living by faith
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Living By Faith
Contributed by Scott Bradford on Apr 13, 2005
Scripture: Romans 1:1-17
Denomination: United Methodist
Summary: This sermon is to inspire us to "live by faith" despite what happens in our life and the world around us.
Summary: This sermon is to inspire us to "live by faith" despite what happens in our life and the world around us.
Max Lucado tells a story in his recent book "Come Thirsty" that is so humorous, but has me a little worried about Max. In it, he has a conversation with a fly... (read it)...
So then why is it, that we try to fly the thing ourselves?; fix it without relying upon the power of God?; Or worse yet, we get so distracted we doubt, in the very moments that we need faith most?
I once heard a story told about Methodist Bishop Russell. He had a son, John, who from a very early age was diagnosed with a disease that would one day place him in a wheelchair.
Bishop Russell thought it best if John sat with a member of the congregation who was in a wheelchair where he could begin to learn and adapt.
Because of the inadequate arrangement of the Sanctuary the only handicapped seating was way in the back. Before the service, this woman would sit complaining to John. She complained that she didn’t like where she had to sit.
She complained about not being able to see. She complained about restaurants, and anything that she felt was not designed to suit her needs. One day, just before the service was to begin, she turned to John and asked "Do you really know what a handicapped person is?". "Yes", said John eagerly, "It’s anyone with a stinking attitude".
Maybe John is right. You can be in a wheelchair and still have a positive mental attitude. You can be in the middle of a difficult situation and still have faith. When something happens, like illness, or tragedy, the actual event is only a fraction of the situation. Maybe 10%, if that.
The other 90% then, has to do with your reaction. With how you handle it. With your attitude; with your response. The question may really be, will you respond "with faith" or "without faith".
"Faith! Walking by faith, takes decision and action. You must decide whether you will respond in faith, and belief, or if your response will be one of dis-belief and doubt.
Paul speaks of this kind of faith in Romans and in other passages of Scripture.
Paul is very clear that we are to be obedient to our belief in Jesus Christ.
We often talk about what God does, and that it is His grace that is working in our lives.
God is able to do so much more through faith.
It is God who heals, but he will use our little measure of faith to bring that healing into our lives.
When we are obedient to believe, then God will take that belief and grow it from a small mustard seed into the ability to throw that mountain into the sea.
(1) Faith! It is a relatively simple word that we Christians seem to throw around now and again.
Perhaps we each have been "given a measure of faith" but sometimes we seem to have "great faith"
(Mat 8:10 )
10 Al oír esto, Jesús se asombró y dijo a quienes lo seguían: —Les aseguro que no he encontrado en Israel a nadie que tenga tanta fe.
10 Hearing this, Jesus was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with so great a faith.
or at other times "no faith" (Mark 4:40 ).
40 —¿Por qué tienen tanto miedo?—dijo a sus discípulos—. ¿Todavía no tienen fe?
40 Then he said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
We might at times pray for God to "increase our faith" (Luke 17:5 ).
5 Entonces los apóstoles le dijeron al Señor: —¡Aumenta nuestra fe!
5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
Though Jesus paid the price, we become "justified by faith" (Rom 3:28 ),
28 Porque sostenemos que todos somos justificados por la fe, y no por las obras que la ley exige.
28 For we conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
and no less are we "sanctified by faith in Me (Jesus)" (Acts 26:18 ).
18 para que les abras los ojos y se conviertan de las tinieblas a la luz, y del poder de Satanás a Dios, a fin de que, por la fe en mí, reciban el perdón de los pecados y la herencia entre los santificados.”
18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
The "righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith" (Rom 1:17 ).
17 De hecho, en el evangelio se revela la justicia que proviene de Dios, la cual es por fe de principio a fin, tal como está escrito: «El justo vivirá por la fe.»
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.
"Faith comes from hearing" (Rom 10:17 ).
17 Así que la fe viene como resultado de oír el mensaje, y el mensaje que se oye es la palabra de Cristo.
17 So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.
We "walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor 5:7 ),
7 Vivimos por fe, no por vista.
7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
and we are to "abide in faith" (1 Cor 13:13 ).
13 Ahora, pues, permanecen estas tres virtudes: la fe, la esperanza y el amor. Pero la más excelente de ellas es el amor.
13 Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love—but the greatest of these is love.
We know that we are to take up the "shield of faith" (Eph 6:16 ).
16 Además de todo esto, tomen el escudo de la fe, con el cual pueden apagar todas las flechas encendidas del maligno.
16 In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
But just what is faith?
The Hebrew author tells us that "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1 ).
1 Ahora bien, la fe es la garantía de lo que se espera, la certeza de lo que no se ve.
1 Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.
My "sight" has not ever seen Jesus (except at work in His people);
and though I have not seen Him with my own eyes,
He is the thing that I Hope in, and for.
"Faith then gives a reality to things that remain unseen,
treating them as if they were already objects of sight rather than hope." (Ryrie Study Bible)
A friend of mine often asks "Why are people so ready to raise their hands to go to a place they have never seen?", meaning Heaven.
I always interrupt his train of thought and say "Because I believe it is there, and I have Hope!"
I have hope in the Heaven that has been promised me, though I have not seen it with my own eyes.
When the Hebrew writer speaks of the great fathers and mothers of faith:
Abraham, Isaac, Sarah, Rahab he writes:
"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. (Hebrews 11:13 ).
13 Todos ellos vivieron por la fe, y murieron sin haber recibido las cosas prometidas; más bien, las reconocieron a lo lejos, y confesaron que eran extranjeros y peregrinos en la tierra.
They trusted in what they could not see, and though knowing it was even a far off promise,
they were assured that they were but aliens on this earth, destined to be brought home.
Faith is really an assurance of something hoped for, that "blessed assurance" that Jesus is mine. So why not faith?
The Hebrew writer wrestled with that question too:
"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." (Hebrews 11:6 ).
6 En realidad, sin fe es imposible agradar a Dios, ya que cualquiera que se acerca a Dios tiene que creer que él existe y que recompensa a quienes lo buscan.
don’t have to worry about me, I’m in God’s hands".
And this is true! I have no fear, I have faith.
Should I be facing illness, or should the Surgeon report to me that all is well, I am living by faith.
I am trusting in the sweet assurance of the things that I have only hoped for, because the reality of Jesus Christ,
is the way by which we must walk.
Though I pray that I live many more years,
I do hope that when that day comes somehow the words that Paul wrote to Timothy will be the reassurance of my life:
"As for me, I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing." (2 Tim 4:6-8 ).
6 Yo, por mi parte, ya estoy a punto de ser ofrecido como un sacrificio, y el tiempo de mi partida ha llegado.
7 He peleado la buena batalla, he terminado la carrera, me he mantenido en la fe.
8 Por lo demás me espera la corona de justicia que el Señor, el juez justo, me otorgará en aquel día; y no sólo a mí, sino también a todos los que con amor hayan esperado su venida.
Now how did Paul write such eloquent words? Because he had "Faith!".
"And what more shall I say?
For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Sampson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets:
who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouth of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to fight the armies of the aliens.
Women received their dead raised to life again...Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and chains of imprisonment.
They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword..." (Hebrews 11:32-37 ) So how much more faith should we have, who have heard for ourselves about Jesus the Christ?
32 ¿Qué más voy a decir? Me faltaría tiempo para hablar de Gedeón, Barac, Sansón, Jefté, David, Samuel y los profetas,
33 los cuales por la fe conquistaron reinos, hicieron justicia y alcanzaron lo prometido; cerraron bocas de leones,
34 apagaron la furia de las llamas y escaparon del filo de la espada; sacaron fuerzas de flaqueza; se mostraron valientes en la guerra y pusieron en fuga a ejércitos extranjeros.
35 Hubo mujeres que por la resurrección recobraron a sus muertos. Otros, en cambio, fueron muertos a golpes, pues para alcanzar una mejor resurrección no aceptaron que los pusieran en libertad.
36 Otros sufrieron la prueba de burlas y azotes, e incluso de cadenas y cárceles.
37 Fueron apedreados, aserrados por la mitad, asesinados a filo de espada. Anduvieron fugitivos de aquí para allá, cubiertos de pieles de oveja y de cabra, pasando necesidades, afligidos y maltratados.
(1) Emmaus Article, Jan 05, by Scott Bradford
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Living By Faith
Contributed by Dan Santiago on Mar 14, 2007
Scripture: Hebrews 11:8-19
Denomination: Baptist
Summary: Abraham’s faith is an excellent example that must be imitated by Christians.
Summary: Abraham’s faith is an excellent example that must be imitated by Christians.
LIVING BY FAITH
Hebrews 11:8-19
INTRODUCTION
ILLUSTRATION Two boys were playing in the snow one day, when one said to the other,
"Let us see who can make the straightest path in the snow." His companion readily accepted the proposition, and they started.
One boy fixed his eyes on a tree, and walked along without taking his eyes off the object selected.
The other boy set his eyes on the tree also, and, when he had gone a short distance, he turned, and looked back to see how true his course was.
He went a little distance farther, and again turned to look over his steps.
When they arrived at their stopping place, each halted and looked back.
One path was true as an arrow, while the other ran in a zigzag course.
"How did you get your path so straight?" asked the boy who had made the crooked steps.
The other boy said, "I just set my eyes on the tree, and kept them there until I got to the end; while you stopped and looked back and wandered out of your course."
This is a perfect picture of the Christian life. If we fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith then we would able to walk a straight path in life.
Many have followed this admonition in the past and they were able to live a life of faith, one of them is Abraham. Why should we examine the life of Abraham?
• He was God’s instrument in pioneering the nation Israel.
• He lived by faith for 100 years. Started at the age of 75 years old. (Genesis 12:4) Died at the age of 175 years old. (Genesis 25:7)
• He was called the friend of God. (Isaiah 41:8)
What can we learn from the life of Abraham? Read Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19 .
8 Por la fe Abraham, cuando fue llamado para ir a un lugar que más tarde recibiría como herencia, obedeció y salió sin saber a dónde iba.
9 Por la fe se radicó como extranjero en la tierra prometida, y habitó en tiendas de campaña con Isaac y Jacob, herederos también de la misma promesa,
10 porque esperaba la ciudad de cimientos sólidos, de la cual Dios es arquitecto y constructor.
11 Por la fe Abraham, a pesar de su avanzada edad y de que Sara misma era estéril, recibió fuerza para tener hijos, porque consideró fiel al que le había hecho la promesa.
12 Así que de este solo hombre, ya en decadencia, nacieron descendientes numerosos como las estrellas del cielo e incontables como la arena a la orilla del mar.
13 Todos ellos vivieron por la fe, y murieron sin haber recibido las cosas prometidas; más bien, las reconocieron a lo lejos, y confesaron que eran extranjeros y peregrinos en la tierra.
14 Al expresarse así, claramente dieron a entender que andaban en busca de una patria.
15 Si hubieran estado pensando en aquella patria de donde habían emigrado, habrían tenido oportunidad de regresar a ella.
16 Antes bien, anhelaban una patria mejor, es decir, la celestial. Por lo tanto, Dios no se avergonzó de ser llamado su Dios, y les preparó una ciudad.
17 Por la fe Abraham, que había recibido las promesas, fue puesto a prueba y ofreció a Isaac, su hijo único,
18 a pesar de que Dios le había dicho: «Tu descendencia se establecerá por medio de Isaac.»
19 Consideraba Abraham que Dios tiene poder hasta para resucitar a los muertos, y así, en sentido figurado, recobró a Isaac de entre los muertos.
EXPOSITION
1. He Promptly Obeyed God’s Calling. (vv. 8-10)
ILLUSTRATION Someone once wrote and asked Emily Post, the etiquette expert of another generation, "What is the correct procedure when one is invited to the White House but has a previous engagement?"
Replied Post, "An invitation to dine at the White House is a command, and it automatically cancels any other engagement." THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ABRAHAM WHEN INVITED BY GOD.
Read verse 8.
This verse in its original language indicates a very prompt obedience. It means that he obeyed the call while it was still sounding in his ears.
What was the calling?
Read Genesis 12:1-5 .
1 The Lord said to Abram: Go from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.
2 I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.
5 He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated, and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan,
1 El Señor le dijo a Abram: «Deja tu tierra, tus parientes y la casa de tu padre, y vete a la tierra que te mostraré.
2 »Haré de ti una nación grande, y te bendeciré; haré famoso tu nombre, y serás una bendición.
3 Bendeciré a los que te bendigan y maldeciré a los que te maldigan; ¡por medio de ti serán bendecidas todas las familias de la tierra!»
4 Abram partió, tal como el Señor se lo había ordenado, y Lot se fue con él. Abram tenía setenta y cinco años cuando salió de Jarán.
5 Al encaminarse hacia la tierra de Canaán, Abram se llevó a su esposa Saray, a su sobrino Lot, a toda la gente que habían adquirido en Jarán, y todos los bienes que habían acumulado. Cuando llegaron a Canaán,
Abraham’s response was significant due to the nature God’s calling.
• The calling requires leaving his familiar environment. (Genesis 12:1 )
1 El Señor le dijo a Abram: «Deja tu tierra, tus parientes y la casa de tu padre, y vete a la tierra que te mostraré.
1 The Lord said to Abram: Go from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.
“Your country, your people, and your father’s household,”
these are expressions of security and familiarity of environment that Abraham needs to abandon.
Application Living by faith demands obedience which may requires leaving our familiar and secure environment.
This may not necessarily be our country, people and household but perhaps our former way of life,
our peer groups, our worldly habits and vices, the places we hang out and associate our selves.
I know it is not easy but that is the way to live by faith.
(Read Ephesians 4:17-24 )
17 Así que les digo esto y les insisto en el Señor: no vivan más con pensamientos frívolos como los paganos.
18 A causa de la ignorancia que los domina y por la dureza de su corazón, éstos tienen oscurecido el entendimiento y están alejados de la vida que proviene de Dios.
19 Han perdido toda vergüenza, se han entregado a la inmoralidad, y no se sacian de cometer toda clase de actos indecentes.
20 No fue ésta la enseñanza que ustedes recibieron acerca de Cristo,
21 si de veras se les habló y enseñó de Jesús según la verdad que está en él.
22 Con respecto a la vida que antes llevaban, se les enseñó que debían quitarse el ropaje de la vieja naturaleza, la cual está corrompida por los deseos engañosos;
23 ser renovados en la actitud de su mente;
24 y ponerse el ropaje de la nueva naturaleza, creada a imagen de Dios, en verdadera justicia y santidad.
17 Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thoughts.
18 They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts.
19 They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity with a desire for more and more.
20 But that is not how you came to know Christ,
21 assuming you heard about him and were taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus,
22 to take off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires,
23 to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
24 and to put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth.
• The calling requires embracing a great responsibility. (Genesis 12:2-3) God’s concept of greatness is not just a position of authority and prosperity.
Greatness in the mind of God is a position of humility and service.
(Read Matthew 20:25-28 )
25 Jesús los llamó y les dijo: —Como ustedes saben, los gobernantes de las naciones oprimen a los súbditos, y los altos oficiales abusan de su autoridad.
26 Pero entre ustedes no debe ser así. Al contrario, el que quiera hacerse grande entre ustedes deberá ser su servidor,
27 y el que quiera ser el primero deberá ser esclavo de los demás;
28 así como el Hijo del hombre no vino para que le sirvan, sino para servir y para dar su vida en rescate por muchos.
25 Jesus called them over and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them.
26 It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave;
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Application Living by faith requires obedience which leads to embracing a great responsibility.
God promises reigning with Him in glory but also serving him in the interest of His kingdom – worship, nurture, evangelism, mission, and service.
• The calling requires accepting huge sacrifices. (Genesis 12:4-5) Abraham was not in an ideal situation when he said yes to God.
He was 75 years old, married, and with a nephew. He traveled with his properties and servants.
Our sacrifices can be in the form of persecution, sufferings, temptations, and giving up of old habits. (Read Hebrews 13:15-16)
What can we learn from the life of Abraham about faith? Living by faith demands prompt obedience to God’s calling.
Prompt obedience that requires leaving your familiar environment, embracing great responsibility, and accepting huge sacrifices.
2. He Fervently Believed God’s Plan. (vv. 11-12)
Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born and when it was revealed he was going to have his own son Sarah was 89 years.
Because of Abraham’s faith, they were enabled to become father and mother of many nations.
Prior to this event, Abraham had another plan.
(Read Genesis 15:1-6 )
1 Después de esto, la palabra del Señor vino a Abram en una visión: «No temas, Abram. Yo soy tu escudo, y muy grande será tu recompensa.»
2 Pero Abram le respondió: —Señor y Dios, ¿para qué vas a darme algo, si aún sigo sin tener hijos, y el heredero de mis bienes será Eliezer de Damasco?
3 Como no me has dado ningún hijo, mi herencia la recibirá uno de mis criados.
4 —¡No! Ese hombre no ha de ser tu heredero—le contestó el Señor—. Tu heredero será tu propio hijo.
5 Luego el Señor lo llevó afuera y le dijo: —Mira hacia el cielo y cuenta las estrellas, a ver si puedes. ¡Así de numerosa será tu descendencia!
6 Abram creyó al Señor, y el Señor se lo reconoció como justicia.
1 After these events, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield; your reward will be very great.
2 But Abram said, “Lord God, what can you give me, since I am childless and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”
3 Abram continued, “Look, you have given me no offspring, so a slave born in my house will be my heir.”
4 Now the word of the Lord came to him: “This one will not be your heir; instead, one who comes from your own body will be your heir.”
5 He took him outside and said, “Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “Your offspring will be that numerous.”
6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
However, God said that his heir would be his own flesh and blood.
Sarah too had a different plan.
(Read Genesis 16:1-5
1 Saray, la esposa de Abram, no le había dado hijos. Pero como tenía una esclava egipcia llamada Agar,
2 Saray le dijo a Abram: —El Señor me ha hecho estéril. Por lo tanto, ve y acuéstate con mi esclava Agar. Tal vez por medio de ella podré tener hijos. Abram aceptó la propuesta que le hizo Saray.
3 Entonces ella tomó a Agar, la esclava egipcia, y se la entregó a Abram como mujer. Esto ocurrió cuando ya hacía diez años que Abram vivía en Canaán.
4 Abram tuvo relaciones con Agar, y ella concibió un hijo. Al darse cuenta Agar de que estaba embarazada, comenzó a mirar con desprecio a su dueña.
5 Entonces Saray le dijo a Abram: —¡Tú tienes la culpa de mi afrenta! Yo puse a mi esclava en tus brazos, y ahora que se ve embarazada me mira con desprecio. ¡Que el Señor juzgue entre tú y yo!
1 Abram’s wife, Sarai, had not borne any children for him, but she owned an Egyptian slave named Hagar.
2 Sarai said to Abram, “Since the Lord has prevented me from bearing children, go to my slave; perhaps through her I can build a family.” And Abram agreed to what Sarai said.
3 So Abram’s wife, Sarai, took Hagar, her Egyptian slave, and gave her to her husband, Abram, as a wife for him. This happened after Abram had lived in the land of Canaan ten years.
4 He slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. When she saw that she was pregnant, her mistress became contemptible to her.
5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for my suffering! I put my slave in your arms, and when she saw that she was pregnant, I became contemptible to her. May the Lord judge between me and you.”
Living by faith demands adopting God’s plan in place of our own personal plans.
At times, God’s plan looks inconceivable but as always we are reminded of the fact that nothing is impossible with God.
Perhaps before you came to know God through His son Jesus Christ you have already laid out the plan for your life.
But now that you have followed the Lord Jesus Christ, be ready to make some changes and adjustment.
Illustration Conversion of Paul.
(Read Acts 9:1-16 )
1 Mientras tanto, Saulo, respirando aún amenazas de muerte contra los discípulos del Señor, se presentó al sumo sacerdote
2 y le pidió cartas de extradición para las sinagogas de Damasco. Tenía la intención de encontrar y llevarse presos a Jerusalén a todos los que pertenecieran al Camino, fueran hombres o mujeres.
3 En el viaje sucedió que, al acercarse a Damasco, una luz del cielo relampagueó de repente a su alrededor.
4 Él cayó al suelo y oyó una voz que le decía: —Saulo, Saulo, ¿por qué me persigues?
5 —¿Quién eres, Señor?—preguntó. —Yo soy Jesús, a quien tú persigues—le contestó la voz—.
6 Levántate y entra en la ciudad, que allí se te dirá lo que tienes que hacer.
7 Los hombres que viajaban con Saulo se detuvieron atónitos, porque oían la voz pero no veían a nadie.
8 Saulo se levantó del suelo, pero cuando abrió los ojos no podía ver, así que lo tomaron de la mano y lo llevaron a Damasco.
9 Estuvo ciego tres días, sin comer ni beber nada.
10 Había en Damasco un discípulo llamado Ananías, a quien el Señor llamó en una visión. —¡Ananías! —Aquí estoy, Señor.
11 —Anda, ve a la casa de Judas, en la calle llamada Derecha, y pregunta por un tal Saulo de Tarso. Está orando,
12 y ha visto en una visión a un hombre llamado Ananías, que entra y pone las manos sobre él para que recobre la vista.
13 Entonces Ananías respondió: —Señor, he oído hablar mucho de ese hombre y de todo el mal que ha causado a tus santos en Jerusalén.
14 Y ahora lo tenemos aquí, autorizado por los jefes de los sacerdotes, para llevarse presos a todos los que invocan tu nombre.
15 —¡Ve!—insistió el Señor—, porque ese hombre es mi instrumento escogido para dar a conocer mi nombre tanto a las naciones y a sus reyes como al pueblo de Israel.
16 Yo le mostraré cuánto tendrá que padecer por mi nombre.
1 Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest
2 and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
3 As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him.
4 Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul said. “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting,” he replied.
6 “But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one.
8 Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus.
9 He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink.
10 There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” “Here I am, Lord,” he replied.
11 “Get up and go to the street called Straight,” the Lord said to him, “to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there.
12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so that he may regain his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem.
14 And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites.
16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
(Read Matthew 10:24-25 )
24 »El discípulo no es superior a su maestro, ni el siervo superior a su amo.
25 Basta con que el discípulo sea como su maestro, y el siervo como su amo. Si al jefe de la casa lo han llamado Beelzebú, ¡cuánto más a los de su familia!
24 A disciple is not above his teacher, or a slave above his master.
25 It is enough for a disciple to become like his teacher and a slave like his master. If they called the head of the house ‘Beelzebul,’ how much more the members of his household!
Most of us will affirm that our lives were changed when we followed the Lord. That is expected.
You commit your life to a relationship with God then live within the parameters of that relationship.
Just like the relationship of a married or engaged couple, there are changes to be adopted; the same thing in our relationship with God as we live by faith.
We have nothing to be afraid of because God’s plan for us is the best.
(Read John 10:10 )
10 El ladrón no viene más que a robar, matar y destruir; yo he venido para que tengan vida, y la tengan en abundancia.
10 A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.
3. He Willingly Endured God’s Test. (vv. 17-19)
The biggest test I believe that Abraham faced was when God told him to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. Let us be aware that it was a common practice among the pagan to offer their son to their God.
So when Abraham heard the command, he did not hesitate but to God it is only a test.
(Read Genesis 22:1-18 )
1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he answered.
2 “Take your son,” he said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”
3 So Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took with him two of his young men and his son Isaac. He split wood for a burnt offering and set out to go to the place God had told him about.
4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.
5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship; then we’ll come back to you.”
6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac. In his hand he took the fire and the knife, and the two of them walked on together.
7 Then Isaac spoke to his father Abraham and said, “My father.” And he replied, “Here I am, my son.” Isaac said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Then the two of them walked on together.
9 When they arrived at the place that God had told him about, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac and placed him on the altar on top of the wood.
10 Then Abraham reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son.
11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” He replied, “Here I am.”
12 Then he said, “Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me.”
13 Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in the thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son.
14 And Abraham named that place The Lord Will Provide, so today it is said, “It will be provided on the Lord’s mountain.”
15 Then the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven
16 and said, “By myself I have sworn,” this is the Lord’s declaration: “Because you have done this thing and have not withheld your only son,
17 I will indeed bless you and make your offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your offspring will possess the city gates of their enemies.
18 And all the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring because you have obeyed my command.”
Take note how Abraham responded to God’s command. If not for his complete trust with God, he would not have done what he did at that time.
• He woke up early. (v. 3)
• He prepared for the trip. (v. 3)
• He did not hesitate. (vv. 4-7)
• He did it himself. (vv. 8-10)
Why was Abraham’s response to the test significant? Isaac was his only son and the key to the promise of becoming a great nation.
In addition, you could imagine the internal conflict between Abraham’s love for his son and his duty to God.
Perhaps Abraham had difficulty reconciling God’s promised of becoming a great nation through Isaac and yet now he called him to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. How then could the promise be fulfilled?
Though he did not understand, Abraham knew how to obey. His faith told him that God would work out his purpose, even if he himself could not see how that could be.
So he "offered Isaac as a sacrifice." As far as Abraham was concerned the sacrifice was to be completed.
In will and purpose he did offer his son. He held nothing back and he passed the test. Because He knew that the key towards the fulfillment of God’s promise depend not on Isaac but on God himself.
What a great lesson for all of us who said we are living by faith. Living by faith requires our willingness to endure God’s testing.
Sometimes the test requires that we give up the precious person or things in our lives just to show how much we love God instead.
And sometimes God really do it that after he had given us the best, he would demand it so we will not change our focus from the giver to the gifts.
How are you responding to God’s testing? In the academic life, even though we hate tests and examinations, we take them.
Because we know that when we pass the test, we would be promoted to the next level. In the school of life, we should not abhor the testing of life.
Because it is our key towards greater opportunities and promotion in life. Besides they turned us into a better and mature person. (Read James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7)
CONCLUSION
Read Hebrews 11:13-16
13 Todos ellos vivieron por la fe, y murieron sin haber recibido las cosas prometidas; más bien, las reconocieron a lo lejos, y confesaron que eran extranjeros y peregrinos en la tierra.
14 Al expresarse así, claramente dieron a entender que andaban en busca de una patria.
15 Si hubieran estado pensando en aquella patria de donde habían emigrado, habrían tenido oportunidad de regresar a ella.
16 Antes bien, anhelaban una patria mejor, es decir, la celestial. Por lo tanto, Dios no se avergonzó de ser llamado su Dios, y les preparó una ciudad.
13 These all died in faith, although they had not received the things that were promised. But they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth.
14 Now those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.
15 If they were thinking about where they came from, they would have had an opportunity to return.
16 But they now desire a better place—a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
Let us keep on living by faith. This world is not our home. Don’t be too comfortable in your life here.
There is more to our relationship with God. Be ready for the best, daily live by faith.
