Mayor Gerardo Balmori
The Salvation Army
INTRODUCTION: Many times in preaching we use phrases such as "Trust Jesus." Many times we are
told to trust the Lord and the Bible tells us that Jesus is the Lord.
Psalms 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my
buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
Psalms 18:30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
Psalms 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
Isaiah 26:4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
1 Timothy 4:10 For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior
of all men, specially of those that believe.
The Bible tells us to "believe" in Jesus Christ that a person be saved. The word means to put have
faith, and to put one's trust in Jesus Christ, which means making a commitment to Him. There is no such
thing in the Bible as saving faith without a commitment. That commitment is the result of salvation and
means to faithfully follow the Lord Jesus.
The phrase "trust Jesus" has many applications in our lives. We put our trust in the Lord in many ways.
There is another phrase often used that is found in God's word. It is instruction that also convenes a
powerful and live changing message. That phrase is found in Hebrews 12:1-3 and it is the action of belief and
trust in Jesus Christ.
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every
weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking
unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the
shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of
sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
That phrase is "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith."
The statement's context is important to understanding it full meaning. The statement follows
Hebrews 11 which is the Bible's "Hall of Faith." Here are examples from history of men God greatly used
who lived by faith in challenging times and we called upon by God to carry out difficult tasks.
The one thing common to these men and women was their faith in God. The believed Him, accepted
His words as truth, realized that it was God their Creator who called them to salvation and service and
therefore they put their trust in God and obeyed Him. Obeying Him simply means they accepted His will
and purpose for their lives.
These faithful men and women were not perfect, and were the same as you and I. They had the same
carnal nature, the same desires, the same lusts, the same pride and fallacies you and I are subject too. Yet
they were victorious in accomplishing God's will for their lives and are at the moment enjoying in Heaven
the presence of the Lord and the blessings of Heaven.
Hebrews 11 gives these people to us as examples and Chapter 12 begins by telling us that ". . . seeing
we also are compassed ("surrounded by") about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and
the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the
author and finisher of our faith."
I. Looking unto Jesus
When our eyes are on Jesus we can lay aside or overcome those things that hinder us from coming to
a full and mature relationship and service to Jesus Christ.
A. Is there something that may be hindering you from fully living for the Lord?
1. Is it the sinful world we live in? All these in the Hall of Faith lived in a sinful world too.
2. Is it your family? Abel had a brother that hated and killed him. Abraham's father was an idol maker. His
nephew Lot was a selfish and a burden to him. Joseph was hated by his brothers and sold into slavery. He
was then falsely accused of advances to his master's wife and thrown in prison.
3. Is it living in a sinful family or worldly education? Moses was the Pharaoh's adopted son.
4. Is it past sins? Thank of Rahab who was a prostitute before she trusted in the Lord. David sinned by
committing adultery and murder. Moses who disobeyed God and struck the rock in anger. Abraham who
lied twice about Sarah being his wife.
5. It was not easy! It was difficult, hard and demanding to do as God said. They were all greatly opposed
and all suffered for following the path God had laid out for them. They all stumbled at times, but one thing
that is common to them all was that they continued on. Their faith in God was real and they all looked unto
Jesus is the author and finisher of their faith.
Yes, it was Jesus the coming Savior that God the Father promised that they longed and hoped for. All of
them as verse 39 says, in this life, did not see the promise.
B. Do you fully understand what Hebrews 11:29 is saying: They, by faith, lived obeying the Lord and all died never
seeing in this life, the full reward or benefit of their faith.
1. Compare that to the message of today being taught by most preachers and churches. The message today is
that our reward is only earthly. Many are being taught that the benefit of believing in Jesus Christ and
being born again is just health and wealth in this life.
2. Are there real and sure gains to being a Christian in this life? The answer is certainly there is!
Examples:
Acts 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.
Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course
with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Romans 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received
the atonement.
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through
the power of the Holy Ghost.
Jude 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory
with exceeding joy,
3. Note was Hebrews 12:2 says ". . .who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame,
and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
4. You see there was a purpose and victory that was won in the enduring of the cross and its shame. Friends,
there exists no victory without a war or some trial or difficulty that seeks to destroy us.
II. Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith.
A. Our faith is in Him....that means His purposes and His plan. Our plan would be to never have any
trouble...we would that everything would go smoothly. No challenges, no difficulties, not trouble, no
disappointments...just an uneventful life.
B. Yet, God's plan is that we grow and mature. Is it not difficult for a child to learn? If the baby lies in his
crib and never moves he will be a peace, but what kind of life would that be? A baby has to experience the
bruises and cuts from falling to learn to walk.
It is totally unrealistic to think that everything in this life will be all "roses" and good times. That is not the
way life is. Yes, we seek for times without trouble.....and we live expecting good times.
C. In Hebrews 11 all these people have hope too. Their hope was in God and they believed His promises.
1. Abel was opposed by his brother and brutally murdered for this faith.
2. Enoch lived in an evil age 600 years before the Flood. He saw every sinful act man could do...yet he was not
deterred from walking with God.
3. Noah lived in this same time and preached 120 years the message of salvation and only his family...eight souls
believed. He saw the world destroyed. He believed in God all this time and kept obeying the Lord building that great
boat. There was a day when the rains came that he was glad he had.
4. Abraham believed God and left his home, the false faith of this father and journeyed south into a strange land
believing God's promise that he would be a great nation and be given a land.
5. Moses faced the most powerful ruler in the world at that time. God told him he was to lead Israel out of Egypt....and
he did. It was not easy and it was a difficult task. He lead the people out of Egypt physically, but Egypt and its sinful
ways were still in the hearts most of the people. Yet, even when they murmured and opposed him, even his own sister
and brother...he kept looking unto the author and finisher of his faith.
6. Joshua marched around a city following God's instructions. He followed the Lord in each battle and saw the victories.
Yet, the people never really every fully followed the Lord. They stopped before the victory was complete. They married
and let their children marry the Canaanites...against God's clear command and they never lived for any length of time in
peace because of their disobedience.
7. Rahab was a lying prostitute and traitor to her city. She believed God in spite of the pressures she was under and
God saved her. She is in the genealogy of the Lord Jesus Christ.
8. All the thirteen judges of Israel believed God and were used by God to deliver that nation. Gideon defeated
thousands of Midianites with only 300 men.....and God on his side.
Conclusion:
If Jesus Christ is to be the author of our faith....we must believe and allow Him to be our Savior and
strength. There were many others did not believe. The Bible is full of the names and stories of those who
refused to believe in God. They too are experiencing the results of the lack of their faith. In Hades they
await the final judgment of God and the eternal fires of the Lake of Fire.
4. One of my favorite passage of Scripture is 2 Timothy 4:7-8, Paul expressed his sure hope in his following
the Lord. He said,
"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown
of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them
also that love his appearing."
