Faith Walks
FAITH WALKSText: Hebrews 11:27-30 INTRODUCTION: It is easy to say we believe in God as long as we remain in the little world we choose to live in; but get out into the great world of facts, the noisy world where people are absolutely indifferent to you, where your message is nothing more than a crazy tale belonging to a bygone age, can you believe God - there? Martin Luther once said; “Just as no one can go to hell or heaven for me, so no one can believe for me and so no one can open or close heaven or hell for me, and no one can drive me either to believe or disbelieve.”To those who believe, no explanation is necessary. To those who do not believe, no explanation is possible. Faith is an essential and valuable characteristic for the Christian.We are saved by faith. Ephesians 2:8,9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast We are to live by faith. Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. In our text we see some of the things that faith does for us, as we exercise it.! I. FAITH WALKS OUT OF BONDAGE
A. By faith Moses led the children of Israel out of the bondage of Egypt.
Hebrews 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. !!! 1. It was because he trusted God that he left the land of Egypt and wasn't afraid of the king's anger.
2. Moses kept right on going; it seemed as though he could see God right there with him.
B. When we truly trust God, our faith will be a living faith that will spring alive.
1. Moses trusted God to leave the land of Egypt!
"Faith" by Ella Wheeler WilcoxI will not doubt, though all my ships at sea, Come drifting home with broken masts and sails; I shall believe the hand which never fails, From seeming evil worketh good to me. And, though I weep because those sails are battered, Still will I cry, while my best hopes lie shattered, "I trust in thee." I will not doubt, though all my prayers return
Unanswered from the still, white realm above;
I shall believe it is an all-wise Love
Who has refused those things for which I yearn;
And though, at times, I cannot keep from grieving,
Yet the pure ardor of my fixed believing
Undimmed shall burn.
I will not doubt, though sorrows fall like rain,
And troubles swarm like bees around a hive;
I shall believe the heights for which I strive,
Are only reached by anguish and by pain;
And, though I groan and tremble with my crosses,
I yet shall see, through my severest losses,
The greater gain.
I will not doubt; well anchored in my faith,
Like some stanch ship, my soul braves every gale,
So strong its courage that it will not fail
To breast the mighty, unknown sea of death.
Oh, may I cry when body parts with spirit,
"I do not doubt," so listening worlds may hear it
With my last breath.
2. It is not our trust that keeps us, but the God in whom we trust who keeps us.
Victor HugoLet us be like a bird for a moment perched, On a frail branch when he sings; Though he feels it bend, yet he sings his song, Knowing that he has wings. ! II. FAITH WALKS IN OBEDIENCE
Hebrews 11:28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. !! A. Moses was told to keep the Passover. He did as he was told.
Charles SpurgeonFaith and obedience are bound up in the same bundle. He that obeys God, trusts God; and he that trusts God, obeys God. Oswald Chambers If God were to remove from us the possibility of disobedience there would be no value in our obedience, it would be a mechanical business. ! III. FAITH WALKS THROUGH TROUBLE
Hebrews 11:29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. !! A. The waters of the Red Sea would be symbolic of trouble. The waters had potential to hurt the Israelites, but did not.
B. We will face many troubles and circumstances in our life, but;
1. A Christian who walks by faith accepts all circumstances from God.
2. He thanks God when everything goes good, when everything goes bad, and for the "blues" somewhere in-between.
3. He thanks God whether he feels like it or not.
To one who thinks, life is comedy. To one who feels, life is tragedy. To one who believes, life is victory. ! IV. FAITH WALKS AROUND THE ENEMY
Hebrews 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. !! A. Israel marching around their enemies reminds me to march around mine in prayer.
CONCLUSION:We can prove our faith by our committal to it, and in no other way. Any belief that does not command the one who holds it is not a real belief; it is only a bogus belief. And it might shock some of us deeply if we were brought suddenly face to face with our beliefs and forced to test them in the fires of practical living. The greatest proof of Christianity for others is not how far a man can logically analyze his reasons for believing, but how far in practice he will stake his life on his belief. To believe in God is to believe in someone who will always be far beyond us, who will forever be presenting a new aspect of himself to us. If you desire Christ for a permanent guest, give Him all the keys of your heart; let not one cabinet be locked up from him; give Him the range of every room and the key of every chamber. Charles SpurgeonThey’re many of you this very hour who are having problems with your relationship with God, in regards to your trust and faith. The Word of God says;Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. Jer 33:3 Several of you need to do just that; to come at this altar right now without hesitation and call upon Him!There is a direct line to God, you won’t get any busy signals. Come and call on Him, and have a little talk with Jesus, tell Him all about your troubles. He’ll here your faintest cry and answer by and by.Come in the Name of Jesus!Remember the message that the Lord has given to you, that;FAITH WALKS OUT OF BONDAGEFAITH WALKS IN OBEDIENCEFAITH WALKS THROUGH TROUBLEAND FAITH WALKS AROUND THE ENEMY