Seeing Through Faith

You have heard the expression, “it’s not as bad as it seems.” That typically is used to help someone see that as bad as they feel about a situation or problem what the perceive may not be what it really is. Yeah, your upset but its not as bad as it seems.” But, church sometimes things are exactly the way it seems. Sometimes the troubles we face are legitimately what we see them to be. The struggles of our lives, especially historically, are exactly what we see and know them to be. So never let someone delegitimize your pain, your trauma, your experience, as less than you and what God knows it to be. That is not the point of this sermon. What I do hope to however, and to convey is that whatever it is you face in front of you, it may be what it is, but if you see it through faith it can take you somewhere better. Abraham was already old, without and heir, without his own land, a wandering nomadic Hebrew, with no particular purpose or direction in life. But God called him and when that happened Abraham and Sarah had to see their lives differently by seeing through faith.

If I may I would liken this to a filter. No, not the type of filter for your car, or central air, or cooking. I’m talking about filters we use on our phones for social media. If you aren’t aware ask one of your children or grandchildren what a filter is. (explain what they do) You see, you might appear one way in in real life but when you put on the photo things look a whole lot better.

Look Forward (v. 8-10)

Called, and obeyed

It cannot be understated that the demonstration of Abrahams faith begins with obedience. If Abraham is not first obedient to the call, he is not in position to receive the promise. If he does not have faith to obey, likewise he will not have faith to receive. Will you chose to obey?

a place he would received, not knowing where he was going.

Living in tents, looking for a city. (Issac and Jacob)

Look Inside (v.11-12)

Sarah and Abraham had two different experiences in their faith journey. Ultimately her faith is observed when she, looked inward at what God was doing through her.

Seeing your condition differently through faith is difficult because nobody knows you, like you.

Received power to conceive

Sarah, knew her condition and laughed when she heard God was going to bless her, but thank God she was given time and chance to grow into faith whereby she through faith received power within herself

past the age

considered Him who made the promise faithful

Look up (v.13-16)

Now, I’m about to bust your bubble, pop your balloon, rain on your parade.

Died in faith, never saw received the things promised, but saw them.

They could have gone backwards if it were a normal

But because they didn’t get the city the were looking for, God is giving them a city they never imagined.

Filter close. (take out phone)

I’m looking at someone who’s hurt…healed. Bills money…Needs are met. Broken relationships…reconciliation. Afraid to take the next step…walking in victory.

I’m looking at a country...

But If I never see any of that. I see what John saw.

“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”