Our Sermon today is all about Faith. What exactly is faith? Without relying on Daniel Webster, just off the top of your head, how would you define it?
Would you believe me if I told you that even though you might not be a Christian but instead a non-believer of sorts…that your whole life is based on faith.
So then it would be imperative that we define what it is before we clarify what I just said. Right?
Simply put, faith is believing in something unseen…
So, do we have faith that our heart is not going to stop today and that we will see the sun shine tomorrow?
Most of us do.
Do you have faith that your car will run that next time you turn the ignition switch with your key?
What kind of faith does it take if you can see something right before you…clear as a bell?
None. If the sun is shining, you can’t say that I have faith that the sun will shine today because it already is. But, you could say, that I have faith that the sun will continue until it gets dark. Right?
I have faith that the Pittsburgh Steelers are NOT going to the Super Bowl this year. I don’t see them winning without their star quarterback…so is this faith or not? Let us read what God has to say about the subject…shall we?
Before we start, let me warn you that we will be reading 40 verses today. I think though that you will find them a good review of who in our past showed a deep sense of faith in the unseen.
Hebrews 11:1-40
I guess now that you and I are in agreement that A) Faith has been around for a long time and B) that there are some pretty awesome people in our heritage that exhibited supreme levels of faith and C) it warms the heart to hear it…especially in our world today. Amen?
We have four POINTS to discuss this morning: FAITH is the BASIS of HOPE, FAITH is UNSEEN, FAITH is OFTEN misplaced and FAITH is ACQUIRED (or learned)
POINT #1
FAITH is the BASIS of HOPE
This appears in our very first verse this morning: FAITH is the substance of things HOPED for, the evidence of things NOT seen. It says that it was because of their strong FAITH, our elders in history received a good report (that would be from God of course).
It is ONLY through FAITH that we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God. I love how we get a little gold nugget next in verse three: “so that things which are seen were NOT made of things which appeared!”
None of this universe and beyond were created by some act of NATURE or by some interstellar glue that occurs when stars and such come in close proximity…I have no idea what I just said or why I said it, other than, God Created All Things…and it was NOT by any accident but for His purpose alone!
It is important to note that God Himself instructs us here that “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
POINT #2
FAITH is UNSEEN
Noah had no idea what it was going to be like once the rains began and the earth opened up to raise the water so very high. He had no idea of the destruction powers of our LORD and water itself.
How much FAITH would it take to build an ark 450 feet long when you’re in some pretty arid country? How hard would it be to maintain that FAITH everybody around you is laughing at you and NOT with you?
I don’t even have sufficient FAITH in my own ability to install a handicapped bar in my shower, let alone an ark!
What is also important is that we understand that like Noah, we become heirs to God’s righteousness through our FAITH (v.7)
POINT #3
FAITH is OFTEN misplaced
Moses had no lapse in his FAITH when it came to that enormous river that stood between his people and the land promised by God.
Up until the waters of the Great Red Sea were parted by Moses, there had to be many…who doubted how they would sojourn these waters and return to their homes unscathed
It wasn’t long after this that they put their trust and FAITH in a golden calf the had created, all while Moses was with God on the mountain-top.
Because they put their FAITH in things that were created rather than He who creates, they lost their opportunity to see the Promised Land and wandered in the wilderness for forty years and then died.
POINT #4
FAITH is ACQUIRED
If FAITH was natural and required no work on our part, then we would all be saved. We must first identify that which is worthy of our FAITH and then build on that. We must make that our foundation.
These men and women we just read about had a strong FAITH that endured but it did NOT come natural to them.
IN CLOSING
Let us look at Peter. We all remember the story of Peter attempting to walk on water or how about a rooster that crowed on the night our Savior had chosen to be mocked by the High Priest of Israel to begin His mission which was to die for mankind, that we might live.
Many then and many now still have their FAITH misdirected and need to acquire FAITH in our Lord Jesus.
There will come a time when FAITH in our unseen Lord Jesus will no longer be required. If that person has not yet acquired the right kind of FAITH by then, it will be too late and their misdirected FAITH in those things that are created will doom them to everlasting torment.
BENEDICTION
Let us pray for them. Lord Jesus, we pray that we are able to plant the seeds or water those that have been planted that they might see the light and redirect their FAITH in You. If we had it our way, not a single one of them would see the Lake of Fire, but it will never be our way but Your Way, for you are the Way, the Truth and the Light. Help us O Lord to help them to see the error in their ways. Amen.
