Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years (Gen 5:22). Habakkuk lived in difficult times before the Babylonians came to take away Judah into captivity. This Son also maintains the universe by the word of His power. Let's stop complaining about the evil of the present day. To go back to Howard Fineman's quote, it's all about pursuing (a great biblical concept) the one true God. It proves the reality of the unseen world. It has to make a difference. These elements of relationships also apply to our relationship with God. The seed sown on the rocky ground sprang up quickly, but it also quickly withered and died when trials hit. We know that for sure from his prophecy recorded in Jude, but there may also be a hint of this in the name Enoch chose for his son. All we need is the courage to do what Noah did and to believe what God has said. In 1954 the phrase "under God" was added to our pledge of allegiance. If two people come to a crossroads and they want to take different paths, they cannot walk together. It is a central doctrine of both the Hebrews and Christians that God created the universe out of nothing (ex nihilo). Adam and Eve disobeyed a single command in the Garden. For more information, see ourPrivacy Policy. What were their growing-up years like? Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023. And Enoch walked beyond space and time into eternity. One place where it comes close to doing so, however, is in today's reading from the New Testament Letter to the Hebrews. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made out of things which do appear. That's as fine a tribute as you are likely to find, and not just about a public figure. How can you live in a constant, conscious enjoyment of the presence of God? God said to Abraham, Do not be afraid I am your shield, your very great reward (Gen 15:1 NIV). As we saw last week, there is a type of faith that does not endure trials and temptations. People who acted in defiance toward God. If you would like to download two encouraging, FREE full-length MP3s of Tony's popular sermons: "The Sovereignty of God" and "How to Handle a Crisis," you ca. Noah was a righteous man who had great faith in God. Most scholars take the second instance (Heb. Husbands, observe this carefully. Enoch walked with God and went straight to heaven. By faith, Moses saw through the world with its fleeting pleasures and treasures. All the ultimate answers of life lie in that kingdom. Hebrews 11:8-10. By love, I mean, seeking the highest good of the other person. The highest good for every person is to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. There have been many triumphs/victories faith has obtained against incredible odds and we've seen that. The unseen things we are convinced of, are things God has revealed. The Power of Faith will help you strengthen your confidence in God's promises. that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. He is one of only two people in the Bible who did not die - the other being Elijah. the word for substance is the Greek word hypostasis which is hard for us to directly define. All have to cross the river. By faith Moses gained Gods approval, even though he received the worlds scorn. I did what I did because I believed it to be biblical and thus pleasing to God, but it resulted in a number of people trying to get me fired. Like love, faith is demonstrated indirectly by action. Impossible Without Faith: Hebrews 11:17-40. Here is a second principle for close relationships: Truth is the basis for trust. 2:10; James 2:14-26). The lifespans of these generations are about ten times as long as our lives today. Each of them highlights a distinct aspect of faith. Death is like a river that separates us from the presence of God in heaven. His faith proved the reality of the unseen God as greater than the reality of the flames that burned him to death. The order is crucial: first the man, then the offering. This is the power of a godly example. Walking with God is the greatest pleasure. Enoch lived with a profound awareness that judgment was coming. Faith recognizes that God sometimes tests us (17a) A. This is called providence. Isaac's blessing of Jacob and Esau shows faith in God's promises, even when circumstances seem to contradict those promises (11:20). This was Gods provision for multiplying the human population in its earliest generations. Follow Us Online. If you would draw near to God, you must believethat he rewards those who seek Him (vs. 6). Put your faith in Jesus Christ! Your community. According to Hebrew 11:6 he firmly believed that God is a rewarder. And in such a world, Enoch walked with God! As John Stott remarked, death is a "trivial episode" to the believer. Sermon: Living By Faith in God - Hebrews 11. Seth lived 912 years (Gen 5:8). On the other hand, sinners are unable to believe because of spiritual blindness (2 Cor. Faith has its reasons. Living with that "end" in mind, the Christian daily exercises faith in an unseen, almighty, and awesome God. Both faith and works come from God. We read here about Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah. Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah (Gen 5:22). Tim Russert was 100-percent right. Hebrews 11 begins by telling us what faith is: Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Heb 11:1). That parable serves as a useful backdrop to our text last week (10:32-29), where the author urges his readers on to enduring faith. When the boys entered the ark, their wives went with them. To save items to a SermonFolder, please sign in to your account. But if you will starve the flesh and feed your faith, it will grow. 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). People who spoke against God. It is important to define or give substance to such an abstract noun as faith. I need patience. Pleasures are found at Gods right hand, and those who walk with God taste these pleasures before they ever arrive in heaven. A.W. And all our striving after career goals, worldly success, financial independence, and even our jumping from one relationship to another, those things are but symptoms of our deeper need to find our place in the universe. 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. The "unseen things" we are convinced of, are things God has revealed. Single men, take notice. Colin Smith; Our History & Mission; Our Team; Statement of Faith; Media & Radio Inquiries; He speaks of straining forward toward what lies ahead (Phil 3:13). 4 By faith Abel offered to God. The fact that the author puts verse 3 at the start of his list of by faith examples, shows that faith in God as Creator is foundational to knowing God. But here's what I wonder. All men and all boys, heed this word. How true that is. Navigating the challenges and joys of ministry life. So, here is a young man who suddenly finds himself in a place where he knows that he needs the help of God. If you would draw near to God, you must believe that he exists (vs. 6). And we know how Noah saved his family while the world around him perished. What is the age difference between Cain and Abel? And in the light of that Enoch walked with God. Fathers, listen up. Last week we looked at Abel and saw from his story that faith listens to God. And it is Gods approval that counts, since He is the judge of the living and the dead! 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. Has it occurred to you that God may have done this so that you will seek Him and walk with Him in a way that you were not doing before? A. And I will let you in on the secret of when it will happen: When your son dies, the judgment will come., Pink asks this question: What effect would such a revelation have on you? 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. He knew that he had to be ready to meet with God. Such faith takes the future promises of God and makes them real in the present. Here we see another side of the life of faith. What is the faith that pleases God. Finally, By faith we understand that the ages [lit.] It's the faith. To blast a person may be truthful, but it is not loving. He trusted in God. Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. And Noah had enough faith to inspire all of them to follow his example. Hebrews 11:17-40. How does a person who struggles with doubts get faith and grow strong in faith? Because faith allows us to overcome, we need to understand faith. We don't trust our government officials, we don't trust our bosses, we don't trust our neighbors, we don't trust our doctors, we don't trust our pastors. God has made Himself known in Jesus Christ. 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. He is known as "The Father Of The Faithful. It is the first murder in human history. Without faith it is impossible to please God (11:6). The most important thing about you what will matter about you forever is not how many people know your name, or not how many people follow you on social media. To that end, he devotes chapter 11 to an explanation and illustration of genuine faith that endures. Picture Seth, and Enosh, and Kenan, and Mahalalel, and Jared, and Enoch, and Methuselah, and young Lamech all gathering round the old man. If you doubt the truth of Gods Word, including His promises for the future, you cannot trust Him and thus will be distant from Him. Any date. Hebrews 11:6 "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him" (NIV). So, faith believes what God has revealed and trusts what God has promised. Justification by faith is one of the central doctrines of the Christian faith. We live in a world that is far from God and all of us are going to die. Our weekly email connects you to the latest content and resources. As Jonathan Edwards said as his final words, Trust in God and you need not fear (Jonathan Edwards: A New Biography, Iain Murray [Banner of Truth], p. 441). If you want to get some place fast, get in a car. "By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.". Any duration. In The Greenville (SC) News, (June 24, 2008) a story about a recent survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life portrays our nation as one of "free-flowing spirituality" with a declining adherence to dogma "stunning." Maybe you did too. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart (Jer 29:13). Take that faith away and we have nothing left. Faith A Sermon . 2:4). Please include this statement on every copy distributed: By Colin S. Smith. One day Enoch and God had walked so far that God said, "Why don't you come home with me?" God will do whatever it takes to get us back. But when Methuselah was born, Enoch knew that he needed help and he began to walk with God. But when you believe in His Word about salvation, you gain understanding about the origins of the ages that makes everything in history fall into place. As it is difficult to directly translate into English because it has many meanings, we must look at the context here. How do I know that? And for 300 more years he walked with God until "he was no more, because God took him away" (v. 24). The Word feeds your faith, and faith feeds your understanding (v. 3). And God honored them because of their faith. Faith says, "I believe God. Every time the boy became sick you would think This is it. You cant walk with someone when you are hiding from them. For the believer in Jesus, death is a transition from this life to the next. Hebrews 11 begins with a short general definition of what faith is. A Matter of Faith: My Sermon on Hebrews 11 Faith is a living, busy, active, mighty thing. This is for us today. This is the kinda (expletive) you'd expect from an office temp with a bad attitude.". What is faith? He said the following about God: "Something is wrong here: War, disease, death, destruction, hunger, filth, poverty, torture, crime, corruption and the Ice Capades. We are told in vs. 5 that Adam lived for 930 years. Many martyrs have died at the stake because of their faith. 4:4). And Hebrews here makes this abundantly clear. And we must exercise the faith we have or it will begin to wither and die on the vine. Why did one choose to be a farmer and the other a shepherd? 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