Hebrews 11:7-

Introduction

So we pick up this morning again in . This chapter is all about faith.

So based on last weeks lesson, what must we have to please God?

vs 6 - Faith is required.

Faith is the secret sauce, so to speak, in our walk and relationship with God. The good news is though that it only takes a tiny bit, like a mustard seed. But even that tiny amount can move mountains.

So we have talked about Abel and we talked about Enoch. Now we come to Noah.

Read 7 - 22

Noah

By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen: Noah was warned of something that had never happened before. His faith was shown in not merely agreeing that the flood would come, but in doing what God told him to do regarding the flood – he was moved with godly fear.

It had never rained before

The place where the ark was built was far from water

the word for “pitch” in Hebrew is “Kopher” and is the same word used to for “atonement”.

Prepared an ark: Real faith will always do something.

see This passage parallels Heb 11.

The New King James Version Chapter 2

18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

He condemned the world: We shouldn’t think that Noah was a man who preached sermons of condemnation to the world. Instead, the mere conduct of the godly, without any preaching at all, can feel like condemnation to the world.

Condemned - could also be translated “judged”. Noah’s faithfulness alone was a condemning message against an unbelieving world.

Your faithfulness and Godly life style also judge those around you who will not believe.

Look at the Abortion issue today.

Just go on a successful diet and lose 50 pounds.

Abraham and Sarah

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker isGod. By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude; innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

By faith, Abraham obeyed: Abraham did step out in faith, going to the place God promised him; but his faith was less than perfect. This is seen by comparing with , where it is evident that Abraham first went half way to where God called him, and only eventually obeyed completely. Yet thousands of years later, God did not “remember” the delayed obedience, only the faith.

Note all the men God uses are flawed with a sin nature just like you and me.

By faith, he dwelt in the land of promise: Abraham lived as a “sojourner” in the land God promised, never owning any of it except the plots that he and Sarah were buried on. Dwelt translates the ancient Greek word paroikos, describing a “resident alien” – one who lives somewhere, but doesn’t have permanent status there.

Lit - paroikos - beside the house

A resident alien or a sojourner is evident. The way they talk, the way they dress, their mannerisms, their entertainment, their citizenship, and their friends, all speak of their native home. If someone is the same in all these areas as the “natives,” they are no longer sojourners – they are permanent residents. Christians shouldn’t live as if they are permanent residents of planet earth.

See , Citizens of heaven

the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

If you read you will get a description of what that city is like! I can’t wait to go there and live there. No Sin, No flesh, physically with Jesus.

By faith Sarah: Sarah’s faith was not perfect. She first laughed in unbelief () and then she learned to laugh in faith ().

Imagine Sara, an old women, barren, and God tells her she is going to have a son.

Because she judged Him faithful who had promised: Faith comes down to judging that God is faithful and able to keep His promises. It was this faith that enabled Sarah to receive strength to conceive seed. God gave the strength, but Sarah received it by faith.

Summation

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

These all died in faith, not having received the promises

Mostly all, have and will, die, before the Rapture. We all hope that we are that last generation. Only God knows. But that doesn’t stop me from teaching about prophecy and End Time events. We don’t understand it all especially the timing but all the thing written will come to pass. Don’t ever give up.

Ask yourself, How comfortable are you here in this world. Not to say that it is all horrible, but rather that deep with in every believer is the sense that we are meant for someplace else. We are eagerly waiting for Jesus to return and living for Him while we are here.

-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 - offered up Isaac. In his heart Abraham was determined to do it.

concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead,

As far as Abraham was concerned, Isaac was as good as dead and it was from the dead that he received him back, in a manner that prefigured the resurrection of Jesus.

We often worry how God is going to pull it off. It’s an impossible thing, Abe needed Isaac per God’s promise but God asked Him to sacrifice him. That didn’t delay Abe’s obedience and that’s why he is known as the father of faith.

Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

The faith in Isaac’s blessing came in after Isaac’s attempt to thwart the will of God was destroyed, when he said of Jacob, and indeed he shall be blessed ().

By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

Jacob had to lean on the top of his staff because he was given a limp many years before when God confronted him at Peniel (). As he leaned on his staff he remembered that God was great and held his future and the future of his descendants. Therefore he worshiped, demonstrating his faith and dependence on God.

He crossed his hands as he blessed Ephraim and Manasseh. Blessing the younger before the older.

By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.

Gave instructions concerning his bones: When Joseph died he was never buried. His coffin laid above ground for the 400 or so years until it was taken back to Canaan. It was a silent witness all those years that Israel was going back to the Promised Land, just as God had said.