Here's What Pleasing God By Faith Looks Like
Hebrews 11:7-19
Remember: Without Faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God! Vs 6 In other words, nothing pleases God that is not rooted in, generated by, and carried on in dependence upon the Word of The God Who made the worlds by that Word, out of nothing! In other words, consuming faith in our Lord Jesus Christ!
I. Vs 7 By Faith Noah Prepared an Ark:
A. Here's the Word of God to Noah: He was warned of things not seen! Gen 6-9
There had never been a flood in the earth's history at that point, never been a boat that size for that matter.
1. Faith's root—he was moved by Godly Fear! Noah lived in the understanding of Vs 3. His God wasn't sticks and stones, or from another planet! He is the Creator Gd!
2. Faith's behavior—"he prepared an ark for the saving of his household."
3. Faiths's Testimony—"by which he condemned the world" His "faith behavior" became prophetic! II Peter 1:20-21, II Peter 2:5
4. Faith's Reward—He became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
How then did Noah please God? By faith activated obedience to God's Word!
II. Vs 8-10 By Faith Abraham Obeyed"
A. Here's the Word of God to Noah: He was called to Go Out to a promised place.
Abraham didn't even know the name of the place, probably no map definitely no GPS!
1. Faith's root—the God of Vs 3—He understood the Builder & Maker!! Vs10
2. Faith's behavior—He went out, he left all the comfort, security that he had ever known based on the Calling of a God he could not see!!!! Vs 9 He dwelled in tents!
3. Faith's testimony—Whereas Noah's was staying and building, Abrahams' was simply Going Out!
4. Faith's Reward—A promised inheritance, a place of no knowledge to Him at the time. But it held a greater inheritance—Vs 10 "For he waited for the city which has foundations, whose Builder and Maker is God! True faith never puts roots down deep in the sand of this earth! Biblical faith lives in anticipation of a new heavens and earth where Righteousness dwells. Remember, Abraham continued to be a tent dweller even though He had received the Promised Land!!
III. Vs 8-12 By Faith Sarah had a baby!
A. Here's the Word of God to Sarah:: Genesis 18:9-15 "I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son." And Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him".
1. Faith's root—Not too deep nor strong—Sarah laughed at the impossibility.
2. Faith's behavior—She "had pleasure".
3. Faith's testimony—It takes 9 months for a baby to develop in the womb—and it shows! Can you imagine some 80 something pregnant lady walking around the camp, or even hiding out in her tent! "You're what! God promised you what!"
4. Faith's reward—"She judged Him faithful who had promised! No mention of her laughter in her tent! Her reward is according to God's Promise—Vs 12 Notice that Sarah is not spoken of in verse 12 for she is "one flesh" with her husband. And Abraham was "as good as dead", reproductively! Sarah gave birth to two nations, physical Israel and the Heavenly Israel, all from a laughing old lady!
IV. Vs 17-19 Abraham's faith in the Resurrection
A. Here's the Word of God to Abraham—"Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, (the promised seed!!) and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering." Genesis 22:2
1. Faith's root—Vs 19 "Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead!"..If God brought forth Isaac from a dead man in the first place (Vs 12) surely he can raise him from the dead because the Word of God said he would be the first of an innumerable seed!
2. Faith's behavior—Abraham "offered up Isaac" Vs 17. The text speaks as though he completely fulfilled the command of God. God was testing Abraham's faith. The Heavenly Father fulfilled the test for us all!
3. Faith's Testimony—James 2:21 "Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar." Notice that it again speaks as though Abraham completely fulfilled the command of God!
a. Romans 4:1-4 Abrahams' faith obedience becomes the foundation from which we understand that Justification before God is only by faith. Abrahams' faith is still speaking loud and clear to every one who hears the call of the gospel, and believes!
Romans 4:16 "Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all."
4. Faith's reward—Vs 19 "from which he also received him in a figurative sense."
Genesis 22:8 (KJV) "And Abraham said, My Son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering." KJV 5. Faith's Ultimate Reward: Acts 13:32-35 "And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers, God has fulfilled that for us their children, in that He has raise up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: "Your are my Son, today I have begotten You." And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus" "I will give you the sure mercies of David." Therefore He also says in another Psalm: "You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption."
Romans 8:32 "He that spared not His Own Son (No figurative stuff here, this is the real deal!) but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things."
6. This is Faith's Ultimate Behavior!!! John 6:29 "And Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him Whom He sent."
Hebrews 11:7-19
Remember: Without Faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God! Vs 6 In other words, nothing pleases God that is not rooted in, generated by, and carried on in dependence upon the Word of The God Who made the worlds by that Word, out of nothing! In other words, consuming faith in our Lord Jesus Christ!
I. Vs 7 By Faith Noah Prepared an Ark:
A. Here's the Word of God to Noah: He was warned of things not seen! Gen 6-9
There had never been a flood in the earth's history at that point, never been a boat that size for that matter.
1. Faith's root—he was moved by Godly Fear! Noah lived in the understanding of Vs 3. His God wasn't sticks and stones, or from another planet! He is the Creator Gd!
2. Faith's behavior—"he prepared an ark for the saving of his household."
3. Faiths's Testimony—"by which he condemned the world" His "faith behavior" became prophetic! II Peter 1:20-21, II Peter 2:5
4. Faith's Reward—He became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
How then did Noah please God? By faith activated obedience to God's Word!
II. Vs 8-10 By Faith Abraham Obeyed"
A. Here's the Word of God to Noah: He was called to Go Out to a promised place.
Abraham didn't even know the name of the place, probably no map definitely no GPS!
1. Faith's root—the God of Vs 3—He understood the Builder & Maker!! Vs10
2. Faith's behavior—He went out, he left all the comfort, security that he had ever known based on the Calling of a God he could not see!!!! Vs 9 He dwelled in tents!
3. Faith's testimony—Whereas Noah's was staying and building, Abrahams' was simply Going Out!
4. Faith's Reward—A promised inheritance, a place of no knowledge to Him at the time. But it held a greater inheritance—Vs 10 "For he waited for the city which has foundations, whose Builder and Maker is God! True faith never puts roots down deep in the sand of this earth! Biblical faith lives in anticipation of a new heavens and earth where Righteousness dwells. Remember, Abraham continued to be a tent dweller even though He had received the Promised Land!!
III. Vs 8-12 By Faith Sarah had a baby!
A. Here's the Word of God to Sarah:: Genesis 18:9-15 "I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son." And Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him".
1. Faith's root—Not too deep nor strong—Sarah laughed at the impossibility.
2. Faith's behavior—She "had pleasure".
3. Faith's testimony—It takes 9 months for a baby to develop in the womb—and it shows! Can you imagine some 80 something pregnant lady walking around the camp, or even hiding out in her tent! "You're what! God promised you what!"
4. Faith's reward—"She judged Him faithful who had promised! No mention of her laughter in her tent! Her reward is according to God's Promise—Vs 12 Notice that Sarah is not spoken of in verse 12 for she is "one flesh" with her husband. And Abraham was "as good as dead", reproductively! Sarah gave birth to two nations, physical Israel and the Heavenly Israel, all from a laughing old lady!
IV. Vs 17-19 Abraham's faith in the Resurrection
A. Here's the Word of God to Abraham—"Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, (the promised seed!!) and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering." Genesis 22:2
1. Faith's root—Vs 19 "Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead!"..If God brought forth Isaac from a dead man in the first place (Vs 12) surely he can raise him from the dead because the Word of God said he would be the first of an innumerable seed!
2. Faith's behavior—Abraham "offered up Isaac" Vs 17. The text speaks as though he completely fulfilled the command of God. God was testing Abraham's faith. The Heavenly Father fulfilled the test for us all!
3. Faith's Testimony—James 2:21 "Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar." Notice that it again speaks as though Abraham completely fulfilled the command of God!
a. Romans 4:1-4 Abrahams' faith obedience becomes the foundation from which we understand that Justification before God is only by faith. Abrahams' faith is still speaking loud and clear to every one who hears the call of the gospel, and believes!
Romans 4:16 "Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all."
4. Faith's reward—Vs 19 "from which he also received him in a figurative sense."
Genesis 22:8 (KJV) "And Abraham said, My Son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering." KJV 5. Faith's Ultimate Reward: Acts 13:32-35 "And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers, God has fulfilled that for us their children, in that He has raise up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: "Your are my Son, today I have begotten You." And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus" "I will give you the sure mercies of David." Therefore He also says in another Psalm: "You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption."
Romans 8:32 "He that spared not His Own Son (No figurative stuff here, this is the real deal!) but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things."
6. This is Faith's Ultimate Behavior!!! John 6:29 "And Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him Whom He sent."