The Desire of Exiles - Part ii (outline)

Chapter Overview:

Ill: Mark & Patricia McCloskey vs. AOC Green New Deal (Jobs, Justice, Decarbonization) - Two apparent polarities but both similar in a way

Introduction:

Hebrews 11:13 “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.”

Faith:

Enduring faith is belief in what is coming ahead and conviction about what is presently unseen. Hebrews 11:1-3 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

What is the key word/phrase for the sermon?

Hebrews 11:16 “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.”

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

Illustration:

… 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

Do you want Heaven more than a fictional 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: “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:

Motivated by:

* New Apple event vs. a future in Heaven?

* New fiction movie vs. 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

A. The call of Abraham. Hebrews 11:8.

i. The command is to go out.

ii. The command was to go into a place.

iii. The command included the reward of inheritance.

B. The activity of Abraham

i. Abraham obeyed - Hebrews 11:8.

ii. Abraham sojourned - Hebrews 11:9.

iii. Abraham looked - Hebrews 11:10.

In the Old Testament, the Abrahamic Covenant had two major components — Place (land) and People (offspring). Genesis 15:18-21.

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

Meaning

Abraham’s faith was one of self-denial and heavenly desire. That's what made him an exile.

Illustration:

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.”

MARSHMELLOW TEST

Application

Does your faith reveal self-denial?

There are two ways to understand self-denial.

(1) Detachment from pleasure/higher state.

(2) Self-denial because of true faith.

“I love Him so much that I would count all things as waste for Him.”

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.

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. Hebrews 11:12

i. The Lord fulfilled his covenant promise despite death.

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

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…how? Romans 4:16-21.

Meaning

Sara received the promise in contrast to her attempt to force it. This made her an exile. Faith is trusting God for the outcomes not attempting to force the outcomes.

Just as the land is celestial, so too the people are of celestial birth. This is a birth that you cannot control – that you cannot force.

Illustration: Our children did not control or force their way into our family by their birth. They were born into our family. When you consider entering into the family of God, this requires a supernatural birth. John 3:3.

Application

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

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

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.

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

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

i. Not receiving the promises

App: 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)

iii. Being persuaded about the promises

iv. Welcoming (embracing) the promises

To embrace is to willingly welcome. They took hold of the promises.

Illustration: Heavenly minded, not earthly good...”We should always be fit for communion with God, and be heavenly mindEd for earthly business....”- Sibbes

Our tendency is to be so earthly minded that we are no heavenly good…but thanks be to God that we have that Heavenly Spirit dwelling in us!

v. Confessing their identity Hebrews 11:13

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

App: Convinced led to proper self-understanding.

vi. Reasoning for their confessing:

a. Thinking of the faithful. Hebrews 11:15 “And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.”

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

It is a present indicative. (1) present: they want this RIGHT NOW (2) real: it is not figurative or fake.

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

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

Illustration: One of the reasons you want your child to do good in team athletics...

Meaning

(1) An all-consuming faith does not mean you have all of the pieces right now.

(2) An all-consuming faith is one that consumes how you think and what you want.

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.

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.

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

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

Ephesians 3:16-17.

Endure from fullness. Live from love. Expend from abundance. As your heart is strengthened and as Christ dwells in your hearts by faith your ability to comprehend the love of Christ and your capacity to be filled with all the fullness of God increases.

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

The potted plant of faith must be strengthened by living Waters: 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.

“And because knowledge and affection mutually help one another, it is good to keep up our affections of love and delight by all sweet inducements and divine encouragements; for what the heart likes best, the mind studies most.” - Sibbes, Richard “The Bruised Reed”, p. 115.

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?