Sunday Night Bible Study Hebrews 11:6-40 September 4, 1994 Hebrews 11:6-40 Introduction The importance of faith Throughout the epistle, the writer has been trying to demonstrate the importance of faith. The Jewish believers who were reading the original letter had been going through a great deal of persecution since they started believing in Jesus as their Messiah. Some of them had even been tempted to just give up in trusting in Jesus and go back to Judaism like they were before they were saved. But the writer has over and over again stressed the importance of faith, of trusting and continuing to trust in Jesus. Then the writer defined faith: :1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. It's the "title-deed" or the assurance of things that are promised by God, and it's having a conviction about the unseen world. It's that ability God gives us to trust in something our eyes don't see. We'll see over and over how faith was used in the lives of the old testament saints, how they learned to trust in things they didn't see. 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. :6 Impossible 102 adunatos {ad-oo'-nat-os} from 1 (as a negative particle) and 1415; TDNT - 2:284,186; adj AV - impossible 6, impotent 1, could not do 1, weak 1, not possible 1; 10 1) without strength, impotent, powerless, weakly, disabled 2) unable to be done, impossible It just can't be done. There is going to come a time when we just have to learn to trust in the things we don't see. There are times when life gets hard and we talk to one another how we're just living by faith. We say that we're only surviving because of our trust in God. We need to realize that those are some of the most precious times to the Lord. They are the most pleasing. Sometimes God needs to take away the things we're leaning upon, or trusting in, so that we'll learn to lean on Him. He wants us dependant upon Him. :6 must believe... Two conditions for faith in God that pleases God. 1) Believe that he is (vs.6) Belief in the existence of God How can we prove God's existence? How can we come to believe in Him? We could try to persuade a person about God's existence, but basically a person needs to come to the point of having a conviction about something they don't see! The definition of faith! I heard Chuck talking about agnosticism. Someone who doesn't know whether there is a God or not. The Latin is "ignoramus". The truth is that it really isn't very hard to believe in God's existence. God has given us evidence all around us. Ro 1:18-20 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed [it] unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Ps 19:1 <> The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. In reality, it is only a fool who would deny what is evident all around him, God's fingerprints. Ps 14:1 <> The fool hath said in his heart, [There is] no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, [there is] none that doeth good. 2. Believe that God is a rewarder (vs.6) God wants us to know that He's on our side. He's not out to get us. 2Ch 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of [them] whose heart [is] perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. Illustration of father and son, jump "During the terrible days of the Blitz, a father, holding his small son by the hand, ran from a building that had been struck by a bomb. In the front yard was a shell hole. Seeking shelter as quickly as possible, the father jumped into the hole and held up his arms for his son to follow. Terrified, yet hearing his father's voice telling him to jump, the boy replied, "I can't see you!" The father, looking up against the sky tinted red by the burning buildings, called to the silhouetter of his son, "But I can see you. Jump!" The boy jumped, because he trusted his father. The Christian faith enables us to face life or meet death, not because we can see, but with the certainty that we are seen; not that we know all the answers, but that we are known." We have a Father that loves us. Jump. Here's one of the things that can trip us up It's not uncommon for us to get some crazy idea that God's out to bring us pain and hardship, just to make us squirm. We have some trial or hardship, and we figure that God's trying to punish us, or worse, that He's doing it for no reason at all. Ro 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? We may not understand all the things we're going through, but we need as an anchor to our soul the knowledge that God loves us and is only letting things happen to us for our good. Ro 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose. Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. :7 of things not seen as yet Again, notice the connection with faith (the conviction of things not seen) There had never been rain before Noah's time. There had never been a flood. So what would you do if God spoke to you like He did to Noah? We like to do things we're comfortable with, things we're used to doing. We don't usually like to do new, untested things. "In 1958, America's first commercial jet air service began with the flight of the Boeing 707. A month after that first flight, a traveler on a piston-engine, propeller-driven DC-6 airliner struck up a conversation with a fellow passenger. The passenger happened to be a Boeing engineer. The traveler asked the engineer about the new jet aircraft, whereupon the engineer began speaking at length about the extensive testing Boeing had done on the jet engine before bringing it into commercial service. He recounted Boeing's experience with enginges, from the B-17 to the B-52. When his traveling companion asked him if he himself had yet flown on the new 707 jet airliner, the engineer replied, "I think I'll wait until it's been in service awhile."... What if God spoke this prophecy to you? Isa 43:18-19 Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. 19 I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Would we perceive the new things? Would we be ready for it? :7 moved with fear This isn't the typical Greek word for fear (phobeo). {Moved with godly fear} eulabˆthˆ. (from u and abein to take hold well or carefully), to show oneself ulabˆs to act circumspectly or with reverence, here only in N.T. Other translations "holy fear" (NIV); "respected the warning" (NRSV); "in reverence" (NASB) He took God's warning very seriously. :7 by the which he condemned the world (PNT) The example of his faith was a rebuke to all who were not moved by it. The man who gives heed to God by his conduct condemns those who refuse to heed him. The world should have paid attention to Noah's actions, but because they didn't, they perished in the flood. Apparently there were more than just actions as well. Noah is called a preacher: 2Pe 2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth [person], a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; Note how the writer contrasts becoming an heir of righteousness (salvation) with condemnation. The difference is only in who believed and who didn't! Heb 11:8 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. :8 Abraham considered the father of the faithful, just look at why... :8 he went out, not knowing whither he went. Ge 12:1-5 Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." 4 So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 Abram took his wife Sarai and his brother's son Lot, and all the possessions that they had gathered, and the persons whom they had acquired in Haran; and they set forth to go to the land of Canaan. When they had come to the land of Canaan, God didn't give Abram a map. He didn't describe the place. He just said, "Go". How about that for having a conviction of things not seen? Heb 11:9 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: Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker [is] God. :9 sojourned ... strange country ... tabernacles Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob never really settled down. They were always moving from one place to another. They never built themselves mansions, they lived in tents. Abraham even turned down a great opportunity to become even wealthier than he was by turning down the reward from the King of Sodom for rescuing the cities from the invading kings. Ge 14:22-23 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath 23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, 'I made Abram rich.' He didn't want the wealth of the world, but the wealth of walking with God. Lesson: We too need to be careful that if we're going to learn to walk by faith, that we learn to put more trust in things we don't see than in things we see, like houses, money, worldly things. Are we too comfortable in the world? If Jesus took us in the rapture tonight, would we be bummed because we would miss our favorite TV show? Heb 11:11 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. Heb 11:12 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. :11 because she judged him faithful who had promised Here's how she received strength to get pregnant, even though she was way past menopause. Some of the other translations have it that Abraham received the ability to conceive through faith (NIV, NRSV), but KJV & NASB say it was Sarah. Is God faithful? Sarah took what had been promised to her, and judged it by the strength of character of the one who was speaking to her. Heb 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. Heb 11:14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. Heb 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. Heb 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. :13 not having received the promises The promises of ownership of the land - the only land Abraham ever owned was his wife Sarah's burial plot. The promises of the Messiah - Jesus didn't come for 2000 years after Abraham. Multitudes of descendants Ge 15:5-6 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. 6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. Did Abraham see these descendants? No! The over-riding vision of Abraham, wasn't fulfilled in his lifetime. We might look at Abraham and say, "What a waste of a good man!" "What a useless dreamer!" :13 were persuaded ... and embraced them It didn't matter to Abraham and Sarah is they saw all the fulfillments or not, they knew they still needed to obey God. :15 mindful of that [country] from whence they came out NIV: Heb 11:15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. In other words, they didn't bother looking back. They didn't keep thinking of what they had given up. They kept looking forward. Php 3:12-14 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. It's keeping your eyes on the goal that keeps you on track. Navigating the fjords in Norway at night. They used to do it by stationing light posts at strategic locations. To avoid the rocks, you just kept your eyes on the light ahead of you, until the next light came into view. Heading towards the lights kept you in the safe place, moving in the right direction. :16 God is not ashamed to be called their God Here's where I want to keep my eyes, on pleasing Jesus! On looking for Him saying, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" How can I have more faith? We can identify with the man who brought his son to Jesus for healing: Mr 9:23-24 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things [are] possible to him that believeth. 24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. It's great to see all these champions of faith believing in God. But for me it gets kind of tough sometimes. How to gain more faith: 1. Soak in God's Word Ro 10:17 So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Get into God's Word, look at His great deeds Psalm 77 - a real depressing Psalm! Ps 77:10-12 And I said, This [is] my infirmity: [but I will remember] the years of the right hand of the most High. 11 I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. 12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. As you continue to spend time in God's Word, you also get a better glimpse at God's heart of love for you. 2. Stick out the trials 1Pe 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see [him] not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: The trials we face are the heat under the smelting pot of our faith. God needs to keep the heat on us from time to time to refine our faith. As the heat continues, the impurities come to the surface, where God as the master goldsmith can remove them from our lives. Baby giraffes...see clipping...