June 13, 2013
Faith. It's all about faith.
Hebrews 11:1 - "Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it." This is the verse I quoted in a letter I wrote to our lawyer early in the process of the lawsuit. Sometime I'll go back and look up the date. We told him that in our hearts the lawsuit is over. God promised us His protection and we believe Him.
It was because of their ability to have faith in the unseen that we remember the great people of the past. Faith—being sure and knowing, even when it is not yet visible or tangible.
It is by faith—we believe the world was created by God.
It is by faith—we understand that what we see was made by a God we cannot see.
It was by faith—Abel offered a better sacrifice than Cain. God was pleased with Abel because of his faith.
It was because of his faith—his testimony lives on.
It was by faith—Enoch was taken to heaven without dying.
It is by faith—we please God. Hebrews 11:6 - "Anyone who comes to God must believe that he is real.."
It is because of faith—"...that he rewards those who truly want to find him." (Hebrews 11:6)
It was by faith—Noah heard and believed God's warning about things he could not yet see.
It was by faith—Noah obeyed God and built a boat to save his family.
It was by faith—Noah proved the world wrong.
It was through faith—Noah was made right with God.
It was by faith—Abraham obeyed God's call.
It was by faith—Abraham left his own country to go to another place even though he had no idea where he was going.
It was by faith—Abraham could live like a foreigner in tents in a strange land while he was waiting for God's promise to come true.
It was by faith—Abraham was able to become a father as an old man.
It was by faith—Sarah was able to conceive.
It was by faith—Abraham trusted God.
All these great people lived (and died) in faith. They lived by looking forward → to God's promises. Hebrews 11:15 - "If they had been thinking about the country they had left, they could have gone back." To live by faith you cannot be looking back. You must look forward and believe.
It was by faith—Abraham was willing to give up the one thing that could fulfill God's promise.
It was by faith—Abraham believed that even if he gave it up, God could give it back.
It was by faith—Isaac blessed the future of Jacob and Esau.
It was by faith—Jacob blessed each one of Jacob's sons as he was dying.
It was by faith—Jacob, while weak and dying, still worshiped God while leaning on the top of his walking stick.
It was by faith—Joseph, when he was dying, made sure everyone knew and understood God's faithfulness and promises. God took him to Egypt so he could save his entire family. God turned evil intent into blessed redemption.
It was by faith—Joseph wanted to make sure his bones were returned to God's promised land.
It was by faith—Moses' parents hid him for three months in disobedience to the king's order.
It was by faith—Moses didn't take the easy way out as the son of the king of Egypt's daughter. He didn't deny his heritage. Hebrews 11:25–26 - "He chose to suffer with God's people instead of enjoying sin for a short time. He thought it better to suffer for the Christ than to have all the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking for God's reward."
It was by faith—Moses left Egypt and was not afraid of the king's anger. Hebrews 11:27b - "Moses continued strong as if he could see the God that no one can see."
It was by faith—Moses prepared the Passover and spread the blood on the door posts believing the angel of death would pass-over.
It was by faith—the people crossed the Red Sea as if it were dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do it under their own power they all drowned.
It was by faith—the walls of Jericho fell after the people had marched around them for seven days.
It was by faith—Rahab was saved because she willing to risk everything in order to do the right thing.
It was by faith—Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets defeated kingdoms. They were weak, and yet they were made strong. Hebrews 11:33 - "They did what was right, received God's promise, and shut the mouth of lions."
All these people are known for their faith. It wasn't easy and it wasn't always pretty, but they persevered. Hebrews 12 gives us the blueprint for how to run the race and and run it well.
From the Life Lesson:
Faith is more than a belief in God. It is also a way of life.
Next Entry: Hebrews 11:1–40 (Continued)
Faith. It's all about faith.
Hebrews 11:1 - "Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it." This is the verse I quoted in a letter I wrote to our lawyer early in the process of the lawsuit. Sometime I'll go back and look up the date. We told him that in our hearts the lawsuit is over. God promised us His protection and we believe Him.
It was because of their ability to have faith in the unseen that we remember the great people of the past. Faith—being sure and knowing, even when it is not yet visible or tangible.
It is by faith—we believe the world was created by God.
It is by faith—we understand that what we see was made by a God we cannot see.
It was by faith—Abel offered a better sacrifice than Cain. God was pleased with Abel because of his faith.
It was because of his faith—his testimony lives on.
It was by faith—Enoch was taken to heaven without dying.
It is by faith—we please God. Hebrews 11:6 - "Anyone who comes to God must believe that he is real.."
It is because of faith—"...that he rewards those who truly want to find him." (Hebrews 11:6)
It was by faith—Noah heard and believed God's warning about things he could not yet see.
It was by faith—Noah obeyed God and built a boat to save his family.
It was by faith—Noah proved the world wrong.
It was through faith—Noah was made right with God.
It was by faith—Abraham obeyed God's call.
It was by faith—Abraham left his own country to go to another place even though he had no idea where he was going.
It was by faith—Abraham could live like a foreigner in tents in a strange land while he was waiting for God's promise to come true.
It was by faith—Abraham was able to become a father as an old man.
It was by faith—Sarah was able to conceive.
It was by faith—Abraham trusted God.
All these great people lived (and died) in faith. They lived by looking forward → to God's promises. Hebrews 11:15 - "If they had been thinking about the country they had left, they could have gone back." To live by faith you cannot be looking back. You must look forward and believe.
It was by faith—Abraham was willing to give up the one thing that could fulfill God's promise.
It was by faith—Abraham believed that even if he gave it up, God could give it back.
It was by faith—Isaac blessed the future of Jacob and Esau.
It was by faith—Jacob blessed each one of Jacob's sons as he was dying.
It was by faith—Jacob, while weak and dying, still worshiped God while leaning on the top of his walking stick.
It was by faith—Joseph, when he was dying, made sure everyone knew and understood God's faithfulness and promises. God took him to Egypt so he could save his entire family. God turned evil intent into blessed redemption.
It was by faith—Joseph wanted to make sure his bones were returned to God's promised land.
It was by faith—Moses' parents hid him for three months in disobedience to the king's order.
It was by faith—Moses didn't take the easy way out as the son of the king of Egypt's daughter. He didn't deny his heritage. Hebrews 11:25–26 - "He chose to suffer with God's people instead of enjoying sin for a short time. He thought it better to suffer for the Christ than to have all the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking for God's reward."
It was by faith—Moses left Egypt and was not afraid of the king's anger. Hebrews 11:27b - "Moses continued strong as if he could see the God that no one can see."
It was by faith—Moses prepared the Passover and spread the blood on the door posts believing the angel of death would pass-over.
It was by faith—the people crossed the Red Sea as if it were dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do it under their own power they all drowned.
It was by faith—the walls of Jericho fell after the people had marched around them for seven days.
It was by faith—Rahab was saved because she willing to risk everything in order to do the right thing.
It was by faith—Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets defeated kingdoms. They were weak, and yet they were made strong. Hebrews 11:33 - "They did what was right, received God's promise, and shut the mouth of lions."
All these people are known for their faith. It wasn't easy and it wasn't always pretty, but they persevered. Hebrews 12 gives us the blueprint for how to run the race and and run it well.
From the Life Lesson:
Faith is more than a belief in God. It is also a way of life.
"Faith is the belief that God is real and that God is good... It is a choice to believe that the one who made it all hasn't left it all and that he still sends light into the shadows and responds to gestures of faith... Faith is the belief that God will do what is right... God says that the more hopeless your circumstances, the more likely your salvation. The greater your cares, the more genuine your prayers. The darker the room, the greater the need for light... God's help is near and always available, but it is only given to those who seek it. Nothing results from apathy... do something that demonstrates faith. For faith with no effort is no faith at all. God WILL RESPOND. He has never rejected a genuine gesture of faith. Never!" ~ From He Still Moves Stones by Max Lucado.
Next Entry: Hebrews 11:1–40 (Continued)
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