5/4/01 10:19 AM

“By Faith…”

(Transcript of CD#73)

In today’s study we are going to look at the subject of faith, our faith. Our faith or lack of is the very thing that will keep us in Christ Jesus or cause us to fall away. Today’s study is just to make us think about growing in our faith. We are going to look at very familiar verses of scripture. We will see how faith will cause us to make sacrifices of love. We will see how faith will take us from this world to Heaven with our Father. Faith will give you and I rest as we live daily in it. That rest will allow us to follow God’s Voice in faith wherever He leads us in His harvest field. Hold those point fresh in your mind as we move through the text. My desire is that this will just make this subject fresh to our daily lives. It’s by faith that you and I are saved in the first place:

• *Eph. 2:8-9 says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9, Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

You and I have salvation because of our faith that we put into God’s gift, His Son Jesus Christ on the Cross! Satan knows that doubt is what separates us from our Lord, from our faith. He wants to take the Word out of our hearts (study Mark chapter 4) so doubt can come into action. Hearing Word of God and acting upon it is the seed of our faith:

• *Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

We see just how important it is to daily to feed our souls with the Word of God. The more Word we hide in our hearts the more fruit we produce as we “hear”.

We’re going to look at Hebrews chapter 11 in today’s study and see just what’s possible with faith, our faith. By faith we can start to see and understand how our Lord moves and works. Let’s start at the end of chapter 10:

• *Hebrews 10:38 says, “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.”

This is a quote from the Old Testament:

• *Hab. 2:4 says, “Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.”

Q. What are we talking about here?

A. Living each and every day of our “life” by thus saith the Lord God Almighty! We must grow closer to our Lord as we get to know Him better. Each growth ring we put on brings us into a more pleasing walk with Him! We are justified by our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ:

2           *Romans 5:1-2 says, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2, By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

Our faith is what renders us innocent from our sins, brings us peace with God Almighty. We must live daily by faith and not doubt. You see “doubt” is really faith in reverse. Doubt is putting more confidence in the lies of Satan than the promises of God Almighty your Creator! The last part of Romans 14:23 says * for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

You and I must grow, move closer to our Lord and not draw back. When we put our trust in our Father it brings Him pleasure. Just think of a time your child trusted you; and how much it pleased you. You and I are natural and our Father is super natural, we’re made in His image.

• *Hebrews 10:39 says, “But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”

The word “draw back” here is translated from the Greek word hupostole. Hupostole means shrinkage. Just as a plant shrinks as the living water is cut off so it is with us. Slowly but surely our spiritual man shrinks if we draw back because he is dying. This verse we just covered is cut and dry, as we see what faith and doubt individually produce.

Since we’re speaking on the subject of “by faith”:

Q. What is faith?

A. see the next verse, most could quote it but do we apply it?

• *Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

I liked what I heard one teacher say: “the beginning of our faith is believing in God’s character and the end of our faith is believing God’s promises! It’s not faith if we can touch, hear, feel (by the flesh, we can feel by the spirit), smell or taste it! That’s all of the natural man and we’re speaking of the spiritual. In order to have faith we must know the promises, the Word remember what we read earlier:

• *Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Let’s continue in Hebrews:

• *Hebrews 11:2 says, “For by it the elders obtained a good report.”

“It” is that faith we’re speaking about in this study! Let’s learn from these examples of the elders in the following verses. We don’t want to be taught by someone who has not been a witness. We want to learn from a first hand account, that’s what allows a testimony in a court of law! Good report means that their faith was not only a witness to those around them but to God Almighty too!

• *Hebrews 11:3 says, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”

This word “worlds” was translated from the Greek word aion meaning ages. God spoke and the ages were prepared from nothing.

Q. Once again, how were these ages prepared?

A. By the Word of God, He spoke and nothing became everything! Our faith is in God Almighty who created all things by His Word. Think about some kind of tree for example. An apple tree comes from an apple seed but God your Father created the seed from nothing!

• *Hebrews 11:4 says, “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.”

Here is the title of our studies text: “By Faith”. By faith we see here how Abel’s faith worshipped God Almighty.

Q. What does God see when He looks at you, at me?

A. Faith with out works is dead faith and of no use or good. By faith Abel worked his sacrifice which brought worship to God. Ask yourself are my works (sacrifices) bringing glory to God, pleasing Him? As done fore stated we are saved by grace but called to serve our Lord in His harvest field. Let’s read the next verse where we left off in the great book of Ephesians earlier it shows us working our faith:

• *Eph 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

• *Hebrews 11:5 says, “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.”

First of all the name “Enoch” means initiated or disciplined or trained up.

Q. Disciplined in what?

A. Thus saith the Lord God Almighty, His Holy Word. Enoch walked daily with God so did Noah. Study Gen. 5:21-24.

Q. What was the consequence of being disciplined in God’s Word?

A. Enoch pleased God and he did not have to die but was translated or transferred in the Greek. We can’t read over this verse of scripture if we want our eternal home with the Lord God Almighty. Enoch walked each day of his life with God until one day he was so close, that God transferred him. Enoch walked by faith each day, one day at a time. Let’s cover the next verse and learn more on the importance of faith:

• *Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

This was the daily way of life that pleased God. By faith and working his faith Enoch pleased God and entered Heaven. WE must understand that to “believe” and to have “faith” is two completely different things. The demons (evil spirits) believe that God exists but don’t put their faith in Him and His promises. See the following:

• *James 2:19-20 says, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”

It took daily diligent seeking on Enoch’s part and he was rewarded in due time. Let’s learn from this and follow this fulfilling example!

• Hebrews 11:7 says, “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”
• Gen. 6:9 says, “These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.”

Noah found grace from God Almighty because of his was obedience. He did what, no everything God said. See the following:

• *Gen. 6:22 says, “Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.”

Noah by faith walked with God and lived through the trials of this world, through God’s judgment. Noah did not die but rather was kept alive, safe in the ark.

Q. Are you in the ark safe today?

A. Following God builds an ark of protection around us.

• Gen. 7:71-23 says, “And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died. And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.”

Noah fully translated means “rest”.

Q. Why could Noah rest?

A. Once again as fore stated because he followed God’s instructions.

Q. What instructions did our Lord give about rest?

A. See the following:

• *Matthew 11:27-30 says, “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Here is the very reason Noah could rest, he knew the Father, the Father’s will. Noah knew the Father’s will and then he worked his faith and fulfilled his part in that will! Instead of carrying the troubles of this world Noah coupled himself with the Word. From the Greek word phortion was burden translated. Phortion means an invoice as part of freight.

Q. What would your manifest have listed on it?

A. The cares of this world, the things of the flesh, Satan’s tricks can weight us down. It’s good to ask the Holy Spirit to check us for any burdens other than being coupled with Christ.  Back to Hebrews:

• *Hebrews 11:8 says, “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.”

Abraham was living with his father in Haran after leaving Ur when God called him. Haran fully translated means parched while Ur means flame.

There is so much work to be done, especially in the Lord’s harvest field. It’s by our faith that moves us, liken our faith to the gas in your car, the electricity in your home. It’s our faith that motivates, generates the will to get up and do something in Jesus’ name!

Know this one thing, we may not know where we are going but our Lord has done been there. Jesus Christ is our Lord and Shepherd. He is leading us by His Voice, the Holy Spirit. That Voice is ahead of us, all we need to do is follow by faith obediently. See the following:

• *John 10:1-5 says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.”

We must familiarize ourselves with the Word so we will recognize His Voice. His Voice will always match what you have studied here in His Holy Word. We may not know where He is leading, but we do know it’s for our good.

Back to Hebrews:

• Hebrews 11:9 says, “By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:”

Abraham raised his kids in God’s promises an example for us. It’s no different for us today; we can live each day on God’s promises. By faith we must live above this world, we’re in this world but not of this world. Our permanent homes are not here but built on the Rock in the eternity. God cannot lie ( Hebrews 6:18 Titus 1:2 ) so let’s stand on His promises. If it worked for all of these in the “Hall of Faith” then it will work for us. All you and I have to do is keep on building on the foundation of Christ.

• Hebrews 11:10 says, “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”

We must “look past” this world and see the eternity. We have a tape study by that title that will help you. Write us and ask for tape number 42. In your home study time look at that city in that great book of Revelation the last two chapters.

• Hebrews 11:11 says, “Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.”

The only limit God has is the ones we put on Him! God Almighty is only limited by our willingness to believe. Our lack of faith can tie God’s hands or our faith can see a miracle.

Don’t read over this verse saying: oh well Sara had a child. Time was past for her to produce for the kingdom according to this world. That’s what the world will say about you, about me, It’s too late for them to “do anything”. It’s never to late until God says it’s too late. Our Father is standing there wanting to work in our lives if we’ll only believe, if we’ll walk “by faith”.

• Hebrews 11:12 says, “Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.”

Note the word therefore, it was contingent upon Abraham’s faith from preceding verses. Abraham did not, could not see the end of God’s promise but he believed and walked by faith. Please let this build your faith and hope in the Word of God.

• Hebrews 11:13 says, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”

We need to examine the procedure here that these followed in order to die in faith. They heard the Word and were convinced (persuaded). They were convinced enough to unite (embrace) themselves and their works with those promises. Then finally they spoke out (confessed) of the abundance of their heart those promises. By doing all of these “by faith” they pleased their Creator and were rewarded eternally!

Q. Can all of those in “your world” tell where you’re eternal home is located?

A. Let’s look at what Peter said:

• 1 Peter 2:11-12 says, “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

Those in our world must see that we are strangers and pilgrims. The word stranger was translated from the Greek word paroikos. Paroikos means having a home near, a foreigner. Pilgrim simply means an alien alongside. Our “citizenship” is in the eternity with our Lord! We have a tape study on that subject, write us and ask for tape number 17.

Back to Hebrews:

• Hebrews 11:14 says, “For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.”

Q. What is your declaration?

A. This word declares from the Greek means words and actions. It means that that our motives are clearly manifested for all to see clearly. Lord help us to keep our eyes on the Cross and your will each and every day. Please note the word country here. Country was translated from the Greek word patris, this Greek word is used here and 7 times in the Gospels. The #8 in Bible numbers means new creation or new beginnings. I can’t wait until we’re in that new country, new city (verse 10).

• Hebrews 11:15 says, “And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.”

Our minds are so very powerful and they determine our success or failure. We spent x number of years “in” or I should say “of this world” and it takes awhile to reprogram our minds. We must take out the old and bring in the new. We have a special tape study on “Renewing the Mind”, tape number 70.

Paul says this is the truth, if these had exercised their minds they could have went back, drawn back, left the faith! When something clicks our memory bank into our sinful past immediately cast it down. If we dwell on that thought it starts a process of drawing us away from our faith.

• 2 Cor. 10:5 says, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

If we don’t faithfully keep ourselves under subjection then Satan can work. Slowly but surely we start to put more emphasis on what we (flesh) want instead of what God wants. We need to think on what our Lord has done for us instead of this world. Remember Lot’s wife:

• Luke 17:28-33 says, “Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.”

The word remember here was translated from the same Greek word as in Hebrews 11:15 “mindful”. It means to exercise our memory.

Remember there in Hebrews 11:14 those who walked “by faith” were seeking a country built by God. In other words they were seeking their life as only God could give them. Lot’s wife and many like her seek their life, as they would live it. Christ teaches us it’s really those who destroy what the flesh wants that will have life, life eternal! That is when we truly have life, life more abundantly.

Lot’s name if you take it back to the prim Hebrew word means veil, or to be wrapped up. Lot was so wrapped up in “this world” he lost his wife, his sons, his son-in-laws and all of his possessions. He himself was saved but all he had worked for went through the fire tried and was found lacking you could say. See the following:

• 1 Cor. 3:12-15 says, “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

You and I as we have already documented are saved by grace but we must work our faith. When we work our faith out of a pure heart we store rewards “over there” in the eternity. Study Revelation 19:7-8.

Back to Hebrews:

• Hebrews 11:16 says, “But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.”

They “desire” something better than this world has to offer. That word desire means to stretch oneself. In one sense you could say grow. We must partake of the Word and grow (stretch or desire) so we can walk “by faith”.  If we don’t then our God will be ashamed of us. Remember what Jesus Christ taught:

• Mark 8:38 says, “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

It’s our choice wither to accept Christ now or be ashamed when He returns. It’s a choice of rejection if we walk passively not heeding His Words!

In your home study time please prayerfully consider the rest of this chapter. We are out of time for this study, but I pray it provoke us into a deeper walk by faith. Let’s cover the final 4 verses of the chapter to let us know that others had a hard row to hoe too! If we think we got it hard just look to what others have been through. The most important thing to remember is our Lord brought them through with His grace and He will us too!

• *Hebrews 11:36-40 says, “And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”

Brothers and sisters we must just keep keeping on knowing that God is in control. He loves us enough to send us His Son to save us from our own sins. He will see us through “whatever” the world throws at us. Walk by faith daily not worrying about tomorrow or trying to change yesterday just live today for Him!

Remember:

• Romans 1:17 says, “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

Q. Why can we live by faith?

A. Because the One we serve is faithful! See:

• 1 Cor.1:9 says, “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”
• 1 Cor. 10:13 says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

Thank-you for your time and interest in this study “By Faith”. If we can help you in some way please contact us.

GAP Ministries

 

REMEMBER GOD’S WORD WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!