This teaching is part of a series I've been doing at New Life Fellowship, where I serve as the Pastor-Teacher. The series is entitled "The Journey of Faith" which means that our lives are meant to be lived by faith as we journey through it.
We are looking at Hebrews 11 and the stories in Genesis that relate to the Hebrews 11 statements. Last week we looked at Abraham, and this week I continue the Abraham story.
Faith is the most basic aspect of our relationship with
God. While we use the word frequently,
it's crucial that we understand what it means to "journey" through
life by Faith.
Faith is an everyday thing - because it's a relationship
with Someone, and not a religious something. This teaching is a
continuation of the Abraham story and what we see is the way in which HOPE is
central to the way Faith works in our lives.
Hebrews 11:8-12
8 It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.
9 And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise...
11 It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise.
12 And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.
8 It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.
9 And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise...
11 It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise.
12 And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.
God had given Abraham a promise…
Genesis 12:1-3
1 The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.
2 "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
1 The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.
2 "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
God has something in mind that
is focused on the promise to Abraham of those 3 Big Things: LAND< NATION< BLESSING…
He’s leading
Abraham – God’s Promise for His life is much bigger than he could ever dream.
God’s Promises to Abraham don’t
negate the need to Learn as he experiences God’s work, his leading. NOW, remember back in Hebrews 11.
Hebrews 11:6
6 …without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
6 …without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
I mentioned this last week…God
blesses, and rewards Faith… BUT,
Faith is also about HOPE… Hebrews
11:1
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Two phrases worth focusing on:
·
Faith as God’s
Reward
·
Faith as Our Hope
So, let’s start there today:
Faith Tests Our Hope
Abram comes to the land when
he is 75 years old. God’s promise to him
is that he will get LAND, CHILDREN, BLESSING.
Genesis 15:1
1 Some time later, the LORD spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.”
1 Some time later, the LORD spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.”
Abram is settled in the land,
but years pass. In fact, 20+ years pass.
He’s heard God’s word, and he
has settled where God LED him to, but he hasn’t seen the fulfillment.
Genesis 15:2-5
2 But Abram replied, “O Sovereign LORD, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son? Since you’ve given me no children, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth.
3 You have given me no descendants of my own, so one of my servants will be my heir.”
2 But Abram replied, “O Sovereign LORD, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son? Since you’ve given me no children, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth.
3 You have given me no descendants of my own, so one of my servants will be my heir.”
By this time Abraham has been in the land God promised
him for 25 years.
God had promised him the land, and the
nation…descendants, but as of it, there were no children.
Abraham expresses his frustration with waiting for God
to come through and
God speaks to Abraham to reassure him:
Genesis 15:4-5
4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.”
5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.”
5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
God makes this promise…and also is saying, “Abraham, will
you trust, believe, and stick with me?”
Genesis 15:6
6 And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
6 And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
When it says “He believed”… that’s Faith.
To Believe means “to lean upon”… Like sitting on a chair, I believe…and can trust in
it to hold me.
What did Abraham believe? He believed the LORD!
When God told Abraham to look up in the sky and see the
stars, and promised him that he would have a child and from this child, a
nation would come… Abraham said, “Yes Lord, I believe you.”
Abram’s confidence is in the LORD… His faith is in
SOMEONE…not the Something that God promised.
It is a great thing to TRUST in GOD when it comes to the
unknowns of our lives. In the New Testament, Paul writes to the Romans about
what this means:
Romans 4:16-21
16 So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe.
17 That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.
18 Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!”
19 And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.
20 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.
21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.
16 So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe.
17 That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.
18 Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!”
19 And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.
20 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.
21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.
That’s the best description of Faith I know… being
“fully convinced”, not sort of, maybe, I guess God can… but “Fully convinced
God is able to do whatever he promises.”
This is HOPE… the HOPE of Hebrews 11:1
1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
This is HOPE… Faith is our response to God’s word, and
his promises, but it’s not based on a “I can see…” because whatever you and I
can see, we don’t need faith for.
Abraham’s faith made it possible for him to say, “OK,
God, I trust you…You alone…and nothing else.”
This is so important, and not just for things like
eternal life, salvation, what happens after death…
This is everyday life… sickness, disease, depression,
frustrations, jobs, marriage, parenting, parents…
Faith is an everyday relationship with God trust.
Mark 9:17-24
17 A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech…
20 So they brought him...
21 Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?" "From childhood," he answered.
22 "…if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."
23 "'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
17 A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech…
20 So they brought him...
21 Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?" "From childhood," he answered.
22 "…if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."
23 "'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
YOU SEE THE ISSUE?
LAST WEEK I TALKED ABOUT “SETTLING”.
SETTLING HAPPENS WHEN WE STOP BELIEVING GOD CARES, THAT
HE KNOWS, AND THAT HE CAN/WILL DO SOMETHING IN OUR LIVES.
Sometimes what we need to pray is, “Lord I believe, but I’m
struggling right now, so please forgive me and help me to trust in you.”
Faith Tests What Our Hope Is In.
HOPE is what happens when we
turn our lives to JESUS and ask him to “Breathe His Life” on to it.
HOPE ENTERS INTO EVERYTHING…in
Marriage…in Children…in Vocation…in Relationships…In Disease…
HOPE…happens when God breathes
His Life upon our prayer desires.
HOPE, Biblically is different
from our culture. In our culture, Hope means “I
wish”. We wish for new jobs, our
spouse to change, the Packers to win, I wished I’d catch a
fish, I wished our friend would be healed of cancer…but this is HOPE that is
human/self-centered.
Hope, Biblically, is The Joyful, Faith-filled
anticipation of God’s Good for You.
It
is an atmosphere in which Faith Grows.
Here's a suggestion to ponder...what do you want to have faith in hope?
Take time to create lists of
HOPE… Those places when you say, “Lord,
I want to trust in you for ………………”
NOW…be careful…to make sure
that we stay focused on God, and not the things we want…OTHERWISE…we’ll not
experience Hope, but something else, which is what Abraham experiences next... tomorrow.
Peace
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