Strong Faith

Introduction

This morning I want to start off by reading our text. It's on page 549.

Romans 4:17–25 ESV

as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

Our text says, “No unbelief made him waiver concerning the promise of God.”

Abraham had strong faith.

God promised Abraham that he would be the “father” of many nations. More descendants than could be counted. “As many people as there are stars in the sky—sand on the beach.”

But Abraham and his wife Sarah were well-advanced in their years and children stopped being a possibility for them long ago.

But God is the one who “calls into existence the things that do not exist”.

God promises Abraham and Sarah that they would have a son named Isaac.

And as God promised, so it happened.

And it is through Isaac—this child of promise—that THE child of promise would come. It’s through Isaac that God would fulfill the promise of Genesis 3:15. From the line of Abraham, through Isaac, the messiah would come.

The messiah who would be a blessing to the nations. Genesis 22:18 says, “and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.””

But a challenge to this promise comes

Abraham is hiking up the mountain. Isaac is with him carrying the wood for the sacrifice of worship to God. And there is no lamb. There is no animal. God has required Abraham’s son—his beloved Isaac—his child of promise as the sacrifice.

In the face of this unthinkable command from God. In the face of this nightmare Abraham does not doubt his God or the promises He gave.

“no unbelief made him waiver concerning the promise of God.”

And church as we think through this story I can’t believe the strength of Abraham’s faith. What would it be like to trust God so completely. To live life with such surety of the promises of God?

Is this even possible? Or is Abraham a different breed of person?

I think our inner dialogue says, “I could never have faith like that.”

But church let me tell you that our text this morning calls us to have this same strong, unwavering faith that our father Abraham has.

We too are called to trust in God and to trust in his promises. To have strong faith.

And we’ll see that our faith is strengthened when we…

I. Consider the Promise Giver (17-18)

II. Put Our Obstacles in their Proper Place (19-20a)

III. Give Glory to God (20b)

IV. Trust the Promise of Jesus (21-25)

I. Consider the Promise Giver (17-18)

Who is giving you a promise makes all the difference in whether or not that promise can be trusted. Abraham put his faith in God. He knew that God is trustworthy.

Romans 4:17–18 ESV

as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”

“In Hope he believe against hope...”

I keep talking to my wife about this. If I promise to do something then it…will…get…done!

There’s no need to remind me about it every 6 months!

Seriously though, every election cycle politicians speeches are filled with “I promise” statements. I promise I’ll fix this. I promise I’ll give you that. I promise this won’t happen.

And we all know that these promises don’t hold any real weight. We all have a “wait and see” mentality about these things. Time will tell if the politicians promise has any truth to it.

We know that most of what they promise is dependent on so many factors outside of themselves.

They know this too. But “If I can” and “Depending on the circumstances” doesn’t win elections. So they “promise”.

When it comes to you and I we should let our “yes be yes and our no be no”. I try to only promise what I know I can do. Anything else is just a hope.

But when it comes to God. When God is the promise giver. What he promises is as good as done. It will come to pass.

In Isaiah 55:11 God says, “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

Every word of God can be taken to the bank. He has the power to fulfilll the promises he gives.

Abraham believed God’s promise that he would be the father of many nations. Abraham believed that this would happen as Isaac continued his line.

Abraham believed so completely that he went to sacrifice the child of the promise.

And this belief isn’t a commentary on the greatness of Abraham’s faith, but it is a commentary on the greatness of the promise Giver.

Our God speaks and creation moves. There was a void and then there was light. There wasn’t water and then there was. There weren’t animals and then there were. Why? Because God said so.

If God can speak this world into being don’t you think that He can keep his promises?

And furthermore, God is trustworthy? There is nothing about God that would indicate that He won’t keep his promises.

The entire narrative of Holy Scripture is about God keeping his promises. God promised that he would rescue us and then over and over again in Scripture we see that God keeps that promise.

God can keep his promises and God will keep his promises. If he said it will be done.

A couple of God’s promises to you:

You are a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

God promises in Jesus that you are not the same as you used to be.

I was teaching my boys to value one another the other day. I told them that God has given them each other as brothers and that they are to love one another well. I didn’t grow up in a Christian home. I was an awful brother. I was angry, and mean, and unloving. Not all the time. But I have deep regrets about the way I acted.

I’ve apologized to both my brothers for it. And they acted like it wasn’t a big deal. But I am so glad that in Jesus that selfish, angry, person has passed away.

God is making me to be more and more like my Lord Jesus. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says from “one degree of glory to another” I’m being fashioned into the image of my Lord.

I wish that his work was instantaneous, but I know that God is doing in me what he said he’ll do.

I am working through you. Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

I am God’s workmanship. He has made me. He has saved me. He has prepared good works for me and He is using me toward those purposes with my life.

Every prayer lifted up. Every kind word spoken. Every hand that is held. Every tear that is wiped away. Every gospel presentation given. Every scripture read. They are all being used by God for his kingdom work. God is working through his people for his glory.

you might not see the pay off but god is working through you

I’m coming for you. John 14:2-3 “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

God is changing me. And God is working through me. But God promises that he’s coming for me. One day these tears will be dry. One day these hurts will be healed. One day the one whom I love will be in my arms.

I am his and he is mine. He promises a place for me. He’s preparing it now. Either he will come for me at my death or before my death, but either way he has promised me that I will be where He is.

Church, we can trust these promises because our mighty God, our good God, our Father God is the one who has given them to us.

The power of Abraham’s faith was not in his own ability to be faithful---the power of Abraham’s faith is in the one who gave the promise.

Numbers 23:19 “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?”

Where are you placing your trust when it comes to God? Do you believe that God said it and he will do it? Or are the obstacles in life towering over you and stealing focus?

If we are to have strong faith we must...

II. Put Our Obstacles in their Place (19-20a)

There’s a story in the Bible that I love because it is so relatable living in this world.

In Matthew 14 the disciplles are on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus told them to go and a nasty storm kicks up. The waves are huge. The wind is fierce.

Jesus comes to them walking on the very object of their fear. Don’t miss that. What the disciples feared most in that moment was put under the feet of Christ. The wind and the waves are subject to him.

And in seeing this, the disciples cry out, “It’s a ghost!!”

Which cracks me up. How bad can this night get. “Your boat is sinking. You can’t see over the waves. You’re about to drown. And now ghosts!?

But Peter says, “IF it’s you Lord command me to come out to you.”

And so Jesus does. And Peter does. He starts to walk on the water. The object of his fear is subject to Christ.

While Peter keeps his eyes on Jesus he does something amazing. He is walking on water!

But then Matthew 14:30-31 says “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?””

When Peter considered his obstacles to be bigger than his God, he sank!

Friends, if you make the obstacles in your life more powerful than your God then you’ll cry out in despair too.

And this story about misplaced trust is an echo of our text this morning.

Romans 4:19-20 “He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God,”

Abraham was not deterred by the obstacles to God’s promise for Him. And as we continue to look at our passage we see two types of obstacles. Inward obstacles and outward obstacles.

Inward Obstacles

As Abraham considered his own body and its inability to produce children he did not waiver in his faith.

The obstacles did not matter to Abraham. They only served to give God more glory!

There is no obstacle that overcomes God. That will always be true. Our task is to remember that and hold that as true—even when the obstacle threatens to crash over us like a monstrous wave.

What inward obstacles are you fearing instead of the LORD?

God you can’t use me. God you can’t love me. God you can’t save me.

My past is too awful. I’ve messed up too much. It’s too late.

I can’t be the mom, the wife. I can’t be the husband, the dad—that God is calling me to be.

Don’t believe those lies!!! God speaks the world into existence. God raises the dead. But your past—your hangups are too strong for Him?

He wields the power of the son and your insufficiencies cripple HIm?

Don’t believe it for one second.

God can and will do everything that he has promised to do in and through you!

You put that obstacle in its place. Under God!

Outward Obstacles

As Abraham considered Sarah and her obstacles he did not waiver in his faith that God would do what he said he would do.

Even if Abraham had been able to sire children—Sarah was not able to bear them.

A lot of times we hamstring ourselves considering our inabilities—but sometimes we have the opposite problem.

WE look at the world around us and that seems to be an unvaultable obstacle.

It’s our outward circumstances that weaken our faith in God. It’s the wave. It's Sarah. It’s our job. Our spouse. Our finances.

But whether inner or outward—the obstacle is no obstacle to God.

And his strength for keeping his promises is not hampered by the obstacle or your faith--

You should believe God, but God isn’t kept from moving if you don’t.

God will do everything that he said he’ll do.

Strong faith draws its power not from our strength but from God’s.

Church is anything In your life more powerful than God?

Will God compromise?

So give him glory! What a God he is! What hope we have!

Third, our faith is strong when we...

III. Give Glory to God (20b)

Romans 4:20 “No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,”

Do you want strong faith? Do you want unwavering faith? Do you want faith that dismisses the obstacles?

Our text tells us how to grow strong in our faith.

It’s not by doing good works, tithing more, or buttering up the pastor.

It’s by giving God glory!

As we worship who God is and as we “taste and see that He is good” our faith grows because we are accurately seeing God.

Our lack of faith is a sight issue.

1 Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”

Heaven is full of praise and worship! Why?

Because God’s glory can be clearly seen! And when you see the glory of God you can’t help but worship. And when you see God and his majesty your faith in Him is strengthened so that there is nothing that would cause you to waiver.

Do you want stronger faith? Do you want peace? Do you want to look at the waves and wind in your life and be at ease? Then glorify God. How?

2 Ways to Glorify God right now

Believe Him

Abraham belived God. He believed that what God said he would do. Do you?

How do I know what God said? You got a whole book of it right here.

People don’t value the Bible because they don’t believe it’s the word of God.

Are you actively beliving that about your Bible?

Glorify God by believing Him.

Know the word, trust the word, do the word.

Here’s an example…Are you serving others before yourself?

God says too do it. Do you trust it? Are you glorifying God in your obedience?

I have the secret to great relationships:

Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”

Ephesians 5:22 “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.”

Ephesians 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,”

Do you want to have great relationships. Put other people first. Do what God says. Believe Him.

But we’re all doing James 4:1-2 “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.”

Here’s my point. Q. What’s your aim? Glorifying God is believing that what he has said about everything is true. Your money, your time, your life, your kids, your work, your relationships, your sex, your eating—everything!

God hasn’t been wrong yet—and there won’t be a day where he is.

Bring him glory and aim to do all that he has instructed us to do. And when you fail, dust yourself off, repent of your sins, and get back to believing him in heart and hand.

This brings glory to God—as you trust God and obey God.

Worship Him

1 Chronicles 16:28-29 “Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength! Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him! Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;”

“Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name.”

If you want your faith to grow glorify God in worship.

Worship is the act of viewing the truth of God and then celebrating it. Give him his due. Worship his splendor and holiness.

We sing truth. We recite truth. We speak truth. We preach truth. We observe truth and participate in truth in baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

We do all of this to recalibrate our hearts and minds to a place of worship.

Psalm 34:1–8 ESV

I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

We grow strong in our faith as we glorify God in worship.

Is worship an activity for you or a lifestyle?

Does it only happen on Sunday?

If you are found in Jesus you are a child of God and that means you always have access to your Father.

Worship him in the morning. Worship him in the evening. Worship him as you come and as you go. Worship him at meals and in between. Worship him when life is good and when life is hard. When there is comfort and when there pain.

Worship Him in all circumstances because he is always worthy of worship.

Romans 4:20 “No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,”

AS pursue lives that increasingly take in the glory of God our faith strengthens so that no unbelief will cause us to waiver in trusting the promises of God.

Finally, as we look to the end of our text we see that there is one premier promise that God calls us to believe. Our faith is strong when we believe...

IV. The Promise of Jesus (21-25)

Romans 4:21–25 (ESV)

But he grew strong as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

Abraham is not the only person whose faith is counted as righteousness. Paul reminds us that “it was counted to him” was not for his sake alone, but for ours too.

We are called to believe the promise that God has given us.

Abraham’s promise was part of bringing the messiah to the world.

But now we live after he has come—after he has done his lasting work—we are called to trust the fulfillment of all the biblical promises. We are called to put our hope and our faith in Christ.

Jesus is the rock on which our faith stands strong.

And God calls us to believe—with unwavering faith that we are saved by the work of Jesus on the cross. Like Abraham, We are to believe the promise given to us.

That Jesus lived and died in our place. His life was perfect. And because of his perfection he was a true atoning sacrifice.

For thousands of years Israel has sacrificed lambs on Passover for the forgiveness of sins—and all of these lambs were pointing to our continual need for forgiveness—and year after year lambs were slaughtered again because the “blood of animals could not suffice to clear human sin”.

They were insufficient sacrifices pointing to our need for a sufficient sacrifice.

Jesus is our sufficient, atoning sacrifice. He atoned for the sin of all those who would put their trust in Him.

Jesus pays for the guilt of sinners and gives them instead eternal life in Him.

He did die. And as we celebrated last week He rose again.

And the call that Abraham had to believe is the same call that we have. Believe the promise that God has given.

Romans 10:9 “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Conclusion

Abraham and Isaac climbed the mountain.

Abraham bound Isaac and placed him on the altar.

As Abraham raised his knife in the air to take the life of his son God stopped him.

A ram was given so that Isaac may live.

“No unbelief made Abraham’s faith waiver concerning the promise of God.”

Isaac lived. Abraham became the Father of nations. He is the spiritual father of countless children who have the same faith as Him—faith that God will do what he has promised to do.

Nearly two thousand years later God would once again provide us with a sacrifice to take our place on the altar.

Jesus is the better Isaac who does die as the sacrifice we need.

And in Him our faith is made complete because his promise to us is sure.

And as we put faith in God the giver of our promise, as we put inner and outer obstacles to our faith in their proper place, and as we live our lives glorifying God—the faith that Jesus has won for us will be strengthened for God’s glory and our good.

Let us strive to have faith that does not waiver concerning the promise of God. Amen?

Let’s pray.