The Power of God’s Promise (Hebrews Chapter 11)
Lakewood Christian Church
Pastor Rex E. Faile, Sr.
Introduction: In tonight’s lesson we wish to discuss the power of God’s Word in our lives. God’s Word is the foundation on which all things are created, sustained, and increased. If we conclude that God has a plan for us and that the plan is for our good then we must follow the “map” closely, looking for “Godly appointments, interventions, and opportunities” to EXPERIENCE GOD. God’s Word quickens us to these promises and challenges us to changes in thought, attitude, and perceptions. This is FAITH!
Heb 11:1-40
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Heb 11:1 ¶ Now faith is a well-grounded assurance of that for which we hope, and a conviction of the reality of things which we do not see. (Weymouth New Testament)
Rom 8:24-25
24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? (KJV)
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. (KJV)
2 Cor 4:17-18
17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
(NIV)
2 Cor 5:6-8
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
(KJV)
2 For by it (faith) the elders obtained a good report.
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Heb 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds came into being, and still exist, at the command of God, so that what is seen does not owe its existence to that which is visible. (Weymouth New Testament)
Gen 1:1-3
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
(KJV)
Ps 33:6
6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. (KJV)
John 1:3
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (KJV)
Heb 1:1-2
1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
(KJV)
A. Faith is our confidence for the things promised from God and “a conviction of the reality of things” which we do not see.
1. By “this faith” the elders (which will be spoken of) obtained a good report (receive this witness …gr. Martureo)
2. This “faith” begins with understanding that ALL THINGS come into being and still exist by God’s power and that which is does not exist from the things which are now visible.
A. Why is this important? It gives way to the supernatural!
Things do not necessarily “evolve” from what is… but God has the power to “speak His will” into our lives without our help or help from other resources.
*The Power of our future does not come from our Faith, but from God who gives us a faith made alive by His Word and His Spirit! R.F.
*For this reason we title this message The Power of God’s Promise rather than the power of faith because it begins with God’s Word in which we take confidence and refuge.
The Testimony Of The Patriarchs (By Faith)
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
Heb 11:4 ¶ Through faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain did, and through this faith he obtained testimony that he was righteous, God giving the testimony by accepting his gifts; and through it, though he is dead, he still speaks. (WNT)
A. By Faith Abel Gave To God What God Required
1. A More Acceptable Sacrifice
A. Firstlings of the flock and the fat thereof
A1. Abel brought the sacrifice of blood while Cain the work of his hands (grace vs. works)
*It does not matter how good our intentions. If our steps do not follow God’s plan we are still deceived and our sacrifices will not be accepted. This will be seen worked out in our attitudes towards others. Peace is gone, misery and dissatisfaction our portion, and
May the good Lord help whoever gets in Cain’s way!
Gen 4:2-10
2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?
10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.
(KJV)
Matt 23:34-35
34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
(KJV)
Heb 12:24
24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. (KJV)
I Jn 3:11-12
11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
(KJV)
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
A. The only way one can please God is to “trust and obey”
1. We must believe that HE is (He exists)
A. We must believe there is REWARD to those who SEEK Him
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
B. These “died in faith” because they “lived in faith”
1. Their faith “persuaded” them and they “embraced” the promises
2. Confessing their “alien status” in this present world
3. SEEKING a BETTER country (the heavenly)
A. Where God has prepared them a “city”(heavenly Jerusalem)
Conclusion:
Faith is simply trusting God to be ALL that we need and that is LIFE! This trust says that God’s promises will not fail. We see His power in the CREATION and the sustaining power which God now exercises in His creation. Those who trust the promises of God are rewarded with the greatest treasure and that is “we please God when we trust God.” This faith leads us through this world as strangers and foreigners and empowers us to look beyond to the heavenly city where God has prepared a place for us FOREVER! May God write our names in the Book of Faith and may we hear Him say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servants.”
