Hebrews Sermon Series #15 June, 18, 2014 The Life of Faith
A Jesus is superior to anyone/anything in the Old Testament.
1 He is the fulfillment of all the rituals, symbols & prophecies found there.
a Hebrews 10:37-38 (NKJV) 37 "For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."
This is a quote from Habakkuk.
Habakkuk 2:3-4 (NKJV) 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry. 4 "Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.
b “The just shall live by faith” is quoted in Romans 1.17 & Galatians 3.11.
Romans 1:17 (NKJV) 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."
Galatians 3:11 (NKJV) 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."
aa Faith in what?
bb To the superior work & worth of Christ that saves.
cc Not only does faith saves us . . . it also sustains us.
2 Hebrews 11 first lays the foundation of faith & then gives illustrations of that fath.
a This chapter makes the transition from the principle of faith into the practice of faith.
b We’ll see the “honor roll” of the Old Testament saints who lived by faith (Abraham, Rahab, Noah, etc.)
aa Those honored are not recognized for their great works but for their great faith.
bb In God’s hall of fame, it’s not filled with just superstars who fill stadiums, record multi-platinum songs, preachers on T.V. . . it is filled with those who by faith performed their duty, faced their trails and received their blessings.
B As New Testament believers, our lives are to be lived in the same superior way.
1 We are to live by faith because without, we cannot please God.
Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) 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 those who diligently seek Him.
2 Tonight we’ll look at these four aspects of the life of faith . . .
a The definition of faith
b The dimensions of faith
c The daring of faith
d The dynamics of faith
3 Pray
I The definition of faith (10.37-39)
Hebrews 10:37-39 (NKJV) 37 "For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him." 39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
A Faith is believing in trusting. (Put on screen)
1 Everyone has faith in something.
a The humanist has faith in himself & humanity.
aa The materialist has faith in her possessions.
bb The evolutionists put their faith in science.
b When you drive down the road at 65 MPH with another car coming right at you 8 feet away, going the same speed . . . you have faith that the driver will stay in their lane.
2 But faith is only as valid as the object in which it is placed.
a When Christians talk about faith it is believing and trusting in the Word of God
aa Faith is the eyes & ears of our soul that allow us to see & hear the Word of God.
bb Just as our physical ears allow us to pick up sound waves, listen to others, our faith is what lets us pick up on the promises/power of the Word of God.
b Not only is faith our eyes/ears . . . it is also our souls hands that reach out to lay hold on God’s Word.
B Several years ago we went to Holiday World & there was a monstrous roller coaster that I couldn’t convince another single person in my family to ride.
1 It was obviously safe because every 40 seconds people exited the ride, laughing. (Yet my boys refused to ride it)
2 This is exactly what the recipients of the letter of Hebrews were doing.
a They had heard/seen, but they feared an all-out abandonment of their former life of Judaism for what they saw as to be a risky ride with Jesus.
b Some people today have the head belief in Jesus, but they refuse to trust them with the rest of themselves.
aa Faith is more than knowing the promises of God . . .
bb Faith is responding positively to what He has said.
c The Book of Hebrews declares God’s last word to be Jesus.
aa Some where wanting to “shrink back”, lit. to draw back.
bb Draw back to destruction/perdition . . . not losing their salvation, but rather they never were saved to begin with.
II The Dimensions of Faith (11.1)
Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV) 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
A We are given two dimensions of faith: Faith to face the future & faith to live in the present.
1 Faith to look ahead. “Faith is the substance” (v.1).
a “substance” means to place beneath or that which stands under.
b It can mean a foundation or a strong assurance.
aa These definitions tell us that our faith in the future is based on what God has promised!
bb Our faith is what allows us lay claim on all that God has promised.
c There are lots of promises God has promised me that are not yet mine.
aa Resurrected body, home in glory, nor the blessing of being like Him.
bb I know their mine because God promised them to me in writing!!!
cc When faith lays hold of a promise, it becomes yours before you have it.
2 Faith to look beyond. “Faith is called “the evidence of things not seen” (v.1).
a “evidence” is what is used in a trial to convict someone.
aa In fact, this word “evidence” is translated as “conviction.”
John 8:46 (NASB) 46 "Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me?
John 16:8 (NASB) 8 "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;
bb The true believer is convinced that there is an unseen world that is more real than the temporal world.
cc Christians believe in those things that the physical eye cannot see.
b I haven’t seen Jesus . . . but I believe.
aa 1 Peter 1.6-8 teaches us that it is love for the unseen Jesus in the midst of trials that is the proof of faith.
1 Peter 1:6-8 (NASB)6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
bb I haven’t seen the victory, yet I believe it has been won!
B When I see the wickedness, immorality, brokeness of our day, and seemingly triumphs of Satan, I remember Hebrews 2.8, “we do not yet see all things put under Him.”
Hebrews 2:8 (NKJV) 8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet." For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him.
1 However, by faith we know all things are under Him.
2 These two dimensions of faith make life in a sin cursed world tolerable.
a No matter how difficult the present circumstances seem, the faithful believer has invisible resources.
b Furthermore, the future is as bright as God’s promises.
III The Daring of Faith (11.2)
Hebrews 11:2 (NKJV) 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
A Some scholars believe that the “witness” means that God Himself saw the faith of the OT characters heralded in Hebrews 11.
1 That’s pretty cool. . . but I believe there is a deeper meaning.
a Perhaps these people in the Hall of Faith saw ahead of their situation, beyond their circumstances, and received the witness of heaven, they acted on that witness and became part of the evidence of faith.
aa Abel looked ahead and saw the Lamb of God.
bb Noah saw the flood and God’s way to safety.
cc Abraham saw Calvary and the Resurrection in the offering of Isaac.
dd Moses saw the riches of Christ were greater than the wealth of this world.
b They knew that irregardless of their circumstances, impossible the odds . . . God was God over all . . . and they acted accordingly.
2 Faith receives the witness of God as final and acts on that word, regardless of human conditions or outward circumstances.
IV The Dynamics of Faith (11.3).
Hebrews 11:3 (NKJV) 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.
A How do we put this life of faith into practice?
1 In v.3, we are reminded of the power of God’s Word.
a It was God’s Word that set in motion the ages of history.
b God created this world and its subsequent history out of nothing.
2 If God could call this world out of nothing, then by faith I believe He can call something out of nothing even today.
a Once we have a word from God’s Word, we can trust Him to take care of what He has shown us.
b Our job is to act on that word, Faith calls it done, simply because God said so.
B The translation of “word” is not the usual logos, but rather rhema.
1 “Rhema” means “spoken word.”
a It isn’t enough to look up a verse and then claim it . . . the word must be spoken to your spirit by God’s Spirit.
b The creative word of power must be spoken to you.
c When God speaks a word to your spirit from the Scriptures, call it done in Jesus’ name!
2 Here are the steps for moving into a life of faith:
a The word of faith must be heard. (Romans 10)
b The word of faith must be received and believed.
c The word of faith must be confessed.
d The word of faith must be acted upon.
Conclusion:
A God doesn’t want you in the dark about your future.
1 He will give you a word if you will read His written Word, listen to the Holy Spirit.
a Once you have a clear word from God, then confess it to others, and act upon it.
b This is how you discover God’s will in any matter.
2 God will give you a clear word from the Scripture if you will trust Him.
a This is also someone is saved.
b God speaks the word of salvation.
aa You believe it, confess it, and act upon it.
bb Faith saves us & sustains us.
Notice to Sermon Central Users:
My name is Mike Fogerson, and I pastor a Southern Baptist Church in Chester, Illinois. I have been a long-time user of Sermon Central and truly appreciate its content and contributors. Some of the best sermons I’ve ever preached have been reworked material from this website. As you use the material from my sermon bank, understand that it is work that has been done from not just myself, but from hundreds of other pastors as well. If you see part of your message, or a bunch of your message with my name on it and this upsets you, please email me and I will quickly respond and cite you as the main source. My intent is not to claim someone’s work as my own. I am disclaiming up front that I use the resources from Sermon Central and appreciate the tool. I simply want all those who use my work to know that some of these messages were inspired by the Holy Spirit working through other pastors. Because I do use the messages of other pastors I waive all claims of originality or origin of creativity for the messages posted under my messages. I pray God blesses your preaching ministry for the glory of His Kingdom.
Respectfully,
Mike Fogerson
