Faithful Walks Worth Following
Notes
Transcript
introduction
How many of you have heard of the preachers who intentionally get bit by snakes to prove their faith? This is based off the verse in Mark 16:18.
they will pick up snakes; if they should drink anything deadly, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well.”
There were two preachers who tried to prove the strength of their faith by being bit by various snakes. They were bit by copperheads and rattlesnakes in an attempt to prove this and survived.
Their next test was too ingest strychnine. This ingredient is used in rat poison. Needless to say, they didn’t pass the test and died.
These men based their beliefs on a wrong interpretation of scripture but also they crossed the line between faith and presumption.
On the surface they appeared to be brave, daring and courageous. But this doesn’t please God. He never commanded that these men take these actions or to pur Him to the test. Remember what Matthew said in chapter 4.
Then the devil took him to the holy city, had him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written:
He will give his angels orders concerning you,
and they will support you with their hands
so that you will not strike
your foot against a stone.”
Jesus told him, “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.”
So if these sensational and superstitious displays don’t please God, what does?
If you remember Hebrews 11:6, you will find the answer.
Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Pleasing God takes faith, not the blind kind or wishful thinking that presumes He’ll do what we want, when we want, how we want.
Faith is a humble and obedient response. Faith is simple trust, which is always manifested in faithfulness.
In the last few verses we spoke about a few heroes of the faith, Abel, Enoch and Noah. Next we will look at Abraham and Sarah and their descendants Isaac, Jacob and Joseph.
Each of these, in their own way, exhibited a kind of faith that pleases God by walking faithfully along a path worth following.
By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and set out for a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, living in tents as did Isaac and Jacob, coheirs of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
By faith even Sarah herself, when she was unable to have children, received power to conceive offspring, even though she was past the age, since she considered that the one who had promised was faithful. Therefore, from one man—in fact, from one as good as dead—came offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and as innumerable as the grains of sand along the seashore.
Unlike the preacher I mentioned, the faith of Abraham and Sarah was neither sensational nor superstitious. Through the world’s perspective it was undoubtedly viewed as risky or ridiculous.
But when did Abraham’s faith-walk begin?
By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and set out for a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out, even though he did not know where he was going.
His faith wasn’t based on a feeling about God’s will, or a cloud formation, or a vague message from a fortune-teller staring into a crystal ball.
What does the Bible say?
So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.
The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring, I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord who had appeared to him.
This is where true faith rests-on the clear revelation of God.
So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.
God’s calling to Abram was audible, objective and specific. What did he do when he heard this? He responded in faith.
By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and set out for a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out, even though he did not know where he was going.
Can you imagine this? He packed up his things and led his wife, Sarah, from the comfort of their home to head to, literally, God knows where.
This is even more amazing considering these two weren’t full of energy and ready for adventure. They had been married for some time. He was 75 years old and had gathered 1/2 a century’s worth of belongings.
He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated, and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan,
How would he explain this to his family and friends?
Sometimes when you move, you are accepted pretty quickly. This is usually true of pastors responding to a calling to a new church. But here, Abraham lived like an alien in the Promised Land.
By faith he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, living in tents as did Isaac and Jacob, coheirs of the same promise.
Being a transient in this new land, there were insecurities in the present and uncertainties about the future. But they raised their son Isaac, and Isaac did this with his family as well.
Abraham walked by faith and not by sight. He depended on God and yearned for a permanent, heavenly city designed and built by God.
For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
He wasn’t focused on the hardships of life but on the reward at his eternal destination.
But what about Sarah? Can you imagine his poor wife being dragged around on his wide-eyed faith-walk? How many of you ladies would be irritated by his spontaneity, frustrated by his stubbornness or fed up with his dream chasing?
Well she wasn’t. Let’s look at what the apostle Peter had too say about her:
just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children when you do what is good and do not fear any intimidation.
The author of Hebrews also points to her faith-walk as worthy to be followed.
By faith even Sarah herself, when she was unable to have children, received power to conceive offspring, even though she was past the age, since she considered that the one who had promised was faithful.
Remember, at this old age, she still hadn’t conceived a son. That was part of the package deal that God offered to Abraham when they were asked to leave their homeland.
It wasn’t an easy thing to have faith in either. 25 years they had no empirical evidence that she would-or even could-have a child of her own.
Even after decades of waiting when God announced that within a year she would be a mom, she laughed at the idea.
“Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him.
“There, in the tent,” he answered.
The Lord said, “I will certainly come back to you in about a year’s time, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent behind him.
Abraham and Sarah were old and getting on in years. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. So she laughed to herself: “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I have delight?”
But the Lord asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Can I really have a baby when I’m old?’ Is anything impossible for the Lord? At the appointed time I will come back to you, and in about a year she will have a son.”
Sarah denied it. “I did not laugh,” she said, because she was afraid.
But he replied, “No, you did laugh.”
As promised, when Abraham was 100 and she was 90, it happened.
The Lord came to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time God had told him.
Even after this idea that she laughed at, she ended up embracing, with faith, God’s words to Abraham.
Therefore, from one man—in fact, from one as good as dead—came offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and as innumerable as the grains of sand along the seashore.
These all died in faith, although they had not received the things that were promised. But they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth. Now those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they were thinking about where they came from, they would have had an opportunity to return. But they now desire a better place—a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
Now, at this point, the writer of Hebrews steps back from listing some of these faithful servants and makes a sweeping statement.
These all died in faith, although they had not received the things that were promised. But they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth.
You might ask, “Didn’t Abraham make it to the promised land? Didn’t Sarah have her promised child, Isaac?”
Yes, but what they experienced was merely a foretaste or a shadow of things to come. Abraham didn’t receive the full promise, just a down payment.
Remember, the two only had one child but what was the promise?
Therefore, from one man—in fact, from one as good as dead—came offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and as innumerable as the grains of sand along the seashore.
Even though they traveled through the promised land, along with Isaac, they were still considered strangers and exiles on the earth.
The point is, they all died in faith. This means in this world that constantly tests faith, they passed with flying colors right up to the last breath.
The word faith here is different from other places in Hebrews. Normally it is the word “pistis” but here is the word “kata pistin” or in faith. This is not just having faith but living by faith. Having a rule by which to live and die.
Although they hadn’t experienced the full promise, they had, in a way, had a measure of experience with it.
The author highlights an important highlight of their faith-walk:
They were seeking an ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises beyond the horizon of this world.
Now those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they were thinking about where they came from, they would have had an opportunity to return.
Abraham called himself a stranger and sojourner, even in the land of promise.
He was still on the journey, even though he technically was where he was told to go, to a land that was truly his.
He didn’t consider Ur of the Chaldeans to be a country of their own. He never considered going back, even when he buried his dead.
“I am an alien residing among you. Give me burial property among you so that I can bury my dead.”
The author concludes that these people who lived and died by faith were longing for a better country.
But they now desire a better place—a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
This type of faith reserved their place in that heavenly city.
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He received the promises and yet he was offering his one and only son, the one to whom it had been said, Your offspring will be traced through Isaac. He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead; therefore, he received him back, figuratively speaking.
The author returns back to these people and describes one of the most famous stories in the OT. This would be a spot where the Jewish readers would have jolted too attention.
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He received the promises and yet he was offering his one and only son,
This story from Genesis 22 had a central place in the story of the Jewish heritage. To this day, this passage has a special Hebrew name in Judaism: the “Akedah”, or the binding of Isaac. This story illustrates the mature faith and obedience of Abraham.
After all these two people had gone through, Abraham and Sarah, God tested Abraham by instructing him to do the hardest thing he could be asked to do.
In an act of total trust and obedience, Abraham was to surrender the fulfillment of God’s promise, the center of his dreams-his one and only son.
After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he answered.
“Take your son,” he said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”
What could be looked as shocking was not necessarily God’s command to do this, but Abraham’s immediate obedience!
No arguing, hesitation, bargaining. No reminding God of how long he and Sarah had waited. Instead, he got up early, saddled up his donkey and headed out to obey.
So Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took with him two of his young men and his son Isaac. He split wood for a burnt offering and set out to go to the place God had told him about.
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He received the promises and yet he was offering his one and only son,
A tiny word can make all the difference.
Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship; then we’ll come back to you.”
What does it say? We will return, not I will return.
Abraham, in spite of this great request, had such a faith that he knew God would follow through on his promise some how.
the one to whom it had been said, Your offspring will be traced through Isaac.
Because of his faith, it freed him to completely obey even though he didn’t completely understand. How could Abraham know that even though God is telling him to offer Isaac as a burnt offering, but still say that they would return?
The author of hebrews gives an answer:
He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead; therefore, he received him back, figuratively speaking.
How does this appear to the outside world? Abraham was a sadistic, deranged maniac, not a faithful man of God.
Do people do wicked things in the name of god? They say they do. But what is the difference between Abraham and these other people?
His trust and obedience rested on a foundation of SOLID THEOLOGY!
Abraham knew that God is completely good and never commands evil.
Abraham knew that God is completely wise and must have had a plan.
Abraham knew that God is completely just and would not treat Isaac unfairly.
Abraham knew that God is completely powerful and would keep His promises.
Even during this current contradiction, Abraham could rust and obey-not because he knew exactly what was going on, but because he knew the one who did.
What did God provide when Abraham followed through on this test?
But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”
He replied, “Here I am.”
Then he said, “Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me.” Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in the thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son.
This was a “type” or a “parable”.
He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead; therefore, he received him back, figuratively speaking.
So what would this be a parable about? Isaac was received back from the verge of death, a sign of God’s unfailing provision in the moment of man’s desperate need.
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and he worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, as he was nearing the end of his life, mentioned the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions concerning his bones.
Wrapping up the picture of Abraham’s faith, the author looks at the family legacy of faith though the remainder of the patriarchal period that launched with the promises God made to him.
After looking at Abraham and Sarah, we see that same faith passed on to their son Isaac, who, in turn, passed it on to the next generation.
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
I’m sure Abraham told Isaac all about his journey though life. The ups and downs; the good and the bad. Then, as things were done, Isaac passed down these stories to his children. Isaac also longed for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
He passed these beliefs on to his sons Jacob and Esau by faith.
The next generation had its torch bearer as well. Jacob lived a life of faith receiving God’s new name “Israel.”
“Your name will no longer be Jacob,” he said. “It will be Israel because you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.”
His sons became the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Fast-forwarding through the life of Jacob we look at his grandchildren, Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph.
By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and he worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
When you look at how far God’s blessing went into the future, it shows the extent of his faith in the promise-keeping power of God.
Hebrews 11:22 recounts the blessing Joseph gave just before his death.
By faith Joseph, as he was nearing the end of his life, mentioned the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions concerning his bones.
He looked ahead prophetically to the Exodus from Egypt. He requested his bones be buried in the promised land where his ancestors were.
How did Joseph know about God’s promise to the nation of Israel?
It was passed down through the generations.
All these snapshots of faith growing from the root of Abraham’s promises strengthen the author’s point made in Hebrews 11:13.
These all died in faith, although they had not received the things that were promised. But they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth.
Even though their lives were imperfect, they still represented faith-walks worthy to follow.