The Faith Full Response

Introduction - Open your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 11, verses 11-12. And then, also mark or hold open Genesis 18:11-13. We will be looking at just two verses this morning in the book of Hebrews and three verses in the book of Genesis our journey considering the Faith Full christian life.

In Hebrews 11— God in His wisdom has given us these gleaming examples to challenge us in all aspects of our faith in Christ. Those actual records referenced are found in the Old Testament scriptures.

These men and women who have gone before us— were first - real people with real problems. And secondly, they were real people who wrestled with the difficulties of this life, particularly their own sinfulness. They wrestled with a fallen world and a adversary which hated them.

The power in these records is twofold— (1) In the fact that God has given them to us— . And then (2) in the fact of you and I being able to identify with their humanity— we all are men of like passions.

Here in our text, which we will read in just a minute, we have two opposing positions in the life of one individual.

On the one hand, we have a supreme example of disbelief—- and then we are told of a supreme example of belief.

Let’s read— in two places this morning-

We will begin in the order in which they take place— so look with me first of all in Genesis 18.

Genesis 18:11–13 “11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. 12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? 13 And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?”

Now let’s read in Hebrews 11:11–12 “11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.”

Let’s Pray

We see first of all in this account— as we were to look at this as the natural response of man:

The Plaque Of Disbelief

In Genesis 18, we see the account of Abraham and Sarah. The Bible is specific to let us know that these both, Abraham and Sarah were well stricken in age.

They were at this moment Abraham was 99 years old, and Sarah was 89 years old- for there was ten years age difference between them according to Genesis 17:17.

In verse 9 and 10, we read of the wonderful promise of God- that Abraham and Sarah would have a child.

Genesis 18:9–10 “9 And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent. 10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.”

I find it very interesting the Lord asks specifically, “Where is Sarah thy wife?”

Did God already know where Sarah was? Of course. So to what purpose was this question asked?

We see that what God had to say to Abraham concerned both Abraham and Sarah. Remember, Sarah was the one who had recommended to Abraham to take Hagar to raise up seed. And I believe the point is, that God is working in both Abraham’s life and Sarah’s as well.

God’s design for all us is to appear in the “hall of faith.”

Sarah would be challenged in her faith. And so this morning we too can identify with Sarah, that we suffer from the plaque of disbelief toward God.

There are several reasons for this — and it is good for us to recognize them.

Number 1, we suffer from this plaque because of:

A. The plight of man

The plight of man is universal. What I mean by that is that we are all sinners. It is in our first birth, that we enter into this world born in sin and sinners.

This effects our entire being. It effects our thinking. It effects our reasoning. It effects our behavoir. And we can all testify this morning that it effects our bodies as well.

This is the plight of man. The response of the natural fallen man is one of disbelief.

Abraham and Sarah suffered from this very same plight. And you and I do as well.

But then secondly, we suffer from this plaque because of:

B. The power of man

Do you realize that in disbelief we oftentimes measure the promises of God, by the power of man?

We may not say this out loud, but our minds begin to think, is this humanly possible.

This is undoubtedly part of our fallen reasoning. God presents a promise to you and I that as far as man is concerned is impossible. We look at that promise and begin to analyze— can this take place— listen—- with what I know.

And we come to the understanding that with men this is impossible—- or at the very best this is improbable.

Can I testify to you— that I can recount many times over my lifetime—where God has accomplished what I thought was improbably?

Can i further testify that there has been things that God has brought to pass that I believed were impossible?

Unbelief asks the question “How can this be?”

Belief makes the statement, “How shall this be?”

Let me give you two biblical examples of this found in one chapter in the Bible.

Luke chapter 1— gives us the record of the announcement of both the future birth of John the Baptist, but also the future birth of Jesus Christ. Two different births both miraculous and both impossible.

You remember Zacharias in the temple of God asked the Angel “Whereby shall I know this?” We are told in the 20th verse of Luke 1, that he was in disbelief.

In other words, How can this be? His reason— the same which we find in this text in Genesis 18— He was an old man, His wife was stricken in years.

But we see opposed to that, just a few verses later, Mary exclaiming to the anger, “How shall this be— seeing I know not a man?”

Again, an impossible situation for a woman to have a child having not known a man. But Mary’s response is found as more of an inquiry of the how the Lord would do this thing, not if the Lord could do this thing.

You see the power of man — if that is what we are holding onto will lead us to disbelief.

But then, we may also think of —- as in the case of Sarah not only the plight of man, the power of man, but we probably in disbelief consider the:

C. The place of man

What is the place of man? Well you and I live in a sin cursed— sin laden world. All around us iniquity abounds. All around us creation travaileth.

All around us it seems that sometimes things appear to work out well… but then some difficulty and trial arises.

The place of man seems to be in a constant state of turmoil.

The place of man— as well known to all of us— constantly reveals our limitations.

Abraham and Sarah were in a place where they had no cards to play. They both were beyond child bearing years according to the bounds and laws that God had put in place.

The place of man— tends to grasp only that which is temporal, physical, and obvious before us!

This is the plaque of disbelief— and it is more rampant than any disease common to man!

But I want us to see— that this is not response that we are condemned to live in!

What we have before us is a response of belief from disbelief!

I think more often than not— you and I find ourselves in the same position as the father whose son was possessed of a dumb and deaf spirit… one whom the disciples could not cast out—- and it is this “Lord, I believe; help my disbelief…”

Notice with me the difference we find in this return to faith from Genesis 18 to Hebrews 11.

Friends, this is a good news story, this is what the Lord desires for everyone of us— that we growth in our faith— That our disbelief— turns to belief.

Perhaps you have found yourself in a period of disbelief… or in a position- of disbelief because of some situation notice with me as we turn over to Hebrews 11:

The Power Of Belief

Notice what the Bible tells us in Hebrews 11, about the power of our faith in Christ,

Hebrews 11:11 “11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.”

The power of God is entered into by God’s grace through faith.

Notice the entrance into God’s amazing power is stated here with the words “Through faith…”

Now God’s power has never diminished— it is the same today as it was then. God’s power would still be all-power regardless of whether Sarah had believed God or not.

The question is not whether God has all power. The question is whether or not we will receive the promises of God through the doorway of faith.

There are two keys to this kind of faith- and they made the difference in Sarah’s life.

You might be wondering how can a person go from laughing in disbelief to being recorded in God’s record of what we call “the hall of faith.”

Well first of all— if we too are going to turn from disbelief to belief, we must realize:

A. The Person Of The Promise

There is one word in the third clause that we ought to pay close attention to… it is the subject of Sarah’s thoughts… the subject is HIM.

Friend, it matters what you know and believe about God.

The Bible says, “Sarah judged Him… faithful..”

This the transformative thought.

On Wednesday nights we have been looking at the subject of “Adding to your faith…”

In those first 15 verses, Peter describes the abundant blessings and promises of the Christian life, but they are all through the knowledge of Him… the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Word of God says in 2 Peter 1:2- that grace and peace are multiplied through the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

All things— that pertain to life and godliness are given to you and I through the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

The power of belief is realized when we understand the Person of the Promise!

Sarah laughed at the first in disbelief— and this too is how we may respond at the first to the promises of God when no one is looking.

… but you should know that she would laugh again in the 21st chapter of Genesis… but this time it would be out of joy—- from the one who turned from disbelief to belief.

Genesis 21:6 “6 And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.”

Oh my friend— the joyful response of faith is contagious!

Who is the person of the promise? Well, we know it is Jesus Christ— the Author and Finisher of our faith.

The power in the One whom we trust is that “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

Now just know that that verse Philippians 4 and verse 13 is connected with knowing how to abound… and knowing how to be brought low… And the truth is that through the power of faith— belief— trust in Christ—- because of the person of the promise, regardless of what situation unfolds in my life or in yours — I can walk—and be strengthened through the journey by Him!

The performance Of The Promise

Charles Spurgeon stated this, “Whatever difficulties may lie in the way, we may always know that he is faithful who has promised.”