The Triumphs of Faith
11 Now faith is the [a]assurance of things [b]hoped for, the [c]conviction of things not seen.
2 For by it the men (AND WOMEN) of old [d]gained approval.
3 By faith we understand that the [e]worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. I STUDIED ASTRONOMY IN HIGH SCHOOL
4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying [f]about his gifts, and through [g]faith, though he is dead, he still speaks. SOME SACRIFICES ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS.
5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SKIP DEATH LIKE HE DID?
6 And 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 seek Him. KEY VERSE MATT 6:33 SEEK YE FIRST; KAREN LAFFERTY OF YWAM RECEIVED $ FROM THIS SONG THAT SHE WROTE
7 By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, [h]in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. KY HAS A LIFE-SIZE MODEL.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed [i]by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. LIKE THE FATHER ABRAHAM HAD MANY SONS SONG
9 By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; I LIVED IN ONE FOR A YEAR IN KUWAIT. THEY WERE THE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM/SARAH.
10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11 By faith even Sarah herself received [j]ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. SHE WAS 90.
12 Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead [k]at that, as many descendants AS THE STARS OF HEAVEN IN NUMBER, AND INNUMERABLE AS THE SAND WHICH IS BY THE SEASHORE.
13 All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. THIS WAS THE NAME OF OUR BAND AT 1ST PRES PITTSBURGH. THEY WERE CONCERNED RE: THE STAINED GLASS
14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.
15 And indeed if they had been [l]thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not [m]ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; THIS IS A TYPE / LINK TO JESUS.
18 it was he to whom it was said, “IN ISAAC YOUR [n]DESCENDANTS SHALL BE CALLED.”
19 [o]He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back [p]as a type. (OF JESUS). THIS TAKES A LOT OF FAITH.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.
21 By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshiped leaning on the top of his staff. LET’S BLESS OUR KIDS. THX TO OUR VETERANS.
22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones. HE HAD FAITH IN PRISON AND TO LEAD.
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
25 choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,
26 considering the reproach of [q]Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. ARE WE WILLING TO BE PERSECUTED FOR CHRIST?
27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen. WE MAY FEEL THE WRATH OF OUR LEADERS – I HAVE BEFORE.
28 By faith he [r]kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. THEY PUT IT OVER THEIR DOOR.
29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were [s]drowned. THIS TOOK GUTS.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. I’M GLAD WE AND OTHER CHURCHES PRAYER WALK HERE – IT HAS EFFECTS.
31 By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies [t]in peace. SHE WAS IN CHRIST’S GENEALOGY.
32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson (STRENGTH DUE TO HIS HAIR), Jephthah, of David (HE WAS A WORSHIPPING WARRIOR) and Samuel and the prophets (THEY DID OUTRAGEOUS ACTS),
33 who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the lions’ mouths; YOU KNOW GOD MULTIPLIED H20 AT THE FOOD BANK; SERVANT EVANGELISM
34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies 2 flight. POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH
EPHESIANS 2:8, 9 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and [a]this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
JAMES 2: 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is [p]dead, being by itself.
PERSONAL FAITH STORIES
Switching from Computer science to music due to Cru and The Cross and the Switchblade
I sold all I had to join YWAM for 2 years in US, Asia, Europe and Africa.
The Lord provided for me to go to pts.edu for 3 years. I saw John Wimber live in PA and visited Toronto.
I worked at 1st Presbyterian Pueblo, CO for a year doing youth work, led a mission trip to SW CO.
I helped the Pueblo Vineyard, then worked at Swedish Medical Center in Denver for a year as a chaplain.
I joined the Army Reserve in 3/2001, then 9/11 happened, so I was Active duty for 11 years, Guard / Reserve for 11 years before retiring. I deployed for 28 months to Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait. I've been to more than 30 countries.
God provided a Federal prison chaplain job for me where I lead worship / preach more weekly than I would on Active Duty. I lead 2 reentry-to society classes/week at the medium and minimum security and I counsel. I had a dream about an inmate attack before it happened, encouraging me to pray.
I started my doctorate in counseling in 2010 (Jesus paid for several years of it). I graduated in May 2024.
