You Got Faith? Series

Hebrews 11: 1 – 16

You Got Faith?

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. 4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But 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 diligently seek Him. 7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker Is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

I do not know about how you think but I am amazed at how things happen in this world. As you are aware of, we are born in sin. In fact we have three strikes against us before our feet hit the floor after a night of sleep. We have to face off with the flesh, the world, and the devil. In addition, we have to stop and just praise our Holy God for His Mercy. Do you realize how the majority of mankind is blinded? How hard it is to see the truth of The Lord Jesus Christ? How hard it is to be saved?

If you think that once the Lord Jesus Is Master of your life all is well, then think again. As newborn babies in Christ Jesus we then become exposed to all kind of nutty faiths.

There is one cult church in our area that goes over the top in their description of faith. You might have even read this in the news since it went national. This cult thinks that if you are sick then you must have sin going on in your lives. They do not believe in medicine. They believe if you do not get well then your faith is the problem. Just recently instead of taking a child to the doctors this church insisted that the parents not seek out medical care for their child. As a result of this poor and ignorant guidance the child died.

Instead of consoling the parents the church and its leaders blamed the parents for not having the right faith. How sick. The state stepped in and now both parents are in jail and their other children have been given off to other families to care for them.

We have seen thankfully a large amount of people who were help spiritually captive by this church flee and many families have started coming to our fellowship.

Today we are going to talk about faith as our Holy God teaches. As the book of Revelation informs us in chapter 22 these warnings about messing with Almighty God’s Holy Word,” 18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”