HEBREWS 11 –THE
HALL OF FAITH!
FAITH DEFINED:
Chapter 10 – We are encouraged to not ‘shirk back’;
Remember who you are and Whose you are!
V1 “Now faith is being sure of what we
hope for and certain of what we do not
see.”
•“Being sure” = no doubt
•“of what we hope for” = I know now what will tomorrow
•“certain of what we do not see” – confident or
convinced about something. Something that is definite,
fixed, or inevitable, beyond doubt.
V2 Faith is what the ancients (former leaders) were known for!
They were ‘commended for’ = recognized and
congratulated for...
V3 First by faith, we believe God created all things by His
command –from nothing, all this was created by His Word
V4 Abel & Cain = Abel, by faith, brought God a better
offering: meat vs wheat? Cain knew God as well as Abel and
God knew Cain’s heart. Cain’s attitude towards God was
disrespectful, his familiarity with God made him hard hearted.
Yet Abel’s familiarity made him tender and loving toward
God...Abel was called righteous
•V5 Enoch was taken and never experienced death. Seen as
the person who pleased God –called righteous because of his
relationship with God
•V6 “...without faith it is impossible to please God
because anyone who comes to Him, must believe He
exists and that He rewards those who eagerly/diligently
seek Him.”
V7 Noah, even though he did not understand, built an ark
because he feared/reverenced God. His faith condemned the
world, saved his family, and he became an heir of righteousness
V8 Abraham didn’t know where God was sending him, yet by
faith, Abraham obeyed. He lived in the Promise Land as a visitor –
in tents –same as Isaac and Jacob.
V10 Abraham was looking forward to the city with foundations,
whose Architect and builder is God!
V11 Sarah laughed –but gave birth at an old age, beyond
childbearing age, because she considered God faithful!
V13 “All these people were living in faith when the died. They did
not receive things promised, they only saw them and welcomed
them from a distance...”
V16 “They were longing for a better country – a heavenly one.
Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God...for He has
prepared a city for them.”
Jesus said,
John 14: 1 – 3, “Do not let your hearts be troubled! Trust in God
and trust in Me (Jesus). My Father’s house has plenty of rooms; if
that were not so, I would have told you that I am going to
prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come back and take you with Me that you also may be
where I am.”
•V17-19 By faith Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice...
Abraham reasoned that God would raise Isaac from the dead
•V20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob & Esau, passing on the
promise
•V21 By faith Jacob blessed his sons and Joseph’s sons – he
died leaning on his staff/walking stick worshipping God
•V22 By faith Joseph spoke of the exodus out of Egypt
commanding them to carry his bones back to the Promise Land
•V23 By faith Moses’ parents saw Moses was not an
ordinary child – they recognized God’s hand of anointing on
Moses and choose to disobey the Pharaoh’s law
•V24-28 By faith Moses refused to be known as Pharaoh’s
nephew but chose to be mistreated with the people of God –
not enjoying the pleasures of this world. He saw disgrace for
Christ was greater than the treasures of Egypt/world –
because Moses was looking forward to God’s promises
•V29 By faith the Israelites passed through the Red Sea on
dry land
•V30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell!
•V31 By faith Rahab –a prostitute –was saved because
she believed the stories she heard about the God of Israel
•V32-35 Consider: Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David,
Samuel and all the prophets! Through faith conquered
kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was
promised...they shut up the mouths of lions, escaped
swords...their weaknesses was turned to strength...
•V36-37 They faced jeers, flogging, chains and prison, and
put to death... (Today look at Nigeria, China, Indonesia...)
•V38 “The world was not worthy of them!”
•V39 –40 These were all commended (recognized and
congratulated) for their faith, yet none of them received (here
on earth) what had been promised...God had planned
something better –their perfection...
•Perfection = The pre-sin creation...in Christ we are being made
perfect –no longer bonded by sin but are more than conquerors
in Christ! (Romans 8)
•What will
they say
about you?
•“By faith
(your
name) ...
