Faith of Our Fathers! Living Still
Summer School 2018-2019 • Sermon • Submitted
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· 1,376 views"Faith of our Fathers! Living Still": What is the Faith that our fathers had that could outlast all else? What gives it power to live through the ages? Love. "In spite of dungeon, fire, and sword": What gave our Fathers the power to live out their faith, regardless of death by dungeon, fire, and sword? What removed all fear from their hearts, giving them such great joy?
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Our Fathers
Our Fathers
Faith of our Fathers! Living Still!
Faith of our Fathers! Living Still!
What it is faith?
Usually we quote
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
But sometimes it seems a bit vague to understand this verse.
Can you tell me what it means?
I think give a more plain definition of faith:
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Heb
Faith is first to believe that God is real. That He is love. That God is everything that the Scriptures say that He is.
“He is” what?
He is God; there is none else beside Him.
35 Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the Lord he is God; there is none else beside him.
He is God in heaven and in earth. He is present with us.
39 Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.
Deut
He is the faithful God which keeps His promises and mercy with them that love Him and His commandments.
9 Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
He is YOUR God.
deut
21 He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.
He is your life.
20 That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
deut 30 20
He is good.
34 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; For his mercy endureth for ever.
1 chron 16 14
He is mighty in strength and wisdom.
5 Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: He is mighty in strength and wisdom.
Job
He is the saving strength of His anointed.
8 The Lord is their strength, And he is the saving strength of his anointed.
He is our help and our shield.
20 Our soul waiteth for the Lord: He is our help and our shield.
Ps
He is a great King over all the earth.
2 For the Lord most high is terrible; He is a great King over all the earth.
He is my defence.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my defence; I shall not be moved.
Ps
He is gracious, full of compassion, and righteous.
4 Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
Ps 1
He is altogether lovely.
16 His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.
He is brought to as a lamb to the slaughter.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, Yet he opened not his mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth.
isa 53
He is able to abase those that walk in pride.
37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
Dan
He is like a refiners fire and like fullers’ soap.
2 But who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:
He is risen.
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
Matt
He is the Son of God
20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
He is Lord of all.
36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
He is our peace.
Eph
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
He is the mediator of a better covenant.
6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
He is faith that promised.
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
He is precious.
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
1 pet
He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
He is the propitiation (atonement) for our sins.
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
He is pure.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
He is righteous.
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
1 jn
He is Lord of lords, and King of kings.
14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
To believe that “He is” means to understand that I surrender my life, my every concern, perplexity to Him; to believe the “ He is” means to learn to trust and confide in Him.
Psalm 34
8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: Blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
29 We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. 30 The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. 31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. 32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. 33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. 34 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out. 35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? 36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? 37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. 38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
29
To believe that “He is” means that you have a moral responsibility to God and to those whom He has created, especially your neighbour who also has been created in the image of God!
You no longer live to yourself, but now you have the responsibility and privilege to live for God and your fellow man.
1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
2 cor 5 14-
14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
Unfortunately it is possible for us to fall away and lose our experience, even if we have tasted that the Lord is good!
4-
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Why it is impossible for these men to receive repentance again is most likely because they have sinned against the Holy Ghost.
Paul is talking to the Hebrews who were being persecuted by the Judaeo countrymen and who outrightly denied the deity of Christ and Him being the Messiah, and who also vindicated His murderers as having Him crucified as the worst of criminals.
Those Jews who tasted the Lord was good, whose hearts burned within them when they heard the word of God preached with power, and felt the influence of the mighty working of the Holy Spirit on their hearts, when, after all this they intentionally reject the gospel and declare now that all the work of heaven they felt in their hearts was not actually from heaven, but actually from Satan, hence why it is impossible fro them to be renewed again unto repentance.
He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
After realising who “He is”, faith then will work and be exercised in Him.
We must believe that God is faithful to His word and that He will perform that which He has spoken when we meet the conditions of obedience and submission.
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
45 There failed not ought of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.
Who does He reward? “them that diligently seek Him”.
Who are they that diligently seek Him?
These are persons who after beholding God and being convinced of His love, they strive to know Him more, and not just know more about Him, but to know Him more in the sense of being conformed to His character.
If we only behold that God is just, then it may lead us to be just in our lives, but what about love and mercy?
To behold God is not just to read or learn more about Him in church, but you read and go to church, and pray in order to find out more about Him. And as you find out more about Him, your own character will expand and grow because you see more of God’s perfection.
2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, And that seek him with the whole heart.
ps 119
This is what I believe was the faith of our fathers:
An example of this is Moses
That God existed, He was real, and that He was personal and present in their lives.
Not only that God was real and present, but they saw that He was truth and mercy in One. They saw that God is love, and that He demonstrated this love “in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
They also saw that He had a truth that was eternal and unchangeable, and believed that it was the God-given right of every man to know just what he knew about God and the plan of salvation.
They saw that God was always faithful to His promises, and by this they had an unbreakable confidence if they would be faithful to the end of their lives, they would receive the inheritance of the saints and live eternally with their Lord and Master Jesus Christ.
In view of the prize of a crown of righteousness, they gave themselves fully to seek God and to know more perfectly His will and truth for them so that they might conform their lives to it, knowing that the joy of this experience outweighed all the hardships that life brings.
What enables this faith to endure for centuries, even millennia?
6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
The Amplified Bible puts it like this:
For [if we are] in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love. AMP
Love is enduring. It endures everything.
Love will endure pain, suffering, discomfort.
Love will endure time, and distance.
Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. It is, in fact, the one thing that still stands when all else has fallen. Phillips New Testament Translation
Love will drive a person to their limits, and then keep going. It knows no limit.
You see, when we talk about the faith of our fathers that is living still, it is because it is activated, and energized by love.
Not just any love, but the love in is agape love.
The sense of the word is this: A strong affection and regard for a person and their good as understood by God’s moral character; especially characterised by a willing forfeiture of rights or privileges in another person’s behalf.
When we understand that it is love that made the faith of our fathers to endure the worst kind of treatment, then it becomes easier to understand.
Those of you here today, I am sure that each of you has at least one person in your lives who you could say with confidence that you love; most likely you will have more than just one!
If that person or persons needed you, or if you had to forfeit your rights and privileges for someone who you loved, wouldn’t you do it? Would it be hard to make the decision? The sacrifice might not be easy, but the decision to make it wouldn’t when you have in mind the welfare and happiness of that person.
Husband will give his life for his wife.
A mother will give her life for her children.
Our fathers gave their life for their Master and His cause.
This can only happen when faith work through love.
The faith of our fathers could endure torture, dungeon, fire, and sword because they had no fear of consequences.
12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. 15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
1 jn
A. E. Brooke comments on verse 18, “Fear, which is essentially self-centered, has no place in love, which in its perfection involves completely self-surrender.”
Perfect love, which centers on God, cannot tolerate slavish fear, and does not need to, for “if God be for us, who can be against us?”. He who truly loves has no fear of God and has no need to fear the machinations of Satan or men.
28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Why could the faith of our fathers endure dungeon, fire, and sword?
Because Christ had already gone before them and endured even greater agony, but perfected faith and came off more than conqueror.
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.
jn 15 18-
heb 12
3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and your hearts give up.
20 For what credit is it if when you are being beaten for your sins you patiently endure? But if when doing good and suffering for it, you patiently endure, this is favorable before God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 “He committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth.” 23 When He was reviled, He did not revile back; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but He entrusted Himself to Him who judges righteously. 24 He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness. “By His wounds you were healed.” 25 For you were as sheep going astray, but now have been returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
0-
1 Therefore, since we are encompassed with such a great cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. 2 Let us look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and your hearts give up.
heb 12
What enabled Christ to endure the torture, humiliation, scourging, and crucifixion? “for the joy that was set before Him” he endured the cross.
Joy of what?
isa 53 10
10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
Joy of seeing souls saved in the kingdom.
Joy of making an end of sin and the ushering in the reign of righteousness.
Desire of Ages Chapter 74—Gethsemane
Three times has He uttered that prayer. Three times has humanity shrunk from the last, crowning sacrifice. But now the history of the human race comes up before the world’s Redeemer. He sees that the transgressors of the law, if left to themselves, must perish. He sees the helplessness of man. He sees the power of sin. The woes and lamentations of a doomed world rise before Him. He beholds its impending p 693 fate, and His decision is made. He will save man at any cost to Himself. He accepts His baptism of blood, that through Him perishing millions may gain everlasting life. He has left the courts of heaven, where all is purity, happiness, and glory, to save the one lost sheep, the one world that has fallen by transgression. And He will not turn from His mission. He will become the propitiation of a race that has willed to sin. His prayer now breathes only submission: “If this cup may not pass away from Me, except I drink it, Thy will be done.”
Desire of Ages Chapter 74—Gethsemane
The worlds unfallen and the heavenly angels had watched with intense interest as the conflict drew to its close. Satan and his confederacy of evil, the legions of apostasy, watched intently this great crisis in the work of redemption. The powers of good and evil waited to see what answer would come to Christ’s thrice-repeated prayer. Angels had longed to bring relief to the divine sufferer, but this might not be. No way of escape was found for the Son of God. In this awful crisis, when everything was at stake, when the mysterious cup trembled in the hand of the sufferer, the heavens opened, a light shone forth amid the stormy darkness of the crisis hour, and the mighty angel who stands in God’s presence, occupying the position from which Satan fell, came to the side of Christ. The angel came not to take the cup from Christ’s hand, but to strengthen Him to drink it, with the assurance of the Father’s love. He came to give power to the divine-human suppliant. He pointed Him to the open heavens, telling Him of the souls that would be saved as the result of His sufferings. He assured Him that His Father is greater and more powerful than Satan, that His death would result in the utter discomfiture of Satan, and that the kingdom of this world would be given to the saints of the Most High. He told Him that He p 694 would see of the travail of His soul, and be satisfied, for He would see a multitude of the human race saved, eternally saved.
Christ’s agony did not cease, but His depression and discouragement left Him. The storm had in nowise abated, but He who was its object was strengthened to meet its fury. He came forth calm and serene. A heavenly peace rested upon His bloodstained face. He had borne that which no human being could ever bear; for He had tasted the sufferings of death for every man.
What was the joy of our father’s that led them to endure such hardship?