Faith that Please God
Hebrews 11:1-
Everyone has Faith the Bible Says in Romans 12:3 (KJV)
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
When we sit on a chair, we have faith that the chair will not fall. We have faith in the furniture maker who built it, don’t we? If we go to a restaurant for dinner, we have faith in the chef who cooked it, in the servers who keep it at the correct temperature and in the health inspectors who guarantee it is safe to eat.... although we don’t know them. When we purchase a new automobile, we have faith in the person who designed it, in the people who built it, in the inspectors who tested it for safety. In fact, we have faith. that everything will work safely and completely. In other words, we trust people without a thought or moment of hesitation. In order to understand this more clearly, let’s go to I John 5:9.
“If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater:
for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son”(I John 5:9). KJV
Illustration: It was a good answer that was once given by a poor woman to a minister who asked her, "What is faith?" She replied: "I am ignorant, and I cannot answer well, but I think it is taking God at His word."
This list of people in this chapter is not a list of the perfect, but it is a list of people who were imperfect, who questioned, doubted and argued with God. People who at one point or another didn’t do God’s will. People who when they tried to had become discouraged, down trodden, disappointed. People who had felt all alone, like they were the only ones really trying - who must have felt like giving up. How could God possibly have put these people on his top forty list?
I propose that it wasn’t their character, their perfection, their amazing feats that got them on the list but the fact that they had faith a faith that pleased God
Faith that pleases God must have The person of Jesus Christ as its object
John 6:29 (KJV)
Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
John 20:29 (KJV)
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
Faith that please God is A WORSHIPPING FAITH Heb. 11:4 (Gen.4)
vs. 4 “it was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God…God accepted Abel’s offering to show that he was a righteous man. And although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us because of his FAITH.”
It wasn’t enough for Abel to say he believed in God. He heard the voice of God and he used the faith that he had in God. He practiced his faith. He put into action what he believed.
Worship! That is what the Father is seeking. Abel made a sacrifice that was acceptable or pleasing unto God. Hebrews 11:6 says it is impossible to please God without FAITH. Therefore, we can conclude that Abel had faith that he was living out what God wanted him to do in his worship…to give a blood sacrifice. That was his worship.
Faith that Pleases God is a walking Faith
Hebrews 11:5 (KJV)
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Genesis 5:24 (KJV)
And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
That means he had faith as he walked his everyday walk with God. His actions pleased God. And then one day as he was walking his walk of faith God took him.
Walking has to do with the way one lives his/her life. This is a life that is always rehearsing its faith. No matter what time of day or night. Whether there is sunshine or rain, comfort or pain. This WALKING FAITH has the power to form character and does not fear death.
When people here you talk about your faith, have you been putting into action and practicing it in such a way that your talk matches up with your walk.
James 1:22 says, “But be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
A working faith
Hebrews 11:7 (KJV)
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
For 120 years Noah would put on his carpenters apron and build that ark in the middle of a desert because God told him to
Noah worked as God directed. He did what God said, the way God said it. Noah was the first man in the Bible to be called righteous or just. He put his faith in God into action. He lived out his faith.
A Working FAITH serves God.
The ark was 450 feet long 75 feet wide and 45 feet high
A willing faith
Hebrews 11:8 (KJV)
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.
it was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land. He went without knowing where he was going. And when he reached the land God promised, he lived there by faith. Abraham did this because he was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundation, a city designed and built by God.”
God called Abraham and he responded. He was willing to do anything God said. Abraham had faith in God’s word. He made the right choice. He started out being willing in his faith to God to listen and respond. God tested Abraham early to see if he was WILLING.
In Genesis 22 God again tests Abraham’s faith to see if he is willing to put his faith into action. Early in life Abraham was willing to leave home and go where God sent him. He used his faith and went. But, here in Genesis 22 God is asking Abraham to put his faith in God into action and sacrifice his own son, the promised child.
Hebrews 11:17
“it was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him…he was willing (ready) to sacrifice his only son…
Abraham was willing to offer his own son. He put his faith into action and obeyed even when a considerable sacrifice was involved.
OBEDIENCE IS THE ACID TEST OF FAITH! ARE YOU WILLING TO OBEY! The faith that pleases God is the faith that is lived out and put into action; it is the faith that is used in obedience to God’s Word.
