One day, a little girl is sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly notices that her mother has several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head. "Why are some of your hairs white, Mom?" she asks. Her mother replies, "Well, every time you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white." The little girl thinks about this awhile, then asks, "So how come ALL of Grandma's hairs are white?"
"Lessons for Life Pt 2"
Learning to Lean
Hebrews 11:8-19
Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Introduction: Let me ask you a question. How would you define real biblical faith? I mean if the average person on the street asked you to explain what faith is, what would you say? Many of us would probably quote from Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Or we could read from a different version like the English Standard Version, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." But to many folks, especially those we are seeking to reach for Christ, a quote from the Bible would most likely go right over their heads or "in one ear and out the other." For many faith is an intangible thing, difficult to understand and fraught with misinformation and misunderstanding. There are several reasons I would think for this. One would be that the culture in which we live is ignorant of what real faith is. They talk about "the man upstairs" or "the big guy in the sky" and use other types of terms that indicate a total lack of understanding what faith is. I have found that many in the Christian community have a non-biblical or extra biblical understanding of faith. The "name it and claim" and the "believe it and receive it" crowd have done much to confuse and confound this important subject. Our text teaches us how important biblical faith is. Some teaching on faith is like a story I read:
ILL - An English preacher in India was preaching through an interpreter once began his sermon on 'faith' with the sentence: "Now faith is both abstract and concrete," and he paused for the interpreter. The interpreter translating what had been said replied, "So far the preacher hasn't said anything, but when he does I will let you know."
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Biblical faith is real and we need it to experience it and know what it is. I may not be able to define to some folks satisfaction but it is real. Sometimes I'm like:
FEELING A TUG
ILL - A small boy was flying a kite one April afternoon when a low drifting cloud encircled the kite and hid it from view. A man passing by asked the little boy what he was doing with that string in his hand.
"I'm flying my kite," the child responded.
The man, looking up and seeing only the cloud said, "I don't see a kite up there anywhere."
The little boy replied, "I don't see it either, but I know it's up there because every once in a while there's a tug on my string."
Though often appearing foolish to a sophisticated world, I still cling to God and keep looking up... and every once in a while... I feel a tug!
(From a sermon by Stephen Sheane, The Altar of Sacrifice, 4/28/2011)
But the truth is that most of us learn from reading or learning about faith in the lives of others whether they are people we know personally or characters from the Bible. This morning I want us to look at the lives of Abraham and Sarah to see what we can learn from their journey of faith.
ILL - First, we see Abraham:
I. Walking in Faith
Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
a. His was an acquiesced faith
Notice that Abraham was "called" by God. We probably don't appreciate this call unless we understand that up until this call he and his family were polytheists and pagans, that is they worshipped many gods and their gods were idols of their own making. When Abraham obeyed he was separating himself from idols to worship the one true and living God and he ultimately would separate himself from his family as well. Abraham had to make a decision to trust Jehovah and His word or remain where he was. He chooses to trust God and that is the substance of faith!
b. His was an adventurous faith
The second truth about Abraham's walk of faith is that it says he did not know where he was going. He had to trust God to lead the way. He went out, "...not knowing whither he went..." Knowing some of the geography of the part of the world that Abraham lived in will help us see the magnitude of his decision to follow God. From Ur to Haran was a journey of several hundred miles and then from there to Canaan, another considerable distance. Remember this is in a day when you walked or rode a camel or a donkey and the average daily travel was about 10 miles! This was through country that he had never been in before, passing through strange cultures, tribes and people.
JUMPING WHERE YOU CAN'T SEE
ILL - The African impala can jump to a height of over 10 feet and cover a distance of greater than 30 feet. Yet these magnificent creatures can be kept in an enclosure in any zoo with a 3-foot wall. The animals will not jump if they cannot see where their feet will fall.
Faith is the ability to trust what we cannot see, and with faith we are freed from the flimsy enclosures of life that only fear allows to entrap us.
Source: From a sermon by Anthony Zibolski, "Overcoming fear and anxiety" 2/20/2009
Hebrews 11:27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.
c. His was an abiding faith
True biblical faith abides. It is not a "flash in the pan." Abraham decided to follow God and even though sometimes the journey was a little bumpy, still he continued. He continued because biblical faith realizes that "this world is not our home, we are just a passing through, our treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue."
"...For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God...."
II. Waiting in Faith
Hebrews 11:11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
How many of you enjoy waiting? Not many I am sure. I don't like waiting myself. But one of the essentials to understanding a biblical faith is to know that sometimes we have to wait on God. If we are going to trust in God we will have to wait on God.
a. Waiting in time
ILL -- Stress makes you believe that everything has to happen right now. Faith reassures you that everything will happen in God's timing.
Several years past from the time that God promised a child to these childless senior citizens! But the child came in time!
ILL - "Another aspect of a fully surrendered life is trust. Abraham followed God's leading without knowing where it would take him. Hannah waited for God's perfect timing without knowing when. Mary expected a miracle without knowing how."
Rick Warren "The Purpose Driven Life"
b. Waiting in trouble
"Joseph trusted God's purpose without knowing why circumstances happened the way they did." Years past as this man of God went from a pit, to the penthouse, to the prison house and then to the palace! Only after time had revealed God's purpose in his trouble was Joseph able to say, "You meant it to me for evil, but God meant it to me for good!
c. Waiting in testing
Job is another individual who had to wait in a time of testing. You know the story. Satan challenged God and God allowed Satan to put Job to the test. Over a period of time Job went from prosperity to poverty, from blessing to boils, and from peace to pain. Yet, through it all he does not sin with his mouth and because of this man's faith we have some of the greatest statements of faith found anywhere in the Bible. "Though He slay me yet will I trust Him..."
ILL - Faith like Job's cannot be shaken because it is the result of having been shaken.
[Unshakeable Faith, Citation: Abraham Heschel, Jewish author. Men of Integrity,
III. Worshipping in Faith
Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
a. His capitulation
Real faith involves the total surrender of self. Abraham had worshipped before but nothing like this. He had slaughtered animals before, had poured out their blood on the altar of sacrifice and had burned the carcass in the fire but there was no precedent for what God had asked to do this time. Oh, the Canaanites sacrificed their children to appease their heathen gods but Abraham never expected this kind of test. So by the very nature of the request there must be a decision of full surrender and again faith must be exercised.
b. His cost
REALLY GIVING
The great Alliance preacher and renowned Christian author, A. W. Tozer, makes this observation:
"Before the judgment seat of Christ my service will be judged not by how much I have done but by how much I could have done!... In God's sight, my giving is measured not by how much I have given but how much I have left after I made my gift... Not by its size is my gift judged, but by how much of me there is in it. No man gives at all until he has given all! No man gives anything acceptable to God until he has first given himself in love and sacrifice"
SOURCE: Renewed, 2/19.
c. His consideration
"Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure."
The word accounting means considered. It means that Abraham considered or trusted or believed that God could raise Isaac from the dead. The last part of this verse is particularly interesting. It says: "...from whence also he received him in a figure." It means that Abraham had already slain Isaac in his heart. He had made the decision and there was to be no turning back. To Abraham Isaac was "as good as dead."
ILL -- Mark Brunner writes: Recently I was asked this question: "What have you sacrificed lately in light of all the sorrow, desolation and bloodshed that have gripped the world?" It was a challenge from a friend of mine who regularly gives to charitable causes and has always considered it his personal task to make others aware of opportunities to do and to give to others. I cited the gifts that I make possible through my church. I also cited a check that I recently sent to a charity that focuses on rebuilding houses that have been destroyed in natural disasters. These, along with my regular gifts to the Salvation Army, the Red Cross and several pro-life organizations, I felt well-qualified me as one who "sacrifices."
Then he posed this question: "What did these gifts replace in your life?" I thought for a moment and answered, "I don't know. They probably haven't really replaced anything." "Then," he frowned, "you have not sacrificed at all. While you have truly given, you have not sacrificed."
During his reign, King Frederick William III of Prussia found himself in trouble. Wars had been costly, and in trying to build the nation, he was seriously short of finances. He couldn't disappoint his people, and to capitulate to the enemy was unthinkable. After careful reflection, he decided to ask the women of Prussia to bring their jewelry of gold and silver to be melted down for their country. For each ornament received, he determined to exchange a decoration of bronze or iron as a symbol of his gratitude. Each decoration would be inscribed, "I gave gold for iron, 1813." The response was overwhelming. Even more important, these women prized their gifts from the king more highly than their former jewelry. The reason, of course, is clear. The decorations were proof that they had sacrificed for their king. Indeed, it became unfashionable to wear jewelry, and thus was established the Order of the Iron Cross. Members wore no ornaments except a cross of iron for all to see. (Lynn Jost)
What differentiates sacrifice? To sacrifice means to give of something that costs the giver in terms of self, time or money. A sacrifice costs. It is more than a token effort or a mere gift. A sacrifice means something in terms of not only how it affects the receiver, but how it affects the giver. A willingness to give is laudable. But, when that willingness stops short of pain, it demonstrates a lack of commitment to the God who blesses us with all things in the first place. A willingness to exchange things in our lives, riches for poverty, our time for someone else's, our convenience for an inconvenience, is the true meaning of Christian sacrifice. It is our Order of the Cross--the cross of Jesus Christ.
Some of the world's greatest men and women have been saddled with disabilities and adversities but have managed to overcome them. Cripple him, and you have a Sir Walter Scott. Lock him in a prison cell, and you have a John Bunyan. Bury him in the snows of Valley Forge, and you have a George Washington. Raise him in abject poverty, and you have an Abraham Lincoln. Subject him to bitter religious prejudice, and you have a Benjamin Disraeli. Strike him down with infantile paralysis, and he becomes a Franklin D. Roosevelt. Burn him so severely in a schoolhouse fire that the doctors say he will never walk again, and you have a Glenn Cunningham, who set a world's record in 1934 for running a mile in 4 minutes, 6.7 seconds. Deafen a genius composer, and you have a Ludwig van Beethoven. Have him or her born black in a society filled with racial discrimination, and you have a Booker T. Washington, a Harriet Tubman, a Marian Anderson, or a George Washington Carver. Make him the first child to survive in a poor Italian family of eighteen children, and you have an Enrico Caruso. Have him born of parents who survived a Nazi concentration camp, paralyze him from the waist down when he is four, and you have an incomparable concert violinist, Itzhak Perlman. Call him a slow learner, "retarded," and write him off as uneducable, and you have an Albert Einstein.
