A Great Cloud of Witnesses: "Sarah"

We are continuing our series, “A Great Cloud of Witnesses”. Hebrews 11 has 17 individuals, mentioned by name, that serve as witnesses or testimonies of faith. Several more are referred to by the things they experienced or endured because of their faith. They are an example for us to follow. 20 times we are told the lived “by faith”. They show us how to have faith that is pleasing to God.

Hebrews 11:6 (NASB)

6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him...

So far we’ve looked at Abel, Enoch, Noah and Abraham and today we will examine the faith of Sarah.

Hebrews 11:11–12 (NASB)

11 By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

Perfection is not required for faith.

11 By faith even Sarah herself ...

[Sarah had faith but it wasn’t a perfect faith…]

Genesis 16:1–2 (NASB)

1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife had borne him no children, and she had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar. 2 So Sarai said to Abram, “Now behold, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I will obtain children through her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.

[A major mistake that demonstrated a major lack of faith]

Genesis 18:1–15 (NASB)

1 Now the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 When he lifted up his eyes and looked, behold, three men were standing opposite him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth, 3 and said, “My Lord, if now I have found favor in Your sight, please do not pass Your servant by. 4 “Please let a little water be brought and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree; 5 and I will bring a piece of bread, that you may refresh yourselves; after that you may go on, since you have visited your servant.” And they said, “So do, as you have said.” 6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quickly, prepare three measures of fine flour, knead it and make bread cakes.” 7 Abraham also ran to the herd, and took a tender and choice calf and gave it to the servant, and he hurried to prepare it. 8 He took curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and placed it before them; and he was standing by them under the tree as they ate. 9 Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” 10 He said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing. 12 Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” 13 And the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?’ 14 “Is anything too difficult for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” 15 Sarah denied it however, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

[She had doubts and denials that are both a lack of faith]

Btw, Isaac, in Hebrew, means “laughter”. Isaac was a reminder that even though Sarah’s laughter was an imperfect faith, God still blessed and gave her a reason to laugh by faith.

It is a good thing God doesn’t require us to be perfect...

Psalm 53:2–3 (NASB)

2 God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men To see if there is anyone who understands, Who seeks after God. 3 Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one.

Isaiah 53:6 (NASB)

6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.

Romans 3:23 (NASB)

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

James 2:10 (NASB)

10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.

Romans 6:23 (NASB)

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God extends mercy because we deserve to die. Instead, Jesus died in our place so that through faith we receive God’s grace.

That’s the last thing I want to talk to you about today…

Pardon is granted, by grace, through faith.

11 By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

She had a problem that was humanly impossible to overcome.

She wasn’t perfect. She was a sinner, deserving death.

But God, with perfect mercy, offered Sarah grace in the form of a perfect pardon that could be received by an imperfect faith and with it came salvation, pardon for sin, which is a blessing far better than material provision.

1 Peter 3:5–6 (NASB)

5 For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands; 6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.

Sarah had faith (fear is the opposite of faith).

Ephesians 2:8–9 (NASB)

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Romans 3:22–24 (NASB)

22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;

Problems are no match for faith.

11 By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.

Genesis 16:1–2 (NASB)

1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife had borne him no children,

Genesis 21:1–6 (NASB)

1 Then the Lord took note of Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had promised. 2 So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time of which God had spoken to him. 3 Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac. 4 Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. 5 Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.”

Genesis 21:1 (NASB)

1 Then the Lord took note of Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had promised.

2 Corinthians 1:20 (NIV)

20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.

The Bible Exposition Commentary (Chapter Two: You Don’t Have to Fail! (2 Corinthians 1:20)

“Jesus Christ reveals the promises, fulfills the promises, and enables us to claim the promises!” - Warren Wiersbe

Hebrews 6:11–12 (NASB)

11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Philippians 4:19 (NASB)

19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

How about you? Do you struggle to follow Jesus with an imperfect faith? You’re not the only one.

Maybe you don’t have any faith today because you are a doubter. Sarah doubted God would give her a child. As God to help you with your doubt.

Maybe you’re here today and you can relate to Sarah because you’ve made some mistakes. You’ve sinned. You’ve done wrong. You know it. And you know God knows it. There is good news. God wants to forgive you and pardon you. He offers His grace to you today, will you accept it by faith?

And maybe you’re here today and you can relate to Sarah because you are dealing with some problems. You’ve tried to fix them. You’ve tried to overcome them, but they are too big for you. They are not too big for God. Place you faith in Him. Ask Him to help. He promises to be with you in that problem. He promises to use it for good in your life. Do you trust Him with your problems? Do you trust God in the midst of your problem?

Give it all Jesus today.

I’ll be up here at the front if you want to come forward for prayer. If you want to put your faith in Christ for the very first it me, I invite you to come forward today. Maybe you’ve already trusted in Jesus but you need to make it public and let everyone know what Jesus did for you and be baptized in obedience. If that’s you, you come today as we sing...

Memory Verse of the Week:

Ephesians 2:8–9 (NASB)

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Bible Study Questions:

What does this passage teach us about God?

What does this passage teach us about ourselves?

What does this passage teach us about the world?

Do you see any commands to obey or principles to apply?

Do you see any promises to claim or blessings to enjoy?

Do you see any truths to meditate on or Gospel messages to share?

Did anything else in the passage stick out to you?