171; Seriously; Faith; Hebrews 11

Intro

One of the interesting facets of having teenagers in the house is we seem to be able to communicate requirements, rebellion, reactions and resolution with only one word. It typically begins with Tracey or me asking about homework or requesting the help in cleaning the house. From the moment of the request only one word seems to be required. It typically happens something like this - Seriously? Seriously. Seriously?! Seriously.

As Christians, there are topics we need to take seriously. We’ve been talking about building foundations. Without these, our foundations will only last as long as there is no conflict or as long as we stay interested. Seriously.

We can become so familiar with topics like forgiveness, unity, or repentance ... that they begin to lose their meaning. We take them for granted and we forget just how important they are to forming what we believe and determining how we behave. Over the course of the next several weeks, we'll take a careful look at what the Bible says about these serious issues and we will rely on Jesus to help us experience even more of the hope and purpose he provides.

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Today we’ll be talking about faith from a text that is known as the “hall of fame” of faith. This is Cooperstown for those who belong to God.

Church history—Seerley Creek history—faith

Today we’ll look at the serious topic of faith. We hear things like; I’m going to have to step out in faith. Or, she’s a woman of faith. Or, I won’t follow blind faith. What’s that mean? What is faith and why is it vital for the life of the Christian? . Page 846.

Text

Hebrews 11:1–2 NIV

1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.

Defining Faith

Faith is the life lived in the confidence that there is something greater that we don’t see clearly now. It’s an assurance in that reality that causes us to live differently. For the Christian, faith is the confidence that there is a God who is both love and just. Those attributes come together at the cross where he paid the price for our sin. Our faith is confidence in that reality.

For some, faith is easy. You see the stars or a baby and you get it, you understand there has to be a grand designer.

For others, faith is hard. When C. S. Lewis finally came to faith, he was upset that it was true. Intellectually, he couldn’t ignore the evidence.

If that is you I want to say; faith isn’t ignoring facts. There is evidence behind faith that suggest conclusions. Coming to faith involves looking at that evidence and then heading in the direction it leads.

Hebrews 11:3 NIV

3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

Illustrate with Jesus’ death and resurrection

Fact - many centuries before it happened we have disturbingly accurate descriptions of the death of Jesus of Nazareth.

Fact - Jesus of Nazareth claimed he would die for the penalty of sin and be raised to life three days later.

Fact - Jesus of Nazareth was publicly executed.

Fact - Jesus of Nazareth’s tomb was found to be empty three days later.

Fact - More than 500 eye-witnesses claimed to have seen, talked, and ate with him after the resurrection.

Fact - His original disciples were willing, and nearly all were, executed because they wouldn’t stop preaching they’d seen a dead man come to life.

Faith isn’t blind - it’s entirely reasonable. I’d push this further - when we take an honest look at the evidence, what Jesus had to say about everything else suddenly becomes important.

We must be a people of faith.

The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Hebrews The Nature of Faith (11:1–3)

The American philosopher Henry David Thoreau is famous for the remark, “If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.”

I’m a bit of a nerd for church history . At one point I wanted to pursue a PhD in church history, but I found out that was a fancy term for no work. But I still love studying Church history and I’m becoming a bit of a nerd for Seerley Creek history.

I appreciate hearing and trying to learn from the good and the difficulties the church has faced. Church history and Seerley Creek history remind me of two things:

Jesus is faithful to his church.

Faith in the Jesus leads to sacrifice

I know there are plenty of new folks around and that’s an awesome thing. I’ll give you just a piece of the history.

Seerley Creek started 91 years ago as Mars Hill Church of Christ. Like all churches, it has had good times and hard times. Ups and down, struggles and victories. While it’s no fun to go through it, it’s good to tell even the difficult stories because oftentimes you’ll hear stories of great faith. During the construction of this building, when the contractor absconded with the money, by faith, people came together and got to work. People gave sacrificially, God provided, and we have a great place today..

Whether its SC3 or any other church, it’s at it’s best, has been when it has been forced to act in faith.

I have the privilege of serving and worshiping (we have the privilege of serving and worshiping) in a place where where Jesus has been faithful for 91 years We have our struggles and strengths but this is a place where folks have by faith, sacrificed, given, and served because they were convinced in what we hope for but don’t yet see. That helps me when I want to be critical or forget what faith is all about.

The history of God’s people is a story of faith acted out in life. Throughout , the author not only highlights the “hall of famers” but the way in which they had confidence in what they hoped for and assurance in what they didn’t see, and it guided their actions.

The history of God’s people is a story of faith acted out in life. Through the chapter, the author not only highlights the “hall of famers” but the way in which...

Faith guides the way we worship - Abel

Faith informs our discipleship - Enoch

Faith obeys God when it’s hard - Noah

Faith believes God’s promises and waits- Abraham

Faith recognizes that it is better to suffer with the godly than to get rich with the devil - Moses

Faith provides the wisdom to recognize God’s work and strength to act on it - Rahab and Joshua

Faith becomes the controlling aspect of life. Faith cannot be relegated to a particular day of the week or a particular aspect of my life. Faith is the lens through which all life is seen.

The list here in Hebrews includes men and women, common folks and kings, Jews and Gentiles. There is a farmer, a carpenter, a shepherd, a prime minister, a general , a prostitute, and a king!

This is important: don’t look at people in Scripture and assume their lives are different. They had good times and they had bad times. What unites them and why we’re still talking about them, is the way they lived by faith. Some knew they were on a grand stage and others did not. Either way, the lived by faith—they made choices according to their faith. A person who follows Jesus should be a person who’s life is noticeably different because of faith.

Most people’s behavior can by accounted for on the basis of their circumstances. The Christian’s entire life should be guided by faith.

Romans 12:2 NIV

2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Scripture forms the way we look at the world. The world doesn’t form the way we look at Scripture.

He makes it perfectly clear.

Hebrews 11:6 NIV

6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Do you feel the gravity of faith. It is simply impossible to please God without faith. No amount of good deeds or anything else can bring you into a place where God will be pleased with you or me. Only by faith.

Then the author wraps up the chapter with a whole list of people that includes some pretty interesting names.

Hebrews 11:39-40

The first list was impressive and you expect him wrap it up there but the author takes an odd series of turns in the text:

First; he provides a list of people that includes some pretty interesting characters.

There is one that I’d like to focus on. In verse 32 he drops the name Samson. Why Samson. Samson was set apart from birth. He is the guy who had everything and he threw it all away. He walked on every aspect of his relationship with God and the work God called him to. He was so calloused to God that the Holy Spirit had left him and he didn’t even know it. So why is he mentioned here?

It’s not where you start, it’s where you end. Jerry Sneva Illustration.

But then it gets more odd and difficult. We need to pay close attention here. The author goes mentions great victories and terrible pain. Sometimes people of faith put entire armies to flight. Other times, they were thrown in jail and killed.

It would be tempting try an say there is some technique that would guarantee victory as opposed to pain. But that would be a lie. I was having a chat with a pastor friend yesterday morning on the ways things turn out different than we envisioned. Our focus has to be on the greater reality.

Moses spent 40 years walking around in the desert with grumpy church-folks. As soon as it was time to enter the Promised Land, God said, “No.” His assistant, Joshua, would be the one.

I heard a preacher (Matt Chandler) speaking to seminary students on this text. He basically said, “Some of you will preach in huge churches and some of you will spend your careers being a chew-toy for a grumpy congregation.” Pretty encouraging stuff.

Notice what he does here in the text

Hebrews 11:39–40 NIV

39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

God had something better planned - Jesus. Through Jesus, you and I, Moses and Samson, become one people. Through Jesus, we are reconciled to God the Father. Through Jesus, we will spend eternity in Heaven.

He had something better planned - Jesus

So I have to ask you an important question; is Jesus enough? Is your heart captivated by him or is he simply part of the plan for a better life?

Faith is only as strong as it’s object. A faith in Jesus will see you through the difficulties. Genuine faith, is confident in and captivated in Jesus.

What are Practical Choices that I Can Make Today?

Hebrews 12:1–3 NIV

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

What’s the “therefore” there for? The author provides the application. Since faith will have victory and pain—since some roads are more difficult than others. Since we have this incredible history of faith of God’s people and faithfulness of Jesus himself, let us...

Faith works to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles:

The two are more twisted and tangled than one might think. Things that are morally-neutral can become sin issues. When even healthy things impede our ability to be part of God’s plans, they become sinful.

I have conversations with guys who have been Christians for years and know very little about the faith but they can me all about the Colts third backup tight-end.

Anything that competes with God needs to be kicked to the curb.

Sin

AND we have to get serious about our sin struggles.

Have you ever noticed its easy to minimize our sin by maximizing other people’s sin? We like to speak of the struggles we don’t have.

Sometimes we study our Bibles but we refuse to share the Gospel with our families and friends.

Sometimes we serve, but on our terms. Is Jesus the prize or simply another avenue to get our way?

Hear me on this: holiness is a big deal. Dealing with the sin in our own lives is a big deal because it prepares us for a life of usefulness in the Kingdom.

Instead of getting hung up sin and things that hinder, we keep our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. He is the object of our faith and the center of our worship. He is our hope and assurance.

If we serve in kids ministry - its by faith in Jesus

If we share the Gospel with someone - its by faith in Jesus

If we take communion - its by faith in Jesus

If we choose to be kind to those we struggle with — its by faith in Jesus

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Whether we serving in kids ministry, taking communion, or dealing with the difficulties of life—we will display confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.