Walking by Faith

Introduction

Hebrews 11 is the faith chapter.

We see the Old Testament heroes of the faith who were looking forward to the promise of God, the salvation in the Lord Jesus. And it was by faith in the promises of God that they were saved, and it is by faith in the promises of God that we are saved.

And the Bible says that once we have placed our faith in the person of Jesus Christ, that we are to walk by faith.

When should we walk by faith?

I. Even When It Doesn’t Make Sense

A. In Testing

No one experienced a God-sized test quite like Abraham. Abraham was such a man of faith that he was willing to do exactly what God would do for us, he was willing to give his only son, his son of promise.

Hebrews 11:17–19 “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.”

Abraham waited for a son. He faced great spiritual battles over his lack of a son. He wandered off into the depth of sin because of his longing to have a son. And yet, when the Lord asked Abraham to sacrifice his son on the altar of God, he obeyed in faith.

Abraham didn’t argue. He didn’t negotiate. He obeyed. He obeyed in faith Hebrews 11:19 “concluding that God was able to raise him up.”

God did so much more than that. Not only did God rescue Isaac from death, picturing how we will escape death, God provided a substitute so that Isaac would be spared. At the moment that Abraham was about to plunge the knife into the heart of his son, God prevented Him, Genesis 22:13-14

Genesis 22:13 NKJV

Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.

From then on they called that place “The Lord-Will-Provide” (Jehova Jireh).

In seasons of testing, you must, by faith, trust that Lord will provide for you, for He is Jehova Jireh.

B. In Deception

Hebrews 11:20 “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.”

Jacob and Esau had a troubled relationship, and their family was dysfunctional. The story goes that there were two brothers named Jacob and Esau. Jacob was the younger, Esau was the older, and their parents favorited them differently. Rebekah loved Jacob more, and Isaac loved Esau more, and there was turmoil in their home.

In that culture, the eldest son was to receive the greater blessing, not the younger. But God told them that the younger would receive the blessing.

Genesis 25:22–26 NKJV

But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If all is well, why am I like this?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her: “Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.” So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau. Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau’s heel; so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

Well, instead of waiting on the promises of God, Rebekah and Jacob came up with a plan to deceive Isaac, the father, and so they did. And the Bible says that when Isaac learned that he had been deceived by his wife and son, that Isaac “trembled exceedingly.”

We have all been deceived, and we have all been taken advantage of, but even in deception, I want you to know that you can walk in faith. For, Hebrews 11:20 “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.”

How does that work? How did he bless him in faith even though He was deceived?

God’s purposes will not be overruled. Where sin rules, God overrules. Even in Jacob’s sin God was able to accomplish His purpose.

Isaac was looking forward to God’s promise which He gave to Abraham, and in faith passed that promise to his own son, knowing that God would complete it. Isaac knew not that he was being deceived, but he did have trust in God that the promise would be fulfilled, and he didn’t stop trusting even when the deception came.

You may be dealing with the hurt from someone else’s deception, but I want you to trust that God is faithful, and where sin abounds, His grace abounds more.

Even though Jacob tried to lie and steal to get the promises of God, God made it all right in the end, just as He will for you.

C. In Weakness

Hebrews 11:21 “By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.”

This same deceiver, Jacob, was called Israel. And when God called him Israel, God broke his hip so that he would walk the rest of his days in weakness.

God and Jacob are in a wrestling match, and God wanted Jacob to learn to obey in weakness and stop trying to control and deceive, and Jacob wouldn’t give up! So God broke his hip.

Genesis 32:25 NKJV

Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him.

Now, as an old man, his eyes dim with death, did the same thing that Isaac did for him…he, in faith, handed the blessing of God down to his sons, in this case, his grandsons, the sons of Joseph.

Even in his dying breath, he knew that God’s work would continue, and that is faith.

Psalm 23:4 NKJV

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

D. In Wandering

Hebrews 11:22 “By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.”

Whether or not Joseph knew that his descendants would wander around because of their disobedience, he knew that Egypt wasn’t their home. And he commanded his children to make sure that his bones were moved to the promised land.

Genesis 50:24–25 NKJV

And Joseph said to his brethren, “I am dying; but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” Then Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.”

Joseph knew of the slavery, he knew of the hard times, but in faith, he trusted that God was going to bring him to the land of promise.

We have seen that fulfilled in the Lord Jesus, and one day we will enter somewhere greater than the promised land, we will enter into the presence of God himself, for it is by “grace we are saved through faith.”

Even though it feels as though we are wandering, we can trust God that He is bringing us to Him in glory.

Even when it doesn’t make sense, we can walk by faith.

II. Even When It Costs You

Luke 14:28 NKJV

For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—

This is Jesus telling us that we need to count the costs before becoming His disciple. For He says, “If they hated me, they’ll hate you. If they crucified Me, they’ll crucify you…so count the costs.” Discipleship costs.

We must walk by faith even when…

A. When It Costs What You Love

We saw this very same thing in the life of Abraham and Isaac, that Isaac was going to lose what he loved to be faithful to God, and here we have another example.

Hebrews 11:23 “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.”

Can you imagine? Having your beautiful baby boy wrapped in cloth, and here comes the men of Egypt, knocking at your door to murder that innocent child. The Pharoah at that time was threatened by the Israelites, and passed an edict to kill every male under the age of two. This was Satan’s plan to stop the work of God…

But in faith, so move by the Spirit of God, the parents of Moses sacrificed what they loved in order to walk with God, and they set their little baby boy there in the Nile…and because of the providence and provision of God, the daughter of the Pharoah found baby Moses there in the river, and raised him in the house of Pharoah.

The very thing that Satan sought to destroy would destroy Him, but it would have never happened if, by faith, the parents of Moses did not obey the command of God.

Does Jesus have preeminence in your life? Is there anything that you would not set loose for His glory?

B. When It Costs Your Comfort

Hebrews 11:24–26 “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.”

Egypt represents all that this world has to offer. All of the luxury, all of the materialism, all of the worldly knowledge…and all of the comforts of this life.

Yet, the Lord Jesus demands that we, by faith in Him, abandon everything that we know so that we might embrace Him instead. For, “Moses esteemed the reproach of Christ to be of greater value than all the treasures in Egypt…for Moses looked to the reward.

What is our reward?

Genesis 15:1 NKJV

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

Our reward is God. And by faith, we must live our lives willing to abandon everything this world has to offer and embrace the Lord. When they laugh, when they sneer, when they poke fun, we must, in faith, know that He is our reward, and not trade the riches of Heaven for the things of this earth which are dying.

C. When It Costs us Our Plans

Hebrews 11:27–29 “By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.”

Moses had a plan to live in Midian. He had a plan to retire on the family farm. But God spoke to him in a burning bush and said, “Moses, you are going to set My people free.”

Moses said, “But Lord, it’s not in my plans. It’s not something I can do. I can’t even speak right. You’ll need someone else!” And the Bible says that the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses.

And what we find is Moses shepherding…but instead of shepherding sheep in Midian, he is shepherding God’s people in the wilderness.

Proverbs 16:9 NKJV

A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.

You may think you have it all planned out and figured out, but when we are people who walk by faith, the Bible commands us to lay down our plans and to embrace what God is going to do instead.

III. Even When You Cannot See

2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

We have to use God’s Word and His promises as our eyes to see beyond the darkness.

Psalm 119:105 NKJV

Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

We do not see by sight, we see by faith.

A. When You Cannot See Victory

Hebrews 11:30 “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.”

Now we find ourselves in the book of Joshua. The Promised Land is waiting on the arrival of God’s people and the first stop is Jericho.

The Bible says that the people of Jericho were afraid, because they heard about God’s people…and the Bible says that they were “securely shut in.” History teaches us that Jericho’s walls were impenetrable, and there was no way that Israel could have had the victory…but God said that they would.

Then, in faith, the people of Jericho obeyed the Word of God. And as those priests blew those trumpets, the Bible says that the walls of Jericho fell to the ground.

Some of you are facing Jericho’s in your life. But it is by faith in the Lord that we will overcome every battle and every circumstance. And when you cannot see the victory, you need to remember that God has already delivered the victory.

Romans 8:31 NKJV

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

God, through the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus has conquered sin, sorrow, and death, and we walk by faith knowing that we have the victory, even when we cannot see it.

B. Even When You Cannot See Escape

Hebrews 11:31 “By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.”

The Bible says that the men of Jericho sat hopeless against the judgement of God…but it says that Rahab believed.

So many are trapped in a lie. So many believe that there is no hope for them. They have fortified themselves inside the walls of:

Self-Pity

Defeat

Discouragement

Sin

Weakness

But the Bible says that by faith we overcome. It says that by faith we can live victorious and that we don’t have to be trapped by fear. We can be like Rahab, and we can believe on the Lord, and while everyone else sits in their despondency, trusting in the walls that they have built over themselves, we are people who will trust in the Lord to deliver us.

2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

When we walk by faith, we have a sound mind, and we are not trapped by fear or any of its friends.

IV. Even When We Face Loss

Hebrews 11:35 “Women received their dead raised to life again.”

The Lord Jesus has overcome death by His death. But it is our faith in His death burial and resurrection which allows us to overcome death with Him.

Romans 6:4 NKJV

Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

We are to die the same death that Christ died. We are to be buried with Him. When we are buried with Him, we are raised to walk in life.

This is because sin and death owned us. And to be released from that contract of death, we must die. For whenever a man dies, any contract that he signs is now obsolete.

When we die with Christ, we die to sin, and we die to death, and we die to sorrow, and we are raised to walk in the newness of life. And then, we begin to walk in His Spirit, by His Word, and we find ourselves living in victory.

Even when we face loss, we can know that all who trust in the name of Lord are not dead, but they are merely sleeping until the Lord comes to bring their bodies from the dead.

V. Even When You Are Hated

Hebrews 11:35–38 “Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.”

It may very well be that you are hated for your faith.

You could be a woman, a mother, whose husband gives you a hard time every time you go to church and tithe to the Lord.

You could have a boss that makes your life harder knowing that you serve the Lord.

You could be an athlete who has no friends on the team because they are of the dark and you are of the light…

And we are all certain that Satan and his ministers hate us because we are children of light.

The Bible says that we are like our Lord. They despised Him, and they are going to despise us.

John 15:18–20 NKJV

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.

John 16:33 NKJV

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Conclusion

In all of these things that we experience here on the earth:

Confusion during testing

Cost in the midst of comfort

Darkness in the storms of life

Loss in this life

Hatred from the world

Yes, in all of these things, we labor and we walk, knowing that God is perfecting us day by day, and bringing us to a place of great reward.

Hebrews 11:40 “God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.”