Hebrews 11:1-16 A demand for a life of faith

Danny Parker

Faith • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

Hebrews 11:1–16

Saving Faith

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Illustration:

Svetta was only a young teenager – yet she taught me a lot.

In the testimony time in church she said with joy and exhuberance:

I am glad that I have not bread. When I had bread I worried about what to put on it. Now that I have no bread, I am thankful for any bread that I have.

Svetta was a young teenager living in the impoverished country of Moldova a part of the old Soviet Union. The city had had no heat all winter. Svetta’s single mother had left her in the city and had fled to the country where she might find food in the village of her upbringing. Recently, the Russians had totally turned off the gas to Moldova and now there was no gas to cook and the fear that even electricity was going to be cut off. Yet Svetta was a Christian. Her hope was not in her circumstances. Her hope was in God. In spite of the dismal conditions, she radiated with a confidence that projected to all that she understood a greater reality. She had been and continued to live by faith.

In America we don't often have to live a life of faith

We get by just fine on our own – not that we would profess this

Perhaps part of the reason the Lord brings the uncertainty into our lives is to remind us of this need

The just have a need to live by faith

Hebrews 10:35-38 (NKJV) 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 37 “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith;

NKJV Heb 11: 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Faith is not optional. The required norm for the Christian is a life of faith. Let’s look at what this means.

I. A life of faith means – Trust in God's character and promises regardless of circumstance

A. What faith looks like.

NKJV Heb 11: 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

NLT Heb 11.1 What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see.

1. Substance of hope

a. Foundation logs / Reason for our expectation

2. Evidence of the not yet seen

a. Legal title of what is not yet reality / Confidence in spite of lack of visual evidence

3. Faith is confident trust even when the reality is not visible

Quote: "Leaving the certainties of what one knows and going out into what is quite unknown – relying on nothing other than the Word of God – is the essence of faith" Leon Morris Expositors

B. This type of faith is demanded by God

1. Others received approval because of their faith

NKJV Heb 11: 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

nlt Heb 11: 2 God gave his approval to people in days of old because of their faith.

a. Even in “law” era -- In fact – the only way to please God in any age was/is by faith

NKJV Heb 11: 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him,

C. Faith defined – it’s all about a life focused on Him

1. Trust in His person

NKJV Heb 11: 6 … for he who comes to God must believe that He is,

a. Not

1) Not an emotion 2) Not in faith itself

b. Confidence in God as He has revealed Himself

1) Real / I AM God / Powerful / love / Desires relationship with us

2. Believe He is worth following

NKJV Heb 11: 6 … and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

a. Not a vending machine to do our will – but a rewarder of those seeking Him --- it is worthwhile to trust Him

b. Trust Him to act in the manner consistent with His character

c. He can and does act and will act on behalf of those who trust in Him

3. Respond to Him

NKJV Heb 11: 6 … for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

a. Commit your life to Him

II. A life of faith means – Respond to God regardless of the circumstances

A. Understood the Will of God

nkjv Heb 11: 8 By faith i Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out …

1. Not a vague feeling

2. The revealed Word of God – foundation

a. 90 percent of what we need for life God has already revealed.

b. life is the internalizing of what we know about Him

3. The rest comes from yielding to the Spirit’s prompting as you seek His will (Word applied/wise living / godly counsel / prayer)

B. Obeyed immediately

nkjv Heb 11: 8 By faith i Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out …

1. At the same time God spoke – Abraham responded (Present partic)

2. Understand His will

3. Do it

C. Obeyed in spite of cost

Nkjv Gen 12:1 ... Now the a Lord had said to Abram: “ Get b out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you.

Nkjv Gen 12:1 4 So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him,

1. 75 years old / Well off / roots / family / security / Predictability

D. Obeyed without knowing the details – in spite of the uncertainty

nkjv Heb 11:8 ... And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

1. Not a "positive" or “certain” move

2. Scary to go from known security to unknown

a. Emphasis will be on following the path

b. Rather than final objectives

E. Trusted that God would reward – left behind "the seen" trusting in God

nkjv Heb 11:8 ... to the place which he would receive as an inheritance.

nkjv Gen 12:2 I will make you a great nation;

I will bless you And make your name great;

And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you,

And I will curse him who curses you;

And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. ”

1. Personal reward / Family reward / Impact lives of others

III. A life of faith means – Keep walking with Him while waiting the reward

nkjv Heb 11 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob,

A. Not just a moment decision – a continuous process

nkjv Heb 11 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise

B. In spite of the difficulty

1. Never at home

nkjv Heb 11 9 … as in a foreign country

a. Not his possession – though promised

b. dwell as a stranger

c. Foreign land

2. Continuous wandering without receiving the full promises in his lifetime

nkjv, Heb 11 9 … dwelling in tents

a. No permanent dwelling - tents

C. Waiting on the promise in spite of circumstance

nkjv, Heb 11 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.