Hebrews 11

Just ANOTHER way to walk

LET’S LEARN IT!

Hebrews 11:1-7

Faith is a common denominator. Every one alive daily expresses faith in

something. No one can live a single day without exercising

faith – faith in the physical world.

Faith is also expressed in the spiritual realm. Each of us regardless of our backgrounds or

educations, our social status or our talents can express faith.

The difference between the faith we exercise in our daily routine and our religious faith is the

object of that faith.

Your faith is only as good as the object in which you place your faith. The Bible insists that we

personally put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

Acts 4:12 : “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given

among men by which we must be saved.”

I. WHAT FAITH IS (11:1-3)

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the men of old gained approval. 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.

True faith is confident obedience to God’s word in spite of circumstances or consequences.

Faith is described in a two-fold way.

1) Assurance or Substance: (Greek: hupostasis) means literally ‘to stand under or to support.’

Faith is the foundation that gives the believer the confidence (support) to stand.

The verse could be translated “faith is the SUPPORT of things hoped for.”

SUBSTANCE= sSUPPORT= STABILITY=

2) Evidence means “conviction.”

This inward conviction enables the believer to believe things not yet seen, that God perform what he has promised.

The believer’s faith shows practical evidences of the inward conviction.

II. HOW FAITH THINKS (11:3)

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.

FAITH REASONS UPON GOD’S WORD AND NOT UPON WHAT CAN BE SEEN

It changes our walk style.

FAITH REASONS THAT GOD CREATED THE WORLD WITH HIS WORD AND MADE THINGS THAT ARE VISIBLE TO APPEAR

FROM THINGS THAT ARE INVISIBLE TO MEN.

Walking upon the invisible

Romans 4:16-17• 16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that

it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.

III. WHAT FAITH DOES (11:4-7)

Faith Caused Abel to Worship God (Heb. 11:4) (Gen. 4:1-10)

“By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was

righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.”

Abel’s faith caused him to worship God.

“Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice: he chose the choicest lamb as an offering and he brought it to the place of

sacrifice.

True faith looks for an opportunity to worship!!It finds creative ways to worship in all circumstances!!

Faith Caused Enoch to Walk with God (vv. 5-6)

“By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken

he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that

He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Enoch is a fascinating biblical character. He lived in one of the darkest period of the history of the

world. He lived just before God had to destroy the earth because of

man’s evil, yet Enoch managed to keep himself pure. Enoch walked with God.

The Hebrew form of the verb means he walked closely and continually with God.

The walk that Enoch experienced was on of deepening intimacy with God.

He lived every day in the presence of the Lord and in constant communion with Him.

His faith and his obedience, as well as his worship, were outstanding.

A wonderful description of a believer’s life.

The hallmark of Enoch’s life was that “he pleased God”.

Faith Caused Noah to Work for God (v. 7)

“By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.”

The story of Noah’s generation is the story of the degeneration of humanity into sin.

“The wickedness of man was great… every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually… The earth was

corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.” (Gen 6: 5, 11)

It is also the story of the marvelous grace of God.

Noah stood alone against the whole world. Noah built an Ark because he believed God. Every tree he chopped down shouted: faith.

Every board he sawed: shouted faith. Every swing of his hammer: shouted faith.

Every layer to which he applied the pitch shouted, faith.

Faith will make us work.

Only his steadfast belief in God kept Noah faithful for the 120 years cutting the trees and planning the construction of the

Ark.

It would be hard to hidethat huge ark from the ridicule of the scoffers.

Can you imagine the mockery that Noah must have faced on a daily basis as he built this huge ship?

It was a hundred miles from the nearest ocean and far to big to move.

The majority of the people simply refused to believe Noah’s witness concerning the coming flood.

Yet, he in faith went right on working and witnessing, building the ark and warning of the coming judgement.

Then as a final act of faith, he and his family stepped into the ark and closed the door.

Noah was a man of faith and his life continually showed his faith.

ABEL worshiped God faithfully.ENOCH walked with God faithfully. NOAH worked for God faithfully.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

For by it the men of old gained approval.

By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.

ABEL GAINED GOD’S APPROVAL

By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.

ENOCH GAINED GOD’S APPROVAL

By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

NOAH GAINED GOD’S APPROVAL

“ 4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.”

YOUR “SALARY” COMES FROM YOUR “FAITH”

WALK FAITHFULLY WITH GOD BY FAITH

UNTIL YOU GAIN THE FAITH APPROVAL (BY PERSEVERANCE)

RECEIVE THE SALARY OF THE FAITH= PROMISE