revealed he was going to have his own son Sarah was 89 years. Because of Abraham’s faith, they were enabled to become father and mother of many nations. Prior to this event, Abraham had another plan. (Read Genesis 15:1-6) However, God said that his heir would be his own flesh and blood. Sarah too had a different plan. (Read Genesis 16:1-5)
Living by faith demands adopting God’s plan in place of our own personal plans. At times, God’s plan looks inconceivable but as always we are reminded of the fact that nothing is impossible with God. Perhaps before you came to know God through His son Jesus Christ you have already laid out the plan for your life. But now that you have followed the Lord Jesus Christ, be ready to make some changes and adjustment.
Illustration Conversion of Paul. (Read Acts 9:1-16)
(Read Matthew 10:24-25) Most of us will affirm that our lives were changed when we followed the Lord. That is expected. You commit your life to a relationship with God then live within the parameters of that relationship. Just like the relationship of a married or engaged couple, there are changes to be adopted; the same thing in our relationship with God as we live by faith. We have nothing to be afraid of because God’s plan for us is the best. (Read John 10:10)
3. He Willingly Endured God’s Test. (vv. 17-19)
The biggest test I believe that Abraham faced was when God told him to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. Let us be aware that it was a common practice among the pagan to offer their son to their God. So when Abraham heard the command, he did not hesitate but to God it is only a test. (Read Genesis 22:1-18)
Take note how Abraham responded to God’s command. If not for his complete trust with God, he would not have done what he did at that time.
• He woke up early. (v. 3)
• He prepared for the trip. (v. 3)
• He did not hesitate. (vv. 4-7)
• He did it himself. (vv. 8-10)
Why was Abraham’s response to the test significant? Isaac was his only son and the key to the promise of becoming a great nation. In addition, you could imagine the internal conflict between Abraham’s love for his son and his duty to God. Perhaps Abraham had difficulty reconciling God’s promised of becoming a great nation through Isaac and yet now he called him to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. How then could the promise be fulfilled?
Though he did not understand, Abraham knew how to obey. His faith told him that God would work out his purpose, even if he himself could not see how that could be. So he "offered Isaac as a sacrifice." As far as Abraham was concerned the sacrifice was to be completed. In will and purpose he did offer his son. He held nothing back and he passed the test. Because He knew that the key towards the fulfillment of God’s promise depend not on Isaac but on God himself.
What a great lesson for all of us who said we are living by faith. Living by faith requires our willingness to endure God’s testing. Sometimes the test requires that we give up the precious person or things in our lives just to show how much we love God instead. And sometimes God really do it that after he had given us the best, he would demand it so we will not change our focus from the giver to the gifts.
How are you responding to God’s testing? In the academic life, even though we hate tests and examinations, we take them. Because we know that when we pass the test, we would be promoted to the next level. In the school of life, we should not abhor the testing of life. Because it is our key towards greater opportunities and promotion in life. Besides they turned us into a better and mature person. (Read James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7)
CONCLUSION
Read Hebrews 11:13-16. Let us keep on living by faith. This world is not our home. Don’t be too comfortable in your life here. There is more to our relationship with God. Be ready for the best, daily live by faith.
