Where’s the Bread?
Hebrews 11:1-40
There is a small Midwestern village with a little shop on the square that bears a sign which says “Bake Shop.” Inside you can find a cup of coffee, magazines, comic books, cigarettes, and pinball machines. No bread.
There are churches like that. The sign of Christ is on them saying they offer nourishment to the starving, but inside you find only diversion, stimulation, entertainment, and “feel good” projects. No bread.
Those who enter the doors of such a church are destined to leave without substance.
I am going to share with you what I believe is the single most important factor for a Church which wishes to provide “Bread” to those within its network.
> It is not prayer > It is not holiness
> It is not discipleship > It is not evangelism
These are all by-products of the one missing ingredient that the Bible clearly says honors and pleases God. The ingredient is simple … faith.
By faith I mean a faith that moves us towards and in step with God … and towards people.
There is not a person in this room that does not have a need for increased faith in the power and presence of God.
1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2This is what the ancients were commended for. … 6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (11:1, 2, 6)
I am going to emphasize one over-arching truth that can single-handedly affect and determine your destiny. It comes in four sentences yet it is one thought and it is my prayer that you have it memorized by day’s end.
Are you ready?
DO NOT LOOK AT WHAT YOU CAN’T DO.
• The heroes of Hebrews 11 could all find possible reasons why they could not accomplish God’s will.
o Ex: Moses. A Fugitive. A Murderer. Was to deliver slaves by asking their owners to “let them go.”
• Surely you could develop a list of “can’ts”. You can create a list of reasons why the thumb in your back is not the voice of the Father.
1. Maybe the voice is calling you to something illogical
2. Maybe it is something unnerving
3. Maybe it is something scorned by others
4. Maybe it is…. Well, you fill in your own blanks. It’s easy enough.
DO NOT LOOK AT WHAT YOU CAN DO.
• Do you think God is impressed when you do what you are capable of? No!
• That is called working in the flesh!
• Why do you need Him anyhow if you can do it on your own?
• Don’t you want to accomplish more than merely what you are capable of?
• Look at the list of men and women here who followed God. The feats the accomplished were often / always above the capabilities.
o Gideon was a man who had very little skill and ability. A quick reading of the 3 chapters in Judges that deal with his life reveal him to be weak in every way – emotionally, spiritually, physically.
o Gideon was a coward and yet God’s first words to him call him a “mighty warrior” (Judges 6:11). Friends, Gideon was NOT a mighty warrior but God made him into one.
o One of the most limiting things we can do is look at only what we are able to accomplish.
o Do not settle for what you van do on your own – trust God for more.
DO NOT LOOK AT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
• How many of the men and women in chapter eleven wanted to do what they did?
• Maybe none of them.
1. Do you think Abraham wanted to offer Isaac?
2. Moses argued with God and eventually admitted he was not interested
Moses: “chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.” (11:25)
3. Gideon gave excuses why he should not be the one to deliver Israel.
• The operative word in this chapter is “obeyed”.
BUT RATHER, DISCOVER WHAT YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
• This discovery requires you to
1. Seek The Heart of God (11: 6)
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him
2. Look Outside Yourself & Your Private World (11:13-15)
All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.
3. Prepare To Receive Something Better (11:40)
God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
4. Obey! (11:8)
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.
Discovering what one is SUPPOSED to do will revolutionize a life and a congregation. God will provide the resources for whatever He is asking of you.
There are churches that have no bread. The sign of Christ is on them saying they offer nourishment to the starving, but inside you find only diversion, stimulation, entertainment, and “feel good” projects. No bread.
I believe God gives churches windows of opportunity. When people of a community begin to experience a spiritual hunger God will raise up a church (s) to satisfy that need. If that church is responsive to God’s will that church will do substantive things for the community – many will be saved and reclaimed. If not, if the church has no bread, God will look to another congregation to bring in the harvest.
Do not look at what you CAN’T do.
Do not look at what you CAN do.
Do not look at what you WANT to do.
But rather, discover what you SUPPOSED to do.
Will you be recorded in faith's hall of fame?
Will you be rise above mediocrity?
Will you be discover what you’re supposed to do or be governed by lesser things?
