WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:04.480 Well, do turn with me in your Bibles this morning to the Epistle to the Hebrews. 00:00:04.719 --> 00:00:13.519 And this morning we come into this remarkable chapter, Hebrews 11. 00:00:14.080 --> 00:00:25.839 But our reading is going to be from the first three verses, which provides the introduction for this epic walkthrough that we're going to have in the weeks to come. 00:00:26.160 --> 00:00:32.399 Hebrews chapter 11, and we begin in verse 1, and we'll read through to verse 3. 00:00:33.280 --> 00:00:45.280 The word of the Lord says, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 00:00:46.399 --> 00:00:50.960 For by it the elders received a good report. 00:00:52.640 --> 00:01:07.359 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of the things which are visible. 00:01:08.319 --> 00:01:10.480 That is God's holy word. 00:01:10.959 --> 00:01:17.680 Receive it in your hearts for what it is, and let us submit to it by God's grace. 00:01:17.920 --> 00:01:19.840 Please join me in prayer. 00:01:20.480 --> 00:01:24.400 Our loving Lord, I thank you for your word. 00:01:25.439 --> 00:01:30.640 Thank you for all that you've given us in this rich epistle to the Hebrews. 00:01:31.680 --> 00:01:49.439 Even in the sections that have been hard to handle, the sections that are so deeply profound, we thank you for those nuggets of gold that we've held and held dearly to our hearts. 00:01:49.840 --> 00:01:56.719 Please continue to minister to us as we consider what you have given us in your word. 00:01:57.519 --> 00:02:04.799 And as we embark on this section of learning about the life of faith, I pray that you would strengthen us. 00:02:05.439 --> 00:02:14.560 And I do pray that you minister to each and every one of us today by your kindness and your tenderness in Jesus' name. 00:02:14.879 --> 00:02:15.520 Amen. 00:02:16.879 --> 00:02:27.599 We all understand that there are times in our Christian life that we feel really low, even despondent. 00:02:29.199 --> 00:02:32.719 We may despair if it gets out of control. 00:02:33.840 --> 00:02:36.479 We struggle, we stammer. 00:02:37.840 --> 00:02:44.400 We even look at our own weaknesses, and we will see failing after failing. 00:02:45.120 --> 00:03:03.680 And the more that we look at ourselves and how little we've done right or how things aren't working out in a way that pleases us and helps us, it does result in us feeling low and sad. 00:03:05.520 --> 00:03:18.319 And it's in moments like this we may even come to the point where we ask, maybe silently, but sometimes it may be blurted out loud. 00:03:19.599 --> 00:03:21.599 Have I lost my faith? 00:03:23.759 --> 00:03:50.000 I want to encourage every true child of God, every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, that is weak and as faltering as your faith may be at times, you cannot lose what God has given. 00:03:51.280 --> 00:04:09.120 Ephesians 2 in verse 8 says, For by grace we have been saved through faith, and that it is not of ourselves, it is a gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. 00:04:10.080 --> 00:04:23.199 Faith is a gift from God, and God does not withdraw these gifts he sovereignly endows upon his children. 00:04:25.199 --> 00:04:35.600 But there is such a thing as little faith, weak faith. 00:04:37.360 --> 00:04:42.639 This is what our Lord was talking about that moment he calmed the storm. 00:04:43.279 --> 00:04:54.240 You remember in John chapter 14, the disciples were in a boat with their Lord Jesus, and they were scared, they were filled with fear. 00:04:55.600 --> 00:05:04.160 And remember, our Lord stood up, and he calmed the storm by just the simple word of his power. 00:05:04.639 --> 00:05:08.000 He spoke, and it was still. 00:05:08.480 --> 00:05:16.480 And then in that moment he says to his disciples, O you of little faith. 00:05:18.160 --> 00:05:31.519 But it was Charles Spurgeon who reminded us that there is a great chasm of distance between little faith and no faith. 00:05:32.959 --> 00:05:36.959 Little faith is still a gift from God. 00:05:37.199 --> 00:05:40.800 It is still real, it is still there. 00:05:43.680 --> 00:06:08.079 And it's in the midst of the life that God's people must walk in this world, a life that will be marked by times of trials, times of sickness and suffering, the tragedy of death, saying goodbye to one that you love, moments of betrayal and persecution. 00:06:10.160 --> 00:06:28.879 These moments can all be summed up in that picturesque language of the experience that David painted for us beautifully in Psalm 23, where he says, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. 00:06:31.120 --> 00:06:35.120 There is a heaviness that comes upon us in those valleys, isn't there? 00:06:36.079 --> 00:06:38.720 It's in those valleys that you're weak. 00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:47.519 It's in those valleys that you're weary, it's in those dark places that you mess up. 00:06:49.600 --> 00:06:55.360 And it's in those moments we're tempted to ask, have I lost my faith? 00:06:56.240 --> 00:06:59.360 I'm not trusting the Lord the way that I ought to. 00:07:01.120 --> 00:07:09.759 And I don't want to say anything other than encourage you in God's word this morning, because that is the message of Hebrews 11. 00:07:09.920 --> 00:07:13.439 In fact, friends, this is the message of the whole epistle to the Hebrews. 00:07:13.600 --> 00:07:22.959 It's about persevering faith, persevering in the midst of the hard times, pressing on in the midst of difficulty. 00:07:23.839 --> 00:07:31.279 But the beautiful message of Hebrews is don't pull up your own socks and press on in your own steam. 00:07:32.079 --> 00:07:39.439 But the message of Hebrews can be summed up by what we learn in chapter 3 and chapter 12. 00:07:39.600 --> 00:07:40.879 Consider Christ. 00:07:41.839 --> 00:07:44.560 Look to the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:07:45.920 --> 00:07:59.199 And what I want you to know from Hebrews 11 is we're going to see some practical examples of individuals who lived the life of faith before us. 00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:02.160 And they made it home. 00:08:04.160 --> 00:08:08.800 These examples are not examples of extraordinary people. 00:08:10.879 --> 00:08:15.199 They're examples of ordinary people just like you and me. 00:08:17.040 --> 00:08:28.079 They messed up, they struggled, they took steps backwards, they did things that weren't pleasing to the Lord. 00:08:29.199 --> 00:08:38.159 But there is a refrain that appears eighteen times in chapter 11, and that is the words by faith. 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:44.159 They lived the life of faith. 00:08:45.200 --> 00:08:49.360 And I want to challenge you up front at the beginning of this sermon this morning. 00:08:49.679 --> 00:08:53.519 Are you living the life of faith? 00:08:54.879 --> 00:08:57.120 Or are you living something else? 00:08:59.600 --> 00:09:05.519 If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, you need to grow in your faith. 00:09:05.679 --> 00:09:08.480 Paul prayed this for the Thessalonians. 00:09:09.679 --> 00:09:17.519 We ought not to be satisfied by where we're at with our faith in the Christian life. 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:21.919 We ought to be abounding in faith, growing in faith. 00:09:22.240 --> 00:09:25.919 We need our faith to be strengthened. 00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:51.279 And that's my desire for all of us is that we will prayerfully and humbly consider all that we're going to look at in this great section of scripture with an eye on our Lord so that we would be able to pray and seek after him the grace to have the faith that we have in our life strengthened and growing. 00:09:52.080 --> 00:09:58.080 You might be sitting next to somebody right now who has weak, little faith. 00:09:59.279 --> 00:10:01.519 And they need to be strengthened. 00:10:02.639 --> 00:10:05.440 What they don't need is your opinion. 00:10:05.840 --> 00:10:08.799 What they don't need is your frustration. 00:10:09.279 --> 00:10:11.919 What they don't need is your experience. 00:10:12.240 --> 00:10:14.720 What they don't need is your traditions. 00:10:15.279 --> 00:10:20.639 What they need is the one thing that will feed their faith. 00:10:21.759 --> 00:10:23.279 And it's Christ. 00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:27.039 It's Christ in all his magnificence. 00:10:28.159 --> 00:10:30.879 It's Christ in all his beauty. 00:10:31.759 --> 00:10:39.600 They need Christ before them, Christ underneath them, Christ above them, Christ behind them, Christ with them. 00:10:41.440 --> 00:10:43.120 And that's what we all need. 00:10:44.159 --> 00:10:49.519 So as we come into Hebrews 11, we are going to learn about the life of faith. 00:10:49.679 --> 00:10:51.759 And we're going to do it by an amazing way. 00:10:51.919 --> 00:10:54.720 This is a chapter that I'm sure you're all familiar with. 00:10:54.879 --> 00:11:01.360 It's a chapter when people think of Hebrews, it's probably the one that people are most acquainted with. 00:11:02.159 --> 00:11:07.519 And I have to confess that when I desired to preach Hebrews, I just wanted to start in chapter 11. 00:11:08.159 --> 00:11:12.879 It's where all the stories are, it's where the exciting exhortations are. 00:11:13.120 --> 00:11:19.840 But the truth is you can't really appreciate the message of Hebrews 11 without the first 10 chapters. 00:11:20.639 --> 00:11:26.879 And that's why we've sought to follow the mind of the Spirit of God as we consider the great truths in Hebrews. 00:11:27.039 --> 00:11:34.559 But as we come into Hebrews 11, what we have here is a chapter that's been described with different titles from different individuals. 00:11:34.720 --> 00:11:37.519 Some call it the hall of faith. 00:11:38.639 --> 00:11:42.559 Some people have called it a gallery of faith. 00:11:44.000 --> 00:12:05.600 Whatever title you like, whatever nickname you may have for it, we have example after example of real lives of God's people living the life of faith in the context of struggle, in the context of afflictions, in the context of persecution. 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:16.480 We see some of them living the life of faith, and absolutely amazing outcomes happen here on earth, but we see others who have sad outcomes here on this earth. 00:12:16.639 --> 00:12:27.759 Yet what they all have in common is not how their life looked in the eyes of the world, but the good testimony they receive from God. 00:12:29.840 --> 00:12:39.039 What we actually learn in Hebrews 11 is that the life of faith is actually lived for an audience of one. 00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:43.360 Who are you living your life for? 00:12:44.320 --> 00:12:49.440 I know that our first audience that we live for primarily, it's ourselves. 00:12:50.080 --> 00:12:53.120 We do live for ourselves, we're full of ourselves. 00:12:53.519 --> 00:12:58.320 Sometimes we live for the applaud of man. 00:12:59.039 --> 00:13:01.039 We want people to see what we do. 00:13:01.200 --> 00:13:03.279 We want people to hear what we say. 00:13:04.320 --> 00:13:11.360 The message of Hebrews 11 is that the believer, they live for the audience of one, they live for God. 00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:15.200 And so we're going to talk about the life of faith. 00:13:15.440 --> 00:13:20.960 We're going to look at example after example of individuals who live for the Lord. 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:31.279 We're going to see men, we're going to see women, we're going to see well-known individuals, and we're going to even have some that are not even mentioned by name. 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:35.679 But their exploits and actions will be considered. 00:13:36.960 --> 00:13:40.080 But I don't want you to lose sight of the big picture. 00:13:40.799 --> 00:13:47.600 Because the point of Hebrews 11 isn't look at these old people and do what they did. 00:13:48.320 --> 00:13:57.039 But instead, it's to understand the faith that was driving them and what that faith was focused on. 00:13:58.080 --> 00:14:12.960 And it's going to find its beautiful climax in chapter 12, verses 1 to 2, where we will be reminded that we have been surrounded by this great cloud of witnesses. 00:14:14.240 --> 00:14:20.960 We'll be called upon to lay aside any entanglement or distraction that is going to hold us back. 00:14:21.039 --> 00:14:23.279 And there are many of them, aren't there? 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:45.440 And then we'll be told in verse 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and was sat down at the right hand of God. 00:14:46.720 --> 00:14:52.320 That is the climax of all that we'll be considering in these coming weeks. 00:14:52.960 --> 00:14:56.320 Today I want to do two things as we introduce this section. 00:14:56.399 --> 00:15:02.320 And Hebrews 11, verses 1 to 3 really is to be viewed as the introduction to this section. 00:15:02.399 --> 00:15:10.399 And what I want you to see is number one, and it's seen in the first two verses, is we're going to have a description of faith. 00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:14.000 Faith will be described. 00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:18.480 And the description is very useful. 00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:22.559 It's very different to how most people think about faith. 00:15:23.600 --> 00:15:30.240 And then next in verse 3, we're going to have a demonstration of faith. 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:34.879 And that demonstration really is the first of many. 00:15:35.279 --> 00:15:41.200 Because it's there we have this first occurrence of the words by faith, number one of 18. 00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:48.639 And we're going to have these beautiful demonstrations of having faith. 00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:53.919 So let's begin with the first one, and that is a description of faith. 00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:56.080 Have a look at what the writer says. 00:15:56.320 --> 00:16:04.559 Now, faith is the substance of things toped for, the evidence of things not seen. 00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:10.080 He gives us parallel thoughts there. 00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:14.320 He tells us two things about faith. 00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:21.440 But before we consider those two things, we need to understand what faith isn't. 00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:35.919 When I talk about the Christian's life, it is a life of faith, and sometimes our faith is little or it's weak, and our faith needs to grow and be strengthened. 00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:41.039 Faith is not a blind leap in the dark. 00:16:42.399 --> 00:16:49.120 It's not like you're blindfolded and someone says, just trust me, step over here. 00:16:50.320 --> 00:16:51.919 That's not faith. 00:16:52.559 --> 00:16:59.440 And nor is faith just some mystical experience in which no one can even define. 00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:04.400 Faith is to be understood simply as this. 00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:10.720 And I think this is the understanding of what we learn in the totality of Hebrews. 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:22.960 Faith in the Christian life is simply responding to what God has said with trust. 00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:33.759 To say it another way, it is to respond by resting in what God has revealed. 00:17:35.119 --> 00:17:36.720 That is what faith is. 00:17:36.960 --> 00:17:39.440 It's not all that could be said about faith. 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:45.279 But that definition that I've just given you involves three things. 00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:51.039 It involves, first of all, a knowledge in our minds. 00:17:52.319 --> 00:17:56.160 We can't trust God if we first don't know what God has said. 00:17:57.359 --> 00:17:58.640 That's where faith begins. 00:17:58.720 --> 00:18:00.640 It begins with a knowledge of what God has said. 00:18:00.960 --> 00:18:05.119 God must reveal something to us in order for us to have faith. 00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:09.599 Faith begins in our head. 00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:19.759 But then faith moves into our hearts where we are actually convinced that what God has said is true. 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:22.319 We are persuaded by it. 00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:26.880 It becomes a heartfelt conviction. 00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:30.799 But faith can't stay there. 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:34.400 Faith then also comes out in our hands. 00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:38.480 It's where we actually take hold of what he said. 00:18:38.559 --> 00:18:42.640 It's where we actually do and respond to what he said. 00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:45.200 But all of this is with trust. 00:18:47.359 --> 00:18:52.400 Faith is simply trust, it's trusting what God has revealed. 00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:57.039 And that trust is seen in the fact that we are convinced of it in our hearts. 00:18:57.200 --> 00:19:00.400 And that trust is evidenced by our actions. 00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:08.960 Faith is responding to what God has revealed with trust and rest. 00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:18.559 But notice the description here: faith is the substance of things hoped for. 00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:30.720 The things that are hoped for are things that God has promised. 00:19:31.839 --> 00:19:35.119 And the epistle to the Hebrews has been filled with God's promises. 00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:40.640 We saw God's promises in Hebrews 6, especially in the life of Abraham. 00:19:40.880 --> 00:19:43.839 God made promises to Abraham. 00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:49.359 Abraham could not see the outcome. 00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:57.680 All that Abraham received from God was the revelation and the promise. 00:19:59.039 --> 00:20:02.640 And we learned that Abraham believed God. 00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:04.640 He trusted God. 00:20:05.359 --> 00:20:07.839 He responded to what God had said. 00:20:08.160 --> 00:20:11.359 He could not see the future. 00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:18.400 The things that we hope in as Christians are things that are invisible. 00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:21.039 We cannot see what tomorrow brings. 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:23.920 We cannot see what's going to happen in the future. 00:20:24.079 --> 00:20:28.960 But we're told that faith is the substance of things hoped for. 00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:34.880 And I actually think that word substance is an excellent translation of the Greek term here. 00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:48.000 The word substance is carrying the idea that there is a weightiness, a foundation that faith brings to us. 00:20:48.960 --> 00:20:56.640 Faith becomes the very foundation in which we build our hope on. 00:20:58.880 --> 00:21:07.440 God has said something in his word, and faith says, I take God at his word. 00:21:07.680 --> 00:21:19.200 And when that faith takes on those three forms of, I know what God has said, I believe what God has said to be true, and I will act upon what God has said, there is a weightiness to that. 00:21:19.359 --> 00:21:23.119 There is something substantial that faith brings into your life. 00:21:23.359 --> 00:21:29.200 There's something foundational, something strong, something that you bring with you. 00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:33.039 And that's what the writer is saying when it comes to faith. 00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:38.240 Faith is to be understood as substantial. 00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:47.119 But not only is it the substance of things hoped for, faith is the evidence of things not seen. 00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:50.960 Think about Abraham again. 00:21:51.599 --> 00:21:58.640 God had promised to him a country, a land. 00:22:00.880 --> 00:22:03.119 Abraham couldn't see it. 00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:08.640 But Abraham believed God by going. 00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:24.240 And as he went on that journey, that act of faith, where he received what God said and responded to what God said with deep trust, to him became the evidence of that which was not seen. 00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:28.799 Faith brings reality to the unseen. 00:22:30.160 --> 00:22:42.880 Faith brings certainty, it brings assurance, it brings confidence, it brings substance, it brings foundation, it brings evidence to the things that we cannot see. 00:22:44.079 --> 00:22:47.680 There are so many things that you cannot see right now in your life. 00:22:47.839 --> 00:22:53.519 Maybe you are in a hard place, and there seems to be no way out. 00:22:54.799 --> 00:23:02.960 There is a struggle, there is a trial, and you are finding it difficult. 00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:06.319 You do not know what's going to happen. 00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:12.640 Friends, you need to embrace and cultivate faith in Christ. 00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:18.880 Because faith is going to give you substance for that which is hoped for. 00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:24.079 Faith is going to give you the evidence for the things that you cannot yet see. 00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:26.559 This is what the writer is saying here. 00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:37.119 He is describing faith as something that brings a reality to the believer as they look ahead to that which they cannot see. 00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:43.920 This is telling us that Christianity is not a mindless religion. 00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:47.039 It's a thoughtful one. 00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:52.319 Because what we believe is responding to what has been revealed. 00:23:52.640 --> 00:24:06.079 And what makes faith give us substance and evidence for things not seen and things hoped for is the object in the one in which we have this trust in. 00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:09.839 Who are we trusting in? 00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:14.960 According to Titus 1 and verse 2, to the God who cannot lie. 00:24:16.799 --> 00:24:22.480 We are trusting in the one who is true to his character. 00:24:24.319 --> 00:24:33.119 We are trusting in the one who is holy and righteous and good and kind and gracious. 00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:36.400 This is the one that we're trusting in. 00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:42.880 Faith is only as strong as the object in which it rests. 00:24:45.200 --> 00:24:52.559 I think our faith falters because we're trusting in our own efforts. 00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:56.240 We're trusting in our friends. 00:24:57.039 --> 00:24:59.279 We're trusting in our reputation. 00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:02.640 We're relying on how much money we have. 00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:06.319 We put our confidence in our education. 00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:16.400 But Psalm 62 and verse 8 tells us that we ought to trust in the Lord at all times. 00:25:17.839 --> 00:25:26.240 And we learn in the verses that follow, we don't trust him by putting our confidence in any of those things I just previously mentioned. 00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:31.920 The text says, trust in the Lord at all times. 00:25:32.559 --> 00:25:41.200 And trusting in the Lord begins by pouring out our hearts to him, by acknowledging that we are dependent upon him. 00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:43.279 We need the Lord. 00:25:44.559 --> 00:25:51.039 How can you live the life of faith if you are not fixing your eyes upon the Lord? 00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:55.200 You'll be fixing your eyes in the wrong place. 00:25:56.079 --> 00:25:59.519 So the writer begins in this very poetic way. 00:25:59.599 --> 00:26:00.880 And it is actually really poetic. 00:26:01.039 --> 00:26:06.400 If you read this in the Greek, he uses alliteration throughout this first verse. 00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:10.960 It's a very beautifully written verse in the original language. 00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:15.359 But putting it into English, he's giving us this great parallel thought. 00:26:15.440 --> 00:26:20.559 Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 00:26:20.720 --> 00:26:26.480 There's things yet in the future that you do not know, you do not see, yet God has made promises. 00:26:26.559 --> 00:26:35.839 And the ultimate promise that God has made through Christ is that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and he will be with you. 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:41.599 We can count on that promise, and we can't see what the outcome of that will be. 00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:47.359 But faith says, I am going to hold tight on the Lord Jesus. 00:26:47.680 --> 00:26:49.359 I am going to rely on him. 00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:51.200 I believe him. 00:26:51.680 --> 00:26:52.880 I look to him. 00:26:53.359 --> 00:26:54.799 I will follow him. 00:26:56.400 --> 00:27:02.559 But this kind of faith, this description of faith, it's costly. 00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:07.920 It will cost you, but it's worth it. 00:27:08.559 --> 00:27:10.240 Look at verse 2. 00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:31.920 We learn in verse 2, for by it, for by that kind of faith, by that kind of trust in God that responds to what he's revealed, for by it the elders received a good testimony or good report. 00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:35.440 Who did they receive a good testimony? 00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:36.880 And who are the elders? 00:27:37.119 --> 00:27:42.400 Well, the elders are simply referring to the ancients, is how that could also be translated. 00:27:42.559 --> 00:27:48.880 But elders is a literal translation, and elders is simply referring to those that are mentioned in this chapter. 00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:51.599 It's those who went before us. 00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:54.799 And it's not just those who are mentioned in Hebrews 11. 00:27:54.960 --> 00:28:00.559 This is referring to all of God's saints, all of God's saints who live the life of faith. 00:28:01.440 --> 00:28:06.400 But notice he says that they received a good testimony. 00:28:06.640 --> 00:28:08.240 See that in verse 2? 00:28:09.839 --> 00:28:13.440 It's interesting that he says they received a good testimony. 00:28:13.759 --> 00:28:21.200 In the original, this is passive, meaning that they didn't produce this. 00:28:21.839 --> 00:28:23.599 This was given to them. 00:28:24.400 --> 00:28:26.960 So this is not talking about their performance. 00:28:27.039 --> 00:28:36.079 It's not saying, wow, they lived this really impressive life, and they received a good reputation for being really impressive believers. 00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:36.960 No, no. 00:28:37.119 --> 00:28:42.480 What this is saying is they received a good testimony. 00:28:42.799 --> 00:28:47.519 This is a smile from heaven, is what it's referring to. 00:28:48.960 --> 00:28:59.119 These individuals, as ordinary as they were, as much as they messed up at times, received an applaud from heaven. 00:29:00.400 --> 00:29:06.720 Behind those stormy clouds of their affliction was a smiling face. 00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:12.000 And what did the Lord smile at when he saw Abel? 00:29:13.279 --> 00:29:21.680 What did God smile at when he saw Abraham, who never actually saw the promises that he was promised, yet lived his whole life? 00:29:22.079 --> 00:29:31.680 What did God smile at when Noah received opposition and harassment as he constructed that ark and was being abused by people? 00:29:33.440 --> 00:29:40.000 What did God smile at when one of the saints was sworn in half? 00:29:42.799 --> 00:29:47.599 The text tells us that it was the faith. 00:29:48.079 --> 00:29:52.319 For by it they received a good testimony. 00:29:52.799 --> 00:30:13.359 When God sees in his people trust of him, trust in the little things, when God sees his children, receive what God has said and respond to it with rest and trust in him. 00:30:14.720 --> 00:30:17.279 God is pleased by it. 00:30:18.400 --> 00:30:27.279 I want to encourage you that when you are all by yourself, no one else around. 00:30:29.200 --> 00:30:43.200 When you do what the Word of God says you should do, and you do that by resting in Christ, God smiles upon you. 00:30:45.200 --> 00:31:00.079 When you're working and no one else sees, and you carry out your job, your duty with excellence and honor, because the word calls for us to do that. 00:31:00.319 --> 00:31:05.279 That whatever you do in word or deed, you do to the glory of God. 00:31:06.880 --> 00:31:12.640 When you work for the glory of God, it receives the smile of heaven. 00:31:13.759 --> 00:31:16.400 It's the life of faith in the ordinary. 00:31:17.839 --> 00:31:42.640 When you're at home and a husband and wife aren't getting along, and a spouse decides to show the grace and kindness of the Lord in their duty before God receives the smile of heaven, for that is the life of faith. 00:31:43.680 --> 00:31:53.039 Children, when you obey your parents in the Lord, you receive the smile of heaven. 00:31:53.680 --> 00:32:04.160 Dads, when you instruct your children in the word and point them to the Lord Jesus, you receive the smile of heaven. 00:32:06.160 --> 00:32:13.839 When our lives are well ordered and regulated by the word of God, you receive a good testimony. 00:32:14.400 --> 00:32:17.440 But the thing is, the world won't give it to you. 00:32:18.640 --> 00:32:25.519 When Noah received revelation from God, and that is, Noah, I'm going to flood this world. 00:32:25.680 --> 00:32:29.359 I am going to wipe out every living creature. 00:32:29.680 --> 00:32:31.599 Build me an ark. 00:32:31.839 --> 00:32:33.359 You are to construct this. 00:32:33.519 --> 00:32:35.839 It will take a long time to build. 00:32:36.079 --> 00:32:37.359 Do what I said. 00:32:37.839 --> 00:32:41.440 This came at a huge cost for Noah. 00:32:41.759 --> 00:32:49.440 He for years had to receive mocking, abuse, hatred. 00:32:51.200 --> 00:32:59.759 He would have seen people standing there to the corner, just going at it as they made fun of him and as they said things about him. 00:32:59.920 --> 00:33:03.200 People said it to him, people said it behind him. 00:33:03.680 --> 00:33:06.640 Every day he would go back again. 00:33:06.960 --> 00:33:10.000 But faith lifted a hammer. 00:33:11.440 --> 00:33:13.519 That was the life of faith. 00:33:14.559 --> 00:33:18.480 For over a hundred years he didn't see the outcome. 00:33:20.559 --> 00:33:22.559 But faith lifts the hammer. 00:33:23.680 --> 00:33:25.440 And he built the ark. 00:33:27.519 --> 00:33:38.480 It wasn't the impressiveness of Noah, it was simply that Noah took God at his word and lifted up the hammer that received the smile of heaven. 00:33:41.359 --> 00:33:44.640 What's the hammer in your life that you need to be lifting right now? 00:33:46.720 --> 00:33:50.559 The life of faith will cost you. 00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:56.240 It will cost you friends, it may cost you fame. 00:34:00.960 --> 00:34:06.720 But it will reward you with the blessing of heaven. 00:34:07.920 --> 00:34:15.679 Sometimes one may feel that they're in a minority, but remember the words of John Knox that one man with God equals a majority. 00:34:17.039 --> 00:34:19.199 This is what the life of faith does. 00:34:19.440 --> 00:34:21.760 The life of faith picks up the hammer. 00:34:22.400 --> 00:34:26.880 The life of faith, like Abraham, says, We're going to go. 00:34:28.239 --> 00:34:34.880 The life of faith says, I'm going to worship God his way, even if it might not look visually beautiful to the world. 00:34:34.960 --> 00:34:36.400 Think of Cain and Abel. 00:34:36.639 --> 00:34:38.159 Whose offering looked better? 00:34:38.480 --> 00:34:42.320 Colorful fruits and vegetables or bloodied meats? 00:34:43.360 --> 00:34:47.840 In the world's eyes, Abel's sacrifice didn't look acceptable. 00:34:48.000 --> 00:34:52.480 In Cain's eyes, in the world's eyes, Cain's sacrifice looked better. 00:34:52.800 --> 00:34:55.679 But what God required is what pleases him. 00:34:56.079 --> 00:35:00.239 Faith will always be regulated by what God has revealed. 00:35:00.480 --> 00:35:05.119 And it responds to what God has revealed by resting in him. 00:35:06.000 --> 00:35:11.360 For by it, the elders obtained a good testimony. 00:35:11.760 --> 00:35:16.000 That's the only testimony and reputation that matters, by the way. 00:35:16.800 --> 00:35:20.880 You can get a good reputation in the world. 00:35:24.639 --> 00:35:27.679 Even if it endures for your whole life. 00:35:28.079 --> 00:35:30.320 You don't bring it with you into heaven. 00:35:31.039 --> 00:35:39.280 The only reputation and testimony and witness and good report that matters is is the Lord pleased? 00:35:40.239 --> 00:35:41.920 Is the Lord pleased? 00:35:42.159 --> 00:35:44.079 And let's make it super simple. 00:35:46.320 --> 00:35:57.760 The Lord is pleased by those who receive what he says, responds to what he says by trusting him. 00:35:58.880 --> 00:36:01.199 That is the Christian life. 00:36:01.519 --> 00:36:02.800 Can I say it another way? 00:36:03.119 --> 00:36:04.000 A B C. 00:36:04.639 --> 00:36:10.480 Acknowledge what God has said, believe it to be true, and commit yourself to it. 00:36:10.800 --> 00:36:14.079 That's the basics of the life of faith. 00:36:14.320 --> 00:36:15.760 So that's the description. 00:36:15.920 --> 00:36:18.559 But now we come to the demonstration. 00:36:18.719 --> 00:36:22.960 And that demonstration really is just introducing what we're going to look at in the weeks to come. 00:36:23.039 --> 00:36:24.639 And it's found in verse 3. 00:36:24.960 --> 00:36:26.159 By faith. 00:36:26.480 --> 00:36:33.440 By faith, the writer says, We understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God. 00:36:33.599 --> 00:36:41.119 Here the writer includes himself with the readers and says, We're all in the same boat when it comes to this world, right? 00:36:41.920 --> 00:36:46.400 He uses the word worlds, could also be translated ages. 00:36:46.559 --> 00:37:00.639 And what he's saying here is the totality of this world in which we live in and all the ages in which have happened, when we think of all that is before us, this came into existence. 00:37:00.719 --> 00:37:05.679 It was framed, it was prepared by divine design. 00:37:07.280 --> 00:37:14.320 It was actually God's word that spoke, and the world came into existence. 00:37:14.480 --> 00:37:17.840 And I think here he's drawing us back to Genesis 1. 00:37:18.159 --> 00:37:26.800 You remember what we read in Genesis 1 in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, and eight times in Genesis 1, we read the words, and God said. 00:37:28.159 --> 00:37:34.159 And so God speaks, and the world comes into existence. 00:37:34.639 --> 00:37:38.480 Yet there was no human there to witness that. 00:37:38.960 --> 00:37:43.920 Because God didn't make Adam the first man until day six. 00:37:44.159 --> 00:37:49.199 So all the days prior to that, Adam never witnessed what God was doing. 00:37:49.920 --> 00:38:04.639 All that we have is that the word of God tells us that this world that we're in, which we actually see with our eyes, this world exists as a result of an invisible word. 00:38:05.039 --> 00:38:10.880 And that invisible act in which this world exists is the word of God. 00:38:11.119 --> 00:38:21.280 He goes on to say, so that the things which are seen, the world that you see with your eyes, were not made of things which are visible. 00:38:22.400 --> 00:38:30.320 I do think included in that phrase is the idea that God made all things out of nothing, but I don't think that's the complete idea here. 00:38:30.559 --> 00:38:35.440 That's certainly true, and it's a part of what he's saying, but it's not entirely what he's saying. 00:38:35.599 --> 00:38:43.199 What he's saying here is that the things that we see were made things made by things which were not visible. 00:38:43.280 --> 00:38:44.000 And what is that? 00:38:44.079 --> 00:38:49.599 Well, it's seen in the parallel line in the beginning of verse 3, and that is the word of God. 00:38:50.559 --> 00:38:52.320 God's word is invisible. 00:38:52.559 --> 00:39:00.400 God spoke, and that invisible word that God spoke brought all things into existence. 00:39:00.960 --> 00:39:14.079 And so we see that which is in existence, and we are able to say, we believe that all these things are in existence because the word tells us that God spoke that word. 00:39:14.159 --> 00:39:22.880 Even though we didn't see it, by faith we trust that God spoke that word and brought all things into existence. 00:39:23.119 --> 00:39:27.519 And what the writer is telling us is that's how the life of faith is lived. 00:39:27.679 --> 00:39:36.639 Now, here he's saying faith looks back, but in all the examples going forward, we're going to see individuals who are going to be looking at the future. 00:39:36.800 --> 00:39:41.599 They can't see the invisible things that are ahead. 00:39:41.920 --> 00:39:50.559 But their faith is going to manifest a physical action that is going to become the evidence of what they believe. 00:39:50.719 --> 00:39:56.079 And that physical action is their trust by actually carrying out what God said. 00:39:56.159 --> 00:40:03.039 And that physical action is like looking at this physical earth saying, Well, this physical earth exists because God's word spoken. 00:40:03.360 --> 00:40:10.239 And if God has a promise concerning the future that I cannot see, faith says, Well, I trust that God will carry that out. 00:40:10.480 --> 00:40:17.119 And that faith turns into a physical action of obedience, and that then in turn strengthens our faith. 00:40:17.840 --> 00:40:29.119 And our faith can be strengthened all the more because whilst we look back at this world and say, this physical world exists because God's invisible word brought it into existence. 00:40:29.360 --> 00:40:39.599 Aren't we encouraged by what Hebrews 1 and verse 2 tells us that in these last days, God has spoken to us by means of the word of his Son? 00:40:40.320 --> 00:40:43.519 Jesus Christ is the manifested word of God. 00:40:43.760 --> 00:40:56.000 And his coming into this world ought to encourage us to know that God's promises have been fulfilled, and the Lord Jesus Christ has inaugurated something powerful and beautiful. 00:40:56.159 --> 00:41:02.719 And what he has inaugurated will be brought to consummation and completion when he returns. 00:41:02.960 --> 00:41:05.199 And therefore, we can trust him. 00:41:05.760 --> 00:41:12.000 The life of faith for the Christian is lived in the light of the revealed Son of God. 00:41:12.159 --> 00:41:17.760 And as we look to the Lord Jesus Christ, that empowers us for that which is ahead. 00:41:17.920 --> 00:41:24.400 And that is why chapter 12 and verse 2 says, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. 00:41:24.559 --> 00:41:33.280 The Christian life isn't look at Abel, look at Noah, look at Moses, look at Abraham, uh, look at any of the patriarchs. 00:41:33.519 --> 00:41:38.480 No, look to Jesus, because he is that revealed word. 00:41:38.800 --> 00:41:40.079 And where do we see him? 00:41:40.400 --> 00:41:42.159 We see him in the scriptures. 00:41:42.400 --> 00:41:51.360 And if we're going to grow in our faith, then we need to be going to the place where our faith can be fed. 00:41:51.679 --> 00:41:53.840 And that is the word of Christ. 00:41:55.440 --> 00:42:02.239 So as we summarize all of this this morning, I want to finish by asking a question. 00:42:02.559 --> 00:42:05.599 How can I strengthen my faith? 00:42:06.639 --> 00:42:15.119 Well, let me remind you, you will strengthen your faith by first of all by knowing what God has said. 00:42:16.000 --> 00:42:24.079 You cannot have strong, vibrant faith as a Christian if you don't really know what God has said. 00:42:25.119 --> 00:42:27.280 How do you know what God has said? 00:42:28.400 --> 00:42:36.159 Well, we learn in Romans 10 and verse 17: faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. 00:42:37.199 --> 00:42:43.119 Go to the word of Christ and see and read what God has said. 00:42:44.000 --> 00:42:52.079 Don't sample the scriptures, but instead pour into them. 00:42:52.960 --> 00:42:54.480 Consume them. 00:42:55.119 --> 00:42:59.280 Let them become the meditation of your heart. 00:43:00.719 --> 00:43:05.119 Go to the Word with a holy appetite and feed upon it. 00:43:05.360 --> 00:43:07.840 Feed your soul with the scriptures. 00:43:08.079 --> 00:43:10.400 Don't read it for the sake of reading it. 00:43:10.639 --> 00:43:14.400 Read it so that you can know what God has said. 00:43:15.119 --> 00:43:18.719 Read it as his love letter from heaven to you. 00:43:19.679 --> 00:43:21.119 Read the Word of God. 00:43:21.280 --> 00:43:22.480 Know the Word of God. 00:43:22.719 --> 00:43:28.800 But secondly, not only know the Word of God, but then you need to believe what God has said. 00:43:28.880 --> 00:43:35.039 Because if you stay in the first one, you will be among that big company of watermelon head Christians. 00:43:35.199 --> 00:43:36.960 What's a watermelon head Christian? 00:43:37.119 --> 00:43:39.599 Well, they've got so much information in there. 00:43:39.760 --> 00:43:42.400 It's this big swelling watermelon. 00:43:42.559 --> 00:43:45.760 And we don't want to be those kind of people, a head knowledge Christian. 00:43:45.920 --> 00:43:51.280