Scripture Reading: Hebrews 11:32-39
Our Faith Must Please God
Intro.
1. Faith is much discussed yet often misunderstood. The faith that saves is (1) not a blind leap, (2) Not uneducated or ignorant, (3) Not nominal (claimed while living in defiance of truth), (4) Not based on experiences or emotions, etc.
2. Hebrews 11 defines and illustrates faith that pleases God, Heb. 11:6.
3. Faith (established by evidences) is the assurance of unseen things that gives substance (confidence) to our hope, 11:1.
4. Our faith must please God. If your faith does these things, then it pleases God. Your faith pleases God when...
I. BY FAITH YOU IDENTIFY THE DIVINE DESIGN OF THE UNIVERSE, Heb. 11:3.
A. Faith Understands: It Perceives with the Mind.
1. Faith is neither blind nor uneducated.
2. The good heart considers evidence and comes to an understanding:
a. Design shows a Designer; First Cause, Heb. 3:4.
b. By considering the evidence of creation, faith is produced that clearly understands (noieō) God to be the Creator, Rom. 1:20.
B. Faith Understands the World was Framed by the Word of God, 11:3; cf. Rom. 1:20.
1. World was brought into existence by (from, out of) unseen things:
a. God and His Word, Psa. 33:6-9. (Jno. 1:3; Col. 1:16)
b. Eternal power (exercised by His word), Gen. 1:3, 6, 9, et al.
c. Deity (Godhead) – Divine nature – God.
2. Cannot reject divine creation of world and have a pleasing faith!
II. BY FAITH YOU ACT ON GOD’S PROMISES, Heb. 11:8-22.
A. Abraham, Sarah, Isaac and Jacob Trusted God’s Promises.
1. Gen. 12:1-3 (Isaac, 26:4; Jacob, 28:14).
2. Summarize their actions (11:8-22).
B. A Pleasing Faith:
1. Obeys God, 11:8-9, 17. (“Faith that saves is faith that obeys.”)
2. Trusts the faithfulness of God, 11:11.
3. Sustained by hope, 11:10, 13-16.
-Heb. 6:13-19 (God’s faithfulness is our hope)
III. BY FAITH YOU ESTEEM CHRIST ABOVE ALL, Heb. 11:23-26.
A. Faith is not Afraid of Men, 11:23; He. 13:6; cf. Jno. 12:42-43; Acts 5:29
B. Faith is not Controlled by Earthly Advantages, Heb. 11:24-26.
1. Wisdom and power, Acts 7:22.
2. Position and wealth, Heb. 11:24 (Matt. 16:26).
C. Faith is Deliberate, 11:24-26.
1. Faith makes choices after counting the cost, 11:24-25 (Lk. 14:27-33).
2. Esteem: “To lead before the mind, to suppose, consider”, 11:26.
3. Faith considers Christ most important! 11:27 - cf. Matt. 10:28, 39
IV. FAITH OVERCOMES TREMENDOUS ODDS, Heb. 11:29-38.
A. The Victory of Faith, 11:29-34.
1. It is God’s victory! (Grace and faith) cf. Red Sea, Jericho, 11:33-34.
2. Our personal faith obeys God; overcomes the world, 1 Jno. 5:3-4.
B. The Victory of Faith comes through the Trials of Faith, 11:35-38; cf. 1 Pet. 1:3-9.
C. Their Faith Calls Us to Greater Faith, 12:1-2.
1. Christ binds together the faithful of all ages, 11:40.
2. Patient endurance obtains the reward of faith!
Conclusion
1. These OT men and women of faith sought after God and found Him (indeed, they were found by Him), 11:6.
2. Their faith pleased God and they became heirs of the righteousness which is according to faith (Heb. 11:7).
3. Our faith must please God. If your faith does these things, then it pleases God.
4. Lk. 18:8 – “When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”