Faith - Cross Referenced
Notes
Transcript
Faith
Faith
Our text this evening is Heb 11:1-6.
We are also going to take a peek at
Gen 4 and 5
This morning we dove into the
Faith of those that played a part
in the feeding of the 5000
and this evening, I would like to
dive a little more into faith
and look at just what Faith is
and how it works
as I mentioned this morning
We put our faith in a lot of things
each and every day
But to kick things off I would like to ask ourselves
a couple of questions
and you don’t have to answer them
let’s just reflect on them as we work
through this text
1. Is our faith placed in the right places and people?
2. Where should our faith be placed?
So lets think about these things
as we move on this evening
So if you have found your place
Lets read the word of God
Scripture Reading
Scripture Reading
1 Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. 2 For by this our ancestors were approved.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith.
5 By faith Enoch was taken away, and so he did not experience death. He was not to be found because God took him away. For before he was taken away, he was approved as one who pleased God. 6 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.
Lets Pray
What is faith?
What is faith?
We see this defined in the first 3 verses
Faith makes things hoped for as real as if we already have them
we can think of eternal life here
we know that eternal life is real
and we know that we already have
eternal life now, even though we
are still on this side of glory
Faith provides evidence that what is unseen is absolutely real
Our eyesight convicts us
or shows us things of objects that are in the real world
but it is faith that produces that same conviction
only with the things unseen
take the wind Jesus spoke about
in John 3:8 “8 The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.””
we don’t see the wind, but we know it is there
and we know it is real
we have faith in the wind,
even though we cannot see it
Faith is the confidence in the worthiness and ability of someone or something
Jesus
we are confident that he is worthy
that He is who He is
and the He saves, even though
we were not there for the crucification and resurrection
we are confident that those things
atoned for our sin
Faith is setting your heart on the object of your hope and your confidence
which in our case the object of our hope should be in Jesus Christ
But, for the world and sometimes for us
if we are honest
Sometimes our faith falls upon inadequate objects
science and technology are a couple of things that come to mind in the secular world
little do they know that Christians discovered these things
But, so much of the world
places their faith for creation and meaning in
those science
in only things that they can prove
and see
but we know there is so much more to the world than that
how about other False Gods while we are on the subject
Money
Security
Wealth
Other people
Ourselves?
each of these could serve as the object of our
faith if we are not securely rooted in the only
ADEQUATE object to put our faith in
and we have already said
what that is…
that is God,
See to have proper faith in God
we must not put our faith and trust
in those other things
we must Believe that He exists
and not only with the mind
but with the heart as well
we will see this a little later with
Cain and Able
And we must believe that he rewards those
who earnestly seek Him
by putting their faith in Him
and how does he reward those that seek Him
with more faith
as we seek God
as we are in His word
as we are surrounded by His church
by other believers
as we grow closer to Him
our faith increases
and so does our reward
which is eternity in Heaven with Him
That is why V 2 & 3
Speak of the OT believers
and how they received salvation
through hope
through faith
that is why it says they were approved
they believed in the one
to come
just as we believe in the one
that has come
and the same faith possessed by them
is what is needed for us
that is why the author uses the example of creation by the word of God
That takes a huge leap of faith to believe
right
that God created the world
and not only the physical world but the spiritual aspect as well
Thats hard to believe
but it is through creation that we can see God
and that is where our hope is creation
is found
that is where we learn of His power
then we can respond in Faith
to His word which brings
salvation and redemption
V4 then moves onto some examples of Faith
Lets turn to Gen 4:2-5
2 She also gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel became a shepherd of flocks, but Cain worked the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain presented some of the land’s produce as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also presented an offering—some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but he did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent.
Abel is the example here..
So lets look at this
what set them apart
They both gave an offering to the Lord
and remember from our devotional from Lev this week
an offering is a gift
So they both gave an offering to the Lord
yet God rejected Cains but accepted Abels?
Why
Hebrews 11:4 says that Abel gave his
offering by faith
it even mentions it twice
See it was a matter of the heart
Cain offered as V3 of Gen says
some,
and by only offersing some
he showed his heart wasn’t all the way in it
While Abel offers the first
and the first was a big deal
and by giving God his first
he showed where his heart was
See Cain made sure Cain was taken care of
so he kept the first of the crops
and gave the left overs to God
Cains faith was in Cain
Abel gave off the top
Abel had hope and confidence in God
that he would take of what came afterward
So what can we learn from this?
That faith is also a matter of the heart
Cain knew God existed
Cain even talked to God
But Cain didn’t trust God
He knew God was there
but he didn’t have any hope
any confidence
or any faith in God
He made an attempt at faith
but his heart wasn’t in it
Abel knew God existed
and his actions showed it
he was willing to place his faith
and future in the hands of God
See, your faith is a matter of your heart
you may believe that God exists
But he may not be first in your life
where is your hope?
your confidence
and your faith right now?
we must ask ourselves
who, or what are we trusting in today
and for the future?
is it ourselves
our own abilities
is our life a testimony to faith in God
Who has your heart today
where is mine i must honestly assess?
Lets move over a chapter in Gen to the story of Enoch
we see his story in Heb 11:5 and also in
21 Enoch was 65 years old when he fathered Methuselah. 22 And after he fathered Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and fathered other sons and daughters. 23 So Enoch’s life lasted 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God; then he was not there because God took him.
We only find Enoch in a few verses
he falls in the family tree if we will
between his father Jared
and his son Methuselah
But even though he has a short portion of scripture
he is unique for 2 reasons
1. he was described as a man that walked with God, thats unique
and he is only 1 of 2 men ever who
did not die
So yea, those are a couple of pretty unique things
we almost get more about him from Hebrews than we do from Gen
But we know that Enoch went straight to heaven because he pleased God
This happened by faith
Enoch walked with God by faith
and he pleased God because of his faith
So, what can we learn from Enoch?
Faith affects our walk
Enoch walked with God
he lived everyday of his life with total absolute confidence in God
We learn that where we place our faith affects our walk
when we have faith in ourselves
We then live for ourselves, selfishly and uncaring for others.
We are the objects of our affection and we’ll do anything to protect our
affection wont we
We are our only hope so we’ve got to do whatever it takes.
see People who only have faith in themselves are cutthroats and
backstabbers, because everything depends on them and what they can
do to survive.
But..
When we have absolute confidence, absolute hope, in God,
it will affect the way we live.
When we trust in the God of promises, we’ll live in a way to reach those promises.
When we trust in the God of discipline and judgment,
we will live in a way that keeps us from that discipline and judgment.
and We are able to live in that fallen world full of cutthroats and backstabbers,
because we trust in someone who is bigger and more powerful than them.
We live as pilgrims, just passing through, because our confidence and hope is not in this world, the things of this world, or the people of this world.
Our confidence and hope, our faith, is in God.
We learn from Enoch that Faith Pleases God
God saw how Enoch lived.
He saw how he walked in a sin-filled world.
He saw that Enoch lived by faith in Him.
God knew Enoch’s heart was turned toward Him.
God knew Enoch trusted in Him every step of the way.
And that pleased God.
Our dependence and confidence in God pleases Him.
He loves to see us living by faith and not by sight.
He loves to see that our hearts are totally committed to Him and His
ways.
He loves to see us react to life with confidence and hope in Him.
But… Sometimes our faith is tested. whats up with that?
See things happen in life that test our faith.
Our confidence in the worthiness and ability of God is tested.
Setting our hearts solely on God is tested.
Believing that what has not yet happened is as good as done is tested.
What do we need to know to face the testing of our faith?
We need to know that the testing of our faith is going to happen.
We have to expect the testing of our faith
The Bible says “when” or “whenever”, not if.
Read John 16:33.
Read Acts 14:22.
Read 1 Peter 4:12.
Testing of our faith is going to happen.
There is no way around it.
We’re going to get sick.
We’re going to have accidents.
We’re going to face tragedies.
We’re going to have hard times.
We’re going to face the hard times of life.
Satan is going to fight against us.
The world is going to fight against us.
Believe me, Our faith will be tested.
Our confidence in God will be tested.
Our hearts will be tested.
Our knowledge of God’s promises for the future will be tested.
And We need to know that our values will determine our reactions to the testing of our faith.
See What we’re made of comes out in the tests of our faith.
If we value comfort more than character, tests will upset us.
If we value material and physical things more than spiritual things,
tests wil
crush us.
If we live for the present and not think about the future, tests will make us bitter.
But We need to know that God has a purpose for the testing of our faith.
and The tests of faith do not surprise God.
He allows the tests for a reason.
He allows them so that we can see just where our faith is at.
He allows them so we can see that our faith is genuine.
He allows them so we know that God is working something out of us.
God has a purpose for the tests of our faith.
God is trying to purify your heart.
He is teaching you to persevere, to be patient.
He is teaching you to cling to Him when things get tough.
He is helping you become a mature Christian.
He is helping you become a complete Christian.
and The purpose of the testing of our faith:
is To build our confidence in the worthiness and ability of God.
To assure our hearts that God is sufficient.
To fortify our hope that what God has promised, He will do.
So.. to wrap things up
True Biblical Faith is...
Confidence in the worthiness and ability of God.
Setting your heart on God.
and Knowing that
what has not yet happened is good as done in God.
So, let me ask you tonight
Is your heart set on God?
is your faith affecting how you live?
Is your faith please God
And as we reflect on those questions this week
lets remember
that we are saved by faith
Ephesians 2:8 “8 For you are saved by grace through faith,
Romans 5:1 “1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
we trust that what God has done is suffciant
in the person of Jesus Christ
Our confidence is in Jesus Christ
and therehore,
our hope
and our faith is in him as well
Let’s Pray!