The Audacity of Faith
Hebrews 11:20-40
Audacity: Fearless daring, especially with confidant disregard for personal safety, conventional thought or other restrictions.
The acts of faith recorded in this chapter are audacious, many bordering on the absurd—if you don't start with the first "by faith" in the chapter, verse 3. Edward Samuel says, "As by the organ of speech we converse with man, so by the grace of faith the soul talks with God." The "souls" in this chapter all talked with God. The obedience of their faith is laid out for us to see.
I. Vs 11-12 We must revisit Sarah, briefly!
A. "By faith, Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed"—at 80 years old!
1. Genesis 18:9-15 Please note, even her laughter was part of her "soul talk" with God. All of God's people have feet of clay so God most often communes with them through their doubting laughter, trembling lips, and fearful first steps as He brings them to fruitfulness. Faith doesn't hide behind some cloak of Pharisaical righteousness nor turn back to Egypt as the heart of Israel was so prone to do. Faith may laugh for a time in the tent, but it brings forth fruit, some ten fold, some one hundred fold!
B. Faith doesn't often follow the conventional wisdom or family traditions of the day/
1. Vs 20&21 The "by faith" blessings of both Isaac and Jacob weren't according to family tradition, but God ordered them according to His Will—and for the sake of His Seed. In each case the youngest received the blessing, not the firstborn.
2. Vs 22 Here too, it was the younger, Joseph, that was the blessing to the whole family of Jacob, howbeit through becoming second in command in a pagan land. But He remembered the covenant of Abraham and believed in the "promised land" so much that he didn't want even his bones to remain outside of the promise!
C. Vs 23-29 The Faith of Moses.
1. Moses' very beginning was assured by the faith of his parents, in the face of death!
2. Vs 24-26 This is an interesting "by faith". His suffering and reproach came through an act of murder and his fleeing the wrath of Pharoah as a result. God may chose to use the "wood, hay, and stubble" of our experience as building blocks of faith. Faith isn't built on our good works. God "gifts" it to us!
3. Vs 27 Endurance isn't based on visible blessings and securities. It is based only upon the Word of the Invisible God! We never stray far from verse 3!
4. Vs 28 What's a Passover? Faith often builds memory traditions the people of God go back to as faith reminders. But faith is only faith at the time—merely obeying the Word of the Lord!
5. Vs 29 The Egyptians performed the same work as the Israelites—they both plunged into the Red Sea. But the Egyptians had no Object of Faith, no "soul talk" with the God of Heaven and earth. While it is true that faith without works is dead, it is also true that works without faith is a sure death as well! Stay away from the Red Sea unless you have your faith jacket on!
D. Vs 30-40 The Overcomers.
1. Vs 30-31 Don't try this at home!! Faith isn't limited to natural reason or phenomenon. Notice that in vs 31, Rahab is spoken of in her shameful trade. Perhaps this is to remind us that the self righteous need not apply, and sinners have no excuse to stay away. Faith is the naked soul, unmasked and unclothed of its fig leaves, crying out for the only covering that will do—the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ.
2. 30-39 Notice the "good and the bad". By faith these saints did some amazing stuff and by faith endured some very awful stuff. Their good testimony? The world wasn't worthy to unlatch the sandal of any of them! They were God's people with an eternal vision.
3. Vs 40 They did not see His coming. They died in anticipation of His Incarnation. Shame on us!!! We have that which they suffered and died for—and we treat Him and His Word so casually. They died, anticipating a better resurrection. What are we anticipating!
Hebrews 11:20-40
Audacity: Fearless daring, especially with confidant disregard for personal safety, conventional thought or other restrictions.
The acts of faith recorded in this chapter are audacious, many bordering on the absurd—if you don't start with the first "by faith" in the chapter, verse 3. Edward Samuel says, "As by the organ of speech we converse with man, so by the grace of faith the soul talks with God." The "souls" in this chapter all talked with God. The obedience of their faith is laid out for us to see.
I. Vs 11-12 We must revisit Sarah, briefly!
A. "By faith, Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed"—at 80 years old!
1. Genesis 18:9-15 Please note, even her laughter was part of her "soul talk" with God. All of God's people have feet of clay so God most often communes with them through their doubting laughter, trembling lips, and fearful first steps as He brings them to fruitfulness. Faith doesn't hide behind some cloak of Pharisaical righteousness nor turn back to Egypt as the heart of Israel was so prone to do. Faith may laugh for a time in the tent, but it brings forth fruit, some ten fold, some one hundred fold!
B. Faith doesn't often follow the conventional wisdom or family traditions of the day/
1. Vs 20&21 The "by faith" blessings of both Isaac and Jacob weren't according to family tradition, but God ordered them according to His Will—and for the sake of His Seed. In each case the youngest received the blessing, not the firstborn.
2. Vs 22 Here too, it was the younger, Joseph, that was the blessing to the whole family of Jacob, howbeit through becoming second in command in a pagan land. But He remembered the covenant of Abraham and believed in the "promised land" so much that he didn't want even his bones to remain outside of the promise!
C. Vs 23-29 The Faith of Moses.
1. Moses' very beginning was assured by the faith of his parents, in the face of death!
2. Vs 24-26 This is an interesting "by faith". His suffering and reproach came through an act of murder and his fleeing the wrath of Pharoah as a result. God may chose to use the "wood, hay, and stubble" of our experience as building blocks of faith. Faith isn't built on our good works. God "gifts" it to us!
3. Vs 27 Endurance isn't based on visible blessings and securities. It is based only upon the Word of the Invisible God! We never stray far from verse 3!
4. Vs 28 What's a Passover? Faith often builds memory traditions the people of God go back to as faith reminders. But faith is only faith at the time—merely obeying the Word of the Lord!
5. Vs 29 The Egyptians performed the same work as the Israelites—they both plunged into the Red Sea. But the Egyptians had no Object of Faith, no "soul talk" with the God of Heaven and earth. While it is true that faith without works is dead, it is also true that works without faith is a sure death as well! Stay away from the Red Sea unless you have your faith jacket on!
D. Vs 30-40 The Overcomers.
1. Vs 30-31 Don't try this at home!! Faith isn't limited to natural reason or phenomenon. Notice that in vs 31, Rahab is spoken of in her shameful trade. Perhaps this is to remind us that the self righteous need not apply, and sinners have no excuse to stay away. Faith is the naked soul, unmasked and unclothed of its fig leaves, crying out for the only covering that will do—the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ.
2. 30-39 Notice the "good and the bad". By faith these saints did some amazing stuff and by faith endured some very awful stuff. Their good testimony? The world wasn't worthy to unlatch the sandal of any of them! They were God's people with an eternal vision.
3. Vs 40 They did not see His coming. They died in anticipation of His Incarnation. Shame on us!!! We have that which they suffered and died for—and we treat Him and His Word so casually. They died, anticipating a better resurrection. What are we anticipating!