The Desire of Exiles - Part ii (manuscript)

Chapter Overview:

The Commendation of Exiles (v. 4-7) - What are exiles like?

The Commute of Exiles (v. 8-10) - How do exiles live?

The Conception of Exiles (v. 11-12) - What do exiles receive?

The Confession of Exiles (v. 13-16) - What do exiles want?

The Continuance of Exiles - How do exiles continue?

Introduction:

Review/Definition of Faith:

Enduring faith is belief in what is coming ahead and conviction about what is presently unseen. Hebrews 1:1-3.

What is the key word/phrase for the sermon?

Heaven, the presence of God, is the better country.

Illustration: Have you ever deeply wanted something more than what you have or to be somewhere where you are presently not?

Little Mermaid Song:

… Look at this stuff Isn't it neat? Wouldn't you think my collection's complete? Wouldn't you think I'm the girl The girl who has everything?

… Look at this trove Treasures untold How many wonders can one cavern hold? Looking around here you'd think Sure, she's got everything

… I've got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty I've got whozits and whatzits galore You want thingamabobs? I've got twenty! But who cares? No big deal I want more

… I wanna be where the people are I wanna see, wanna see 'em dancin' Walking around on those, what do you call 'em? Oh, feet

Do you want Heaven like a cartoon character wants to walk?

What is the goal of the sermon?

To compel the hearers to direct their hearts towards Heaven.

Why is this goal needed?

We are reticent to relinquish material ties at the behest of God.

Illustration: One such passage struck me recently as I was reading Hebrews 10:32-34: But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.  (KJV)

The italicized section has also been translated, “and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one” (ESV).  This is written without fireworks or fanfare, but I have to stop and wonder how I would feel if the police or military showed up at my door and plundered my property because I was a Christian.  The word “joyful” honestly does not pop into my mind at that scenario. - Margrette Semenov Blog - www.cometogbc.com

We are consumed by the temporary.

Illustration:

Why are we motivated by a new Apple event but not about a future in Heaven?

Why are we motivated by a new fiction movie but not about a real place called Heaven?

How will you accomplish this goal?

By showing how Abraham and Sara’s faith was set upon Heaven and the Lord and that this made them exiles in this world.

Sermon Theme:

Set your mind and affection upon the reality of things that you do NOT presently see!

Body:

(I) Exiles have a faith that desires the Place of Heaven Hebrews 11:8-10

“8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”

Interpretation

Here the author begins the time of the great Patriarch Abraham. Notice a few points of the passage.

A. The call of Abraham

Here the call is not necessarily to some vocation. It is a command or a summon to a mission.

i. The command is to go out.

By implication, Abraham was called to leave his home country and people. Abraham had to deny self for this call.

ii. The command was to go into a place.

It is not that he did not have a place, but that he did not know the place. These are two distinct options. God knew the place, though Abraham did not know the place. The place existed through it was not defined in the mind of Abraham. Just because Abraham did not know the place did not mean the place did not exist.

iii. The command included the reward of inheritance.

God is not unjust. With the command to deny self, there was a reward that was promised. The promise meant that Abraham, through entering into a sojourning life, would not remain a sojourner for ever.

B. The activity of Abraham

i. Abraham obeyed - Hebrews 11:8.

Abraham’s faith is an enduring faith. How are we sure that this is true? He obeyed practically/physically. He did not know where, but he did know the what and the Who of the what.

ii. Abraham sojourned - Hebrews 11:9.

This sojourning was in the land that was promised to Him. This would be a place for God’s people under God’s rule.

iii. Abraham looked - Hebrews 11:10.

The city that Abraham was looking or was the city of God — one where God was the designer and creator.

Abraham’s faith is proven as an enduring faith by his obedience, his sojourning, and his looking.

Meaning

In the Old Testament, the Abrahamic Covenant had two major components — Place (land) and People (offspring). Genesis 15:18-21. These particular verses tell us of the land portion, and these verses confirm for us the enduring faith of Abraham.

Abraham’s faith was one of self-denial and heavenly desire.

Illustration: Seeking something better will always cost you saying no to the lesser. Self-denial is a non-negotiable in following the Lord.

Luke 9:23 “23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

Application

Does your faith reveal self-denial?

There are two ways to understand self-denial. One is like some religions of the world view self-denial — as a detachment from all pleasure whereby we attain a higher state of self-knowledge and being. This is not at all what we see here. In this form of self-denial, there is an inherent selfishness — a kind of knowledge the puffs up.

Then there is the kind of self-denial we see in the scripture. It is the self-denial of One who truly believes that God is real, Heaven is real, and eternal life is of infinite worth. This is the self-denial that considers the lovely Lord Jesus Christ worth selling all you have so that you can follow Him. It is the self-denial that says, “I love Him so much that I would count all things as waste for Him.”

When I say “Exiles have a faith that desires the place of Heaven”, it is not because of the streets of gold, the mansions, or the fruit trees. Exiles desire the presence of God, and their faith leads them to deny self in pursuit of Him.

Do you desire this place here more than the place there?

Transition

The Abrahamic covenant not only had the land component but it also had the people component, and this leads us to our next verses.

(II) Exiles have a faith that judges God as Faithful to produce a Covenant People Hebrews 11:11-12

“11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.”

Interpretation

A. What happened to Sara

There are two things the author notes happened to Sarah:

i. Sarah received strength - Hebrews 11:11.

ii. Sarah was delivered of a child

B. Why it happened to Sara

i. This happened because she judged God faithful - Deuteronomy 7:9.

This is referred to as the “truthfulness” or “faithfulness” of God.

Grudem: “God’s truthfulness means that he is the true god, and that all his knowledge and words are both true and the final standard of truth.”

ii. God is the one who had promised. Genesis 17:19.

C. The covenant people provided.

i. The Lord fulfilled his covenant promise despite death. Hebrews 11:12.

ii. The Lord fulfilled his covenant promise to provide innumerable seed. Hebrews 11:12. Genesis 22:17.

Meaning

This is the second major component of the Abrahamic Covenant — that the LORD would give them a child and through that child give an innumerable offspring, but how is this possible? You can number the nation of Israel. We even see David do this at the end of his reign.

The answer lies in the context of this passage. There is a Heavenly seed that is innumerable and not purely biological to Abraham and Isaac. This was part of the Jewish problem — they missed the fact that the Messiah would open the door to more than just those of Jewish descent. See John 8:39-40, 52-57.

Though the argument may be different in Romans, Romans does give us insight into who these innumerable seed are: Romans 4:1-3, 16-21.

Just as the land is celestial, so too the people are of celestial birth.

Illustration: The unprepared/unaware virgins (Matthew 25:1-13).

Application

Are you sure you are part of this covenant community of exiles who have this kind of enduring faith?

First, strength for the impossible can only come from God. It is impossible for dead people to do anything to save themselves.

Second, being part of God’s family is by faith alone in Christ alone.

Are you believing and behaving according to the privilege of celestial community?

Third, while many in conservative circles tout their biological pedigree, there is an eternal bond that is greater — it is the bond of those who are in Christ for eternity.

Transition

Exiles are looking for a land that is Heavenly and they care deeply for a Heavenly People, but...

(III) Exiles have a faith that is all-consuming Hebrews 11:13-16

“13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.”

Interpretation

A. The death of the faithful. Hebrews 11:13.

These all died in faith indicates that they continued believing into the time of their death. This shows the validity of their faith.

It is not that they avoided death, but that they maintained their faith into death.

App: The first death is coming, but the second death can be avoided.

We would do well to remember that following Jesus does not mean we will miss the first death, but that we will miss the second death. The second death is judgment for our sins for all of eternity, and only those who die in faith in Jesus are assured of eternal life.

B. The description of the faithful. Hebrews 11:13.

i. Not receiving the promises

In one sense, Abraham and Sara received part of the promise — Isaac was born. Yet, in a more complete sense, and in line with the author of Hebrews, they did not receive the full promise; for Jesus is the One that all of the OT saints were waiting for.

App: The birth of Isaac gave hope that the rest of the promise would be fulfilled. The birth of Christ gives hope that the rest of the promise will be fulfilled. There is the already and the not yet.

If you want faith for what’s to come, consider carefully what’s already been done.

ii. Having seen the promises afar off (by faith)

The writer is pointing out, not that Abraham and Sara physically saw what was to come but, that they had eyes of faith. They saw.

(Illustration: Every parent can visualize things that they desire for their children. They see it often because they know their children, believe in their children, and hope for their children.)

iii. Being persuaded about the promises

The author seems to be working from sight to heart. To see is to have a mind visualizing by faith. To be persuaded is to be convinced.

iv. Welcoming (embracing) the promises

To embrace is to willingly welcome. They took hold of the promises. They were affectionately and mentally convinced. This cannot but cause a response practically.

v. Confessing their identity

a. What the declaration is about their confession. Hebrews 11:14.

App: When someone is so convinced of the promises of a place and a people; of a country and a posterity…they are compelled to see themselves differently.

We don’t see ourselves like this when we are not really convinced of the place of Heaven and the people of God; when we are fully persuaded of Heaven.

vi. Reasoning for their confessing:

The author goes on to give a rational case, of how he knows they were convinced...

a. Thinking of the faithful. Hebrews 11:15.

If they would have been thinking about the country they left, they could have gone back. The implication is that their mind was not consumed with thoughts of what was left behind.

b. Wanting of the faithful. Hebrews 11:16.

The verb tense is interesting here. It is a present indicative. The writer is presenting the desire of the OT saints as two things: (1) present: they want this RIGHT NOW (2) real: it is not figurative or fake.

That is to say that these individuals are still alive, and they not only desired a better country when they were on this earth, but their desire is eternal — never changing. They want where they are!

Secondly, their desire is real, as evidenced by their confession and obedience.

Thus, their thinking was consumed as was their wanting. What does this lead to with God?

c. Owning of the faithful by God. Hebrews 11:16.

It is as though these OT saints of faith are saying, “I believe that you [God] are, and that you are faithful (unchanging).” God responds, “You are mine, and I am NOT ashamed of you.”

The life-giving God delights to claim those who have true faith in Him.

Meaning

For the original audience, this sequence of verses must have been very thought-provoking and encouraging. (1) An all-consuming faith does not mean you have all of the pieces right now. (2) An all-consuming faith is one that includes consumes how you think and what you want. (3) An all-consuming is not ashamed to openly confess Jesus. (4) An all-consuming faith is not ashamed of the rejection by family, friends, and society because God delights to claim those who have faith in Him.

The exiles had a genuine, all-consuming faith. Their mind and affections were consumed with what God had prepared for them. This means that their heart beat and their mind thought about what they believed. That is also to say that their heart and mind was not consumed with what they gave up in their pursuit of God’s promises.

Illustration:

What do you dream about with excitement?

Are you growing in awe or being choked?

First time going to the Ark Encounter - excited. Bigger and better than anticipated…So Heaven and so the people of God.

or Illustration of the thorny ground: deceitfulness of riches, cares of this life choke the word...

Application

Is your faith in the promises of God such that it consumes your affections and your thoughts?

What has your faith led you to think about yourself?

Have you confessed what you are because of your faith?

What part of your life is presently NOT being lived by faith?

Transition

Exiles are looking for a land that is Heavenly and they care deeply for a Heavenly People, and their hearts and minds are consumed with God’s promises.

(IV) Exiles have a faith that calls for our response

A. Acknowledge: To receive the heavenly land, you must receive the Seed — Jesus Christ - Galatians 3:16, compared with Genesis 13:15.

Only when you receive the Seed, are you able to live as a Sojourner.

Illustration: It is possible to live practically as a sojourner but not be this kind of Sojourner. What separates the two is the object of faith. If someone lives as a sojourner, selling all they have, they may have a belief that it will make the world a better place or make them a better person; but their faith is in themselves or the consequences of their choices.

This kind of Hebrews 11 sojourner confesses and practices this way because of the better Christ. He does not have faith in his work of sojourning but in the finished work of the Sojourner. Consequently, the call of Christ is obeyed because of the sufficient Christ. There is a forsaking of all for following Him.

How does Christ make you able to have this kind of faith?

(1) Because when you have Jesus, you have the One Who had perfect faith in the Father and the Father’s Word. (2) Because when you have Jesus, you receive the Spirit of Christ. Ephesians 3:16-17 addresses both of these. As your heart is strengthened and as Christ dwells in your hearts by faith you ability to comprehend the love of Christ and your capacity to be filled with all the fullness of God increases. Thus, you endure from fullness. You live from love. You live out of abundance. You live as He works in you.

Illustration: Which man is receiving the primary strengthening: inner man or outer man? What is the difference between potted flowers and cut flowers? Your inner man is like the potted flowers and the outer man is like the cut flowers. Why do we invest so much in attempting to keep the outer man alive rather than strengthening the inner man? II Corinthians 4:16 “16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”

B. Confess: Living begins with honest confession about who you are by faith. Live now in light of the celestial place and the celestial people. Psalm 39:12.

I am not promoting a little god theology where what you speak causes what is spoken to exist, but there is something to be said about confessing before men that we are enduring in this life as sojourners on our way to Heaven and the consummate people of God. (i.e. attendance confesses this; baptism confesses this; testimonies confess this; church discipline confesses this…etc)

C. Practice: Intentionally fuel your faith until your heart burns, your mind races, and your lips confess. Hebrews 5:11-14.

We mustn’t act as though we are not responsible for the intensity of our faith. Some are not motivated because there is not life; but others are not living for Heaven because their love has waxed cold. You are attempting to fuel an eternal flame with temporary things, and it never works. The eternal flame of faith must be strengthened by eternal fuel: the word, prayer, mediation, spiritual disciplines. This means that your affections need to be set on things above, and that your thoughts need to be brought into subjection.

Conclusion:

Exiles have a faith that desires Heaven, a faith that believes God will produce a people, and a faith that is all-consuming. This is the kind of faith that endures. This is the kind of faith that saves.

Is this the faith you have?

Is this the faith you are asking the Lord to strengthen in your heart?

RH Response Questions:

Are you prepared to enter eternity? If not, would you like to know how to be prepared?

Are you burdened about the coldness of your faith and want prayer about spiritual disciplines?

Would you like to confess Jesus Christ as your Lord and be baptized?

Would you like to join the fellowship of saints at Grace Baptist Church?

Post-Sermon Discussion Questions:

What does it mean that Christians should consider themselves as exiles? Hebrews 11:13.

There were two major parts to the Abrahamic Covenant. What were those two parts?

What do you think was Abraham’s most difficult decision and why?

In your opinion, what keeps Christians from being Heavenly minded?

What was significant about Sarah’s faith? Why?

What is one particular area in which Hebrews 11:13-16 should change your life?