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Hebrews 11:8-12
October 23, 2011
I am continuing a series on Hebrews 11 called a Faith-Full Life. Hebrews 11 gives us a summary of the great men and women of the past whose lives were full of faith in God. Today we are looking at Abraham’s faith. Abraham has been called the father of them that believe. (Romans 4:11) What’s interesting about Hebrews 11 is that more space is devoted to Abraham than any other person. Let’s take a look
Hebrews 11:8–12 – “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.”
Faith is so important. Without faith it is “impossible to please God” (Heb.11:6).
You know, the greatest sin is not murder, adultery, terrorism or even pride. It is the sin of unbelief. People won’t go to hell because of some sin they have committed but rather because they will not believe in the one who can forgive their sins and save their souls.
John 3:18 – “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
Unbelief is the source of all other sins. And without faith it is impossible to please God.
Abraham lived in Ur 2000 years before Christ. He was 75 years old when God told him to move from one part of the world to another. He was stable and comfortable where he was, but he picked up and left when God called him because he had faith. God didn’t at first tell him where he was going, how he was going to get there, what he was going to do there, or how long he was to stay there. I want to remind us of one important thing before we look at this passage. When it comes to the stories of the Old Testament, do you know what the New Testament says?
Romans 15:4 – “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
The life of Abraham is documented and written about and preserved for us in the Old Testament to teach us a lesson to give us hope. I believe the life of Abraham shows us how we can strengthen our faith and how we can please God, because without faith it is impossible to please God.
I want to look at 6 truths about how to strengthen your faith.
They are demonstrated in Abraham’s life and they are things that are to be imitated in ours.
1. Hear the voice of God
Hebrews 11:8 – “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.”
The key phrase here is “when called.” Abraham was called. Abraham heard the voice of God. Let’s look back at the account of how God speaks to Abraham in Genesis 12.
Genesis 12:1–3, 7 – “The LORD had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’…7 The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him.
God promises him land, descendants, blessing. Abraham heard the voice of God. We too must learn to hear God’s voice. The big question for us is “How can we hear the voice of God? How can we tune in and hear his voice?” Abraham heard the voice of God differently than the way he speaks to most of us. Genesis 12:7 says that, “The Lord appeared to Abram” and spoke to him. God has never appeared to me like that and spoken to me. That is not the normal way God speaks today. Does that mean we cannot hear the voice of God? No. Does that mean we have less advantage? No. We actually have a greater advantage.
Hebrews 1:1–2 – “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.”
How does God speak to us by his Son? Primarily through the written word of God and the inner voice of the Holy Spirit. These Old Testament saints had to wait for God to speak. You and I have an advantage. We don’t need to wait around. You and I can pick up the Bible any time and hear the voice of God through his written and inspired Word. When we do that, we hear God speaking.
Romans 10:17 – “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”
How do we know the will of God? When our heart is clean, when our motive is clear, and when we are walking in the Spirit, then we can discern God’s will. The Holy Spirit guides. If you’re in doubt whether or not something is God’s will, don’t rush into it. Wait and keep listening to God.
Proverbs 4:18 – “The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.”
When God is leading you into a certain path, it will become more and more clear just like as the sun comes up at dawn. At first things look dark, then less dim, then brighter and brighter. If you are doubting whether God is speaking just say, “Lord, keep speaking, I think you’re leading me in this direction. Confirm it in my heart if it is you. If it’s not. Close the door.”
That’s how God called me into the ministry. I began to sense more and more that God wanted me to preach. “Lord do you want me to preach?” I would pray. “Lord I think you want me to preach. I am going in that direction. If it is the wrong one then close off the door.” Then God made it clear. As I was graduating from my B.Sc at McGill I got a phone call from a pastor who asked if I would lead a youth ministry at his church. But, God had been speaking long before that in my heart, through his word, by the Holy Spirit. And that is how he speaks.
2. Obey what you know
Hebrews 11:8 – “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.”
He heard, and he obeyed. He didn’t know where it would end, but he obeyed. He was leaving all his comforts. It didn’t make sense. But he went. If we don’t obey the light we have, how can we can’t ask God for more light? I once heard a preacher ask this question. He said, “Are you having a faith problem? If you are, chances are your faith problem is actually an obedience problem.” Before you say, “I don’t know the will of God for my life,” let me ask you this question: “Are you living by what you already know from the Bible?”
I wrote my book It’s Simpler Than You Think to point out that most of God’s will for our life (perhaps as high as 90%) is already known, because it’s plainly and clearly revealed in the Bible. And when we get busy obeying the 90% of God’s will that is clearly outlined in Scripture, the remaining 10% has a way of falling into place.
What is God asking you to obey this day? Maybe there is a confession to make, or a restitution to perform, or a place to go, or a gift to give, or a habit to stop, or a person to forgive. Whatever it is. Obey what you know God is asking you to do.
3. Establish Priorities
Hebrews 11:9 – “By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.”
Abraham was living in tents. His motto was “this world is not my home, I’m just a passing through.” The reason many of us have little or stagnant faith is that our priorities are misplaced. Life is not about us. It’s about God. It’s about his will to be established in our lives. The Bible says that “Our citizenship is in heaven.” (Philippians 3:20-21) Therefore, we must not get too attached to this world as it is because if we live for this world, we will not have faith. The Bible warns about friendship with this world.
James 4:4 – “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.”
Friendship with world makes us an enemy of God. Abraham was not molded by this world because he had his priorities right. What are your priorities and personal goals? Jesus said:
Matthew 6:33 – “Seek first his kingdom and his Righteousness.”
What does it mean to seek first his kingdom and his righteousness? For starters it means establish the priority of coming to church each week. Establish the priority of meeting with other believers for fellowship. Then, establish the priority of reading the Bible daily and conversing with God in prayer. Then, establish the priority of giving generously of your time, talent, and money to further the mission and work of the local church and spread of the gospel. Then, establish the priority of sharing your faith with others.
One of the ways that helps me establish the priority of sharing my faith is I carry around in my bag some booklets that clearly explain the gospel. Then, as I meet people I know, or talk to strangers I don’t know, I can leave something with them when I say goodbye. Last week I got on the metro and a few stops later a young guy got on and sat next to me. I suddenly felt a strong conviction to share the gospel with him, which I believed was the Holy Spirit’s way of speaking to me. But, I wrestled internally for a minute. I thought, “What if he thinks I’m crazy? What if he isn’t interested?” By now, my stop was coming up and so I introduced myself to him and asked if he had ever heard of the steps to peace with God, which was the title of the little gospel booklet I had. He said he hadn’t and so I explained what I was about. I then left him with the booklet. He said thank you. He seemed genuinely interested. As I walked up the platform, I could see him starting to read through it.
4. Keep your Faith Focused
Hebrews 11:10 – “For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
You can hear a message, and agree with it, but then go home and forget about it. You can hear the voice of God but then forget it. It is so easy to loose focus.
Abraham, however, was able to keep focused because he was able to fix his eyes not on what was seen but on what was invisible. He kept his focus because though he was living and walking on earth, the focus of his mind and thoughts was heaven.
2 Corinthians 4:18 – “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
I heard the true story about when Disney World in Florida was first opened. And they had a huge dedication ceremony. And Mr. Walt Disney had already died, but Mrs. Disney was still alive. And the person sitting next to Mrs. Disney said, “It’s too bad Walt isn’t here to see all of this. She replied, “Oh, he saw it, that’s why it’s here.”
He saw it. He had a vision for it. I don’t think he saw exactly what it’s become today mind you, but he had a vision for it. And that illustrates the kind of faith as Christians we are to have when it comes to looking ahead to heaven and God’s future kingdom. Faith is setting our eyes on something that is bigger than what most people are living for who are just drawing their breath and drawing their salary. Faith sees the invisible. There is a heavenly realm that is more real than this earthly life.
5. Be Faithful in the Tests of Life
Hebrews 11:11 – “By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise.”
This sounds good doesn’t it? Abraham was given a promise. But God put his faith to a test. He failed the test at first. When they weren’t able to conceive with each other, he listened to Sarah’s advice and slept with her maid Hagar because it seemed that God wasn’t coming through on his promise. As a result, Ismael was born. Then years later, God came through, and Abraham and Sarah had a baby together: Isaac. The point is this: God tests your faith. There will be problems in your marriage, with your children, with your job, with your health. These are tests. The tests come so that we can demonstrate our faith and love toward God.
6. Enjoy the Blessings of Faith
Hebrews 11:11-12 – “By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.”
Sarah eventually got her baby even though she had been barren. They were blessed. Abraham became a blessing to the world. From Abraham came the Jewish nation, and from the Jewish nation came Christ, through whom all the blessings come. All the blessings of faith are found in Jesus. The blessing of eternal life, the blessings of forgiveness of sin, the blessings of a resurrection body. God’s promises of blessing through Abraham are fulfilled in Christ.
Can you say for sure that you have received those blessings? God wants you to have them. They all hinge on knowing Christ. If you haven’t come to know Christ you can start today. All you need is faith and trust. Believe that you are a sinner who needs forgiveness. Believe that Jesus died for your sins and rose again. By faith invite him into your life to save you and be your Lord.
If you’ve done that, then you have received so much blessing. God wants your faith to be strengthened. It can if you
1. Hear the voice of God
2. Obey what you know
3. Establish Priorities
4. Keep your Faith Focused
5. Be Faithful in the Tests of Life
Then, you will:
6. Enjoy the Blessings of Faith
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