Your Faith Matters
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I. Intro.
I. Intro.
A. Coming to church this morning was a matter of faith.
A. Coming to church this morning was a matter of faith.
1. You had faith that the church doors would be open for you to come into the church.
1. You had faith that the church doors would be open for you to come into the church.
2. You had faith that the chair you would sit in would support your weight.
2. You had faith that the chair you would sit in would support your weight.
B. Everything you did this morning to get to church was a matter of faith.
B. Everything you did this morning to get to church was a matter of faith.
1. You had faith that your cloths would fit this morning.
1. You had faith that your cloths would fit this morning.
2. You had faith that your car would run.
2. You had faith that your car would run.
3. You even had faith that the other cars on the road would stay in their lane.
3. You even had faith that the other cars on the road would stay in their lane.
C. We all exercise some type of faith everyday of our lives.
C. We all exercise some type of faith everyday of our lives.
1. But is our faith being placed in the right things, places and people?
1. But is our faith being placed in the right things, places and people?
2. Where should our should our faith be placed?
2. Where should our should our faith be placed?
3. To that that question we must ask another question.
3. To that that question we must ask another question.
II. What is faith? Which brings us to our text.
II. What is faith? Which brings us to our text.
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
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.
A. Definition
A. Definition
1. Faith makes things hoped for as real as if we already have them.
1. Faith makes things hoped for as real as if we already have them.
2. Faith provides evidence that what is unseen is absolutely real.
2. Faith provides evidence that what is unseen is absolutely real.
3. Faith is confidence in the worthiness and ability of someone or something.
3. Faith is confidence in the worthiness and ability of someone or something.
4. Faith is setting your heart on the object of your hope with confidence.
4. Faith is setting your heart on the object of your hope with confidence.
B. The object of faith.
B. The object of faith.
1. But there are inadequate objects of faith that are misleading and not trustworthy.
1. But there are inadequate objects of faith that are misleading and not trustworthy.
2. Such as science and technology.
2. Such as science and technology.
3. False gods like—money, security, wealth and even people and ourselves.
3. False gods like—money, security, wealth and even people and ourselves.
4. The only adequate object of faith is God.
4. The only adequate object of faith is God.
5. The Bible Exposition Commentary says—
5. The Bible Exposition Commentary says—
“The world fails to realize that faith is only as good as its object, and the object of our faith (that is Christian faith) is God.
6. And it goes on to say that—
6. And it goes on to say that—
Faith is not some ‘feeling’ that we manufacture. It is our total response to what God has revealed in His Word.”
7. So what we’er going to learn from this passage of scripture is that faith is what pleases God not feelings.
7. So what we’er going to learn from this passage of scripture is that faith is what pleases God not feelings.
C. So, what is proper faith in God?
C. So, what is proper faith in God?
1. The proper faith in God is quite simple, Heb. 11:6 says—
1. The proper faith in God is quite simple, Heb. 11:6 says—
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.
2. Believe that He exist.
2. Believe that He exist.
3. And believe that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
3. And believe that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
4. That’s proper faith in God!
4. That’s proper faith in God!
5. It’s your faith that pleases God not your feelings.
5. It’s your faith that pleases God not your feelings.
6. Your feelings are a secondary product of your faith that is unintended but inevitably produced as you live by your faith in God.
6. Your feelings are a secondary product of your faith that is unintended but inevitably produced as you live by your faith in God.
7. If you never feel anything (of which I doubt it), God will still be pleased with you because you chose to live the rest of you life by faith in Him.
7. If you never feel anything (of which I doubt it), God will still be pleased with you because you chose to live the rest of you life by faith in Him.
III. Examples of Faith
III. Examples of Faith
A. Our passage of Scripture gives us two examples of faith.
A. Our passage of Scripture gives us two examples of faith.
1. The first one is Able (Heb 11:4).
1. The first one is Able (Heb 11:4).
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
2. Gen 4:2-5 tell us that both Cain and able gave an offering to the Lord.
2. Gen 4:2-5 tell us that both Cain and able gave an offering to the Lord.
3. God rejected Cain’s offering but accepted Abel’s offering.
3. God rejected Cain’s offering but accepted Abel’s offering.
4. Why?
4. Why?
5. Heb. 11:4 says—Abel gave his offering to God by faith.
5. Heb. 11:4 says—Abel gave his offering to God by faith.
6. It was a matter of the heart (a heart of worship).
6. It was a matter of the heart (a heart of worship).
7. Cain offered some fruit of the ground, not the “first fruit” of the ground or harvest.
7. Cain offered some fruit of the ground, not the “first fruit” of the ground or harvest.
8. Showing his heart to God that it was not a heart of faith.
8. Showing his heart to God that it was not a heart of faith.
9. Able offered the first in faith, showing his heart.
9. Able offered the first in faith, showing his heart.
10. 1 Samuel 16:7 says
10. 1 Samuel 16:7 says
1 Samuel 16:7 (KJV 1900)
“for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”
11. Cain made sure Cain was taken care of, so he kept the first of the crops, and then gave to God.
11. Cain made sure Cain was taken care of, so he kept the first of the crops, and then gave to God.
12. In other words, Cain’s faith was in Cain.
12. In other words, Cain’s faith was in Cain.
13. Abel gave off the top.
13. Abel gave off the top.
14. Because he had hope and confidence in God the God would take care of what came afterwards.
14. Because he had hope and confidence in God the God would take care of what came afterwards.
B. So, what can we learn from Abel?
B. So, what can we learn from Abel?
1. Well, we first learn that faith is a matter of the heart.
1. Well, we first learn that faith is a matter of the heart.
a. Cain knew God existed.
a. Cain knew God existed.
b. Cain even talks with God (Gen. 4:9).
b. Cain even talks with God (Gen. 4:9).
c. But Cain didn’t trust God.
c. But Cain didn’t trust God.
d. He knew God was there but he didn’t have any hope, any confidence or any faith in God.
d. He knew God was there but he didn’t have any hope, any confidence or any faith in God.
e. He made an attempt at faith but his heart just wasn’t in it.
e. He made an attempt at faith but his heart just wasn’t in it.
f. Abel on the other hand knew God existed.
f. Abel on the other hand knew God existed.
g. And His actions showed it.
g. And His actions showed it.
h. He was willing to place his faith and future in the hands of God.
h. He was willing to place his faith and future in the hands of God.
2. Your faith is a matter of the heart as well.
2. Your faith is a matter of the heart as well.
a. You may believe God exist.
a. You may believe God exist.
b. But He may not be first in your life.
b. But He may not be first in your life.
c. If that’s so, then where is your hope, your confidence, and your faith right now.
c. If that’s so, then where is your hope, your confidence, and your faith right now.
d. who or what are you trusting today, and for the future?
d. who or what are you trusting today, and for the future?
e. Is it in yourself?
e. Is it in yourself?
f. Is it your own abilities?
f. Is it your own abilities?
g. Is your life a testimony of faith in God?
g. Is your life a testimony of faith in God?
h. Who or what has your heart today?
h. Who or what has your heart today?
C. The next example of faith in our passage of scripture is Enoch.
C. The next example of faith in our passage of scripture is Enoch.
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
1. We also find Enoch in just a few verses of Gen 5:21-24
1. We also find Enoch in just a few verses of Gen 5:21-24
21 And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:
22 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:
24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
2. He is found in the human family tree.
2. He is found in the human family tree.
3. He falls between his father Jared and his son Methuselah.
3. He falls between his father Jared and his son Methuselah.
4. Enoch is unique for two particular reasons.
4. Enoch is unique for two particular reasons.
a. he is described as a man, unlike any other man in this passage, that walked with God.
a. he is described as a man, unlike any other man in this passage, that walked with God.
b. The book of Hebrews gives us a little more insight into Enoch’s life.
b. The book of Hebrews gives us a little more insight into Enoch’s life.
c. He went straight to heaven because he pleased God.
c. He went straight to heaven because he pleased God.
d. This happened by faith.
d. This happened by faith.
e. Enoch walked with god by faith.
e. Enoch walked with god by faith.
f. And he pleased God because of his faith.
f. And he pleased God because of his faith.
D. What can we learn from Enoch?
D. What can we learn from Enoch?
1. Faith affects our walk.
1. Faith affects our walk.
a. Enoch walked with God.
a. Enoch walked with God.
b. He lived his life by faith with confidence in God.
b. He lived his life by faith with confidence in God.
2. Where we place our faith affects our walk.
2. Where we place our faith affects our walk.
a. When we place our faith in ourselves only and not in God, it affects how we live.
a. When we place our faith in ourselves only and not in God, it affects how we live.
b. We live to please ourselves and not God.
b. We live to please ourselves and not God.
c. It can affect us to live selfishly and uncaring for others.
c. It can affect us to live selfishly and uncaring for others.
d. We become objects of our affection and we’ll do anything to protect our affection.
d. We become objects of our affection and we’ll do anything to protect our affection.
e. We become our only hope so we’ve got to do whatever it takes.
e. We become our only hope so we’ve got to do whatever it takes.
f. We live in a society of people who only have faith in themselves.
f. We live in a society of people who only have faith in themselves.
g. Their covetous, cutthroats and backstabbers, because everything depends on them and what they can do to survive.
g. Their covetous, cutthroats and backstabbers, because everything depends on them and what they can do to survive.
3. When we have confidence and hope in God, it will affect the way we live.
3. When we have confidence and hope in God, it will affect the way we live.
a. When we trust in the God of promise, we’ll live in such a way to embrace those promises.
a. When we trust in the God of promise, we’ll live in such a way to embrace those promises.
b. When we trust in the God of discipline and judgment, we’ll live in a way that keeps us from that discipline and judgment.
b. When we trust in the God of discipline and judgment, we’ll live in a way that keeps us from that discipline and judgment.
c. Like Enoch, when we trust in God, we are able to live in a fallen world full of cutthroats and backstabbers, because we trust in Him who is greater in us than he that is in the world.
c. Like Enoch, when we trust in God, we are able to live in a fallen world full of cutthroats and backstabbers, because we trust in Him who is greater in us than he that is in the world.
d. We live as pilgrims, by faith who are just passing through, because our confidence and hope is not in this world, the things of this world, or people who are of the world.
d. We live as pilgrims, by faith who are just passing through, because our confidence and hope is not in this world, the things of this world, or people who are of the world.
e. Our faith, confidence and hope is in God.
e. Our faith, confidence and hope is in God.
4. Faith pleases God.
4. Faith pleases God.
a. God witnessed How Enoch lived.
a. God witnessed How Enoch lived.
b. He saw how he walked in the midst of a sinful world.
b. He saw how he walked in the midst of a sinful world.
c. He saw that Enoch lived by faith in Him.
c. He saw that Enoch lived by faith in Him.
d. God knew Enoch’s heart.
d. God knew Enoch’s heart.
e. God knew that Enoch trusted Him every step of the way.
e. God knew that Enoch trusted Him every step of the way.
f. And gust what, that pleased God.
f. And gust what, that pleased God.
g. Our dependence and confidence in God pleases Him.
g. Our dependence and confidence in God pleases Him.
h. He loves to see us living by faith and not by sight.
h. He loves to see us living by faith and not by sight.
i. He loves to see that our hearts are totally commited to Him and His ways.
i. He loves to see that our hearts are totally commited to Him and His ways.
j. He loves to see us react to life with confidence and hope in Him.
j. He loves to see us react to life with confidence and hope in Him.
IV. To summarize true biblical faith...
IV. To summarize true biblical faith...
A. True biblical faith is—
A. True biblical faith is—
1. Confidence in the worthiness and ability of God.
1. Confidence in the worthiness and ability of God.
2. Setting your heart on God.
2. Setting your heart on God.
3. Knowing that what has not yet happen is good as done in God.
3. Knowing that what has not yet happen is good as done in God.
B. Questions of Faith:
B. Questions of Faith:
1. Is your heart set on God?
1. Is your heart set on God?
2. Is your faith affecting how you live?
2. Is your faith affecting how you live?
3. Is your faith pleasing God?
3. Is your faith pleasing God?
C. We are saved, through faith.
C. We are saved, through faith.
1. Eph. 2:8 says “For by grace you have been saved through faith.”
1. Eph. 2:8 says “For by grace you have been saved through faith.”
Ephesians 2:8 (KJV 1900)
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith...
2. And Romans 5:1 says “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2. And Romans 5:1 says “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
3. We trust that what God has done is sufficient, in the person of Jesus Christ.
3. We trust that what God has done is sufficient, in the person of Jesus Christ.
4. So our confidence is in Jesus Christ.
4. So our confidence is in Jesus Christ.
V. Sometimes our faith is tested
V. Sometimes our faith is tested
A. Things happen in life that test our faith.
A. Things happen in life that test our faith.
1. Our confidence in the worthiness of ability of God is tested.
1. Our confidence in the worthiness of ability of God is tested.
2. Setting our hearts solely on God is tested.
2. Setting our hearts solely on God is tested.
3. Believing that what has not yet happen is as good as done, is tested.
3. Believing that what has not yet happen is as good as done, is tested.
4. So, what do we need to face the test of our faith?
4. So, what do we need to face the test of our faith?
VI. We need to know that the testing of our faith is going to happen.
VI. We need to know that the testing of our faith is going to happen.
A. We have to expect the testing of our faith.
A. We have to expect the testing of our faith.
1. The bible says “when” or “whenever,” not if.
1. The bible says “when” or “whenever,” not if.
2. In John 16:33 said—
2. In John 16:33 said—
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
3. In Acts 14:22 The Apostle Paul said—
3. In Acts 14:22 The Apostle Paul said—
22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
3. And in 1 Pet 4:12 The Apostle Peter said—
3. And in 1 Pet 4:12 The Apostle Peter said—
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
B. So the testing of our faith is going to happen.
B. So the testing of our faith is going to happen.
1. There’s no way around it.
1. There’s no way around it.
2. We’re going to get sick.
2. We’re going to get sick.
3. We’re going to have accidents.
3. We’re going to have accidents.
4. We’re going to face tragedies.
4. We’re going to face tragedies.
5. We’re going to have hard times.
5. We’re going to have hard times.
6. Satan is going to fight against us.
6. Satan is going to fight against us.
7. The world is going to fight against us.
7. The world is going to fight against us.
C. Yes, our faith will be tested.
C. Yes, our faith will be tested.
1. Our confidence in God will be tested.
1. Our confidence in God will be tested.
2. Our hearts will be tested.
2. Our hearts will be tested.
3. Our hope in the promises of God for our future will be tested.
3. Our hope in the promises of God for our future will be tested.
4. The testing of our faith is like taking a faith exam.
4. The testing of our faith is like taking a faith exam.
5. I think this is what the Apostle Paul meant in 2 Cor 13:5 when said—
5. I think this is what the Apostle Paul meant in 2 Cor 13:5 when said—
2 Corinthians 13:5 (KJV 1900)
5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? (fail the test)
6. When we past the test of faith God will reward us because God is a rewarder of those who believe that he is and are diligently seek him.
6. When we past the test of faith God will reward us because God is a rewarder of those who believe that he is and are diligently seek him.
VII. We need to know that our values will determine our reactions to the testing of our faith.
VII. We need to know that our values will determine our reactions to the testing of our faith.
A. What we’re made of comes out in the testing of our faith.
A. What we’re made of comes out in the testing of our faith.
1. If we value comfort more than character, the test will upset us.
1. If we value comfort more than character, the test will upset us.
2. If we value material and physical things more than the spiritual things of God, the testing of our faith will cruse us.
2. If we value material and physical things more than the spiritual things of God, the testing of our faith will cruse us.
3. If we live for the present and not think about the future, the test will make us bitter.
3. If we live for the present and not think about the future, the test will make us bitter.
VIII. We need to know that God has a purpose for the testing of our faith.
VIII. We need to know that God has a purpose for the testing of our faith.
A. The test of faith does not surprise God.
A. The test of faith does not surprise God.
1. He allows the test for a reason.
1. He allows the test for a reason.
2. He allows them so we can see just where our faith is.
2. He allows them so we can see just where our faith is.
3. He allows the so we can see that our faith is genuine.
3. He allows the so we can see that our faith is genuine.
4. He allows them so we know that God is working .something out of us and in us.
4. He allows them so we know that God is working .something out of us and in us.
B. There’s a story about gold.
B. There’s a story about gold.
1. They say back during the gold rush, there was a procedure taken.
1. They say back during the gold rush, there was a procedure taken.
2. When someone found what they thought was gold, they took it to a person called an assayer.
2. When someone found what they thought was gold, they took it to a person called an assayer.
3. The assayer would build a very hot fire.
3. The assayer would build a very hot fire.
4. Then he would place the suspected gold over the fire.
4. Then he would place the suspected gold over the fire.
5. While the assumed gold is over the fire, the assayer put acid on it.
5. While the assumed gold is over the fire, the assayer put acid on it.
6. And how it reacted to the fire and acid revealed whether it was really gold or just a fake.
6. And how it reacted to the fire and acid revealed whether it was really gold or just a fake.
C. God has a purpose for the test of our faith.
C. God has a purpose for the test of our faith.
1. God is trying to purify your heart.
1. God is trying to purify your heart.
2. He is teaching you to persevere and be patient.
2. He is teaching you to persevere and be patient.
3. He is teaching you to cling to Him when things get tough.
3. He is teaching you to cling to Him when things get tough.
4. He is helping you become a mature Christian.
4. He is helping you become a mature Christian.
5. he is helping you become a complete Christian.
5. he is helping you become a complete Christian.
D. So, the purpose of the testing of our faith is—
D. So, the purpose of the testing of our faith is—
1. To build our confidence in the worthiness and ability of God.
1. To build our confidence in the worthiness and ability of God.
2. To assure our hearts that God is sufficient.
2. To assure our hearts that God is sufficient.
3. to fortify our hope that what God has promised, He will do.
3. to fortify our hope that what God has promised, He will do.