Four Facts About Faith

TEXT: Hebrews 11:4-7

TOPIC: “Four Facts About Faith”

INTRODUCTION:

A minister tried to illustrate the difference between fact and faith. He hit upon a brilliant analogy that involved the congregation to which he was speaking. He said, "It is indeed a fact that you are sitting in the pews. It is also a fact that I am standing behind this pulpit. But it is only by faith that I believe any of you are listening to me."

The Happy Clergy, Herb Walker, 1977, p. 14

I. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD WITHOUT FAITH (Hebrews 11:6) .

Hebrews 11:6 NLT

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

A. Impotent Faith (Hebrews 11:6a).

Hebrews 11:6a NLT

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

(ἀδύνατον = unable to be done, impossible)

1. The children of Israel were without faith when they came to the edge of the Promised Land.

B. Imperative faith (Hebrews 11:6b)

Hebrews 11:6b NLT

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

(δεῖi =[must] necessity established by the counsel and decree of God).

1. Must believe that “he is”.

2. Must believe that he rewards those who diligently seek him.

II. FAITH EMPOWERS THE GIFTS WE GIVE GOD (Hebrews 11:4).

Hebrews 11:4 NLT

It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.

(πλείονα = greater in quality, superior, more excellent).

A. Empowers the gifts given as God directs.

1. Abel’s gift took on a better quality than Cain’s because he had enough faith to be obedient.

2. Abel offered a spotless lamb according to the requirement,

3. Cain offered the bloodless sacrifice of his own works.

4. Real faith produces obedience to God’s directions.

Key Thought:

“Faith is not believing that God will do what we want Him to do, but rather it is believing that God will enable us to do what He wants us to do.”

B. Empowers the gifts with God’s approval.

1. Abel’s faith was rewarded with God’s approval.

2. Cain was warned by God and urged to take the path of God’s approval (Gen. 4:6-7).

Genesis 4:6–7 NLT

“Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”

3. When we have the faith to obey, our gifts become pleasing to God.

4. When we refuse to obey our gifts become displeasing to God (Proverbs 15:8; Proverbs 21:27; Proverbs 28:9)

Proverbs 15:8 NLT

8 The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but he delights in the prayers of the upright.

Proverbs 21:27 NLT

27 The sacrifice of an evil person is detestable, especially when it is offered with wrong motives.

Proverbs 28:9 NLT

9 God detests the prayers of a person who ignores the law.

C. Empowers the gifts with an element of testimony.

1. A testimony that bears witness even after we are no longer around (Revelation 14:13).

Revelation 14:13 NLT

13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this down: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them!”

III. FAITH ENABLES A STRONG TESTIMONY (Hebrews 11: 5).

Hebrews 11:5 NLT

It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—“he disappeared, because God took him.” For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God.

A. A Strong testimony that removes the sting of death.

1. Enoch was one of only two who did not experience death.

2. The sting of death is removed for the believer by faith (1 Cor. 15:54-57).

1 Corinthians 15:54–57 NLT

54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

a. Personal experiences of observing dying saints demonstrate this fact.

B. A strong testimony that clearly identifies us with God.

1. Identified with Christ by an intimate walk with Him.

a. Enoch had the testimony that he walked with God (Gen. 5:23-24).

Genesis 5:23–24 NLT

23 Enoch lived 365 years, 24 walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him.

b. When we live by faith we establish a strong testimony that we are walking with God.

2. Identified with Christ by living a life that was pleasing to God.

a. Enoch had the testimony that his life pleased God.

b. Are you living a life that is totally pleasing to God?

IV. FAITH ENERGIZES OBEDIENCE THAT IS CONVICTING (Hebrews 11:7).

Hebrews 11:7 NLT

7 It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.

A. Obedience that pays careful attention to what God says.

1. God never says anything that is not important.

2. God expects us to obey what he says to do (Luke 6:46).

Luke 6:46 NLT

46 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?

B. Obedience that brings about the redemption of our households.

1. Noah’s obedience brought about the saving of his own household.

2. Lot’s lack of living in obedience to God resulted in the destruction of his household (Gen. 19:12-38).

Genesis 19:12–38 NLT

12 Meanwhile, the angels questioned Lot. “Do you have any other relatives here in the city?” they asked. “Get them out of this place—your sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone else. 13 For we are about to destroy this city completely. The outcry against this place is so great it has reached the Lord, and he has sent us to destroy it.” 14 So Lot rushed out to tell his daughters’ fiancés, “Quick, get out of the city! The Lord is about to destroy it.” But the young men thought he was only joking. 15 At dawn the next morning the angels became insistent. “Hurry,” they said to Lot. “Take your wife and your two daughters who are here. Get out right now, or you will be swept away in the destruction of the city!” 16 When Lot still hesitated, the angels seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city, for the Lord was merciful. 17 When they were safely out of the city, one of the angels ordered, “Run for your lives! And don’t look back or stop anywhere in the valley! Escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away!” 18 “Oh no, my lord!” Lot begged. 19 “You have been so gracious to me and saved my life, and you have shown such great kindness. But I cannot go to the mountains. Disaster would catch up to me there, and I would soon die. 20 See, there is a small village nearby. Please let me go there instead; don’t you see how small it is? Then my life will be saved.” 21 “All right,” the angel said, “I will grant your request. I will not destroy the little village. 22 But hurry! Escape to it, for I can do nothing until you arrive there.” (This explains why that village was known as Zoar, which means “little place.”) 23 Lot reached the village just as the sun was rising over the horizon. 24 Then the Lord rained down fire and burning sulfur from the sky on Sodom and Gomorrah. 25 He utterly destroyed them, along with the other cities and villages of the plain, wiping out all the people and every bit of vegetation. 26 But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt. 27 Abraham got up early that morning and hurried out to the place where he had stood in the Lord’s presence. 28 He looked out across the plain toward Sodom and Gomorrah and watched as columns of smoke rose from the cities like smoke from a furnace. 29 But God had listened to Abraham’s request and kept Lot safe, removing him from the disaster that engulfed the cities on the plain. 30 Afterward Lot left Zoar because he was afraid of the people there, and he went to live in a cave in the mountains with his two daughters. 31 One day the older daughter said to her sister, “There are no men left anywhere in this entire area, so we can’t get married like everyone else. And our father will soon be too old to have children. 32 Come, let’s get him drunk with wine, and then we will have sex with him. That way we will preserve our family line through our father.” 33 So that night they got him drunk with wine, and the older daughter went in and had intercourse with her father. He was unaware of her lying down or getting up again. 34 The next morning the older daughter said to her younger sister, “I had sex with our father last night. Let’s get him drunk with wine again tonight, and you go in and have sex with him. That way we will preserve our family line through our father.” 35 So that night they got him drunk with wine again, and the younger daughter went in and had intercourse with him. As before, he was unaware of her lying down or getting up again. 36 As a result, both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their own father. 37 When the older daughter gave birth to a son, she named him Moab. He became the ancestor of the nation now known as the Moabites. 38 When the younger daughter gave birth to a son, she named him Ben-ammi. He became the ancestor of the nation now known as the Ammonites.

C. Obedience that produces righteousness in us.

1. A right relationship with God is brought about by a faith that is strong enough to obey (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38).

Romans 1:17 NLT

17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

Galatians 3:11 NLT

11 So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

Hebrews 10:38 NLT

38 And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”

D. Obedience that causes others to be drawn to Christ.

1. κατέκρινεν = by one’s good example to render another’s wickedness the more evident and censurable. (see Mark 10:17; Mark 5:6-20).

2. Faith produces an obedience that causes the rest of the world to see their own sin more clearly; resulting in conviction from the Holy Spirit.

3. Conviction of sin will cause unbelievers to be drawn to Jesus, especially as we witness of Him.

(Matthew 5:16)

Matthew 5:16 NLT

16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

CONCLUSION: