Introduction: Where have we been so far?
April 13, Hebrews 10:19-22 – We found that our ability and the drive to live faithfully was provided by the cross of Jesus. Through the sacrifice of Jesus and his place as our High Priest we have been called to be children of God and therefore are called to live like him – a life of faithfulness. Living a life of faith is all about obedience. It is not ritual or perfunctory actions. It is being willing to daily take up your cross and follow Jesus. Every day, we are called to obey what God tells us to do. We get our marching orders from the Scriptures, daily prayer and meditation on God’s word. It is our privilege and duty to spend time with God and Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection made it possible for us to do that!
ILLUSTRATION: Several years ago, Patrick Morley wrote a book called, “Walking with Christ in the Details of Life.” It is a book of meditations that includes one called “Revival: The Gospel of Addition.” In it, he said the following, “The American gospel has evolved into a gospel of addition without subtraction. It is the belief that we can add Christ to our lives, but not subtract sin. It is a change in belief without a change in behavior… A changed life is one that has added Christ and subtracted sin - that attracts a world weary of worn-out words. Obedience is the proof.” Jim Kane
April 20, Hebrews 10:22-25 – The writer gave us 3 simple statements to describe the life of faith. We are to draw near, hold on, and be concerned about others.
We draw near to God again through prayer and daily Bible reading and meditation. We hold fast
We hold on to the hope we have in Jesus without wavering. We are to trust God even when things don’t go our way. We cannot forget that God works all things out for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose.
We are to be concerned for one another. We promote love and good works by how we treat each other. The question is – does your conduct, the way you speak, act, feel toward others promote good works and love or do they tend to repel people? This is a tough question and one we must ask ourselves periodically if we want to live a life of faith. We cannot depend on what we did for God 20 years ago, 10 years ago or even last week! We must daily show our love for the Lord Jesus by how we treat and encourage each other.
We also looked at Hebrews 10:26-39 on April 20 evening. We found in the middle of this exhortation to live faithfully a stern warning. The writer tells us that we need to be very careful that we do not engage in deliberate sin. We need to recognize that when we do that we are disregarding Jesus work on the cross and that is serious business.
The writer tells us to have staying power – persevere to the end. Live life with diligence not haphazardly. Finally he tells us to live out who we are – we are children of the King – we need to act like it.
That brings us to last week. We were in Hebrews 11:1-12. I gave you 3 key principles found in the lives of each of the heroes of the faith mentioned in this chapter. These 3 key principles are very important if we are going to live a life of faith in this difficult world.
1. When God speaks I need to listen.
2. I need to believe what He says.
3. I need to act in obedience to what I believe He is saying.
I began telling you that - Living a life of faith really does matter. It matters to our family. We looked at the life of Enoch and Abraham and how they showed that their life of faith affected their family tremendously.
Tonight we continue that line of thought as we answer the question – does living a life of faith really matter? I believe how we live has eternal significance! God would not have written down so many instructions for us to live a life of faith if it really didn’t matter!
Let’s read the passage again to refresh our memories. Hebrews 11:1-12
I. A Life of Faith matters in our witness.
Hebrews 11:7 – Noah and his experience with faith
In vs 7 do you see the three key principles lived out by Noah? He listened to God – believed what God said was truth and acted in obedience on that belief!
It then says – “by this he condemned the world”
What does that mean? Let’s look at Genesis 6:11-22.
Noah undoubtedly must have told the people around him why he was building an ark. God had said that the people on earth had become corrupt and filled with violence. Noah by building the ark was letting the world know that God was about to bring judgment onn the earth. His action did not condemn the world – his action showed that the world was condemned already!
Turn to John 3:16-18. Part of our witness to the world is that judgment is coming and soon! How did the people of Noah’s day know that Noah believed what God had said? By his faithful obedience even though it seemed incredibly silly to build a huge boat.
Our faithful life will show the world around us that God has indeed spoken to us. Jesus said the world will hate you and mistreat you because of your love for Him. How are they going to know that we love Jesus unless we live out in front of them an obedient lifestyle of faithfulness?
Our life can be the biggest evangelistic tool we have or it can be our greatest detriment. How you live makes all the difference in the world as to how effective you will be as a witness for Christ. People can see right through our fake smiles. People see how we treat one another, how we treat our families, how we do our business, how we act at school, how we talk to our parents or peers, how we go to church. If what our lives show is not consistent with what they hear us say about the love and grace of God they will have a tough time believing what you say. Your life is your great tool for evangelism! Can you be trusted? Or is your life a poor reflection of what you say you believe?
II. A Life of faith matters to our legacy
We have 2 examples of this in these verses we read. Abel and Abraham.
Hebrews 11:4 – Abel’s legacy of faith in worship
Abel still speaks through this. What? It was his faithfulness to offer God his very best. This is huge!
His short life is recorded because of his obedience to sacrifice something of great value to God as an act of worship. Because of that we are still talking about him today.
Romans 12 tells each of us we are to give ourselves as a living sacrifice to the Lord. Paul says this is your spiritual act of worship! How does your worship leave a legacy for others? Does the way you worship God bring people closer to God? Do they see you enthralled by the grace of God and so overjoyed in your worship that they cannot help but notice? Our worship certainly is not limited to Sunday’s but still yet – is our worship on Sunday’s life changing? Many times it is not. Why? It is because we are too afraid to let go. We want to hold on, to control everything. What would happen if when you came on Sunday morning we did absolutely nothing as it was planned in the worship folder? So would freak out. Why because we like comfort and control. But worship of God is not about either one of these things. Real, True Worship is about abandoning yourself to God. Letting Him be in control.
Abel reflects this attitude that says whatever you want from me – I freely give it! His attitude of worship and his mode of worship cost him something. King David gives us an example of this as well in 2 Samuel 24:18-25.
What is the legacy of your faithfulness in worship? Is your worship awe inspiring? If not, why not? Will your children, grandchildren and those who come after you see an incredible passion for God in your life? Your faithfulness does matter. Worship is about passion and commitment to the Lordship of Christ. Do those around you see that?
Hebrews 11:8-10, 17-19 – Abraham and his legacy of faith in following God
Vs. 8 says when he was called, he obeyed! I hope that my children can say that about me when I’m gone. When God spoke to him, he obeyed! What a legacy! A legacy of obedience is what every parent should strive to leave their children. That is the greatest gift you can give to your kids. All the things that you give them will not be remembered so much as what you stood for.
But understand that the opposite is true also. If you do not stand for anything or they see you as a fraud – that too will live on. There are so many men and women in our churches today that are products of parents who did not live a faithful lifestyle before them. Our children see who we really are. And they grow up and many times become like their parents. Parents, grand-parents, have you lived a good example to your children. And remember – grandparents, just because your children are grown doesn’t mean your life as an influence and example is over. You need to finish strong! You need to groom those who are coming up behind you. Grooming doesn’t mean that those coming behind you have to look the same, talk the same and like the same stuff. It is okay that they don’t! In fact it would be kind of odd if they did! Quite honestly, that seems to always be an issue and it doesn’t need to be.
An example from Montana. Seniors saying that they want to reach families – so they were willing to bend so that our style of worship and our way of doing things would attract those we were trying to reach. And God blessed that group abundantly. Our Sr. Adult group grew faster than the rest of the groups. Why? Because they were willing to leave a legacy that was not about them but about serving and following Jesus. Loving people right where they were and doing everything they could to be a blessing to those young families. Many of those sr. ladies were seen as grandma to many of those children. Why? Because their love and acceptance was real. They listened to God speak and obeyed by loving those whom God brought to our church. The legacy of those people will live on in the hearts of countless children and my own heart.
We groom those who come behind as we show them that God loves them and that His Word matters. That faithfulness matters; showing them a passion for God in all that we do. All of us have an opportunity to leave a powerful legacy of a faithful life.
Abraham also left a legacy that is eternal – God chose his lineage to be the one through whom Jesus Christ would be born. Because of that we are literally part of Abraham’s legacy! How awesome is that?!
Conclusion: Will your faith live on? Will others look back on your life and use it as an example of how to live a life of faith? Your life of faith matters to your family, your witness and your legacy. What are you leaving behind you for others to learn from?
I. Listen – to the voice of God
a. His Word
b. Awareness of circumstances
c. Godly people around you.
II. Believe – what He says
a. Examples from Hebrews
b. Examples from Disciples
c. Examples from the Epistles
III. Act – on what you believe.
a. Obedience is the key
b. Show your faith by what you do – James 1 – 2
c. Follow through with total commitment
