Faith’s Hall of Fame – Part 3

Message Date: May 29, 2022
Bible
  • 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:1-2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
  • 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
    • We walk by faith, not by sight.
  • 4 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. ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
    • Grace is the foundation of faith like faith is the foundation of expectation.
  • ‭‭5 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. 6 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. Hebrews‬ ‭11:5-6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
    • Faith is relational–not just informational, or transactional.
  • 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. ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
  • 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. 9 This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭6:8-12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
    • How was he just? How was he perfect? He found grace.
      • Grace: unmerited favor
    • Corrupt: a primitive root; to decay
  • 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. ‭‭II Peter‬ ‭3:9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
  • 13 And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 14 Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch.  17 And behold, I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die. 18 But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭6:13-14, 17-18‬ ‭
    • Acting on God’s warning is faith, not fear.
    • There is a God side and a man side to protection.
  • 22 Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did. ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭6:22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
  • ‭‭8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. Hebrews‬ ‭11:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
  • 1 Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” 4 So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭12:1-4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
    • Abraham expected God to show him where to go. He didn’t need the whole story, just the next step.
      • Faith is seeking understanding, not requiring it.
    • Abraham’s faith wasn’t perfect, but God was faithful to him.
    • Partial obedience (Lot) did cause delays and disturbances that God didn’t intend, but that didn’t derail God’s purpose.
  • After a brief time in Egypt during a famine (Genesis 12:10-20), they returned to Canaan. There, Abraham’s and Lot’s servants were involved in arguments over grazing areas for their large herds of livestock. Abraham and Lot agreed to part ways, with Abraham giving Lot first choice of land. Lot chose the land of the plain of Jordan, near Sodom and Gomorrah, because of the rich pastureland there. Abraham settled near Hebron (Genesis 13). Lot’s choice proved to be a foolish one, as the wickedness of Sodom was very great (verse 13). The grass was greener near Sodom, but greener is not always better.
  • An alliance of four kings attacked Sodom, and Lot and many others were taken captive. Upon hearing the news, Abraham led a force of 318 men to rescue Lot. As Abraham returned victoriously from the battle, he gave a tenth of the spoils to a priest named Melchizedek (Genesis 14). God then renewed His covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15), which included the promise of a son.
    • All the while, God was guiding, God was directing, God was blessing.
  • 1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” 2 But Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!” 4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” 5 Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” 6 And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. 7 Then He said to him, “I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.” 8 And he said, “Lord God, how shall I know that I will inherit it?” 9 So He said to him, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, down the middle, and placed each piece opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. 11 And when the vultures came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. 12 Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him. 17 And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces. Genesis‬ ‭15:1-12, 17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
    • God offers Himself.
    • Abraham believed God, and his faith made him righteous.
      • Abraham saw Christ walking in his place.
    • God side/man side: Abraham had his part. He shoo-ed the birds away.
      • Abraham did what he could, and Jesus did what he couldn’t for him.