v. 24. The difficulty of the verse lies in the meaning of the words translated (NASB) as assurance (being certain of, NIV) and (NASB) conviction (certain, NIV). Genesis 4:4 says that God looked with favor on Abel and his offering. Matt Papa. God always looks to the heart first and foremost. All have to cross the river. At one point before we knew how things would turn out, I said to Marla, I am at peace that even if I get fired, God will take care of us, because I did the right thing. Live to please God and you will know His peace, even if people angrily oppose you. We have to believe it all on the strength of God's promise. The biblical view, that the eternal God spoke it into existence, is based on faith, but not on blind faith. I trust him." It is precisely this facet of faith that is needed when we face trials, adversity, and suffering, for, in those moments, it is difficult to believe God is who He says He is. Independent/Bible. Sermon: Living By Faith in God - Hebrews 11 by Rick Ezell on Wednesday, January 01, 2014 at 7:00 AM Sermon series: Inner Workings Developing a Heart for God - 1 Samuel 16 Assuring Your Knowledge of God - Hebrews 6 Living By Faith in God - Hebrews 11 Hungering for the Righteousness of God - Matthew 5 Scriptures: Hebrews 11:1-7 Introduction When Noah and Mrs. Noah entered the ark, their boys went with them. For by it,'' that is, by faith, ''the elders obtained a good report. You can only understand that by faith, because no one was there to observe it. Faith was about my belief in God. Any known sin in your life has been confessed and forgiven. This is the kinda (expletive) you'd expect from an office temp with a bad attitude.". This sermon is yet another feeble attempt to do so. By faith he preached when no one would listen. How could he do that? It did for three men: Abel, Enoch, and Noah. I need patience. A. By faith Moses gained Gods approval, even though he received the worlds scorn. The second is (p. 249), a proving of (or conviction about) unseen things.. How true that is. Picture Seth, and Enosh, and Kenan, and Mahalalel, and Jared, and Enoch, and Methuselah, and young Lamech all gathering round the old man. This faith lays hold of Gods promises and the reality of the unseen world, obediently applying those realities to present trials. Walking with God involves peace, purpose, progress, privilege and pleasure. As we saw last week, there is a type of faith that does not endure trials and temptations. Today we come to the story of Enoch, where we learn that faith walks with God. For 65 years he lived for himself, but when his son Methuselah was born, he began to walk with God. The author refers to them, although not by name, in 11:34 (quenched the power of fire). Enoch was given a prophetic glimpse of the day when our Lord Jesus Christ will come with His holy angels. It is a willingness to trust in, to rely on, and to cling to. How do rewards fit in with faith? Let's read the text ( Hebrews 11:1-3 ): Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Ten generations are recorded here from Adam to Noah. I dare say many people in our churches have made up their own religion. ''Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. The "end" is often the culmination of a lifetime pursuit of intimacy with God. There have been many triumphs/victories faith has obtained against incredible odds and we've seen that. This is for us today. With the threat of persecution looming over them, the Hebrew believers needed to be steeled to endure the coming trials by faith. Suddenly they realize the heavy weight of responsibility that is upon them. So, here is a young man who suddenly finds himself in a place where he knows that he needs the help of God. One day Enoch and God had walked so far that God said, "Why don't you come home with me?" What is faith? Husbands, observe this carefully. We dont know for sure the ethnic makeup of the church, but those who were Jews would have been taught these stories from their youth. You will always be on guard. Faith is unconditional trust in the promises of God. So, this was soon after the death of Adam, and before any of the other patriarchs died. To go back to Howard Fineman's quote, it's all about pursuing (a great biblical concept) the one true God. He feels it in a way that he did not before. If you would draw near to God, you must believethat he rewards those who seek Him (vs. 6). And that of course is the thing that ultimately matters about us all. And that is our calling today. The worlds first baby became the worlds first murderer. Listen as Old Testament giants of faith still speak to us through their lives. Donald Hagner puts it this way (Encountering the Book of Hebrews [Baker], p. 142): From the examples of faith lifted up in this chapter it seems clear that what is not primarily in view is what we feel or possessassurance, confidencebut rather, how faith substantiates, or gives substance to, what is promised, how it provides evidence of what is believed about unseen and hoped-for realities. They refused to bow down to Nebuchadnezzars idol, which caused the offended king to threaten to throw them into the blazing furnace. "It's the faith, Brother." Now, what does it mean to live by faith? If you do not come to Him in faith as your Savior, you will stand before Him in terror as your Judge! Dont hope in your good works, because all the good works in the world can never erase the debt of sin that you owe. The story of Enoch is told back in Genesis 5, where God records the generations from Adam to Noah, whose story we will look at next week. Ten generations are recorded. He wanted to prove to the world that there is reality in dealing with the living God. His faith proved the reality of the unseen God as greater than the reality of the flames that burned him to death. Last week we looked at Abel and saw from his story that faith listens to God. In 1860 the motto "In God We Trust" was added to our currency. Sermon on Hebrews 11:1-6 | Faith Facts Faith Facts (Hebrews 11:1-6) "Faith is the victory! (Hebrews 11:1-3) God spoke the universe into existence. But over time Adam became weaker. Copyright, Steven J. Cole, 2004, All Rights Reserved. Yet a lot of people feel that way? Hebrews 11:1 has always been a difficult verse for me to get a handle on. If you add the ages at which each of these patriarchs became a father, you will find that from Adam to the birth of Enoch was 622 years (130 + 105 + 90 + 70 + 65 + 162 = 662 years). Your Bible study. The example of Moses: v. 23. This indicates that things were going to become even more difficult in the immediate future. Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him (Gen 5:24). Abel was commended as righteous because of a sacrifice that God accepted. He wanted Meacham, an Episcopalian, to defend the Christian faith against the sulfuric criticism of Christopher Hitchens. All the days of Seth were 912 years, and he died (Gen 5:8). Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. This was Gods provision for multiplying the human population in its earliest generations. He knew that he had to be ready to meet with God. It's just not in us to believe those things. The seed sown on the rocky ground sprang up quickly, but it also quickly withered and died when trials hit. Jesus is both the author and perfecter of faith (Heb. This grim reality runs like a relentless drumbeat throughout the chapter. Single men, take notice. Death is like a river that separates us from the presence of God in heaven. "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Those who kept their faith in the LORD in these awful times would live. Hebrews 11:1-6. . In just four brief verses (Genesis 5:21-24), we have his entire life history. The author does not want us to have a temporary, flimsy faith that shrinks back to destruction. Hebrews 11 demonstrates that the life of faith is not a rarity. The word of God here does not refer to His written word, but to His spoken word. To walk with God is to live in a constant, conscious enjoyment of the presence of God. The subjective understanding is, faith means being confident of what we hope for, convinced of what we do not see. An objective understanding is, faith means the reality of the goods hoped for, (Helmut Koster, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, ed. He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M., 1976 in Bible exposition) and Califo More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. Both faith and works come from God. If this is the best God can do, I am not impressed. Rick is a consultant, conference leader, communicator, and coach. When Meacham wrote about Russert's invitation, and the phrase, "It's the faith, Brother," he drew this conclusion: "In that brief chat the many sides of Russert were on display: he was cajoling and charming, playing it straight, pushing others to be braver and bolder, all in the service of creating an interesting conversation about the things that matter most.". Here is a second principle for close relationships: Truth is the basis for trust. What they did, they did by faith. July 29, 2012. 2335 Presidential Drive, Suite 114 . But if you will starve the flesh and feed your faith, it will grow. Pleasures are found at Gods right hand, and those who walk with God taste these pleasures before they ever arrive in heaven. Their response shows that by faith, they were making real in their present crisis the future promises of God regarding eternal life. And just one generation later, their son Cain killed his brother. And God honored them because of their faith. The story comes from Genesis 27. ii. From 1977-1992 he was the pastor of Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. 2/19/2023 Pastor Tom Harper presents a message entitled "Faith That Works" - Hebrews 11. The answer lies in the resurrection and the ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is an open invitation. People who spoke against God. God walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden, but when they sinned, they hid from Him. Whatever we may say about the two offering of Cain and Abel, the real difference was in the heart. Because he was looking to the reward (11:26). There is, of course, overlap between the objective and subjective senses of these words. God picked him up and carried him across it (A.W. Truth is the basis for trust. Abel had been killed, but that was before Seth or any of his descendants were born. Hebrews 11:1-3, Hebrews 11:8-16, Hebrews 11:1-16, Denomination: So many of us have filled our hearts with the junk food of the world. Since the day that Enoch began to know God, he must have been thoroughly enthralled at God's goodness to reward him. For them it was all about the faith. So, Adam was still living when Enoch was born. If the story of Cain and Abel seems short, the story of Enoch is minuscule by comparison. This is the power of a godly example. If wickedness had filled the earth by the time of Noah, you can be sure that it was running rampant in the time of Enoch. Those with true faith accept God's word, focusing on assurance about what we do not see, looking beyond the situation as it can be perceived by natural vision. But He always relates to us in love. You cant walk with someone when you are hiding from them. 3:14) as subjective, hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end. But the respected Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (ibid., VII:587) argues that it does not refer there to subjective assurance, which rests within us, but to the objective reality of the faith. These elements of relationships also apply to our relationship with God. Perhaps that's what happened to Enoch. Fathers, listen up. But God is full of grace and mercy and soon after the death of Adam, God gave a wonderful sign that deaths power would be broken. Death for a believer is Christ taking us home. Some of you who are younger are trying to figure out if you will follow Jesus. If you want to get some place fast, get in a car. And were all in it for the same reasonto fuel the churchs mission of making disciples. And it is Gods approval that counts, since He is the judge of the living and the dead! Justification by faith is one of the central doctrines of the Christian faith. Without faith it is impossible to please Him (11:6). Think about this: Walking with God! That is the greatest privilege possible. The evidence of our eyes is against all of this. The "unseen things" we are convinced of, are things God has revealed. His faith saved his entire family. It gains Gods approval. That is what faith is: Faith is believing there is another dimension to life other than those which can be touched, tasted, seen or felt. To start saving items to a SermonFolder, please create an account. According to Hebrew 11:6 he firmly believed that God is a rewarder. God accepted Abel's offering because it was brought in faith. God has made Himself known in the Scriptures, and If you want to walk with Him, you must believe what He says about Himself. But when Methuselah was born, Enoch knew that he needed help and he began to walk with God. Jesus: The Truer and Better Object of Faith: Hebrews 11:1-6. The writer of Hebrews had told the church in chapter 10 of the trials they had already endured for the faith. And for 300 more years he walked with God until "he was no more, because God took him away" (v. 24). THE OLD Assembly's Catechism asks, "What is the chief end of man?" and its answer is, "To glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever." Before we leave verse 1, lets apply it by illustrating how faith worked in the lives of three Hebrew young men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego (Daniel 3). So, to walk with God means that we go where He is going. Results like these do not belong on the resume of a supreme being. For by it the men of old gained approval. The clear implication is that the approval comes from God, as the rest of the chapter shows (11:4, 5, 6, 39). In. See More Details. He saw thousands of specific answers to prayer, which he carefully recorded and later published. Having trouble logging into your account? NOTES FOR SERMON ON HEBREWS 11:23-28 Part 2 (See Part 1) Vance Havner summed up Hebrews 11:24-29 Faith chooses the imperishable (He 11:24, 25, 26) Faith sees the invisible (He 11:27) Faith does the impossible (He 11:28, 29) Warren Wiersbe - True Bible faith is confident obedience to God's Word in spite of circumstances and consequences. All of the others relate to a parade of characters from the Old Testament who trusted in God. Faith obeys God even when we don't understand (17b-18) A. Abraham was willing to sacrifice his one and only son - Hebrews 11:17 Hebrews 11:13 By Faith. And that's why we've got to take it seriously. Adam and Eve chose a different vision. When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. Ha! Colin Smith; Our History & Mission; Our Team; Statement of Faith; Media & Radio Inquiries; Martin Luther " Do not be afraid, little flock ," Jesus tells us in today's gospel reading ( Luke 12:32-40 ). Our faith substantiates what we hope for, thus giving us assurance that they are true. The Creator of heaven and earth; the sovereign Lord of the universe is your heavenly Father, and He is so intensely interested in you, so intimately involved in your life, that He would choose to walk with you! We live in a world that is far from God and all of us are going to die. The roll call of the saints of the Old Testament would have been well known to the congregation. Here we see another side of the life of faith. If we are going to follow Jesus, we must do the same. Whoever would draw near to God must believe that He is! 2:10; James 2:14-26). It also makes all of creation His. Only the seed on the good ground bore fruit with perseverance (Luke 8:11-15). Seen through the eyes of a public that gasped at the enormity of their tragedy, Scott and Janet Willis faced unendurable grief. Verse 1 says that faith has "substance." Faith is tangible, even though it is invisible. They believed because he believed. How does a person who struggles with doubts get faith and grow strong in faith? He managed to save his own family - and no one else. A.W. Although I am not an example of great faith, I can share a personal example. Two seemingly paradoxical things are true of faith: On the one hand, it is our responsibility to believe the gospel, because God commands us to believe (Mark 1:15). This is called providence. Best God can do, I can share a personal example a type faith! Start saving items to a SermonFolder, please create an account he help. On Hebrews 11:1-6 ) & quot ; Now faith is the basis for trust needs the help of God Dallas... God regarding eternal life understanding is, of course is the substance of things hoped for, the of. Another feeble attempt to do so faith walks with God taste these pleasures before they arrive... Has revealed looking to the reward ( 11:26 ) recorded and later published or conviction about ) unseen things quot! 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