"have Faith!" Series

“Have Faith!”

Hebrews 11

So, what’s Christmas really all about? It is about learning to wait. The prophets spoke of the coming of Christ yet there was a very long waiting period. Seven hundred years after the prophets spoke – Jesus was born. Most of us don’t want to even wait 7 minutes for something we want. Christmas is about hope and anticipation. We all look forward to the Christmas season. Kids anticipate what Christmas morning will look like. We know that Jesus is our blessed hope and he has now arrived. Christmas is about contentment and joy. Happiness is about getting everything we want. Contentment is about wanting everything we already have. In other words, we are content with what we have. For three weeks in December those who have been by topics. I have preached on waiting, hope, contentment and joy.

Let me give you one more this morning. Christmas is about our faith – a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. A Gallup Poll was done in 2019 to ask Americans whether they celebrate Christmas or not. In case you are not aware, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not, 7th day Adventists do not and the Church of God does not. And there are many other groups as well. But 93% of Americans do. Now here’s the thing – we are told that 93% celebrate Christmas but only 50% of Americans claim Jesus as their Savior. Half of our nation is believed to be lost. It’s interesting to me that many believe in Christmas but not in Christ. You literally cannot say the word Christmas without saying Christ. Christmas is about our faith. It is a matter of faith.

In Hebrews chapter 11 we find what is often termed as the Hall of faith. Some try to leave Christ out of Christmas by saying Xmas. But X is actually the Greek symbol for Christ. Try as hard as you like but Christ will always be a part of Christmas. In fact, it is all about Him. The writer of Hebrews begins this passage by telling us this. In the NLT, Hebrews 11 says this. Hebrews 11: 1-3.

This destroys the theory behind evolution. I will come back to that topic. The prophets spoke of their faith; Jesus taught on faith many times. The Apostles did as well. Jesus said:

• If you have faith you can say to this mountain, be moved and it will be done. Matthew 17: 20

• A blind man shouted at Jesus and said I want to see again. Jesus said, receive your sight. Your faith has made you well.

• Faith is not a part of life. Faith is our life.

• Jesus said don’t be afraid, just believe & this man will be healed.

So here are some important facts we need to understand. h.

1. Our faith is evidence of something greater. When attorneys go to court it is critical to provide, not only evidence but to provide enough evidence. Josh MacDowell wrote a great book titled “Evidence that demands a verdict.” And in the Book, this is the question he asks: if you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? What evidence would you give? When I was in high school, I thought for several years I wanted to be an attorney. I became very familiar with a variety of legal terms, watched Perry Mason regularly and then for two years I studied political science in college. But God had something else for me. One thing I did was, our youth group started asking this question and we decided to form a courtroom at church where we would call various adults to the stand, in church and ask them a series of questions to see if they could offer enough evidence to prove they were actually Christians. We were young and full of zeal and probably ask things we shouldn’t have asked but that didn’t seem to stop us. Again, let me ask you, if you were arrested for being a Christian would there be enough evidence in your life to convict you? What would you offer as evidence? Would you say….

• I gave to the church when I could.

• I went to church.

• I tried to help people.

• I was baptized. Let’s face it. Infants are baptized all over the world. That practice has been going on for many years. But it doesn’t prove your faith. It only proves the faith of your parents and their good intentions.

While all of these, matter; and all are important, the writer reminds us there is only 1 thing that is actually evidence and that is your faith. Nothing matters more. We often refer to faith as saving faith because that is exactly what it actually is. It is the evidence of things not seen. Believing that what we now see, did not come from anything that can be seen. Whenever we say that we believe, that God created the world we are taking a leap of faith. We can see the universe all around us but we cannot see the one who made it. So, for some they choose to buy into evolution. Evolution has in fact become a replacement for faith for many. In my estimation it takes more faith to believe in evolution than to believe in Jesus. Many scientists want us to believe that this entire universe including all of mankind, all started with one cell. Mankind, every animal, every race of people, male, female – all from one cell. Then the 2nd part of that theory is that 540 million years ago in a sudden burst of activity a variety of animals were also created.