WEBVTT 00:00:04.400 --> 00:00:07.350 Guess where we are in the Bible this morning? 00:00:07.350 --> 00:00:11.678 Hebrews. We've been in Hebrews all year long. 00:00:11.734 --> 00:00:13.550 Hope you're not getting tired of it yet, 00:00:13.550 --> 00:00:15.630 because we got a few more chapters to go. 00:00:15.630 --> 00:00:16.620 Just a couple. 00:00:16.342 --> 00:00:22.846 And today is where I've been telling you that chapter ten was kind of the 00:00:23.038 --> 00:00:23.622 sort of, 00:00:23.622 --> 00:00:24.662 in summary. 00:00:24.766 --> 00:00:30.214 And now chapter eleven really gives us sort of the kind of the effect and 00:00:30.302 --> 00:00:31.278 what follows. 00:00:31.334 --> 00:00:37.078 And so I just go ahead and tell y'all how many of y'all know the word 00:00:37.134 --> 00:00:41.614 discombobulated? Everybody know that word, 00:00:41.662 --> 00:00:44.774 right? If you look that up in Google, 00:00:44.862 --> 00:00:47.530 because Webster's doesn't count anymore, 00:00:48.430 --> 00:00:50.006 but you look it up in Google, 00:00:50.006 --> 00:00:53.530 it means confused or disoriented. 00:00:54.230 --> 00:00:55.798 Right, folks, 00:00:55.854 --> 00:00:59.154 truth of the matter is Satan's having a field day. 00:00:59.350 --> 00:01:05.070 He is thoroughly loving what he sees going on in our nation and in our 00:01:05.110 --> 00:01:06.622 country and even in our community. 00:01:06.622 --> 00:01:09.846 Y'all, there's all kind of. 00:01:09.878 --> 00:01:10.406 And here you go. 00:01:10.406 --> 00:01:11.206 I'll go ahead and tell you. 00:01:11.054 --> 00:01:12.810 There's all kind of division. 00:01:13.470 --> 00:01:21.336 People are just at each other's literal throats and the talk that goes 00:01:21.368 --> 00:01:22.376 along with it, 00:01:22.488 --> 00:01:23.808 this is what I. 00:01:23.920 --> 00:01:24.928 It throws me off. 00:01:24.928 --> 00:01:28.384 Cause I always want to go back to Satan in the strongholds, 00:01:28.384 --> 00:01:28.944 you know, 00:01:28.944 --> 00:01:32.256 Satan wants us at each other's throats. 00:01:32.448 --> 00:01:37.304 Satan wants us having hard feelings toward each other. 00:01:37.432 --> 00:01:41.504 Now, I would love to be able to take a poll right now and find out where 00:01:41.504 --> 00:01:43.154 y'all think I'm talking about, 00:01:44.970 --> 00:01:51.010 right? Some people immediately go to the whole idea of the national 00:01:51.130 --> 00:01:53.930 stage. And then some people want to go to the locals. 00:01:53.930 --> 00:01:57.230 Some people are already thinking about their own dinner table, 00:01:57.730 --> 00:02:00.442 right? Because let me just tell you, 00:02:00.466 --> 00:02:04.756 the stronghold of Satan is to divide people from the presence of God. 00:02:06.050 --> 00:02:08.922 Satan doesn't want us relying on God. 00:02:08.986 --> 00:02:11.992 Satan doesn't want us believing that God is on his throne. 00:02:11.992 --> 00:02:14.384 Satan doesn't want us trusting God. 00:02:14.432 --> 00:02:18.648 There's a song that I have had to lean on all week long that came out of 00:02:18.648 --> 00:02:19.528 elevation worship, 00:02:19.584 --> 00:02:20.780 trust in God, 00:02:22.200 --> 00:02:24.780 the idea of just trusting him. 00:02:25.640 --> 00:02:28.968 And then I go and read chapter eleven and I've been studying it for weeks 00:02:28.968 --> 00:02:29.752 and get to this. 00:02:29.640 --> 00:02:30.080 And it says, 00:02:30.080 --> 00:02:34.020 now, faith is the reality of what is hoped for, 00:02:34.360 --> 00:02:36.440 the proof of what is not seen. 00:02:36.440 --> 00:02:37.520 For by this, 00:02:37.600 --> 00:02:40.360 our ancestors were approved. 00:02:40.520 --> 00:02:42.920 So we get to chapter eleven and y'all, 00:02:42.920 --> 00:02:43.832 this particular, 00:02:43.976 --> 00:02:45.540 this, the first verse, 00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:50.640 we love to put it on a plaque and hang it on the wall, 00:02:50.640 --> 00:02:51.880 but I really, 00:02:52.040 --> 00:02:54.824 really challenge people when they start talking about that. 00:02:54.824 --> 00:02:55.576 I go, 00:02:55.768 --> 00:02:56.860 what's that mean? 00:02:57.760 --> 00:02:59.072 Why don't you tell me what you mean, 00:02:59.072 --> 00:03:00.112 when you quote that, 00:03:00.112 --> 00:03:01.888 why don't you tell me what that now? 00:03:01.600 --> 00:03:03.496 Faith is the reality of what's hoped for. 00:03:03.496 --> 00:03:05.040 Well, if it's what's hoped for, 00:03:05.040 --> 00:03:06.904 then it's not quite reality yet, 00:03:06.904 --> 00:03:07.900 right? I. 00:03:10.110 --> 00:03:12.558 If it's something that we're hoping for, 00:03:12.734 --> 00:03:13.590 we're not holding. 00:03:13.590 --> 00:03:14.550 It's not tangible. 00:03:14.550 --> 00:03:16.200 It's not in our hands. 00:03:16.206 --> 00:03:17.526 So what is it? 00:03:17.566 --> 00:03:18.502 And then it says, 00:03:18.502 --> 00:03:20.812 the proof of what is not seen. 00:03:20.550 --> 00:03:21.730 Wait a minute. 00:03:22.630 --> 00:03:24.210 How can that be? 00:03:25.350 --> 00:03:27.886 So then we get into the examples, 00:03:27.998 --> 00:03:29.262 and this is where it gets good. 00:03:29.262 --> 00:03:30.022 So I'm gonna read it, 00:03:30.022 --> 00:03:30.750 and then we're gonna pray. 00:03:30.750 --> 00:03:31.530 You ready? 00:03:31.830 --> 00:03:32.900 By faith, 00:03:33.070 --> 00:03:36.328 we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, 00:03:36.328 --> 00:03:42.500 so that what is seen was made from things that are not seen or visible. 00:03:42.920 --> 00:03:43.580 By faith, 00:03:43.600 --> 00:03:46.752 Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. 00:03:46.752 --> 00:03:47.288 By faith, 00:03:47.288 --> 00:03:48.736 he was approved as a righteous man, 00:03:48.736 --> 00:03:50.096 because God approved his gifts. 00:03:50.096 --> 00:03:52.076 And even though he is dead, 00:03:52.088 --> 00:03:54.232 he still speaks through his faith. 00:03:54.416 --> 00:03:55.076 By faith, 00:03:55.080 --> 00:03:56.768 Enoch was taken away, 00:03:56.824 --> 00:03:58.784 and so he did not experience death. 00:03:58.640 --> 00:04:01.400 He was not to be found because God took him away. 00:04:01.400 --> 00:04:02.760 For before he was taken away, 00:04:02.760 --> 00:04:05.400 he was approved as one who pleased God. 00:04:05.432 --> 00:04:06.320 Not without faith, 00:04:06.320 --> 00:04:08.340 it is impossible to please God, 00:04:08.720 --> 00:04:12.416 since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that 00:04:12.416 --> 00:04:14.396 he rewards those who seek him. 00:04:14.880 --> 00:04:15.608 By faith, 00:04:15.664 --> 00:04:21.800 Noah, after he was warned about what was not yet seen and motivated by 00:04:21.840 --> 00:04:22.544 godly fear, 00:04:22.592 --> 00:04:24.448 built an ark to deliver his family. 00:04:24.448 --> 00:04:25.040 And by faith, 00:04:25.040 --> 00:04:28.656 he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes 00:04:28.656 --> 00:04:29.780 by faith. 00:04:30.080 --> 00:04:30.896 By faith. 00:04:30.968 --> 00:04:32.416 Abraham, when he was called, 00:04:32.416 --> 00:04:35.616 obeyed, and set out for a place that he was going to receive as an 00:04:35.616 --> 00:04:39.720 inheritance. He went out even though he did not know where he was going. 00:04:39.720 --> 00:04:40.488 And by faith, 00:04:40.488 --> 00:04:43.360 he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, 00:04:43.360 --> 00:04:44.408 living in tents, 00:04:44.464 --> 00:04:46.000 as did Isaac and Jacob, 00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:47.800 co heirs of the same promise. 00:04:47.800 --> 00:04:50.928 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, 00:04:50.928 --> 00:04:53.260 whose architect and builder is God. 00:04:54.120 --> 00:04:54.784 By faith. 00:04:54.832 --> 00:04:56.140 Even Sarah herself, 00:04:56.980 --> 00:04:58.956 when she was unable to have children, 00:04:58.956 --> 00:05:00.948 received power to conceive offspring, 00:05:01.004 --> 00:05:02.572 even though she was past the age. 00:05:02.572 --> 00:05:06.700 And since she considered that the one who had promised was faithful. 00:05:06.740 --> 00:05:08.060 Therefore, from one man, 00:05:08.084 --> 00:05:08.844 in fact, 00:05:09.012 --> 00:05:11.000 from one as good as dead, 00:05:11.300 --> 00:05:16.332 came offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and as innumerable as 00:05:16.356 --> 00:05:18.748 the grains of sand along the seashore. 00:05:18.884 --> 00:05:19.340 All right, 00:05:19.340 --> 00:05:20.812 now we need to pray. 00:05:20.332 --> 00:05:21.530 Alrighty, let's pray. 00:05:21.660 --> 00:05:23.970 God, we thank you for your word. 00:05:24.070 --> 00:05:29.062 God, we thank you that these words that we have here in black and white 00:05:29.086 --> 00:05:34.130 on the page transcend thousands of years. 00:05:35.150 --> 00:05:38.120 They come to us in a form that God, 00:05:38.470 --> 00:05:43.090 we stop and we read and we consider and we meditate and we pray. 00:05:43.390 --> 00:05:44.022 And God, 00:05:44.022 --> 00:05:45.150 we trust you. 00:05:45.190 --> 00:05:47.050 That's what by faith means. 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:49.420 We trust in you. 00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:51.500 We trust your word, 00:05:51.920 --> 00:05:55.680 God, we trust what we see that you have done. 00:05:55.720 --> 00:05:56.048 And yet, 00:05:56.048 --> 00:05:59.018 God, we trust what we have not yet seen. 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:00.496 So God, 00:06:00.496 --> 00:06:02.072 as we consider what this word, 00:06:02.072 --> 00:06:04.052 these two words by faith mean, 00:06:04.440 --> 00:06:07.608 Father, let us abide in that place. 00:06:07.744 --> 00:06:10.616 Let us rest there and understand, 00:06:10.768 --> 00:06:14.272 God, that your purpose, 00:06:14.336 --> 00:06:15.260 your plan, 00:06:16.520 --> 00:06:19.540 the provision of redemption and salvation, 00:06:20.200 --> 00:06:26.380 the progression that you've placed us on toward glory is still in place. 00:06:27.040 --> 00:06:28.500 It's still intact. 00:06:29.040 --> 00:06:29.640 And God, 00:06:29.640 --> 00:06:30.952 we can count on it. 00:06:30.952 --> 00:06:32.776 And we pray it in Jesus name. 00:06:32.776 --> 00:06:33.540 Amen. 00:06:35.160 --> 00:06:36.680 In these twelve verses, 00:06:36.720 --> 00:06:39.060 we have 21 chapters of summary. 00:06:39.680 --> 00:06:41.480 If you go read in Genesis one, 00:06:41.480 --> 00:06:42.400 one in the beginning, 00:06:42.400 --> 00:06:46.192 God, then you get to chapter 21 and Isaac was born. 00:06:46.376 --> 00:06:51.048 So in these twelve verses we've got 21 chapters of Genesis in summary. 00:06:51.184 --> 00:06:52.256 And I look at this and I go, 00:06:52.256 --> 00:06:54.900 there is no way I can preach this. 00:06:55.360 --> 00:06:56.464 So y'all go home. 00:06:56.328 --> 00:06:57.648 No, I'm just kidding. 00:06:58.640 --> 00:07:03.448 What God's given us right here is not the individual stories. 00:07:03.504 --> 00:07:08.996 Though going back and reading the stories is fascinating to consider. 00:07:09.108 --> 00:07:11.372 What he said here in these twelve verses. 00:07:11.372 --> 00:07:13.180 It's incredible to sit here and he says, 00:07:13.180 --> 00:07:14.440 faith is this. 00:07:14.740 --> 00:07:18.396 Faith is something that we trust in something that we believe in. 00:07:18.396 --> 00:07:19.540 And we believe in God. 00:07:19.540 --> 00:07:20.530 We trust God. 00:07:20.540 --> 00:07:22.172 We trust what God has said. 00:07:22.172 --> 00:07:23.340 I tell you all the time, 00:07:23.340 --> 00:07:25.460 I pick up a leaf and trust that. 00:07:25.220 --> 00:07:25.668 Guess what? 00:07:25.668 --> 00:07:27.020 The veins in that leaf, 00:07:27.020 --> 00:07:32.292 though they are veins that transport vitamins and nutrition and all kind 00:07:32.316 --> 00:07:33.892 of stuff to the leaf in the plant, 00:07:33.892 --> 00:07:36.910 are nothing like the veins running down my arm, 00:07:37.210 --> 00:07:39.190 though they do the same thing. 00:07:40.130 --> 00:07:41.242 And there are those. 00:07:41.242 --> 00:07:45.590 Scientism would have us believe that all that happened by chance, 00:07:45.970 --> 00:07:50.458 some freak of accident and mutation produced the difference between the 00:07:50.474 --> 00:07:52.930 vein in the leaf and the vein in my arm. 00:07:52.930 --> 00:07:54.586 Sorry, I don't believe that. 00:07:54.738 --> 00:07:55.762 What do I believe? 00:07:55.762 --> 00:07:58.058 I believe and trust that God said, 00:07:58.058 --> 00:08:02.450 this is a plant and this is a human being. 00:08:03.630 --> 00:08:06.134 Right? God did it. 00:08:06.182 --> 00:08:07.566 God, I trust it. 00:08:07.678 --> 00:08:08.238 By faith, 00:08:08.238 --> 00:08:11.262 we understand that the universe was created by the word of God. 00:08:11.262 --> 00:08:16.654 God spoke it into existence so that what is seen was made from things 00:08:16.702 --> 00:08:18.250 that are not seen. 00:08:18.790 --> 00:08:21.490 God spoke it into existence. 00:08:22.430 --> 00:08:23.086 You see, 00:08:23.086 --> 00:08:24.870 man, by faith, 00:08:24.910 --> 00:08:28.318 Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. 00:08:28.494 --> 00:08:30.934 So meat's better than fruit? 00:08:30.982 --> 00:08:32.550 No, what is he talking about right here? 00:08:32.550 --> 00:08:33.070 By faith, 00:08:33.070 --> 00:08:34.966 he was approved as a righteous man. 00:08:34.966 --> 00:08:36.406 What is it that God was looking at? 00:08:36.406 --> 00:08:38.238 Was God looking at the sacrifice? 00:08:38.238 --> 00:08:39.974 Well, the sacrifice has a part in it, 00:08:39.974 --> 00:08:42.410 but God is looking at the faith, 00:08:43.630 --> 00:08:45.690 the faith of Abel, 00:08:46.030 --> 00:08:48.210 the heart condition of Abel, 00:08:49.030 --> 00:08:49.726 right? 00:08:49.878 --> 00:08:51.062 He's looking at. 00:08:51.206 --> 00:08:51.866 Yes, he. 00:08:51.926 --> 00:08:52.574 Yeah, man. 00:08:52.574 --> 00:08:53.046 I mean, 00:08:53.046 --> 00:08:57.336 there are people that break this down so much better than I can. 00:08:57.450 --> 00:08:58.418 But the fact is, 00:08:58.418 --> 00:09:03.030 is that it was Abel's heart that made the difference. 00:09:03.490 --> 00:09:06.866 The sacrifice was better not because the sacrifice was better, 00:09:06.898 --> 00:09:11.474 but because Abel's heart brought the sacrifice. 00:09:11.642 --> 00:09:14.410 And then they get into the fatty portions and all that kind of stuff 00:09:14.410 --> 00:09:18.194 which later is revealed through the law and the sacrificial system and 00:09:18.194 --> 00:09:18.906 all that sort of thing. 00:09:18.906 --> 00:09:20.634 And I'm not denying those things. 00:09:20.634 --> 00:09:22.314 I'm just telling you that the. 00:09:22.314 --> 00:09:26.270 The message of these twelve verses is by faith. 00:09:27.330 --> 00:09:30.390 It's what we trust and believe in. 00:09:30.770 --> 00:09:31.482 You see, 00:09:31.586 --> 00:09:33.282 that's the whole point of this. 00:09:33.282 --> 00:09:36.098 I love it that it lists all these people by faith. 00:09:36.098 --> 00:09:38.354 Enoch. Enoch's one of my favorite characters in the Bible. 00:09:38.178 --> 00:09:41.930 And there's only like five verses that even address would address Enoch. 00:09:41.930 --> 00:09:43.630 He disappeared one day. 00:09:44.050 --> 00:09:45.650 Enoch Junior went to his bedroom, 00:09:45.650 --> 00:09:46.802 went, hey dad. 00:09:46.986 --> 00:09:48.590 Mom? Dad's not here. 00:09:49.640 --> 00:09:50.488 Well, where is he? 00:09:50.488 --> 00:09:51.260 Don't know. 00:09:52.800 --> 00:09:56.192 Gone. Taken away. 00:09:56.256 --> 00:09:57.664 So he did not experience death. 00:09:57.520 --> 00:09:58.520 He was not found. 00:09:58.520 --> 00:10:00.880 Not to be found because God took him away. 00:10:00.880 --> 00:10:02.200 For before he was taken away, 00:10:02.200 --> 00:10:03.888 he was approved as one pleased God. 00:10:03.888 --> 00:10:05.064 So how do you please God? 00:10:05.064 --> 00:10:06.420 By faith. 00:10:07.440 --> 00:10:08.824 You want to please God, 00:10:08.824 --> 00:10:09.664 trust God. 00:10:09.752 --> 00:10:11.016 You want to please God, 00:10:11.016 --> 00:10:12.180 believe God. 00:10:12.880 --> 00:10:14.024 Don't pick up the Bible and go, 00:10:14.024 --> 00:10:14.496 well, you know, 00:10:14.496 --> 00:10:15.980 I don't exactly believe, 00:10:16.770 --> 00:10:20.442 you know how I feel about that right now. 00:10:20.466 --> 00:10:21.010 Without faith, 00:10:21.010 --> 00:10:22.714 it's impossible to please God, 00:10:22.802 --> 00:10:26.906 since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that 00:10:26.906 --> 00:10:28.886 he rewards those who seek him. 00:10:29.650 --> 00:10:31.930 Some of the other translations says, 00:10:32.010 --> 00:10:33.660 must believe that he is. 00:10:33.546 --> 00:10:34.746 I like that translation. 00:10:34.746 --> 00:10:35.682 Here's why. 00:10:35.866 --> 00:10:37.516 Because to say he is, 00:10:37.554 --> 00:10:39.534 is a derivation of I am. 00:10:41.540 --> 00:10:47.720 Right. I am this Yahweh name of God. 00:10:48.140 --> 00:10:48.524 You know, 00:10:48.524 --> 00:10:51.012 I wonder if Moses went to Pharaoh and said, 00:10:51.012 --> 00:10:51.956 I am sent me, 00:10:51.956 --> 00:10:57.236 or if he went to Pharaoh and said he is sent me because I believe him, 00:10:57.396 --> 00:10:58.560 I trust him. 00:10:58.980 --> 00:11:00.630 You see what I mean? 00:11:00.780 --> 00:11:04.196 Must believe that he is by faith. 00:11:04.228 --> 00:11:07.156 Noah, after he was warned about what he had not yet seen. 00:11:07.156 --> 00:11:09.004 A lot of people believe that's rain, 00:11:09.004 --> 00:11:09.994 could be flood. 00:11:10.032 --> 00:11:11.022 I don't know. 00:11:11.080 --> 00:11:13.620 But motivated by godly fear, 00:11:14.800 --> 00:11:17.440 he built an ark to deliver his family. 00:11:18.120 --> 00:11:18.696 By faith, 00:11:18.696 --> 00:11:19.356 he can. 00:11:19.296 --> 00:11:22.176 Now, how long did it take him to build the ark? 00:11:22.176 --> 00:11:23.020 Anybody know? 00:11:23.720 --> 00:11:24.504 Gotta go read it. 00:11:24.504 --> 00:11:25.900 Right? 120 years, 00:11:26.320 --> 00:11:27.060 right? 00:11:27.560 --> 00:11:29.820 What did he do for 120 years? 00:11:30.240 --> 00:11:32.420 He preached what he believed. 00:11:32.960 --> 00:11:34.392 He preached to. 00:11:34.416 --> 00:11:36.824 To the ungodly people around him. 00:11:36.992 --> 00:11:39.624 Because there was no good in them at all. 00:11:39.496 --> 00:11:41.216 It was only evil all the time. 00:11:41.216 --> 00:11:44.300 And God regretted that he had created them. 00:11:45.080 --> 00:11:46.540 And Noah preached, 00:11:51.040 --> 00:11:52.448 that's what all this is about. 00:11:52.448 --> 00:11:53.008 By faith, 00:11:53.008 --> 00:11:56.136 he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes 00:11:56.136 --> 00:11:56.840 by faith. 00:11:56.880 --> 00:11:57.560 And by faith, 00:11:57.560 --> 00:12:00.400 Abraham, when he was called, 00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:03.976 obeyed and set out for a place that he was going to receive as an 00:12:03.976 --> 00:12:04.520 inheritance. 00:12:04.560 --> 00:12:05.128 He went out. 00:12:05.128 --> 00:12:08.340 And even though he did not know where he was even going, 00:12:08.340 --> 00:12:09.284 by faith, 00:12:09.412 --> 00:12:11.852 he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, 00:12:11.852 --> 00:12:12.652 living in tents, 00:12:12.652 --> 00:12:14.052 as did Isaac and Jacob, 00:12:14.052 --> 00:12:16.032 co heirs of the same promise. 00:12:16.220 --> 00:12:20.580 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, 00:12:20.660 --> 00:12:22.756 whose architect and builder is God. 00:12:22.908 --> 00:12:24.228 This city doesn't even. 00:12:24.236 --> 00:12:27.468 It's not even a picture that he can look at. 00:12:26.964 --> 00:12:28.788 What city is this referring to? 00:12:28.788 --> 00:12:31.428 This is referring to the city of God. 00:12:31.548 --> 00:12:33.640 This is not referring to Jerusalem. 00:12:34.760 --> 00:12:35.660 You see, 00:12:36.360 --> 00:12:37.008 by faith, 00:12:37.008 --> 00:12:37.856 even Sarah herself, 00:12:37.856 --> 00:12:40.166 when she was unable to have children. 00:12:40.560 --> 00:12:40.936 All right, 00:12:40.936 --> 00:12:42.488 so 75 years old, 00:12:42.624 --> 00:12:44.604 God makes a promise to Abraham. 00:12:45.880 --> 00:12:49.180 I would venture there's some 75 year olds in the room. 00:12:50.920 --> 00:12:52.688 See, I don't even have to go that direction, 00:12:52.688 --> 00:12:53.420 do I? 00:12:54.200 --> 00:12:56.912 Right. 75 years old, 00:12:56.976 --> 00:12:57.952 God makes a promise. 00:12:57.952 --> 00:13:00.592 You will be the father of a nation. 00:13:03.010 --> 00:13:03.762 By faith. 00:13:03.826 --> 00:13:04.986 He believed it. 00:13:05.178 --> 00:13:06.670 He trusted God. 00:13:07.410 --> 00:13:08.978 What did that faith look like? 00:13:08.978 --> 00:13:10.786 We're going to get to that in a minute. 00:13:10.530 --> 00:13:14.820 She received power to conceive offspring even though she was past the age 00:13:15.010 --> 00:13:18.790 since. She considered that the one who had promised was faithful, 00:13:19.370 --> 00:13:21.170 therefore, from one man. 00:13:21.210 --> 00:13:23.450 And this phrase right here just kills me every time. 00:13:23.450 --> 00:13:23.778 In fact, 00:13:23.778 --> 00:13:25.758 from one as good as dead, 00:13:28.540 --> 00:13:29.972 all you 75 year olds, 00:13:29.996 --> 00:13:31.316 right? I'm just kidding. 00:13:31.348 --> 00:13:32.008 No, no. 00:13:32.052 --> 00:13:32.620 He was hundred. 00:13:32.620 --> 00:13:33.188 By this time. 00:13:33.188 --> 00:13:38.956 He's around 101 came offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and as 00:13:38.988 --> 00:13:41.876 innumerable as the grains of sand along the seashore. 00:13:41.876 --> 00:13:45.044 See, God is giving us a definition of faith, 00:13:45.092 --> 00:13:48.676 but it's not a definition because faith is something that's difficult to 00:13:48.676 --> 00:13:49.006 define. 00:13:49.052 --> 00:13:49.980 It's what you believe. 00:13:49.980 --> 00:13:50.804 What do you trust? 00:13:50.804 --> 00:13:52.116 Who do you trust? 00:13:52.116 --> 00:13:52.840 Right. 00:13:55.020 --> 00:14:01.132 It is recounting for us what the first nine and a half chapters of the 00:14:01.156 --> 00:14:02.436 book of Hebrews does, 00:14:02.436 --> 00:14:07.280 which is take us from creation to Christ. 00:14:07.900 --> 00:14:10.716 Okay? That's what the first part of Hebrews does. 00:14:10.716 --> 00:14:12.804 Everything in the Old Testament points to Jesus. 00:14:12.804 --> 00:14:15.114 Everything in the New Testament reveals Jesus. 00:14:15.044 --> 00:14:16.268 Hebrews points it all out, 00:14:16.268 --> 00:14:21.548 says this and this and this and this and this and this and this and this. 00:14:22.040 --> 00:14:24.060 Now focus on Jesus. 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:26.088 Pay attention to Jesus. 00:14:26.144 --> 00:14:27.980 Make Jesus your priority. 00:14:29.040 --> 00:14:30.608 Trust me. 00:14:30.704 --> 00:14:32.100 Is what God's saying. 00:14:32.440 --> 00:14:34.760 Cause I have a purpose and a plan, 00:14:34.760 --> 00:14:36.900 and I have provided for it, 00:14:37.600 --> 00:14:40.632 man. And then I look at this and I'm not, 00:14:40.632 --> 00:14:41.016 like I said, 00:14:41.016 --> 00:14:42.408 I just break some of it down. 00:14:42.408 --> 00:14:42.784 But I mean, 00:14:42.784 --> 00:14:44.720 the idea that Abraham, 00:14:44.800 --> 00:14:46.080 when he was called, 00:14:46.080 --> 00:14:50.964 obeyed. So we know Abraham and his family with Terah, 00:14:51.012 --> 00:14:51.628 his father, 00:14:51.628 --> 00:14:54.076 they all set out from ur and went to Haran. 00:14:53.876 --> 00:14:56.204 They stayed in Haran until Terah died. 00:14:56.252 --> 00:15:00.612 And then God moved Abraham from Haran down into Canaan, 00:15:00.636 --> 00:15:02.308 and they traveled north to south, 00:15:02.308 --> 00:15:04.700 down into Canaan and went as far as the Negev, 00:15:04.700 --> 00:15:06.350 but there was a famine, 00:15:06.404 --> 00:15:07.580 and then they went to Egypt. 00:15:07.580 --> 00:15:09.240 And y'all, 00:15:12.230 --> 00:15:13.038 through the years, 00:15:13.038 --> 00:15:21.726 I've heard this chapter called the hall of faith or the hall of fame of 00:15:21.758 --> 00:15:25.690 faith or the great faithful. 00:15:27.790 --> 00:15:30.290 If you go examine these guys lies, 00:15:32.030 --> 00:15:33.130 I don't know, 00:15:34.350 --> 00:15:37.374 we see some not exactly faithful behavior, 00:15:37.422 --> 00:15:38.172 don't we? 00:15:38.326 --> 00:15:39.700 If you go examine, 00:15:40.080 --> 00:15:40.496 I mean, 00:15:40.496 --> 00:15:41.544 let's take a look at Abraham. 00:15:41.544 --> 00:15:42.552 Abraham, you know, 00:15:42.656 --> 00:15:43.752 he's 75 years old. 00:15:43.776 --> 00:15:44.136 God says, 00:15:44.136 --> 00:15:44.848 you're going to have a kid. 00:15:44.848 --> 00:15:47.040 There's going to be a child of promise. 00:15:46.672 --> 00:15:47.216 Through you, 00:15:47.216 --> 00:15:49.196 all the nations will be blessed. 00:15:49.520 --> 00:15:50.552 What's he looking for? 00:15:50.552 --> 00:15:51.576 Oh, in the next day or two, 00:15:51.576 --> 00:15:52.456 we're going to find this out, 00:15:52.456 --> 00:15:52.816 aren't we? 00:15:52.816 --> 00:15:57.020 No. 25 years later, 00:15:57.600 --> 00:16:01.890 how many times do we pray and ask God for stuff and go, 00:16:05.170 --> 00:16:05.910 right? 00:16:06.970 --> 00:16:07.394 You know, 00:16:07.394 --> 00:16:09.490 I remember my psychology professor in college, 00:16:09.490 --> 00:16:09.818 he said, 00:16:09.818 --> 00:16:10.226 you know what? 00:16:10.226 --> 00:16:10.538 He said, 00:16:10.538 --> 00:16:11.858 we've become an instant, 00:16:12.010 --> 00:16:14.674 an instant society man. 00:16:14.722 --> 00:16:15.026 He said, 00:16:15.026 --> 00:16:15.394 you know what? 00:16:15.394 --> 00:16:15.762 He said, 00:16:15.762 --> 00:16:16.906 when I was younger, 00:16:16.906 --> 00:16:19.110 if you didn't percolate your coffee, 00:16:20.090 --> 00:16:21.510 you were lazy. 00:16:22.450 --> 00:16:23.146 He said, 00:16:23.258 --> 00:16:27.106 so families would go and get instant coffee when it finally came out. 00:16:26.834 --> 00:16:32.440 And they were frowned upon for being lazy. 00:16:34.220 --> 00:16:35.076 Now, guess what? 00:16:35.076 --> 00:16:36.420 We don't even go into restaurants. 00:16:36.420 --> 00:16:39.340 We just sit in the car and wait till they bring it to the window. 00:16:39.340 --> 00:16:40.756 Don't even do that anymore. 00:16:40.580 --> 00:16:44.876 Now we just park in a special parking place and let them bring it out to 00:16:44.876 --> 00:16:47.564 us. And so we approach the throne of God and say, 00:16:47.564 --> 00:16:48.588 God, I need help with this. 00:16:48.588 --> 00:16:49.348 I need help with that. 00:16:49.348 --> 00:16:50.040 We go, 00:16:53.380 --> 00:16:58.920 right? Abraham waited 25 years for God to fulfill a promise, 00:16:59.770 --> 00:17:00.226 right? 00:17:00.298 --> 00:17:01.288 You see that? 00:17:02.970 --> 00:17:04.106 He trusted God. 00:17:04.138 --> 00:17:05.058 Now listen, 00:17:05.234 --> 00:17:09.858 Abraham was not a most likely living in Ur. 00:17:09.914 --> 00:17:11.234 He was a pagan. 00:17:12.730 --> 00:17:17.430 He was worshiping the river gods of Mesopotamia like everybody else. 00:17:18.130 --> 00:17:19.802 And more than likely because, 00:17:19.986 --> 00:17:23.498 and one of the commentators I read up on and listen to said, 00:17:23.498 --> 00:17:24.248 you know, 00:17:24.434 --> 00:17:27.200 60, 65 years of his life, 00:17:27.740 --> 00:17:28.836 he's married, 00:17:28.988 --> 00:17:30.636 wanting children and no children. 00:17:30.636 --> 00:17:33.468 And because of the belief system back then, 00:17:33.524 --> 00:17:37.400 not having children was seen as a punishment of the gods. 00:17:38.900 --> 00:17:41.572 So according to probably his faith system, 00:17:41.636 --> 00:17:46.040 he was being punished with no children, 00:17:47.140 --> 00:17:49.560 right? And then all of a sudden, 00:17:49.870 --> 00:17:53.566 Yahweh speaks into his life and says, 00:17:53.758 --> 00:17:56.068 I'm going to give you a child, 00:17:56.310 --> 00:17:58.286 and you're going to have descendants, 00:17:58.286 --> 00:18:00.126 and you're going to be a nation, 00:18:00.126 --> 00:18:04.746 and all the nations of the earth are going to be blessed through you. 00:18:06.310 --> 00:18:07.590 Suddenly, God spoke. 00:18:07.630 --> 00:18:10.230 Now, you know what the Bible says about the other gods. 00:18:10.230 --> 00:18:12.210 They're not really gods at all, 00:18:12.470 --> 00:18:16.550 right? But Yahweh spoke to Abraham, 00:18:16.590 --> 00:18:17.580 and he was, 00:18:17.850 --> 00:18:20.226 okay, all right, 00:18:20.418 --> 00:18:21.386 I believe. 00:18:21.578 --> 00:18:22.474 I'll follow. 00:18:22.602 --> 00:18:23.670 I'll obey. 00:18:24.250 --> 00:18:25.754 I'll do what you've asked me to do. 00:18:25.754 --> 00:18:27.066 And he takes off and leaves. 00:18:27.066 --> 00:18:30.938 Haran goes down into Canaan looking for a city. 00:18:30.994 --> 00:18:32.274 Is it a city he's looking for? 00:18:32.146 --> 00:18:33.130 No, he lived in tents. 00:18:33.130 --> 00:18:34.178 His son lived in tents. 00:18:34.178 --> 00:18:35.706 His son's son lived in tents. 00:18:35.706 --> 00:18:37.122 The family lived in tents. 00:18:37.122 --> 00:18:40.906 When did they get to see the promised land, 00:18:40.978 --> 00:18:42.234 the promised rest? 00:18:42.322 --> 00:18:44.632 Not until after the exodus. 00:18:44.826 --> 00:18:46.244 Abraham never, 00:18:46.412 --> 00:18:47.356 like it says, 00:18:47.356 --> 00:18:52.160 never physically saw the promise. 00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:55.900 So is that the promise God was talking about? 00:18:55.900 --> 00:18:58.820 Is that the land of rest that we all are counting on? 00:18:58.820 --> 00:19:02.196 No, see, 00:19:02.268 --> 00:19:06.240 the promise is for something beyond what we can see. 00:19:07.060 --> 00:19:12.490 The promise is for an eternity in the presence of God. 00:19:13.430 --> 00:19:15.590 Wow, man. 00:19:15.630 --> 00:19:16.134 I look at this, 00:19:16.134 --> 00:19:17.454 and I'm just like, 00:19:19.190 --> 00:19:19.766 next week, 00:19:19.766 --> 00:19:21.294 I have an even better challenge for you, 00:19:21.294 --> 00:19:22.542 because I want to ask you, 00:19:22.542 --> 00:19:26.878 I want us all to consider it this week before next Sunday's message, 00:19:26.934 --> 00:19:28.370 because, quite honestly, 00:19:30.150 --> 00:19:32.974 I think the challenge of this chapter is the words, 00:19:32.974 --> 00:19:33.930 by faith, 00:19:35.110 --> 00:19:35.958 what do you do? 00:19:35.958 --> 00:19:36.850 By faith, 00:19:40.580 --> 00:19:41.748 what do you do? 00:19:41.748 --> 00:19:44.996 Well, can I be really condescending right now? 00:19:45.028 --> 00:19:46.612 Well, I don't need your permission. 00:19:46.612 --> 00:19:48.592 I'm going to do it anyway. 00:19:49.300 --> 00:19:51.196 What do I do by faith, 00:19:51.196 --> 00:19:56.760 I sit in a big room with a lot of other people. 00:19:59.460 --> 00:20:02.100 What does your faith look like on Monday? 00:20:03.910 --> 00:20:06.370 What's your faith look like on Wednesday? 00:20:07.350 --> 00:20:10.320 What does your faith look like in the fire? 00:20:10.670 --> 00:20:13.970 What does your faith look like in the deep water? 00:20:13.990 --> 00:20:15.758 What does your faith look like now? 00:20:15.758 --> 00:20:16.398 Here you go. 00:20:16.198 --> 00:20:18.270 Now you're gonna know why I said what I said. 00:20:18.270 --> 00:20:26.278 What does your faith look like when the world around us is whirling in 00:20:26.334 --> 00:20:34.660 confusion and dissension and discord and hatred and violence? 00:20:35.640 --> 00:20:37.620 What does our faith look like? 00:20:41.520 --> 00:20:42.460 You see, 00:20:43.480 --> 00:20:44.448 can I just tell you? 00:20:44.448 --> 00:20:46.140 Satan's having a field day. 00:20:49.400 --> 00:20:52.576 And I'm going to get really specific, 00:20:52.648 --> 00:20:54.958 and some of you get mad and. 00:20:56.120 --> 00:20:57.936 But the Bible says you have to forgive me. 00:20:57.936 --> 00:20:59.256 So here you go. 00:21:03.960 --> 00:21:07.590 Sometimes our faith is only seen in the words we say. 00:21:13.920 --> 00:21:17.880 What words come out when you look at the world around you. 00:21:21.690 --> 00:21:27.070 How do you pray when you see what's going on around you? 00:21:28.170 --> 00:21:32.790 Who do you pray for when you look at what's going on around you? 00:21:35.370 --> 00:21:36.410 Can I just tell y'all, 00:21:36.410 --> 00:21:39.070 I've been challenged this week by these verses? 00:21:41.410 --> 00:21:42.750 Been challenged, 00:21:43.170 --> 00:21:47.348 not just what's going on in the biggest big scene, 00:21:47.484 --> 00:21:50.180 the things that are going on close to me, 00:21:50.180 --> 00:21:51.600 I'm challenged. 00:21:52.820 --> 00:21:54.200 What am I praying? 00:21:56.260 --> 00:21:58.748 It's not just about what I'm asking God for. 00:21:58.748 --> 00:22:00.300 Cause I always got a shopping list, 00:22:00.300 --> 00:22:02.520 y'all. Okay, 00:22:03.980 --> 00:22:04.644 question is, 00:22:04.692 --> 00:22:07.400 what am I trusting God for? 00:22:08.220 --> 00:22:10.530 What am I trusting him to do? 00:22:13.070 --> 00:22:17.610 What will God do that is in accordance with who he is, 00:22:19.390 --> 00:22:28.526 right? How do I speak about the things going on and yet bring glory to 00:22:28.558 --> 00:22:29.210 God? 00:22:36.070 --> 00:22:36.958 I know one thing. 00:22:36.958 --> 00:22:37.934 I've told you all this before, 00:22:37.934 --> 00:22:39.914 man. I run from the news. 00:22:40.490 --> 00:22:42.290 I don't want to hear it. 00:22:42.290 --> 00:22:44.930 I have to wait till people tell me about it. 00:22:44.578 --> 00:22:46.482 Whether it's national news, 00:22:46.546 --> 00:22:47.490 international news, 00:22:47.530 --> 00:22:48.850 or even local news. 00:22:49.650 --> 00:22:51.960 I wait till people tell me something, 00:22:52.370 --> 00:22:53.434 and then I go, 00:22:53.434 --> 00:22:58.402 God, do I say something? 00:22:58.466 --> 00:22:59.506 Do I not say something? 00:22:59.506 --> 00:23:00.170 What do I say? 00:23:00.170 --> 00:23:03.140 Do I say what I find in your word? 00:23:03.290 --> 00:23:06.698 Do I talk about the fact that Satan's having a field day? 00:23:06.698 --> 00:23:09.088 Satan's actually having a field day with a lot of believers. 00:23:09.088 --> 00:23:10.078 Y'all know that. 00:23:10.800 --> 00:23:11.256 I mean, 00:23:11.256 --> 00:23:13.304 people that are our brothers and sisters in Christ, 00:23:13.304 --> 00:23:15.284 and Satan's having a field day. 00:23:16.840 --> 00:23:18.912 Satan loves it when we attack each other. 00:23:18.808 --> 00:23:20.128 Do y'all know that? 00:23:20.280 --> 00:23:21.300 Loves it. 00:23:21.760 --> 00:23:22.552 You know, 00:23:22.696 --> 00:23:23.976 I've said this about, 00:23:23.976 --> 00:23:27.240 and I'm gonna use the word even though y'all know how I feel about it. 00:23:27.240 --> 00:23:28.432 One of the things I say about, 00:23:28.432 --> 00:23:29.780 quote the church, 00:23:32.890 --> 00:23:34.870 Jesus is the one who said, 00:23:35.050 --> 00:23:46.350 a house divided against itself can't stand by faith. 00:23:46.970 --> 00:23:47.386 All right, 00:23:47.386 --> 00:23:48.930 so where does faith start? 00:23:48.634 --> 00:23:49.294 With us. 00:23:49.330 --> 00:23:51.830 At least it starts with Jesus. 00:23:52.650 --> 00:23:53.970 Do you know Jesus? 00:23:56.610 --> 00:23:59.630 Have you trusted him by faith? 00:24:00.210 --> 00:24:04.186 Have you surrendered the eye disease to him? 00:24:04.258 --> 00:24:06.154 I said this to somebody this week, 00:24:06.154 --> 00:24:07.804 and they laughed at me. 00:24:08.250 --> 00:24:11.270 Problem in the body of Christ is eye disease. 00:24:11.610 --> 00:24:12.178 The I, 00:24:12.178 --> 00:24:12.578 me, my, 00:24:12.578 --> 00:24:13.430 mine hour. 00:24:16.490 --> 00:24:17.150 You see, 00:24:17.170 --> 00:24:18.390 it's eye disease. 00:24:19.490 --> 00:24:23.030 Have you surrendered the eye in your sentences? 00:24:24.140 --> 00:24:27.172 Have you surrendered the my in your sentences? 00:24:27.276 --> 00:24:30.516 Have you surrendered the me see? 00:24:30.548 --> 00:24:38.080 Because in the garden you will not surely die is what Satan said. 00:24:38.860 --> 00:24:46.820 God knows you will be as God by faith. 00:24:46.860 --> 00:24:47.840 We surrender. 00:24:48.860 --> 00:24:50.400 We give ourselves up. 00:24:51.120 --> 00:24:52.848 Christ died for us. 00:24:53.024 --> 00:24:55.216 That's what Hebrews is all about. 00:24:55.408 --> 00:24:59.728 The sacrifice that God made through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. 00:24:59.784 --> 00:25:01.764 And if you don't know Jesus, 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:03.380 you need Jesus. 00:25:03.880 --> 00:25:04.960 Maybe you're a Christian. 00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:07.448 Maybe you know it beyond a shout of doubt. 00:25:07.448 --> 00:25:09.376 I know that I am a believer. 00:25:09.160 --> 00:25:09.880 I'm a Christian. 00:25:09.880 --> 00:25:11.216 I follow Jesus. 00:25:11.408 --> 00:25:14.456 Great. Then. 00:25:14.488 --> 00:25:16.820 Then you have an assignment this week. 00:25:17.950 --> 00:25:19.490 Examine your words. 00:25:21.230 --> 00:25:23.090 Examine your faith on Monday. 00:25:24.830 --> 00:25:27.130 Okay? You see, 00:25:28.190 --> 00:25:29.550 it's a tough thing to do. 00:25:29.550 --> 00:25:31.860 I've been doing it all week long. 00:25:31.510 --> 00:25:32.278 I've been here, 00:25:32.278 --> 00:25:33.268 I've been there, 00:25:33.406 --> 00:25:37.850 been over yonder watching. 00:25:39.230 --> 00:25:40.054 Am I. 00:25:40.142 --> 00:25:44.762 Do the words that are coming out of my mouth bring glory to goddess? 00:25:44.880 --> 00:25:50.780 Or did the words that come out of my mouth destroy? 00:25:52.080 --> 00:25:53.140 Be careful. 00:25:54.320 --> 00:25:57.344 Careful. So if you're mad at me, 00:25:57.512 --> 00:26:01.540 go ahead and pray now so that you can forgive me. 00:26:02.880 --> 00:26:05.408 Maybe you want to be a part of what God's doing here at the gathering. 00:26:05.408 --> 00:26:08.664 We've had some folks come and be a part of the gathering in recent weeks. 00:26:08.664 --> 00:26:10.656 We did baptism last week. 00:26:10.688 --> 00:26:13.832 I know we've got a lot of baptism coming up in the days ahead. 00:26:13.832 --> 00:26:15.016 Nick asked me this week. 00:26:15.016 --> 00:26:15.728 He said, 00:26:15.904 --> 00:26:16.496 pastor Nick, 00:26:16.496 --> 00:26:16.744 he said, 00:26:16.744 --> 00:26:20.374 bob, what if you just announced you were baptizing every Sunday? 00:26:20.520 --> 00:26:21.128 I was like, 00:26:21.128 --> 00:26:23.108 well, the baptistry is always full. 00:26:23.840 --> 00:26:25.180 We might as well. 00:26:25.600 --> 00:26:27.620 I brought swim trunks today. 00:26:28.520 --> 00:26:29.376 You see, 00:26:29.528 --> 00:26:31.392 you want to take a stand for Jesus, 00:26:31.392 --> 00:26:31.928 let me know. 00:26:31.928 --> 00:26:33.560 We'll go to the beach. 00:26:33.560 --> 00:26:34.420 All right? 00:26:35.440 --> 00:26:36.624 See, by faith, 00:26:36.712 --> 00:26:38.032 what do we do? 00:26:38.320 --> 00:26:39.460 By faith? 00:26:40.150 --> 00:26:41.382 By faith, 00:26:41.566 --> 00:26:42.890 we live for God. 00:26:43.510 --> 00:26:45.130 We exalt God. 00:26:45.430 --> 00:26:48.730 We let our lives be a testimony to his glory. 00:26:49.310 --> 00:26:52.438 We point people to Jesus. 00:26:52.574 --> 00:26:55.022 Okay, if you don't know Jesus, 00:26:55.166 --> 00:26:56.806 you got to know him to point people to him. 00:26:56.806 --> 00:26:58.310 Okay, let's pray. 00:26:58.350 --> 00:27:01.798 God, thank you for today and for your word and God, 00:27:01.798 --> 00:27:03.966 what you want to do and what you're doing. 00:27:03.966 --> 00:27:06.050 God, I admit I am. 00:27:06.490 --> 00:27:07.906 I'm a little disoriented, 00:27:07.938 --> 00:27:09.550 a little discombobulated. 00:27:10.090 --> 00:27:16.018 Cause it seems like there's a swirling going on around us all over. 00:27:16.074 --> 00:27:16.730 Not just. 00:27:16.730 --> 00:27:18.710 Not just in the big picture, 00:27:18.738 --> 00:27:20.130 but even in the small picture, 00:27:20.130 --> 00:27:23.990 there's this whirlpool. 00:27:25.730 --> 00:27:29.360 God, I need for my feet to be planted in you. 00:27:30.170 --> 00:27:32.480 God, I need to walk in you. 00:27:32.870 --> 00:27:35.130 I need to walk by faith. 00:27:35.870 --> 00:27:37.810 I need to trust you, 00:27:38.230 --> 00:27:42.150 not just for the next moment, 00:27:42.230 --> 00:27:43.358 but for my life. 00:27:43.358 --> 00:27:45.470 The very oxygen that I breathe, 00:27:45.510 --> 00:27:48.330 God, thank you. 00:27:49.390 --> 00:27:51.810 I want to praise you for providing. 00:27:52.870 --> 00:27:55.840 God, I want to say that I love you. 00:27:58.200 --> 00:27:59.190 I love you. 00:27:59.256 --> 00:28:00.296 You loved me first. 00:28:00.296 --> 00:28:01.616 You loved me best. 00:28:01.640 --> 00:28:03.290 God, I just love you. 00:28:03.880 --> 00:28:05.860 God, help us to love you, 00:28:06.840 --> 00:28:07.192 God. 00:28:07.216 --> 00:28:09.912 Is there those that need to make decisions for you this morning? 00:28:09.912 --> 00:28:13.140 I pray God you'd move them to that place. 00:28:13.760 --> 00:28:15.488 We pray it in Jesus name. 00:28:15.488 --> 00:28:17.880 Amen. I.