Hebrews Series
“The Tests of Faith”
Heb. 11.8-19
July 27,2014 Chester FBC, Chester, IL Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker
Introduction:
A There are some great examples of faith in the O.T. (Noah, Moses, Joshua, David, etc.) But the greatest specimen is Abraham.
1 He is the progenitor of the physical seed though which God would bless the world!
a Israel began as a nation with the call to Abraham to leave Ur, and go to place he had never been... all on a promise this his wife Sara would give birth to a son... & through his physical seed, God would speak to the nations.
Genesis 12:1-2 (NASB) 1 Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you; 2 And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing;
b Their son Isaac became the father of Jacob & Esau, Jacob’s sons would become the 12 tribes of Israel, Judah - Jesus’ tribe.
2 He is the patriarch of all who believe.
Romans 4:11 (NASB) 11 and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them,
a This is in reference to the fact that Abraham “believed” in the Lord, & He accounted it him for righteousness.
b If he hasn’t trusted, put his faith in YHWH there would have been no Jew, No Israel, no tribes, No Savoir.
c Abraham is the father of all who believe. (Song)
d Galatians 3:29 (NASB) 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise.
3 He sets the pattern for the life of faith.
Galatians 3:5-7 (NASB) 5 So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? 6 Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. 7 Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.
a John 8:38-40 (NASB) 38 "I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father." 39 They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you are Abraham's children, do the deeds of Abraham. 40 "But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do.
b The true children of Abraham are those who follow the faith filled lifestyle of Abraham.
B Abraham’s faith was so great that God called him friend.
1 Isaiah 41:8 (NASB) 8 "But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, Descendant of Abraham My friend,
James 2:23 (NASB) 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS," and he was called the friend of God.
2 How does one gauge, test their faith? (Abraham has 3 tests)
a Every test we’ve ever taken, we usually know what the test will cover.
aa (IL) We’d think it odd/unfair if an instructor gave us a test over material we had not covered... heads up on.
bb Abraham has taught us the material with his life.
b He passed all three tests.
I The tests of worldliness. (11.8-10, 13-16)
Hebrews 11:8-10 (NASB) 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; 10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
Hebrews 11:13-16 (NASB) 13 All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15 And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.
A Abraham was a man of worldly wealth before God called him.
1 He lived in Ur (modern day Iraq), house, property, & family.
a They people who lived in Ur worshiped the moon. (Allah, Crescent moon of Islam.)
b God’s sovereign grace called him out from all this to fulfill His purpose.
aa Abraham got a glimpse/vision of a heavenly city.
bb Once you catch a glimpse of heaven you’ll never be at home again in this world.
cc Joshua 24:2-3 (NASB) 2 Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'From ancient times your fathers lived beyond the River, namely, Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, and they served other gods. 3 ~'Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River, and led him through all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his descendants and gave him Isaac.
Isaiah 51:1-2 (NASB) 1 "Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, Who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were hewn And to the quarry from which you were dug. 2 "Look to Abraham your father And to Sarah who gave birth to you in pain; When he was but one I called him, Then I blessed him and multiplied him."
2 It’s easy to forget that God didn’t give Abraham a map of the middle east & paint on it and say, “Here is where you’re going, Son.”
Hebrews 11:10 (NASB) 10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
a He left his city, family, property, home... everything!
b God gave him a glimpse of the heavenly city: once you’ve seen THE city... A city will never do.
c The symbols of the patriarchs were a tent & an altar.
aa Tent: Constant remember that this world is not their home - just passing through.
bb Altar: Illustrated their relationship to the Almighty.
cc All of the patriarchs longed to be in the city of God... just as one should be today.
B Philippians 3:20 (NASB) 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;
1 We should never feel at home in this world.
a (IL) Eric, “You boys need to see what it’s like in the real world.”
aa The real world is where my heart is & where my Savior lives, treasures are laid up.
bb My citizenship is secured & recorded in the blood of the Lamb.
b John Wesley, “Anything that cools my love for Jesus is worldliness.”
2 We should never feel comfortable here... this world is not our home!
a Would Jesus returning tonight interrupt your plans?
b If we are to pass the worldliness we’ve got to be able to let it all go for the city of God.
II The test of weakness. (11.11-12)
Hebrews 11:11-12 (NASB) 11 By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants AS THE STARS OF HEAVEN IN NUMBER, AND INNUMERABLE AS THE SAND WHICH IS BY THE SEASHORE.
A When God promised Abraham & Sarah a child they were way past the child bearing age. - Even after the promise it took 25 years for it to come to fulfillment!
Genesis 17:17 (NASB) 17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, "Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?"
1 Yet even in the reality of their age, past attempts, countless prayers offered for a child... they believed that God would do a miracle.
a It was an impossible situation, humanly speaking.
aa But God promised... so they acted on the promise.
bb Hebrews sheds even more light on Rom. 4:16-22
Romans 4:16-22 (NASB) 16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 (as it is written, "A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU") in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. 18 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, "SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE." 19 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb; 20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. 22 Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
b Think of old Abraham & Sarah... we see an old man & woman, should be easing to retirement, taking it easy.
aa They started trying to conceive, get pregnant.
bb Abraham didn’t see a 90 year old woman - He saw the hot young thing, “the bride of his youth.”
2 Faith overcame human weakness.
B Tonight, God may have given you a word, promise many years ago... still hasn’t happened.
1 Maybe you think the window of opportunity has passed.
a Too late... too old... Too much going up against me.
b God is never late, you’ve got God on your side & He wants to birth something new in you!
2 Faith overcomes human weakness.
a When we don’t think we’re able, adequate, God can move through the weakness.
b Our faith doesn’t waver in the face of human short comings, & infirmities.
T.S. Worldliness, Weakness
III The test of willingness. (11.17-19)
Hebrews 11:17-19 (NASB) 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; 18 it was he to whom it was said, "IN ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE CALLED." 19 He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.
A If God asked you to leave the security of familiarity, physical weakness... some of us would pass.
1 God tested Abraham’s willingness to surrender the most precious thing in his life. (Gen 22) when He asked Abraham to offer his miracle child to God as an offering.
a Abraham was convinced that God would keep His promise to make a great nation through his son, Isaac.
b Genesis 22:5 (NASB) 5 Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you."
Hebrews 11:18-19 (NASB) 18 it was he to whom it was said, "IN ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE CALLED." 19 He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.
c He believed that even if Isaac died - God would raise the son to keep His promise.
2 In his heart, Abraham has already put Isaac to death - yet, He trusted God to still bring life from death.
a Isaac serves as a type/shadow of Christ.
aa He carried the wood on his back up to Mt. Moriah.
bb Abraham looked ahead to Calvary, empty tomb from the slopes of Moriah.
b He knew God would keep His promises & that allowed him by faith to willingly give up what he held most dear.
B If we believe He works all things together for His good, provider, sustainer... there is nothing I won’t trust Him with.
1 I’ll not doubt you, I’ll trust You.
a Abraham died to self - He staked His whole life/future on the Word of God.
b Faith surrenders willingly to King Jesus.
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