A RESPONSE Of SAVING FAITH-II—Hebrews 11:3-40
Attention:
Faith’s response to life’s challenges.
Dan Cathy—CEO of Chick-Fil-A—made the following statements to the SBC’s Baptist Press on July 16, 2012:
"We are very much supportive of the family -- the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, & we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that.”
"We operate as a family business ... our restaurants are typically led by families; some are single. We want to do anything we possibly can to strengthen families. We are very much committed to that," Cathy emphasized.
"We intend to stay the course," he said. "We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values & operate on biblical principles."
It created a firestorm among the LGBT community, who are now obviously aligned against the truth of Scripture. As a result, certain mayors(Chicago, Boston, et al.) declared that they would not allow Chick-Fil-A restaurants to operate in their respective towns.
This, in turn, led Mike Huckabee(formerly a Baptist minister, former Presidential candidate, & present Conservative talk-show host) to establish Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day on August 1st.
Admitted many are on the bandwagon for Chick-Fil-A for political or economic reasons. but the fact remains that the FAITH of both the Owner(Truett) & CEO(Dan) is key to the manner in which their restaurant is run.
We indeed bring something of value to the table when we are saved!
Need:
The Hebrews writer sought to encourage & exhort his readers(hearers) by recounting the very practical responses which faith had wrought in their forebears/ancestors.
Saving faith yields practical responses to life, which encourage others.
What are some practical responses to life by saving faith?
How does saving faith respond to life?
Previously in Hebrews, we found 3(4) responses to life’s challenge afforded by saving faith.
Saving faith meets life’s challenge with...
1. A PARTICULAR WORLDVIEW(:3)—Concept presented 05/20/2012 with 10:39—11:3 as FELLOWSHIP
2. OFFERINGs Of PECULIAR QUALITY(:4)
3. DESIRE For GOD’s PLEASURE(:5-6)
4. CONDEMNING TRUST(:7)
5—Saving faith meets life’s challenge with...
A PARTICULAR PLACE(:8-10)
Explanation: (:8-10)
:8—“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.”
Abraham was called of God.
Abraham obeyed the call of God.
Abraham “obeyed” the “call” of God “by faith.”
Abraham’s faith is of the same quality of “faith” noted previously which gives us a particular worldview(:3), which caused Abel to offer a “more excellent sacrifice,”(:4) which caused Enoch to “please God” so that he avoided death(:5), & which caused Noah to build & enter the ark, condemning the world(:6).
*Abraham’s obedience consisted of his “going out” from country & family.
Abraham went out to the place of his promised inheritance.
Abraham went to the land of his inheritance without knowing where he was going.
Gen. 12:1-4—“Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”” “So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him, & Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
?Has your faith ever led you down a path you were unsure of?
Jesus speaks to this when He says: Mat. 7:13-14—““Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate & broad is the way that leads to destruction, & there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate & difficult is the way which leads to life, & there are few who find it.” :9—“By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac & Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;”
Abraham lived in the land he had been promised.
Abraham lived in the land, promised to him, as would a “foreigner”/alien(visitor—no home, power).
Abraham lived as a foreigner in a foreign land even though he was in the land which God had promised to him & his descendants.
Gen. 12:5-7—And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Then Abram took Sarai his wife & Lot his brother’s son, & all their possessions that they had gathered, & the people whom they had acquired in Haran, & they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan. Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh. And the Canaanites were then in the land. Then the LORD appeared to Abram & said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.”
*Abraham(17:4-5) lived as an alien/foreigner by faith.
Abram experienced famine after the promise was made to him. The first experience Abram had in the promised land was a famine so severe that he left for Egypt(Gen. 11:9-10).
Upon coming back, He experienced strife/growing pains with his nephew Lot so that they parted. Lot choosing the valley of the Jordan—the most abundant/prolific portion—for himself(Gen. 13:5-12).
Abram was promised the land as his own & his descendants forever(Gen. 13:14-15)
He was promised descendants as numerous as the dust of the earth(Gen. 13:16)—See :12.
He didn’t have the son of the beginning of the promise(Isaac) until he was 100yrs. old—25 years after the call of God(Gen. 21:5).
He still didn’t own any land much less citizenry in a country or nation.
He still had to barter with the inhabitants of the land for possession of wells(Gen. 21:25-30).
He had to approach the Hittites to secure a burial site for his wife, Sarah(Gen. 23:1-4)
:9—“By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac & Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;”
Abraham lived 175 years(Gen. 25:7-8). Isaac was 40yrs. old when he married Rebekah(Gen. 25:20) & 60 when Jacob(& Esau) was born(Gen. 25:26). Thus Abraham lived up until the time of his grandson’s 15th year. Therefore the entire extended family could very easily have “dwelt in tents” together.
*Abraham lived in tents with his son Isaac & his grandson Jacob. None of these experienced the settled peaceful lifestyle of a nationalized citizen.
Isaac was the only son of Abraham & Sarah, born to him at his 100th year & Sarah’s 90th. A true manifestation of God’s power & faithfulness(See :11-12).
Jacob was the grandson of Abraham by Isaac.
Isaac had to unstop & rename some wells which the Philistines stopped up after Abraham died. This was further proof that they were regarded as foreigners. Quarrelling ensued over the wells between Isaac’s men & the people of Gerar so that he had to leave the area(Gen. 26:18-23).
Jacob after spending twenty years in Haran with his deceptive uncle Laban eventually moved back to Bethel where it was the terror which the Lord had placed upon the cities, that kept Jacob from being attacked(Gen. 35:5-6). Even Jacob lived in tents(Gen. 35:21).
Abraham lived in tents(as a refugee—unsettled, always moving—at everyone else’s whim).
“Tents” are merely temporary dwellings. By their nature tents are meant for quick installation & removal. They are not intended for permanency or for people who are anything but nomads, having no ownership of the land they inhabit.
:9—“By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac & Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;”
All three were direct heirs of “the same promise.” “The same promise” spanned at least three generations thru Abraham, Isaac & Jacob.
Both Isaac & Jacob were “heirs of the same promise” which had been originally revealed to their father & grandfather Abraham. They were the ones thru whom the “land of promise” would eventually find lodging as the nation of Israel. Isaac & Jacob were also heirs/progenetors/inheritors of the same promise which God had given to Abraham for they were his descendents(Gen. 26:23; 27:27-29; 28:13-15). Not only that but the covenant(“promise”) was transferred thru them alone by direct command from the LORD.
:10—“for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder & maker is God.” ”
Abraham was able to live as an unsettled alien in a foreign land due to his looking to the future. He was never satisfied with earthly dwellings the likes of which could be provided by his own hand or that of others. He was not called to be settled but to “look for” a particular “city.” This “city” would be set apart as having its “foundations”(the marks of being settled) designed & “built” by Abraham’s God Himself. *Abraham was content to live this way because of his faith.
Abraham was able to live as an alien in the land promised to him because he was focused on the city of God as opposed to a city designed & founded on physical means.
Unless God ‘builds’ the house there is no pleasure in it for the child of God. Unless God ‘builds’ our lifestyle there is no pleasure in it. Unless God in Christ ‘builds’ our loves our purposes are ultimately frustrated.
Abraham failed God numerous times even in the midst of his being heir of promise...But his persona, overcoming faith always took him back to God’s purpose & kept him within the confines of God’s providential desire.
Argumentation:
Mat. 6:24-34—““No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one & love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one & despise the other. You cannot serve God & mammon. Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food & the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; & yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, & tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ “For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God & His righteousness, & all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
1Pet. 4:14-19—“If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory & of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; & if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly & the sinner appear? Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.”
*Christians are looking to the Kingdom of God. It is future but has decidedly present manifestations as it resides within us(Lk. 17:20-21).
Mk. 1:14-15—“Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, & saying, “The time is fulfilled, & the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, & believe in the gospel.””
Lk. 18:15-17—“Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to Him & said, “Let the little children come to Me, & do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.””
New Heaven & Earth:
Rev. 21:1—“Now I saw a new heaven & a new earth, for the first heaven & the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.”
Rev. 21:4—““And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.””
Rev. 21:22-27—“But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty & the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, & the kings of the earth bring their glory & honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory & the honor of the nations into it. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”
Rev. 22:1-5—“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God & of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, & on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God & of the Lamb shall be in it, & His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, & His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever & ever.”
Illustration:
As I was helping my son Sam move into his apt., I met a guy originally from Los Angeles but now living in NC//He was talking about how wonderful it was in Boone/We began discussing the differences/We were looking for A PARTICULAR PLACE
Application:
?Does your life speak of A PARTICULAR PLACE in God?
?How do you Respond to life’s challenge?
?Is yours a Response of Saving Faith?
6—Saving faith meets life’s challenge with...
A PARTICULAR OUTLOOK(:11-12)
Explanation: (:11-12) Judgment
:11—“By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, & she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.”
By means of saving faith, Sarah became able to bear a child.
Sarah was well beyond child bearing years.
Gen. 15:4-5— “Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This man will not be your heir; but one who shall come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir." And He took him outside & said, "Now look toward the heavens, & count the stars, if you are able to count them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be.”
Gen. 17:15-16— “15 Then God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16 "And I will bless her, & indeed I will give you a son by her. Then I will bless her, & she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.” Sarai= ‘Princess’
Gen. 17:17— “Then Abraham fell on his face & laughed, & said in his heart, "Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?”
Gen. 18:11-12— “Now Abraham & Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing.”12 And Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”
Sarah considered God to be faithful to His promise.
God had promised the birth of Isaac to Sarah within 1 yr.
Gen. 18:9-15— “And he said, "I will surely return to you at this time next year; & behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him...Sarah denied it however, saying, "I did not laugh"; for she was afraid. And He said, "No, but you did laugh.”
“Conceive”—katabolh—1) A throwing or laying down—1a) The injection or depositing of the virile semen in the womb, 1b) Of the seed of plants & animals; 2) A founding(laying down a foundation). Strong—A deposition, i.e. Founding; figuratively--Conception. Used 11X.
“Seed”—sperma—1) From which a plant germinates; 2) The semen virile. Strong—Something sown, i.e. seed(including the male "sperm"); by implication--Offspring; specifically--A remnant(figuratively, as if kept over for planting).
“Past/Beyond”—para—Preposition—1) From, of at, by, besides, near. Strong—a primary preposition; properly--Near; i.e. (with genitive case)From beside(literally or figuratively), (with dative case)At (or in) the vicinity of(objectively or subjectively), (with accusative case) To the proximity with (local [especially--Beyond or opposed to] or causal--On account of].
“The age”—kairon hlikiav— kairov—1) Due measure; 2) A measure of time, a larger or smaller portion of time. A definitely limited portion of time with the added notion of suitableness. Strong—An occasion, i.e. Set or proper time.—+— hlikiav—1) Age, time of life—1a) Age, term or length of life, 1b) Adult age, maturity, 1c) Suitable age for anything, 1d) metaph.—Of an attained state fit for a thing; 2) Stature, i.e In height & comeliness of stature. Strong—Maturity(in years or size). Used 8X.
“Judged/Esteemed”—hgeomai—1) To lead; 2) To consider, deem, account, think. Hgeomai & nomizw denote a belief resting not on one’s inner feeling or sentiment, but on the due consideration of external grounds, & the weighing & comparing of facts. Hgeomai denotes a more deliberate & careful judgment than nomizw. Strong—To lead, i.e. Command(with official authority); figuratively--To deem, i.e. Consider.
“Faithful”—pistov—Adj.—1) Trusty, faithful; 2) Easily persuaded. Strong—objectively--Trustworthy; subjectively--Trustful.
“Promised”—epaggellw—1) To announce that one is about to do or furnish something—1a) To promise (of one’s own accord) to engage voluntarily; 2) To profess—2a) An art, to profess one’s skill in something. Strong—To announce upon(reflexively), i.e. by implication--To engage to do something, to assert something respecting oneself.
:12—“Therefore from one man, & him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude--innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.” ”
As a result of Sarah’s faith, there was born of Abraham(one man) as many people as the stars of heaven & as “innumerable” “as the sand” of the seashore.
Gen. 13:16—““And I[YaHWeH] will make your[Abram] descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered.”
This speaks not only of the nation of Israel but to the entire household of faith...
Rom. 4:16-5:2—“Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed--God, who gives life to the dead & calls those things which do not exist as though they did; who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), & the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, & being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, & was raised because of our justification. Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, & rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
Abraham was “as good as dead” when he became the father of Isaac, for he was 100 yrs. old. In other words, Abraham’s body was impossibly old for producing offspring. The conception of Isaac was indeed a miraculous event.
Gen. 21:4-5—“Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.”
“And him/And he/And that”— kai tauta—Lit. ‘And these.’
“As Good as Dead”— nenekrwmenou—“Dead”—nekrow—Perfect Passive Participle—1) To make dead, to put to death, slay; 2) Worn out—2a) Of an impotent old man; 3) To deprive of power, destroy the strength of. Strong—To deaden, i.e. figuratively--To subdue.
“Stars”—astron—1) A group of stars, a constellation; 2) A star. Strong—properly--A constellation; put for a single star(natural or artificial).
“Sky”—ouranov—1) The vaulted expanse of the sky with all things visible in it—1a) The universe, the world, 1b) The aerial heavens or sky, the region where the clouds & the tempests gather, & where thunder & lightning are produced, 1c) The sidereal or starry heavens; 2) The region above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal & consummately perfect where God dwells & other heavenly beings. Strong—The sky; by extension--Heaven(as the abode of God); by implication--Happiness, power, eternity; specifically--The Gospel(Christianity).
“Multitude”—plhyov—1) A multitude—1a) A great number, of men or things, 1b) The whole number, the whole multitude, the assemblage—1b1) The multitude of the people. Strong—A fulness, i.e. A large number, throng, populace.
“Innumerable”—anariymhtov—Adj.—1) Innumerable. Strong—Unnumbered, i.e. Without number. Used 1X. Eng.— ‘Un-arithmetical.’
From—a—negating particle—&—ariymew—1)To number.
“Sand”—ammov—1) Sand, sandy ground. Strong—Sand(as heaped on the beach). Used 5X.
“Seashore”—yalassa—1) The sea—1a) Used of the sea in general, 1b) used specifically of the Mediterranean Sea or the Red Sea. Yalassa is the more general word, indicating the sea or ocean as contrasted with the land or shore. It may be applied to small bodies of water.
Argumentation:
Eph. 3:14-21—“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven & earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted & grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width & length & depth & height-- to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever & ever. Amen.”
Mat. 8:23-27—“Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him & awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose & rebuked the winds & the sea, & there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds & the sea obey Him?””
?Are you still asking “Who can this be?”...when you ought to be asking Him directly “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!””(Mk. 9:24).
Mk. 11:22-26—“So Jesus answered & said to them, “Have faith in God. “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed & be cast into the sea,’ & does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, & you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.””
No doubt some will say, “Now preacher you know that’s just not so.”
Jn. 14:12-14—““Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; & greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”
Jn. 15:6-8—““If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch & is withered; & they gather them & throw them into the fire, & they are burned. If you abide in Me, & My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, & it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”
*1Jn. 5:14 -15—“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”
*Life is NOT about getting what you want—having the best occupation, having the best toys(kids & adults), the most wonderful family, the most loving home, the best car,...
...Its all about living your life in such a way that God gains all the glory for it!
Illustration:
My placement here at Needmore/Not what I wanted!(part-time/I wanted a full-time position somewhere...A ministry where I work &/or live/In the midst of my ‘not-having’ I know God is faithful & I thank God that He saw fit to place me here!/Some may disdain God’s choice, but God is in it for His reasons!/A PARTICULAR OUTLOOK
Application:
?Does your life speak of A PARTICULAR OUTLOOK in God?
?How do you Respond to life’s challenge?
?Is yours a Response of Saving Faith?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Dan Cathy’s Chic-Fil-A commitment.
Action:
Saving faith meets life’s challenge with...
5. A PARTICULAR PLACE(:8-10)
6. A PARTICULAR OUTLOOK(:11-12)
1. A PARTICULAR WORLDVIEW(:3)—Concept presented 05/20/2012 with 10:39—11:3 as FELLOWSHIP
2. OFFERINGs Of PECULIAR QUALITY(:4)
3. DESIRE For GOD’s PLEASURE(:5-6)
4. CONDEMNING TRUST(:7)
Presented 08/05/2012am to:
Needmore Baptist Church
1620 Mt. Vernon Rd.
Woodleaf, NC 27054
