Themes of the Bible: Faith (Hebrews 11)

 

Themes of the Bible: Faith (Hebrews 11)

Today, we’re in Hebrews chapter 11. Now, to begin, this is going to come as a surprise to many of you who understand me to be quite the intellect. . . but until I was in college, I was really not into reading very much. In fact, I was pretty successful at writing book reports on the same book, year after year. I read A Canticle for Leibowitz in the 9th grade, and used it for book reports up to and including my senior year of high school. Couldn’t do that in college. . . Anyway, so you ask, ‘how in the world did you get through book reports for the other books you had to read?’ It's a good question. I had a habit of what's called “book-ending,’ where you read the first couple pages, maybe the first chapter and then you skip ahead and read the last little section of the text and you skim the section in between. Now that isn't usually enough to write a book report. So, I had a little friend called Cliff Notes, now they’re called Spark Notes, which is online. It's the same principle. You don't read the whole thing. You just read sections of it, the important parts needed to get the gist of the things you need to know. Well, I would suggest to you that Hebrews 11 is a sort of Cliff Notes for the Old Testament. If you read it, then you’ll understand what I'm saying. Now, I don't recommend Hebrews 11 as a substitute for reading the Old Testament what we've been through for the last nine months. I wouldn't read this chapter and say that you are sufficiently up to par on what the Old Testament is, but it does provide a nice recap of the high points that we've looked at over the course of the last several months. It takes those high points of Scripture, those key figures of the Old Testament, and it demonstrates the core element that is at the heart of every single account. And that is what the chapter is about: faith. This is the faith chapter. It's all about what faith is, and it describes and defines what faith is and it gives practical examples of how you see faith playing out in the lives of the heroes of the Old Testament.

If you are a Christian, we're all at different points in our walk. Some of you are baby Christians, or maybe you accepted the Lord at a young age, you walked away from the faith, and now you're getting back into it and you're on fire you are growing like a weed in a garden. Others of you that have been Christians for 50+ years of your life. So, your growth rate is going to be a lot slower than other people who are baby Christians. We're all at different points in our faith and in our walk with Christ. But that's what's so great about Hebrews 11, because this is about growing in the faith, demonstrating the faith, and it applies to every single one of us, no matter where we are in our walk. So, here's what I want to do. I want to book-end today. So, it's going to be chapter and we're going to look at the first couple verses. And then we're just going to kind of skip over the middle section, and then we're going to finish off with the end of the chapter. But please, if you didn’t already read the chapter, it’d be a good one to read this week.

Ok, it starts with the best working definition of faith that you will ever find. If you got your Bible flip open to Hebrews chapter 11, and we're going to start in verse one. Here we go. [Read Hebrews 11:1-2]. So, what is faith? It is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see. If you want to have faith or you want to grow your faith, faith is being sure of what you hope for. What is it you hope for? Christians hope that the promises of Christ are real, and faith is being sure of that. If you look at that word that is used for this term, for being sure, the word is ἔλεγχος (elenchus) in the Greek, and means “that which goes under something to make it stand.” What do we call something that is under an object to help it stand? A foundation. So, faith is the foundation of what you hope for. The foundation of everything you believe is faith. That's what underlies it, which means that you cannot become a Christian without faith. It also means that you cannot live as a Christian without faith, because it is the foundation for everything that you are. If you knock that foundation out, and you will not stand upright. Here's what else we know about foundations in our lives. The stronger the foundation, then the stronger the structure and the bigger the structure it can support. You can build a dinky little foundation for your dog house, but that foundation is not going to be strong and sturdy enough if you were to put the Freedom Tower in New York City on top of it. The bigger and the stronger the foundation is, the bigger the object is that it can uphold. So, what is that telling us? It's telling us that the stronger your faith grows, the deeper you grow in your faith, then the stronger hope you will have.

This last week I watched a video about Richard Houston, who was an officer of Mesquite, Texas. He is responding to a disturbance called a man is being confronted by his wife and his mistress in a parking lot. The officer goes to try to make peace in the situation. He goes up to talk to the man, the man pulls out a gun, shoves it in the police officer’s chest and kills him. Then shoots himself. At the funeral, Officer Houston’s 18-year-old daughter speaks and says, “everything in me, I want to despise the guy that did this, and yet all I can think of is how I hope that he survives the self-inflicted gunshot wound when he turned the gun on himself. I want him to survive and I want to be able to sit down and talk to the man who murdered my father, and tell him about Jesus. That’s what my dad would have wanted.” Okay, that right there is somebody with a strong foundation. We look at those things, like a couple weeks ago I shared with you the brother of Botham Jean, who was killed by the off-duty police officer who shot him thinking he was in her apartment, and she got the wrong door. And we sit there and we're amazed. He just hugged his brother's killer and offered forgiveness. How was that possible? People that persevere through unbelievable trials in their lives. They lose loved ones, and I can't imagine going through what they've gone through. But how was that possible? The stronger the foundation, the stronger the hope that they have. That's why it's so critical that we're growing our faith. Developing a stronger faith means we don't treat Christianity like the people that say, ‘well, I might as well be a Christian, because if I'm wrong, then I'm not really worse off than anybody else. But if I'm right, well, then I'm going to benefit from it.’ It's not a Hail Mary pass. That's not what faith is. Our faith is being sure in what we are hoping for. The whole year that we've been going through this series, we've been building an informed faith. That's the whole point of it, to be sure of these things that occurred. We want to be sure of that which we are hoping for. And faith is being certain of what you do not see. Faith is a deep conviction in your heart concerning realities that you don't personally see.

Faith is not fantasy, is not something that we're just out there putting together as we go along. That's not what our faith is. It's faith in realities that are unseen, but that we know to be true. How many of you honestly walk out on a daily basis concerned that if you don't find something to hold on to, to tether yourself to, gravity might stop and you're going to float up into outer space? That's my point. Do we see gravity? No, we do not. But you know, it's a reality that is there. You don't see it, but you know that it's there and you come to trust it and lean on it. That's what we're talking about. After all, if you can see it, then you're not really exhibiting faith. That's why in 2 Corinthians Paul uses these words, “we live by faith, not by sight.” Notice in that sentence, those two words faith and sight. They are presented to us as opposites. You can live by faith, or you can live by sight. If you're living by sight and relying on sight for anything you believe then you are not living by faith. And if you are living by faith, you do not need sight to believe in it. If I could see God, is it going to take any faith to believe in Him? Of course not. And faith is the foundation. Our faith is confidence that our hope is well placed because of the realities that we do know, and the things that we know, and the things that we have experienced and learned. It provides us a confidence that our hope is well placed, even though we don't see those things. That's the faith of a believer. That's the faith of a follower of Christ. And the author of Hebrews says in verse two that that is what the Old Testament believers were commended for.

And then this is the launch point for the rest of the chapter that we're not going to read, but it’s a procession of examples of people who live by faith in the Old Testament, but here's the encouraging part for you and me. I read Hebrews 11, and I'm reading these names and I think to myself, I don't stack up against these people. Look at these heroes of the faith, and I'm not like them. I'm not a person that God's going to write a chapter in his word about and then preserve it for 1000s of years. But, I want to stress to you why it is that these people are being commended.  What is this all about? This is what the Old Testament believers were commended for. It's not their character. It's not their own personal strength and personal integrity. These weren't people of perfect character by any stretch of the imagination that are mentioned. Look back at verse one, and it tells you what they're being commended for. They're being commended for their faith. Well, I can do that. I can build my faith. Now, I may not do all of the things that these people did. But that's not why they were commended. They were commended for their faith. So wherever God places me, it's going to be different than where he placed all these great champions, but wherever he places me in San Luis Obispo County and preaching to the small country churches, if I'm faithful here, I will be commended as well. Where God has placed me, that's what I need to worry about. That's what I need to concern myself with. It was their conviction, and their hope was well placed in those unseen realities that they believed. Their conviction in God's authority, that you and I possess as well. That's what produced their unshakable hope. And that's what I want other people to notice about me. That dude has unshakable hope. He has a belief in something that I can't even comprehend.

Imagine giving integrity grades to those people that we read about in Hebrews 11. How was Moses going to score on the scale of speech and his temperament? He had a stutter. And his temperament, this guy got so angry one day he went out and killed an Egyptian. I haven't done that. Moses would not score very well if he's graded on his personal character. How about David? How's he going to score in purity and humility? The king of Israel, who was so important, he didn't go out to fight with his army. Instead, he's back in Jerusalem, seducing their wives, sleeping with them, getting them pregnant, and then having their husbands killed so he can cover his tracks. How's he going to do on a grading scale of purity and humility? Not very well. How about Jacob? God named Israel after him, right? How was he going to score when it comes to honesty and forthrightness? He wanted the blessing. So he covers himself in wool and goes into his poor dad who can't see anything, and he's lying there on his deathbed, and he gives him the blessing. Jacob is not going to score well in that department. I mean, it's a crafty move. How's Rahab going to do when it comes to sexual morality? She was a harlot. She was a prostitute. You see what I'm saying? You look at these individuals that are can be being commended, but it’s not for their sterling track record and personal integrity. Why are they used as examples? It’s because of their faith. [Read Hebrews 11:31]. These individuals are being sure of what they hoped for, and certain of what they did not see. That's what they were commended for. That's what you will be commended for.

Let’s look at verse 32 through the end of the chapter. [Read Hebrews 11:32-40]. Their faith was so strong they shut the mouths of lions. They escaped the sword. You had women who were getting their dead back because of their faith. That's quite a laundry list of things. Faith enables flawed people to do great things for God. That's what I'm learning here. Gideon was cowardly at first, and yet God uses him, a weak thing to be strong. And then you have Samson, we know he did big things, but he was constantly consumed with lust for foreign women. David committed adultery and murder and raised really bad kids. But what I'm saying is, that faith enables flawed people to accomplish great things.

Do not use this as a pretext to simply ignore your sins and shortcomings. That is not the lesson of Hebrews 11. This whole chapter is about growing your faith. And when you grow your faith, you are going to confront your sin and you're going to pursue holiness. That's what growing your faith does. What this chapter is doing is saying that you're not justifying your sins, but you can be encouraged, and you don't have to be perfect to be used by God. None of these people were perfect, yet they were commended for their faith. And these are not just mundane things that they achieved. They're conquering kingdoms. They're shutting the mouths of lions. They're withstanding the flames. They're having their dead brought back to life. Look at that list. It's simply astounding. God is in the business of doing things and accomplishing things through people that only he can receive the glory for. When Gideon goes out and wins the battle by getting his few men to bang pots and pans together, nobody's going to say that is a brilliant military strategy. It's not a great strategy unless God is involved in it. Unless he's the one that's doing it. God will accomplish great things that are explainable only by his power. And notice the common theme. Look back at verse 34. [Read Hebrews 11:34]. That's the key. You and I recognize our weakness, and we cling to God's strength. That's what faith is. Remember, last week, we were in Ephesians chapter 6, putting on the armor of God. We are to be strong in the Lord. That's where our strength comes from. Not in and of ourselves. Those people in and of themselves could accomplish nothing. They did it through the power of God.

In preparing this message. I was reading a piece and it's talking about this missionary to China. His name was Robert Morrison. If you know anything about China, China is not big fans of foreign influence coming in. They built a big wall to keep foreign influence out, they walled themselves off for hundreds and hundreds of years. And when the Communists took over, China became an atheist country, just eradicating belief and that's when the church had to go underground. Before then they had all these eastern religions. So, the idea of becoming a Christian missionary, looking American and becoming a Christian missionary in China. What are you doing? How are you going to accomplish anything? He was asked this question, “do you really expect to make an impact in China?” His response was Hebrews chapter 11. He said, “No, I don't, but I expect God to. God's going to be the one that makes an impact on me.” When we step forward in obedience and faith, God's going to do something amazing that is only explainable by His power and not our gifts. That should be us. These people conquered kingdoms by their faith! Now, I don't think God has brought me to a position where he's anticipating that I'm going to lead some sort of movement to conquer Western civilization. Maybe it's going to happen, but I don't really see that in my future. But if their faith can conquer kingdoms, then doesn't it stand to reason that my faith can conquer my own issues? Their faith is capable of conquering kingdoms, so if I develop that faith, can't my faith conquer my own hang-ups? I certainly think so. Can I not use my faith to perform acts of righteousness in my workplace, perform acts of righteousness in my family, administer justice and care for those who are in need? Can I not do that with my faith? These heroes, the Scripture says, obtained promises of God by their faith. Can I not claim those promises by my faith as well? You see, it's different callings. God's position me in a different place than He put them. But faith is still powerful, and we should rely on it.

Through their faith they’re conquering kingdoms, surviving flames, shutting mouths of lions, culminating with the resurrection of the dead. And then, without missing a beat, look at where the author goes. We're still in the middle of verse 35. Now watch this. all this great stuff is happening. [Read Hebrews 11:35-38]. What just happened? We're in the middle of all this great stuff. But notice this is an important part. The people on the half of the list that had all this horrible stuff happened to them. The people on that half of the list were just as much people of faith and I would suggest in some cases even stronger faith than the people on the good half of the list. Hebrews 11 does not interpret this to be these people had great faith and these people had no faith. That's not at all what the author is saying. This passage is a death blow to the health and wealth prosperity gospel that infects America today. It is an absolute deathblow to this idea that is taught that poverty and pain and persecution, they're tied to your lack of faith. They say that God wants to bless you, and if he's not blessing you in the way that you think you should be blessed, then it's because your lack of faith prevents it. And if you had more faith, then you would be blessed. It's completely unbiblical.

Remember what we said all year long in this series, to stop thinking like man and start thinking like God does. And God's purpose is to bring Him glory. And one of the ways that he blesses His people is allowing them the opportunity to bring Him glory, even in the midst of suffering. Sometimes it will be great things that happen to you that God glorifies himself and sometimes he will allow you the opportunity to suffer for his name. In both cases, you are blessed. Now that doesn't make any sense to a person who is not a believer and that should tell you something about the people that preach prosperity messages. The people that preach this idea that, sadly, are the ones that accrue so much wealth, they're able to purchase television time, and on Sunday mornings when we decide to stay home and turn on our TV instead of going to church, this is often the message that we're hearing and it's totally antithetical to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Think about Noah. He faced jeers and mocking. For 100 years he was mocked for his faith. But was Noah the victim of just not having sincere enough faith? If he had more faith then he wouldn't have to deal with that, right? Is that what I'm to believe? According to the prosperity gospel, it is. Hebrews 11 tells us that they faced floggings. Peter was flogged. He was Jesus’ best friend on Earth, the guy that Jesus handpicked to give the first gospel message. . . if only he would have had more faith, he would have been wealthy living in a nicer place, wearing nicer clothes. He wouldn't have been out there getting flogged on the streets. Or bound in chains like Silas and Paul in prison. If they would have just had more faith than that wouldn't have happened to them. . . tisk tisk. They should have just ‘named it and claimed it’ and God would have given them great riches. . . Its disgusting that this mutilated message gets to be broadcast and call itself Christian. These guys are sitting in prison and their faith was so strong after midnight, an earthquake hit, and the chains busted off and they walked out. That's faith. Don't tell me that they were lacking faith. People were put to death by stoning. Stephen, the first Christian martyr as the stones are hitting his body, his faith is so strong that he's rewarded with a scene that no other human being has seen. He looks up into heaven and he sees Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Nobody's ever seen that before. Everywhere else Jesus is seated, but he just needed more faith and then that wouldn't have happened to him. Scriptures doesn't record what happened to Isaiah, but we know from Jewish history, a Jewish text called ‘The Martyrdom of Isaiah’ says, “Isaiah neither cried aloud nor wept, but his lips spoke with the Holy Spirit until he was sawed in two.” This prophet was cut in half for his faith. Then the prosperity preachers will say, ‘If he had more faith, he would have been rich and blessed. God wanted to bless him, and it's not happening because he just didn't have enough faith.’

This chapter teaches us why this bad stuff happens. It teaches us that Satan has extraordinary hatred for any person who has the faith that is exhibited in Hebrews 11. So, what's he going to try to do? He will work overtime to corrupt you if you have that faith, and when he's unsuccessful, he will do all he can to consume wicked people around you to bring about all kinds of atrocities hoping that you will renounce your faith and destroy your witness. He'll use whatever pawn he can use. And in America, there's an increasing pot to choose from, of non-believers, wicked people who are going to be used by Satan to bring about all kinds of atrocities against believers. That's what he's going to do. That's what Satan is. But what have we said all year long. God is the master chess player. And every time Satan thinks he's going to win this battle. God's already positioned a piece exactly where he wants it, and in the end, will fulfill His promises, save His people, and bring glory to himself, and it's our privilege to play a part in that. Facing persecution and torture is not a sign that you are missing God's blessing. Far more often, it is a sign that you are right on target, and Satan knows he has to do something about it. Be mindful of that in your personal walk. We haven't faced death. We haven't faced this kind of rejection or injustice because of the gospel. Not yet. And I would stress to you that these Hebrews that are being written to here hadn't either. If you skip ahead a chapter ahead look at what it says, “in your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood” (Hebrews 12:4). That has not yet happened to you Hebrew Christians, but they are being encouraged if it does happen, follow the example of others who went through all of this before them. So, we are being encouraged in the exact same way. If that day ever comes. There's your example to stand firm in the faith. We are being prepared for the immense blessing and the eternal reward of our faith.

Let's close with this. Look at verses 39 and 40. [Read Hebrews 11:39-40]. They were all commended for their faith yet none of them received what have been promised. What was that? They had received Jesus, but they never got to see the Promised Messiah. They were commended for their faith and something that they never got to see. God had planned something better for us so that only together, with us, would they be made perfect. The point of all of this, if these Old Testament heroes who had flawed character, if they were faithful through their trials, even though they didn't get to see God in the flesh. How much more faithful should we be since we have him living inside of us? That's the message of Hebrews 11. Their faith was in something that was coming, something in the future, and our faith is in something that has come and also in something that is still to come. Our savior has come. But there's another promise that we are awaiting. We are waiting in faith and hope for what is coming. When Jesus returns to Earth. We are awaiting the glory that will be revealed in heaven. We are waiting for our sorrow and our pain to be turned to joy. That is what your faith is looking forward to, and the message of Hebrews 11 is that faith will sacrifice comfort for God’s glory and His future reward for us. This is not about having ‘your best life now.’ This is about persevering in the faith so that one day you will enjoy your best life later, in glory with God. That faith focuses on heaven, on God and not earthly things, not people and things and circumstances. Our faith is looking outward and upward towards heaven. Faith trusts God and it leaves the results to him.

Let’s pray.