1. Trust or Clarity?
Ethicist John Kavanaugh went to Calcutta, India to work at “the house for the dying” for three with Mother Teresa. This was part of a sincere search for personal direction in his life. On the first morning there he met Mother Teresa and she asked him what she could do for him.
Kavanaugh asked her to pray for him. “What do you want me to pray for?” She asked. He responded by explaining that he had traveled thousands of miles from the US to find direction. He then told her, “Pray that I have clarity.”
She responded firmly to his request, “No, I will not do that. Clarity is the last thing you are clinging to and must let go of.” Kavanaugh replied that she appeared to always have clarity about what she was doing and he longed for that kind of clarity in his life. She laughed and said, “I have never had clarity; what I have always had is trust. So, I will pray that you trust God.”
2. Isn’t it funny how often we want to understand what God is doing in our lives? We will go to the ends of the earth in order to observe someone who is giving their lives to God in an effort to learn their secret.
3. Walking with God is not a formula of success; it is a journey of faith and trust.
• Definition of Faith – Hebrews 11.1-3, 6
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
• We read the bible and say, “When I understand, I will obey.” [i.e., Show me and I will believe.
• God says, “Trust and Obey and I will show you.” [i.e., Believe and I will show you.
o Naaman
o Hebrews at Sinai – Exodus 19.8 – All that the LORD has spoken we will do. That is, we will do and we will hear.
4. 2 Corinthians 5.6-10
6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
5. Hebrews 11 is called the “Faith Chapter” or “Hall of Faith” NOT the “Understanding Chapter” or the “Hall of Understanding” – consider the faith walk of some faith giants:
I. Faith Helps Us Give In with Noah – Hebrews 11.7
7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
A. No Evidence of Rain, Only the Word of God to a Specific Person, Noah – Genesis 6.8-10
8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. 9 These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
B. Noah Gave In to What God Said – By Faith – Genesis 7.5
5 And Noah did all that the LORD had commanded him.
C. Application:
1. There are times when we act on what God says
2. We don’t see clearly but by faith
Luke 6.27-29 27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either.
II. Faith Helps Us Give Up with Abraham – Hebrews 11.8-10
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
A. He Was Called to Give Up the Familiar – Genesis 12.1
Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.
1. Homeland
2. Family
3. To a new country
B. He Was Commanded to Give Up His Heir – Genesis 22; Hebrews 11.17-19
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
1. Abraham’s Faith – LORD will provide himself a ram
2. Even believed He would raise Isaac
C. Application – What is God calling you to give up?
1. Time? Treasure? Talent?
2. Turn your occupation into a ministry so God can bless others through you.
3. It is our response to His grace.
III. Faith Helps Us Give Away with Moses – Hebrews 11.24-28
24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.
A. Moses Gave Away His Position
1. No longer associated with Pharaoh
2. No longer “Egyptian” hierarchy
B. Moses Gave Away His Self-Preservation (trusted God in Passover)
1. Tried to protect himself in Midian desert (because of personal imperfections)
2. Learned to trust God to take care of him and the nation through the plagues and in the keeping of Passover
C. Application
1. We are imperfect and sometimes don’t wait on God or even doubt God
2. Sometimes we are reluctant to serve God
3. When we give away ourselves to God it is 100% -- Deuteronomy 6.3-4; because that is what he did for us
1. Maybe you can identify with me.
a. I sometimes want flaming arrows to show me what to do and where to go.
b. I sometimes want God to answer my questions with Clarity.
2. God wants FAITH from us, not logic; not clarity; not perfection
3. Hebrews 12.1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
