SERIES: LIVING BY FAITH
TEXT: HEBREWS 11:8-19
Faith is believing and doing what God has said. “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen”-Hebrews 11:1.
Faith gives reality and proof of things unseen, treating them as if they were already objects of sight rather than of hope.
There are some great examples of faith in the Old Testament including Noah, Joshua, David and others. But the greatest specimen is Abraham.
Abraham is the progenitor of the physical seed through which God would bless the world!!
Israel began as a nation with the call to Abraham to leave Ur, and go to a place he had never been. Abraham believed a promise that his wife Sarah would give birth to a son and that through his physical seed, God would speak to the nations of the earth-Gen. 12:1-2.
- Their son Isaac would become the twelve tribes of Israel, Judah is the tribe of Jesus.
- Abraham is the patriarch of all who believe-Romans 4:11.
- Abraham “believed” in the Lord and God accounted it to him for righteousness.
- When you believe God, you are accounted righteous before Him.
- If Abraham did not believe God, there would have been no Jew, no Israel, no tribe, no Jesus the Christ.
- Abraham is the father of all who believe-Galatians 3:29.
- Abraham sets the pattern for the life of faith-Galatians 3:5-7.
- The true children of Abraham are those who follow the faith filled lifestyle of Abraham.
- Abraham’s faith was so great that God called him FRIEND-Isaiah 41:8.
- Now fair test should come from material covered?
- Abraham passed the three tests given him by God. Let us learn:-
THE TESTS OF WORLDLINESS-Heb. 11:8-10; 13-16.
Abraham was a man of worldly wealth before God called Him.
- He lived in Ur (modern day Iraq), he had house, property and family.
- The people of Ur worshipped the moon god-Allah, (the crescent moon of Islam).
- God’s sovereign grace called Abraham out from all this to fulfill His purpose.
- God has called us from our ancestral, tribal gods to worship YHWH the God of the universe. The king and Lord of Lords.
- Abraham got a glimpse/vision of heavenly city.
- Once you get a vision of heaven, you will never be at home again in this world-Joshua 24:2-3; Isiah 51:1-2.
- God did not give Abraham a map of the Middle East–I am takes you there!
- Abraham by faith saw a city, whose foundations, whose architect and builder is God-Heb. 11:10.
- Abraham left his city, family, property, home, everything!!
- God gave Abraham a vision of the heavenly city, “Once you have seen ‘The City’ a city will never do.
- The symbol of the patriarchs were a tent and an altar.
- A tent; a constant reminder that this world is not their home-just passing through.
- An altar was a symbol of their relationship to the Almighty.
- All the patriarchs longed to be in the city of God-Just as each one of us should be today.
Our citizenship is in heaven-Philippians 3:20.
- “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
- My dear friends, the real world is where my heart is and where my savior lives, our treasures are laid up.
- Our citizenship is secured and recorded in the blood of the lamb.
- John Westley used to say “Anything that cools my love for Jesus is worldliness.”
- We should never feel comfortable here. This world is not our home!!
- Would Jesus returning tonight interrupt your plans?
- Today let all worldliness in you pass, for the city of God.
- Abraham passed the test over worldliness.
- The world is looking for power, wealth, fame and worldliness-our citizenship is in heaven.
THE TEST OF WEAKNESS-Heb. 11:11-12.
- When God promised Sarai and Abraham a child they were passed the child bearing age!!
- Even after the promise, it took 25 years for it to be fulfilled-Gen. 17:17.
- Yet even in the reality of their age, past attempts countless prayers offered for a child, they believed that God would do a miracle.
- It was an impossible situation, humanly speaking.
- But God promised-so they acted on the promise-Romans 4:16-22.
- Abraham did not see a 90 year old woman, Sarah did not see a 100 year old man, but they saw the bride and bridegroom of youth-by faith.
- Faith overcame human weakness.
- Today, God may have given you a word, promise many years ago………..still it has not happened.
- May be you are thinking too late, too old, too much going up against me.
- But God is never late-God will birth something in your life.
- Faith overcomes human weakness. Abraham overcomes human weakness.
THE TEST OF SURRENDERING THE MOST PRECIOUS THING IN HIS LIFE (ISAAC)
- Abraham believed and was fully convinced that God would keep His promise to make a great nation through his son, Isaac-Gen. 22:5; Heb. 11:18-19.
- Abraham believed that even if Isaac died-God would raise the son to keep His promise!!
- In the heart of Abraham he already put Isaac to death-he trusted God to bring him to life from death.
- Isaac is a type of Jesus Christ.
- Abraham looked forward to Calvary, the empty tomb from the slopes of Moriah.
- Faith surrenders willingly to King Jesus.
CONCLUSION
- Abraham passed with distinction the three tests in life.
- He passed the tests of worldliness, weakness and willingness to surrender the most precious thing in his life to God.
- Will you pass the tests of your life?
- Almost everything in life is a test, youth, adult life, old age, family, marriage, children, job, money, want, blessing etc.
- By faith pass your tests in life, give your life to Jesus Christ fully.
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Rev, Dr. Willy Mutiso is the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Athiriver. He is widely known for his practical and dynamic teaching style which helps people apply the timeless truths of Scripture to their everyday lives.
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