Let's Talk About Faith

Well Good morning Gamaliel United Methodist Church it is good to be here this morning. I get a call early Wednesday morning from Brother Paul and he starts out with, “I hate to ask you this, and if you can’t I’ll figure something out. Can you preach Sunday?”

I know what it is like to have back trouble as my back goes out from time to time as well so Brother Paul I understand what you are going through and I know what it is like to not be able to stand for more than just a few minutes or even really turn from side to side without pain running through your back. I’ll keep praying that you will get well soon!

If you will please turn in your Bibles this morning to the book of Hebrews chapter 11. Hebrews chapter 11. We are talking about faith this morning in this great chapter called the “Hall of Faith.” If you will please stand for the reading of God’s Word.

Hebrews 11:1–31 ESV

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. 4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. 13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. 20 By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. 21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones. 23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. 29 By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

Let’s pray.

Thank you, you may be seated.

Like I said earlier, I really am glad to be here this morning. However, I’m a little tired and sore myself. I got back in town late last night from a camping trip. I work with a group of boys in South Carolina with a ministry called Christian Service Brigade. It is kind of like Christian Boy Scouts.

What we did this weekend down in North Carolina was go Rappelling in the Linville Gorge, also known as the “Grand Canyon of the East.” The specific place we were at is a place called the Chimney’s. It is absolutely beautiful. You get to see a full panoramic view of the Gorge and the mountains that surround it. The view is truly stunning. I have been to this particular spot dozens of times. Each time we go there with the boys we do rock climbing and rappelling.

And, just as a side note, I did this same trip when I was a middle school boy as well. In fact, we did this exact same trip for my very first trip with Christian Service Brigade.

It was November 1998, 22 years ago, and we are at the Chimney’s. I was a little 12-year-old boy on my first camping trip. It is in the 20’s that Friday night and I have on Nike Tennis Shoes, which did not keep my feet warm at all, and I had a Michael Jordan sleeping bag to sleep in. It was a very long night.

And so the next morning we get up, I’m freezing, and it is time to do our Rappelling down the side of the Chimney’s. Now, here is a problem. I am not the biggest fan of heights. But, of course, I was going to go because I didn’t want the guys to make fun of me. So our leader tells me that I am to let out rope and walk down the mountain until I get down to the bottom. Well, I let out rope, let out some more, and let out some more, and then something happened… I had let out so much rope that I now found myself upside down with my feet tangled in the rope 40 feet off of the ground.

Our leader looks at me and says, “Dave, don’t look down.” Of course, what do I do? I look down. So now I am terrified. The next thing he says to me is, “Dave, don’t move.” Well, I wasn’t exactly going anywhere. Long story short, they got me down and now I lead guys on that same trip and I am now the leader at the top of the mountain teaching the boys how to go down the side of the mountain, WITHOUT ending up upside down hanging from the top of the cliff.

But what I love about guiding these boys on these outdoor adventures, specifically the one we did this weekend, is that it gives us great object lessons. This weekend was about faith.

We have one guy in our Battalion, I will not mention his name in case he listens to this sermon, who was not looking forward going down the mountain at all. Several weeks before the trip he announced he was not going to go down. I told everyone that by the end of the trip, he would go down the mountain. He wasn’t convinced.

So I started talking to him one on one. I said I would take him to the top. I would show him how all of the ropes work, how it ties into your harness, how things are backed up and redundant. But then I told him something.

I said hey, look, I was scared to do this at your age too. But I did it. I’m still here, and now instead of cliffs that are 40 feet high, I have done cliffs that are 300 feet high and teach people how to do this myself, and I have never lost anyone. Do you trust me?

You see church, faith is all about trust. Do we believe what God has said or do we doubt Him? That is not to say you will not have doubts, but at the end of the day do you believe what God has said? Do you believe that He will provide? Do you believe that He works all things for the good of those who love Him? Do you believe that this morning?

The cool thing was that young man went down the side of that mountain yesterday and he went not just once, but five times. At the end he told me he was so glad he went down and thanked me for encouraging him to do it. We gotta have faith, we got to have trust.

We read a lot of great stories in the Hall of Faith. These are men and women who faced extraordinary circumstances and came out on top because they simply trusted God.

But there is one of these individuals that stand out to me and that is Abraham. Abraham lived his whole life in faith that God would provide, God would protect, and God would keep His promises to Abraham.

Look in verses 8-9.

Hebrews 11:8–9 ESV

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.

This is referring to the Covenant that God made with Abraham, back when his name was still Abram, in Genesis chapter 12. Let’s go there for a minute so we can get some context.

Genesis 12:1–3 ESV

1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

So God tells Abraham you need to leave your country. You need to leave those you love, you need to leave your family, your friends, your home. Abraham you need to leave this place because I have a special place for you. I have somewhere that is even greater for you. And we see in the rest of chapter 12 that Abraham went to the land of Canaan with his Nephew Lot and their families.

Imagine today that God tells you to get up, leave Monroe County Kentucky and head south to Mexico. I have a place there that I am going to give to you. There are others occupying the land now but I promise that it will be long to you and your children. Would you go? That’s exactly what Abraham did by faith.

And back in Hebrews 11 the author makes mention of Abraham’s biggest test, sacrificing his only son Isaac.

Hebrews 11:17–19 ESV

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

Again let’s look back to Genesis to get the full picture of exactly what is going on in this passage. It’s found in Genesis chapter 22.

Genesis 22:1–2 ESV

1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”

OK, at this point I cannot imagine what is going through Abraham’s head. Isaac is his only son with Sarah. He is the son of promise, the one who God is going to make a great nation through, yet he just told Abraham to offer him as a sacrifice. What? God what are you doing? You told me one thing now I have to kill him?

But that wasn’t Abraham’s response was it? No, let’s continue reading.

Genesis 22:3–7 ESV

3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”

And so Abraham is doing what God has asked him to do. He is taking Isaac to be sacrificed and Isaac realizes there is a problem. Where is the offering father? What are we going to do without a lamb to sacrifice? Verse 8 goes on to tell us that Abraham’s answer was one of faith, that God would provide the offering.

At any time during this test Abraham could have stopped. He could have said this is too difficult. He could have said I don’t really believe God is going to fulfill His promises to me. But Abraham had amazing faith.

Now let’s jump down to verse 9:

Genesis 22:9–14 ESV

9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

This is one of my most favorite stories in all of Scripture because it shows us that God has a plan for everything and that we need to put our full faith and trust in Him. Abraham did exactly what God asked Him to do without question, without hesitation, and God rewarded that faithfulness with supplying his needs.

This is not to say that if we are faithful and if we practice our faith in God that we will have everything we want, but we will have everything that we could ever need.

Of course Abraham and Isaac are also a foreshadow to what God the Father would do with Christ in His ultimate sacrifice on the cross. He is faithful to do His promises as well. He laid it all on the line for us and in turn, we should lay it all on the line for Him.

After we got done with our rappelling yesterday I sat the guys down on the top of the cliff and we talked about this passage in Hebrews 11. Particularly, we focused on verse 1.

Hebrews 11:1 ESV

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

The assurance of things hoped for.

When we were on top of the mountain and they had a choice to either walk down that trail to the bottom or to clip in to a rope and go down the cliff they had to have a lot of hope and trust. They hoped that as a guide I knew what I was doing. They hoped I knew the right knots to tie and the right way to hook up their harness to the rope. They hoped the rope would hold them. They hoped that we would catch them if they fell. And they hoped that they would get to the bottom in one piece. They believed by faith that all of this would happen.

The conviction, some translations say the evidence of things not seen.

At the top of the mountain when they were standing on the edge of the cliff they could not actually see the bottom and they could not see my dad at the bottom holding the rope in case something went wrong. But they had faith that it was there.

I went over all of these facts with the guys about what we had done and explained to them, “Guys, that is the Christian life.”

And isn’t that true church? Isn’t that scenario just like the Christian walk?

We hope and believe that the Bible is true. We have never seen God but we are convinced that He is there with us because we know He has been there for us. We know He takes care of us. We have witnessed the evidence of God in creation, we have witnessed the evidence of God in our daily lives through answered prayer and much more. But it is still faith. It is still believing in something we cannot physically see and putting hope in the fact that what God has said about our salvation is true.

It does not matter what goes on in this world. There is much we do not control. We have no control over Covid-19 for example. We have no control over elections. We have no control over people around us. But we do have control in what we do with our faith.

We have to keep that faith. We have to trust God.

Proverbs 3 verses 5 and 6 says this:

Proverbs 3:5–6 ESV

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Trust in the Lord.

Listen to the words of Isaiah:

Isaiah 40:28–31 NIV84

28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Then skip to Isaiah 41 starting in verse 10:

Isaiah 41:10–13 NIV84

10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 11 “All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. 12 Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. 13 For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

Church that is the God we serve this morning. That is who we are putting our faith in. That is the assurance that we have. What a comfort and what a mighty God we serve this morning. Keep the faith church, keep your faith alive. Let’s pray.