Hebrews 11 8-16 aliens by choice - not of this world

Famous aliens

Who are they?

I. Not of this world: Chose an alien life

A. Embraced the alien life by faith

(ESV) Hebrews 11 13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having see them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

1. Never really got the promises

2. But embraced them as real – saw them – from afar

B. Knew they were different

(ESV) Hebrews 11 13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

1. Not belonging to the same country

a. Foreigners

b. Temporary residents / nomads that don’t belong

2. Had a different perspective

3. Didn’t expect to have the same goals as others in this world

4. Didn’t expect to be fulfilled now

5. Expected to be different

C. Knew God had something better for them

(ESV) Hebrews 11 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designerand builder is God.

1. Yet ahead

2. Has real foundations – unshakable

3. Designed and built by God

II. Not of this world: Modeled an alien lifestyle

Modeled a life that was based on faith in a God not seen, lived a different life as a different people by faith – living like he was an alien to this world

A. Responded to God’s call Heb 11:8a

(ESV) Hebrews 11 8 By faith Abraham obeyedwhen he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

1. Not a vague feeling

2. Grapple first with what God wants – submission

3. The revealed Word of God – foundation

a. 90 percent of what we need for life God has already revealed.

b. life is the internalizing of what we know about Him

4. The rest comes from yielding to the Spirit’s prompting as you seek His will (Word applied/wise living / godly counsel / prayer)

B. Obeyed immediately Heb 11:8b

(ESV) Hebrews 11 8 By faith Abraham obeyed whenhe was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

1. At the same time God spoke – Abraham responded (Present partic)

2. Know it / Do it

C. Obeyed in spite of the cost Gen 12:1

(ESV) Genesis 12 1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.

(ESV) Genesis 12 4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him,

1. 75 years old / Well off / roots / family / security / Predictability

2. Well off / roots / family / security / all given up

3. Rejected predictability to obey

D. Obeyed in spite of the uncertainty Heb 11:8c

(ESV) Hebrews 11 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

1. Not a "positive" or “certain” move

2. Scary to go from known security to unknown

a. Emphasis will be on following the path

b. Rather than final objectives

E. Trusted that God would reward – Heb 11:8d; Gen 12:2

(ESV) Hebrews 11 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

(ESV) Genesis 12 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

1. left behind "the seen" trusting in God

2. Personal reward / Family reward / Impact lives of others

III. Not of this world: Lived out their entire life as aliens

A. A continuous process Heb 11:9a

(ESV) Hebrews 11 9 By faith he went to live (continually dwelt) in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living (dwelt) in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.

1. Not just a moment decision

2. Not just a moment decision

3. A life decision

4. Impact all aspects of life all the time

B. In spite of the difficulty Heb 11:9b

1. Never at home

(ESV) Hebrews 11 9 By faith he went to live (continually dwelt) in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living (dwelt) in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the Not his possession – though promised

a. dwell as a stranger

b. Foreign land

2. Continuous wandering without receiving the full promises in his lifetime

a. No permanent dwelling – tents

3. Never at home

a. Dwell as a stranger– though promised / Foreign land

4. Continuous wandering without receiving the promises

a. No permanent dwelling - tents

5. Delayed fulfillment – his faith steps impacted those who were yet to come

C. Passing on the faith Heb 11:9c, 11:11

1. To His children

(ESV) Hebrews 11 9 By faith he went to live (continually dwelt) in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living (dwelt) in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.

a. Impacted his family

b. Pass on everything else - what a legacy / better than money

2. To His wife

(ESV) Hebrews 11 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.

1. Received strength beyond themselves

2. Empowered for the impossible task --- couldn’t do it on their own

3. Required a long term committed belief in His faithfulness

a. Took 25 years to get there from the original promise

D. Waiting on the promise Heb 11:10

(ESV) Hebrews 11 10 For he was looking forward(waiting) to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

1. “looked for” Expectant waiting – without discouragement

2. in spite of circumstance

3. Lived in tents looking for a permanent foundation city

4. Architect – designer - planner – integrator - God

5. Craftsman and builder – God

6. Looked beyond this world to the next

E. Experienced long term blessings Heb 11:12

(ESV) Hebrews 11 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendantsas many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

1. Contrast one – many

2. Dead – multitude

3. Out of certain defeat – magnificent triumph – by faith in God's character

4. Saw God work – the most amazing thing you will ever experience

5. The true blessings unfolded beyond his own life / understanding

F. Never turned back

(ESV) Hebrews 11 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.

1. Publicly on record

2. Kept faithful in the face of conflict

3. Chose not to go back