Faith Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16

As I was praying for a topic and reading scripture. This one clicked with me this week.

I told LeAnn, I know what it’s going to be about and the topic of Faith

However on Tuesday, I asked her did I already speak on Faith?, while we were setting in our morning Convocation as we returned back to work.

So my minds scrabbling I don’t have my computer, she looked back through Facebook to see if that’s what I spoke on.

I speak sporadically and I must have done such a good job LeAnn didn’t remember what I spoke on either and she had to heard it TWICE, I have preach enough now that I can’t remember everything I spoken about.

My last time speaking was on Assurance, and while this topic is similar and very closely related. I have all new scriptures and stories to keep us going

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.

2. 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. 9 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. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 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. 12 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. 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. 14 Now those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they were thinking about where they came from, they would have had an opportunity to return. 16 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. * word of God for the people of God.

* July 31st was the MLB trade deadline. My Reds are close 1 game and 1 spot out of being in the wild card playoffs. The last time we made the playoffs in a full season was 2013. So it’s been a minute. Before the season we made a great hire, we hired a great manager in Terry Francona, who managed to win two World Series with the Red Sox My faith in the front office was raised.

We have a good young pitching staff and our shortstop arguably is the most exciting player in baseball. Even his name “ Elly De La Cruz” is exciting.

At the trade deadline there are three choices teams must make. If your competitive and looking to make a push, you trade for a key player. If your happy and content with what you have you hold tight. With Major Market teams, this happens often because they were able to pay free agents in the off season and already have all the pieces. Or your a seller, your season has gone bad, you have some good players you trade for young prospects to rebuild for the future.

If your curious what the Reds did, we got a light hitting infielder and a pitcher who hadn’t won in two full months, instead of a game changing hitter. My faith waned, but we are still close. I have to trust the process.

Moving on to the more serious topic of Faith.

Faith the Greek word is pistis - πίστις- A term used 24-27 times depending upon your translation in 3 different structural forms.

Hebrews Chapter 11 is a chapter of Faith

I want to repeat this definition of because I think its better than any dictionary - Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.

We have an active Faith. A faith that produces good works.

When the author, most scholars say either Luke or Paul is writing to the Hebrews. They are facing hard times as Dusty Rhodes would have said.

Persecution, Affliction, and Death are just some of the things Jewish Christians are facing.

The Author provides great wisdom and comfort in providing examples of ancestral faith that Abraham is heading to a land he doesn’t know on the promise of inheritance, Sarah past her childbearing days due to faith conceives, Noah’s faith and buidling of the arc saves his family just to name a few, when they were experiencing hard challenging times.

I think the author and God really do a good job of giving us examples of challenges throughout the bible and how Faith has saved them.

I was talking to Brian and we were talking about Faith and how it can waver and still sticking to it and pushing through.

He provided me with an example using courage. Courage isn’t that you aren’t afraid, it’s that while you are afraid and still do it anyway. It made me look at it from a different point of view.

We all go through challenges in life, Life is hard. At times you maybe more fortunate than some or less. We have to trust the process and the promise.

People that interact with the public and work with kids, we see the decisions parents make and how that has impacted children on through adult hood. Sometimes it can make you question your own faith.

Or when a grandparent on a fixed income has a large unexpected expenditure and you can’t help that. It’s hard.

A loss of child or major medical incident. It’s hard. It makes you question somethings or for me it does.

We have to push through and remain faithful. We have to trust the process, and trust the promise.

A few quotes that I found with great meaning:

"Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light." - Helen Keller 

Our faith, the works our faith in Jesus produces helps bring light into the world and Glory to God.

"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step." - Martin Luther King Jr. 

We don’t need to see the whole picture. Much like work tasks if we stack little victories daily, we build up huge wins over the course of time. As we continue to interact with our faith, trusting the promise, praise Jesus we will continue to grow our faith like watering a plant.

"To trust God in the light is nothing, but to trust him in the dark. That is faith." - Charles Spurgeon 

It’s easy for us to trust God when things are easy. Everyone is healthy, you just got paid, had a good steak at Texas Roadhouse and so on. When things are tough like the broken down car, the loss of someone we love, thats when our faith is tested. That’s our faith becomes more secure in the Lord as we push through with his guidance, grace, and care.

Our faith is something one of the spiritual gifts that God gives all believers.

Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith Jesus said to his disciples, "Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

What are some ways we can practice our faith.

Prayer - taking dedicated time, set aside to pray. To talk to God, A loving father wants to hear what his children have to say, what they are feeling, and experiencing. Ask for guidance. A lot of people I know that travel more than just a couple minutes to work will use that time to talk to God and pour their heart out.

Bible Study - Participate in Bible study, read and interact with your bible. There’s bible studies on line, bible reading plans if you need scripture topics such as faith, anxiety, depression and so on "If our faith isn't rooted in the Bible, it will wither like a plant pulled out of the soil." - Billy Graham 

Service - Fellowship with your church. Look for opportunities to serve, assist, participate, help.

These are just three things you can do that help grow your faith, that can help you in the hard, difficult, challenging times we all experience. Trusting the process, Trusting the promise can be challenging. These steps can help you.

I was on a quote finding roll this week. Thomas Watson a puritan had two that I thought were fantastic. I couldn’t narrow it down to 1, because I needed to hear and read both.

"Faith has influence upon all the graces, and sets them to work; not a grace stirs till faith sets it to work." - Thomas Watson 

When I talk about preaching with Brian, he gives me pointers and I am not sure how good I do at implementing them, but if there is one thing that I would like you to remember is the next quote.

"A weak faith can receive a strong Christ." - Thomas Watson 

We all know the verse where Jesus says if we can have the faith of a mustard seed we can move mountains.

As wrap up a good short verse on faith is 2nd Corinthians 5:7 For we live by faith, not by sight. as things crumble around us, our Faith, our trust in the Lord’s promises and in his Son are what will give us the ability carry through.

Let Us Pray - Lord just thank you for allowing us to be hear today. Lord thank you for sending your Son Jesus to the cross to bear our sins. Thank you for providing us with a loving and caring church. A church that is dedicated to serving and following you. Lord we ask you now, please to give us the strength and the confidence in you for us to keep the faith. Lord when life is challenging, please allow us to remain faithful to you. In Jesus name Amen.

And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”

In tradition with Brian’s weekly challenge, this week I challenge you to take a little time each day and talk to God and interact with him in a purposeful way.