Verse 1
Hebrews 11:1 See Topic Notes on "Sermons_Gann" for a Sermon on
WHAT KIND OF FAITH DO YOU HAVE? Heb. 11:1-10
III. ch. 11-13 Living By Faith
ch. 11 Examples of Faith
ch. 12 Endurance of Faith
ch. 13 Evidence of Faith (what ought to show salt in our life)
(For sermon on Heb. 11:1-10 see "A God-Pleasing Faith" see "Sermons_Gann" Topic Notes.
Definition of Faith:
Faith is being certain of the things we hope for, a conviction of things we do not see.
Faith is absolutely certain that what it believes is true and will come to pass.
Faith is the eye of the soul, and obedience is the hand.
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THE FAITH THAT PLEASES GOD
Hebrews 11:1-10
Introduction: Hebrews 11:1-3
1. Faith is confident assurance for that which we hope.
a. A conviction of the things (reality) we do not see.
(Our title deed to heaven.)
b. Faith is the eye of the soul
(A conviction of things not seen)
c. Obedience is the hand of the soul.
2. Hebrews 11:2 B Examples from the ancient fathers.
a. For their faith - men of old gained approval from God.
b. [For introduction also see Focus on Faith, Hebrews, by Tom Holland, p. 69. ]
3. Two relationships of faith - Hebrews 11:1
a. The future - a hopeful outlook - forward look
b. The unseen - the evidence of their reality - backward look
1. A WORSHIPING FAITH - v. 4
Hebrews 11:4 - Abel - (Genesis 4:4)
1. Offers sacrifice. (Genesis 1:1)
a. Faith prompted him to worship in accordance to God’s Word C Romans 10:17
1) Faith comes by hearing the Word of God.
2) We concluded therefore that God had directed him how to worship.
b. See Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:25; Hebrews 11:4, for the importance of being faithful in truth.
2. His faithful worship (sacrifice) showed his righteousness (being right with God.)
a. Genesis 4:4 "also" He did what Cain did, and more!
b. Three kinds of sacrifice is expected from the Christian.
1) Hebrews 13:15 - sacrifice of praise, the fruit of our lips. (praying and singing)
2) Romans 12:1-2 - a living sacrifice, our bodies.
3) Philippians 4:18 - our gifts or offerings to God are termed as sacrifice
3. Influence continues - Still speaking to us. Genesis 4:10 Able’s blood cries from the ground@
a. What does his blood cry out? Justice! Vengeance! - (Romans 12:19)
b. The blood of Christ also speaks out - Hebrews 12:24
What does the Lord’s blood cry?
Ephesians 1:7 Redemption!
Hebrews 9:14 1 John 1:7 Cleansing
Revelation 1:5 Washing away sins
Romans 5:11 Atonement
He made the right sacrifice - man needs to sacrifice self today - Romans 12:1
4. Abel’s faith was a faith that prompted worship according to God’s word.
II. A WALKING FAITH - v. 5
Hebrews 11:5 B Enoch - Genesis 5:22, Genesis 5:24
1. Enoch walked with God in a day when others were walking away from God. Genesis 5:22-24; Genesis 6:5
a. A Walking Faith has to do with the way one lives. Ephesians 2:10, Ephesians 4:1, Ephesians 4:17 Ephesians 5:2; Ephesians 5:8;
b. This kind of faith lives the way God wants you to live.
2. This kind of faith has the power to form character, and does not fear death.
Revelation 1:18 - Because today Jesus has the keys of death and hades.
a. Was not found. Illustration: I like the way a girl retold this Bible story. Enoch went walking with God one day and they walked so far God said, Enoch, you just come on home with me.
b. God made him His man.
c. "Translated" - Colossians 1:13 into kingdom.
STAR TREK ’ transporter
3. A play on words "Was not found" - Many places a Christian today should not be found
4. He pleased God - His life was pleasing to God (in a very wicked world). Without this kind of faith we can’t be pleasing.
a. What about your life? How are you living? walking? Doing? Saying? Church? Family?
5. Enoch’s was a faith that lived the way God wanted him to live.
III. A WORKING FAITH - v. 7
Hebrews 11:7 - Noah - Genesis 6:13 -22
1. What did Noah Do? He heeded the warning from God.
a. Noah took God at His word. The only assurance Noah had of an impending flood was what God told Noah. (Genesis 6:17).
b. Again we see that his faith was founded on God’s word.
2. Noah "Prepared" an ark for the saving of his family from the flood.
a. This kind of faith ’prepares" for a great day of God’s judgment.
2 Corinthians 5:10; Acts 17:31 2 Peter 3:9-10
b. Noah’s preparation involved:
1) A work of a great magnitude - it was a great ark!
2) A work of a great duration - worked apparently 120 yrs building the ark. (Genesis 6:3) Faithful in persevering.
c) Are you working? What are you doing? Are you continuing, enduring faithfully?
2. The faith that pleases God is a faith that prepares for the great day of judgment.!
a. Christians heeded Christ’s warning regarding the fall of Jerusalem, .AD 67. Matthew 24:16 - let those in Judea flee to the mts. Luke 21:20, Mark 13
b. Do we heed the warning not to get entangled with the world today? 2 Timothy 2:4.
c. Noah "prepared" for the great Day of God? Men need to prepare now! [Amos’ message to his generation, Amos 4:12]
4. Noah worked as God directed - Genesis 6:22
a. Did what God said, the way God said. God made the revelation, Noah followed.
b. Started with His own house. Salvation of own house is of first importance.
c. Noah’s faith was an example to that world. His obedience stood as condemnation to those who would not obey God.
5. His obedience to faith shows his righteousness. Hebrews 11:7
a. Make righteous by his obedience to faith.
b. Noah was the first man in the Bible to be called "righteous" or "just".
6. The faith that pleases God is a faith that prepares for the great day of judgment.!
Hebrews 11:8-10 - Abraham - (Genesis 12:1-3)
1. Left his home country. By faith Abraham obeyed. Called
"Friend of God" (James 2:23, Isaiah 41:8)
a) God called him and he responded. Abraham had faith in God’s word - Genesis 12:1-3.
b) He made the right choice. Accepted God’s invitation.
c) Genesis 22:1-2 ff - he was willing to offer his son. Abraham obeyed when a considerable sacrifice was involved. Hebrews 11:17 -f
Obedience is the acid test of Faith!
2. Abraham made his dwellings temporary (lived in tents, not "houses" - he lived in a strange country (foreign) - v. 9 .
a) Let us realize this earth is NOT our home.
We are THE aliens here - Philippians 3:20
3. He looked for a heavenly city. v. 10.
a) Abraham’s faith looked beyond this world. He was willing to make life an adventure. And willing to have patience.
b) This kinds of faith believes the future is directed by our relationship with God in the present.
4. The faith that pleases God is the faith that obeys - J 14:15; Hebrews 5:8-9
a. We say, "I want to wait until I know just where I’m going"
b. Don’t say, "I want to wait until I am sure I can live as a Christian?"
c. WHAT KIND OF A FAITH DO YOU HAVE?
1. The writer had defined faith, vs. 1-3, and then gives examples of men of great faith, and what their faith did to please God.
a. Without this kind of faith cannot be pleasing to God.
b. This is the kind of faith the writer is talking about in verse 6, which stands as our conclusion.
2. Just assenting to the intellectual truths of the Bible is not enough B
a. The kind of faith that is pleasing to God - is the kind illustrated here in Hebrews 11:6.
b. A "nodding" ("yes, yes, I believe that!") faith will not do! Matthew 7:21; Hebrews 5:8-9.
3. Our faith to please God must be:
1) a
2) a
3) a
4) a