Title: True Faith
Theme: To strengthen and understanding of faith.
Text: Hebrews 11:1-6
Introduction
This is one of the great chapters in the Bible. It is known as God’s Great Hall of Fame. Men and women who have believed God down through the centuries are listed as being great men and women of God. The key to greatness with God is faith; the person who truly believes God is great in the eyes of God. The key to us being great in the eyes of God is faith-faith in God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Let me take it a step further and say, “The key to finding and having favor with God is to have faith.” True faith.
That leads me to the first point of my message. Today as we take another look at faith I want to show you in this passage five things. 1) The promise of faith 2) The proof of faith 3) The people of faith 4) The power of faith and finally 5) The practice of faith.
Look with me again at verse one.
The Promise of Faith
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
Faith is substance. This word substance has been translated also as “assurance, title deed, absolute certainty, real fact, foundation”. Notice the pattern here. It is as if it actually happens. What happens? The things that God says in his word are true and will come true.
AMP Heb 11:1 NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].
MSG 1 The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see.
What are his promises?
Everlasting life- John 3:16 “Whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” Faith says this is truth.
Peace
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Absence of fear-2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Power-Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in , and in all Judaea, and in , and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Love, A sound mind
I could go on and on and talk about the promises of heaven, the promises of joy, the promises of etc.
Faith says this is true. Faith has assurances.
Notice secondly The Proof of Faith
Hebrews 11:1b the evidence of things not seen.
What is the proof of God? What is the evidence that God exists? Now I could present to you the many philosophical evidences that seem to point to God. I could argue with you from the evidence of creation and the grass, trees and flowers that we see. I could argue with you about the world. I could take you to the evidence of the morality of man. The laws and the belief in right and wrong.
These are all evidences of God but the greatest evidence you have is your faith. When you have faith then you have all the evidence that you need. There is nothing wrong with adding to and strengthening your faith through understanding yet your faith is the greatest evidence.
And as I have told you before your faith is your greatest witness.
Notice it is one thing to talk about the promises of God in his word but with the proof of our faith we “possess” the promises of God. You have got to get this. As we talked about last week, we take ownership of God.
The People of Faith
2 For by it (faith) the elders obtained a good testimony.
In this chapter the author lists by name over 19 people then we see groups of people who stood for what they believed because they had faith. It was more than something they read in a book it was something they believed in their heart and stood up for in their life
As we read through this chapter it is as if the Holy Spirit is trying to show us the many characteristic of faith. What it looks like lived out.
In Abel we see-the testimony of faith who “offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice”- faith without works is dead-action
In Enoch we see-the translation of faith “was translated that
he should not see death” translated means to be taken up to
be with the Lord without dying. This reminds us of the
resurrection and the rapture. One day we will be with God
as we trust in Him.
In Noah we see - safety of faith
1 Co 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
In Abraham we see - the walk and the trying of faith “By faith
Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that
Had received the promises offered up his only begotten son”
In Sarah we see creation of faith - also see the power of faith
By faith we know that God can take nothing and make something.
In Isaac we see blessing of faith “favor of God”-generational blessings
In Jacob we see worship of faith – faith true commitment
In Joseph we see – expectations of faith “gave commandment
concerning his bones”-hope for a better future, Joseph’s whole life was lived expecting God to use that which seemed to be evil for good. “what you meant for evil God used for good”.
In Moses parents we see– courage of faith, God has a better plan
In Moses we see – choosing of faith “By faith he forsook ,
not offering the wrath of the king: for he endured as see
in him who is invisible”
In the Israelites we see – the baptism of faith, the Red Sea, they had to trust God enough to walk through the Red Sea, “Would it stay up?”
In Rahab we see – salvation of faith
Over all the strength and persistence of faith
I love the last part of this verse, because of their faith the Bible says they, “obtained a good report”.
Hebrews 11:32-35 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.
The Power of Faith
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
As we read it is through faith that the worlds were framed. It is not as much God’s faith but ours. We receive by faith that when God’s word says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” then that is what happens. Notice as it says he started from nothing and made something.
It is not that faith has power but it is faith in the one who has power and that is the “power of faith”.
We practice faith every day. We put faith in people. We put faith in cars and things. But that faith is only as strong as the person or the thing we put faith in.
Yet when we put faith in God we know that the promise of his word are true.
The Practice of Faith
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he who comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
MSG 6 It's impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.
CEV 6 But without faith no one can please God. We must believe that God is real and that he rewards everyone who searches for him.
Ingredients of Faith
Belief - this is based on examining the evidence i.e. Does Pastor Hardee look strong enough to catch me if I fall backwards?
Trust - this is based on personal confidence in the person of your belief i.e. can I trust Pastor Hardee to catch me, or will he laugh as I hit the floor?
AMP Heb 11:1 NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].
MSG 1 The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see.
Action - this takes personal involvement. In this illustration that means falling back into the arms of your youth leader.
Conclusion
How is your faith? Maybe this week your faith has been tested. Your faith has been waning. There have been a lot of unanswered questions. Oh don’t believe just to believe but have faith.
I have told you this before. We need to pray as the disciples prayed, “Lord, help my unbelief”. I want your faith. I want more faith. Mt 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Mt 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
