Faith is not just a belief, IT IS FOUNDATIONAL! To have faith means that one has accepted what he cannot see or feel, with the conviction of truth!
Heb 11 teaches what it means to possess genuine faith, genuine trust in God:
Look at chapter 10:39 - Hebrews 11 is the continuation of that thought!
Genuine Faith is MANIFESTED by Genuine Christians. - that is the message!
We act and live according to what we really believe because of God’s promises
By our faith that we exhibit is the SUBSTANCE, foundation, the “title deed” to the things for which we have hope!
By our faith, when genuine, we exhibit the EVIDENCE - that is PROOF by CONVICTION, of God’s work in our lives. Our faith is an inward conviction of truth. When genuine, evidence is exhibited through our lives.
When REAL faith is present, it is the substance and evidence of things to come!
Everyone has faith in something - An Idolater puts his faith in graven images. Materialists in financial matters. Humanists in himself.
Muslims in the Koran and Muhammad. Philosophers in their own thought.
Most Religionists in their own works. Some want to usher in a one world kingdom. Others believe they can become God. The Entrepreneur in his abilities. The Athlete in his strength.
And most of humanity believes they are alright if their good outweighs their bad! None is sufficient! Even God’s children trust more in their own sufficiency than that of their Savior
Heb 11, some call the Hall of Faith, gives some that exhibited Faith - Eternal examples of trust in God. This chapter demonstrates LIVING faith. We are saved by grace through faith, and that is how we are to continue! Colossians 2:6 "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving."
I. Abel exhibited a Worship of Faith - Abel - vs. 4
A. The Scene - An Altar - Where it all begins! Hebrews 9:22 "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission."
B. The Sacrifice - A Lamb by Faith - It must be accepted that Adam had taught his sons of the sacrifice of God to clothe them. And Abel took the best. Genesis 4:4 "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:"
1. Its Worth (Excellent) Abel brought a sacrifice of blood by faith, (Portrayed Calvary) Cain brought a sacrifice of works without faith. (Religion of our own merit!)
2. Its Witness - It was RESPECTED by God - Only Calvary!
Cain’s false religion, too good for a slain lamb, showed its true colors by the murder of Abel. Truth has always been attacked!
But God is the witness that will testify of the validity of the blood.
II. Enoch had a Walk of Faith - vs. 5 Enoch stood midway between the fall and the flood, an OT picture of the church.
A. A Fellowship of His Faith
Genesis 5:24 "And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him."
B. The Fruit of His Faith - no death - Enoch was the first man to escape death.
1. Translated - Suddenly removed (raptured!)
2. Transformation - He escaped death, and lived in Heaven!
1Co 15:51 "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."
C. The Force of His Faith - he had a testimony - He was different.
1. He was Missed - they could not find him
2. He was Marked - He had the testimony that he pleased God!
Acts 4:13 "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." Oh that the world would mark us as God pleasers!
III. A Work of Faith - Noah vs. 7
A. He was Mindful of the Warning of God - O that we would be mindful
1. His Warning Genesis 6:13 "And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth."
2. Our Warning Revelation 20:15 "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."
B. He was Moved by the Fear of God - O that God’s people would be moved
He walked circumspectly, with much care, as he labored to do God’s will
Defined in Philippians 1:27 "Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;"
C. He was Mighty in the Labor of God
1. A Servant in the will of God
2. A Sermon in the World of grief
2 Peter 2:5 "And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;"
D. He was Marked as the Heir of God - He became heir!
His deeds marked him as one who had an inheritance in Heaven.
After we have been to the altar, and our walk begins with God, we will begin our work for the Lord, we will more clearly see:
IV. A Way of Faith - Abraham
A. An Unquestioning Obedience - vs. 8 He followed God’s vision!
We must be willing to go beyond the boundaries of the known and trust HIM
Faith begins where our abilities end. What boundaries have you set in your life? I will trust God as long as I can....or as long as He does not want me to.....
Is there anything we will not do, anywhere we would not go?
B. An Unfailing Expectation - vs. 9-10 His future was his motivation!
John 14:2 "In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."
Concl. These men were pleasing to God! Are you pleasing God?
By the blood of Christ, my position cannot change - Christ has pleased God. But in our lives, are we pleasing God? Not without faith.
But we are naturals at attempting the impossible! We think we can merely go through our daily lives, self sufficient, and please God - Not so fast. We are to Worship by Faith, Walk, Work and live in a Way of Faith - But cannot please God in our flesh - in our own thinking - it must be by living in the very conviction of Truth!
Vs. 6 - When we attempt to please God without whole and unquestioning trust, we cannot please Him. That is attempting the impossible.
A very convicting verse - What a challenge!
We have seen four Great men of faith, human as we are, able to please God! Will we please the Lord? Worship, Work, Walk and Way must be by faith or it is IMPOSSIBLE!!!!!!!!! I want to please the Lord, but it is IMPOSSIBLE without faith. God expects there to be faith in Him in everything I do. I must walk in conviction of truth as I serve Him.
Not a sermon, not a lesson, not a song, not a witness, not a good deed, not a contribution is pleasing to God if we do it outside of His boundary of Faith in Him and His Word! Romans 14:23 "for whatsoever is not of faith is sin."
Simple question: Are you pleasing God?
Disclaimer: A man once told me that if it is true, it is not new. If it is new, it is not true. We all know there is nothing new under the sun. With that said, I glean ideas for my sermons from God’s Word, my own thoughts and work, and many other sources. Any similarity to my sermons and others, where credit is not given, is either coincidental, or an unintentional mistake on my part. As none of us have a corner on the wisdom and teaching of God’s Word, it is my desire that any of my outlines be an encouragement, a help, and hopefully a motivation for others to preach God’s Word clearly. Please feel free to use any portion of my sermons if they can be of help to you and your ministry. It is all for His Glory.
