No Greater Love Than His
  • In The Son of His Love--a blog
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  • Relational Theology 101
  • Mystery of Godliness I Tim. 3:16
  • Galatians- Learning to Rest
  • The Body of Christ
  • Romans 1:16-17 The Gospel
  • Ephesians, the Father's adopted family
  • Prevailing Intercession-Henry Law
    • Psalm 2 Henry Law
  • A Practical Study of Hebrews
  • Satan's Hatred of Women
  • Quotes from old authors
  • John Welch on Romans 8:1
  • Topical Analysis of the Bible
  • LEARNING TO LIVE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH
  • The Kingdom of God in Christ
    • The Kingdom Foretold
    • The King and His Kingdom Come
    • The Kingdom in its Biblical Context
    • The Kings introduction-the wild man and the real man
    • The Ultimate Test of the Father's Word-The Temptation
    • The Goal of the Kingdom Conquest
    • The Blessed of the Kingdom
    • Blessed are they that mourn
    • Blessed are the meek
    • Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness
    • Blessed are the Merciful
    • Blessed are the Pure in Heart
    • The Blessed of the Kingdom are the Salt & Light of the World
    • Kingdom Righteousness
    • Sermon on the mount-Getting the Law Right
    • Restoring God's Most Reflective Relationship
    • Being Sons and Daughters of the Heavenly Father
    • Understanding our Lord's Father Context
    • Breathing Pure Air in a Polluted World
    • Living in the Presence of the Secret Benefactor
    • What Serving God Looks Like
    • Self Righteous need not apply, but beggars can't be losers
    • Final Warnings From Our King
  • Audio Studies
    • Audio & Outline--On Spiritual Gifts
    • From the Futility of the Human Mind-to the Mind of Christ
    • Audio Study: I Corinthians 6:1-11
    • AUDIO-Waiting On God
    • Audio-Gospel of John
    • AUDIO-A Relational Discussion of the Holy Spirit
    • Audio-Studies on the Sermon on the mount
  • From Death to Life
  • All Creation Groans
  • Traveling down the ladder of self knowledge
  • Zions' hymn
  • Power in Weakness
  • What's In A Name?
  • The Heavenly Father's Pity/Spurgeon
  • On Affliction
  • Christ Our Intercessor
  • Spurgeon's Dream
  • Sitting at the Feet of Jesus
  • Stomping Among Lillies
  • The More Excellent Way
  • All Creation Sings Praise to the God of Heaven and Earth
  • The Lord of Heaven and Earth, the Ruler of the Nations
  • From Captivity to God's plan for peace, a future, and an eternal hope
  • Man Looks on the Outward Appearance, but the Lord of Hosts Looks upon the Heart
  • The Earth is the Lord's
  • The earth is the Lords
  • A Wedding Meditation-The Gospel Mystery
  • Be Strong in the Lord
  • The Girdle of Truth
  • Having feet shod with Gospel of Peace
  • Shield of Faith
  • Helmet of Salvation
  • Praying with all prayer & supplication
  • Sword of the Spirit
  • A Wedding Meditation
  • The Power of the Gospel is the Resurrection
  • What is this Mystery
  • A letter of encouragement to faith
  • Great is Mystery Part 3
  • The Mystery of Godliness part 4
  • Mystery of Godliness part 5
  • Seen of angels part 2
  • Preached among the nations
  • Great is Mystery of Godliness Part 8
  • Mystery of Godliness part 9
  • Great is mystery of Godliness part 10
  • A Father's Hand--on Affliction
  • Great is mystery of Godliness part 11
  • Mystery of Godliness part 12
  • Great is mystery of Godliness part 13
  • Great is mystery of Godliness part 14
  • Romans 1:16-17 Part 1
  • Romans 1:16-17 Part 2
  • It is the Power of God
  • Romans 1:16-17 Part 4
  • Christ, the Glorious Hybrid of God
  • Romans 1:16-17 Part 5
  • Romans 1:16-17 Part 6
  • Romans 1:16-17 Part 7
  • Romans 1:16-17 Part 8
  • Romans 1:16-17 Part
  • Romans 1:16-17 Part 9
  • Romans 1:16-17 Pt 11
  • The Necessity of the Body of Christ
  • The Perfection of the Body of Chhrist
  • The Role of the Holy Spirit
  • The Application of Body II Pet 1:1-4
  • application of body of Christ #3
  • Practical application body #4
  • Part 5 The application of the body
  • Application of body of Christ #6
  • The Application of the Body #7
  • application of body of christ #8
  • Application of body of Christ #9
  • application of body of Christ #10
  • The Kingdom of God
  • Galatians 1:1-6
  • Galatians 1:6-9
  • Abraham's Gospel-Melchizedek
  • cutting the covenant
  • The Mark of the Covenant
  • Gospel to Abraham-resurrection
  • Galatians 1:10-17
  • Galatians 1:18-2:10
  • Galatians 2:11-21
  • Galatians 3:1-9
  • Beholding the Glory of God
  • Intro to Gospel of Abraham
  • Melchizedek Gen. 14:18-20
  • Melchizedek #2
  • God's cutting the Covenant
  • Mark of the Covenant
                                                                                 By Faith  Hebrews 11:2-6

  Preliminary observations:  1.  There are 18 "By Faiths' in Hebrews 11, one implied "By Faith (Verse 2),  and one very crucial "without Faith(verse 6)!   2.  In the rest of the chapter, we are going to see how faith gives substance to things hoped for, how it becomes evidence of things not seen, by historical examples.

I.  The chapters' historical "preface"  Vs 2
            A.  By faith the elders, the great cloud of witnesses (12:1) obtained a good report.
Notice:  The author starts at the creation and moves forward.

Note:  We all know these peoples "worts"!  There is Noah's drunkenness, Abraham's putting Sarah in potentially immoral situations to save his hide, Sarah's laughter of unbelief and on and on.  But by faith, that is all forgotten.  By faith, the "worts" do not get in the way of the promise, and do not soil their robes of righteousness.  And now we are going to see the end of their faith!!

II.   Faiths' practical impact  Vs 3
            A.  By Faith we understand!!!!!!!!!
                    1.  Facts, even Biblical facts, never saved a soul!  Mental belief of those facts is not the same as an understanding faith in those facts that lead to a radical dependence upon the truth of those facts!
                        2.  This understanding needs no further proof!  It does not need cosmic light shows or National Geographic to validate its belief!  Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God—not from some archaeological dig!
                        3.  This understanding is God given!  I John 5:20.  The things of God, even in the earthly realm, cannot be understood any other way!  I Corinthians 2:14

            B.  Here's the foundational understanding
                   1.  God made the world by His Word out of nothing!  He did not need any             "resources".  His Word is sufficient to do all His Will, all His Pleasure!
                        2.  That "out of nothing" sets the stage for all the following examples. 

Note:  If God made the visible world out of the invisible, His Promises and Calling are not dependent upon the visible.  God's Purposes are not hindered by our "impossible" circumstances.  His Word is the only resource of faith!  In fact, His Glory and Will are most clearly seen in the "Red Seas' of our lives.

            C.   Vs 4   Faiths' testimony and impact outlives the faithful one!  Its' focus is the Eternal Word of the Eternal God, and this brings Eternity into our "temporality"!
                        1.  Cain brought the first fruits of his labors.  Abel brought the first fruits of his faith!    Cain proclaimed, "what a good farmer am I.  Abel proclaimed, "what a wretched sinner am I, I must shed blood for my covering!  His faith was in the blood of a promised redeemer.

II.   Vs 5-6  Faith pleases God, and faith is God's pleasure!
            A.  Genesis 5:21-24   All we know about Enoch was the He had kids and was the father of the oldest non-eternal man on earth.  No worts were recorded because He walked with God.  That tells me he knew full well what a horrible sinner he was, for no man will walk that close to His God unless He knows how desperately he needs His God!
            B.  Vs 6  Here's that one "without faith".
                   1.  "Without faith, it is IMPOSSIBLE to please Him."  Faith is God's one desire from us!  It "trumps" everything.  Faith, belief, in Who He is and What He has done, is His one requirement! (John 6:29)  He considers unbelief the symptom of an evil heart!  Hebrews 3:7-15
                        2.  Here's what faith does:
                                    a.   Faith believes that God is!  That's great, but remember James 2:19,  God is unimpressed with one half of the equation.  Most people who say they believe in God aren't even on the "par" with the devils!  They aren't trembling, there is no fear of this God before  their eyes!  Romans 3:18
                                    b.  But faith also believes that God is the rewarder of those who diligently             seek Him!  And this is more that a mere mental assent to this idea, this is a banking on the Goodness of God, a sticking the neck out time and again because "Faithful is He Who Promised"! (Hebrews 10:23, I Corinthians 10:13, Psalm 37:3 (NKJV)

                        Here is the seeking heart of faith:
                                    I Chronicles 16:7-14; II Chronicles 7:14; Psalm 27:7-8, 105:3-7

                        Here's how the faithful deal with their own sin"
                                    Daniel 9:3-19, Hosea 5:15  And in the New Covenant, the Face of God is                                        revealed—He is Jesus!  II Corinthians 4:6

                        This is the "Ezra Principle".
                                    Ezra  8:21-23  "The hand of our God is for Good to those who seek Him."

             So whatever your "issue" is, throw down the rotten vegetables (Cain) of your own efforts, and come to the Goodness of God in the blood of Jesus.  Only in the blood of His Sacrifice will you find peace and acceptance.  Remember, He is not "just" God, He is The Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.  To not believe that His Good Hand of Blessing is upon those who seek Him is to believe in a false god!!!!!!!!!