Letter to the Hebrews Message Twenty Six

We have learned of Paul’s –

III. Exhortation to believers 10:18—13:17 He began with an –

A. Exhortation to Faithfulness. Hebrews 10:18-39
We discovered that if we are to understand our relationship and life with God, we need to understand the meaning of faith. Paul recognized this need and in chapter eleven he began by giving an –
B. Explanation of faith. Hebrews 11:1-3
So, what is faith?
1. A Promise. Hebrews 11:1 “Substance of things hoped for” (Promise, Title deed)
2. A Presentation. “Evidence of things not seen.”
3. A Proof. Hebrews 11:2,3 The evidence presented by “…things that are seen were not made of things which do appear”
C. Examples of faithfulness. Hebrews 11:4-40
We looked at the –
1. Worship in faith – Able. Hebrews 11:4 “…offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice…God testifying of his gifts…”
2. Walk in faith – Enoch. Hebrews 11:5
3. Work in faith – Noah. Hebrews 11:7
This morning we turn to the truth that helped the Hebrew believers and will help us, the Title Deed given by God, executed by Jesus, written in His blood, and notarized by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13 “…ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise…”).
The –
4. Witnesses to faith. Hebrews 11:8-31

a. Committed to follow God. 11:8-16 Did not turn back!

Remember Jesus’ question to his disciples “will ye also turn back”? and the answer “To whom shall we go…”?
We must be careful in our remembrances of the past! Seldom are the memories accurate.
b. Confident in God. 11:17-22 Trusting in the trials.
They were confident in the –

1). Return home according to the promise of God. “In Isaac shall…”

God had been accomplishing the incredible, the unbelievable, all along in Abraham’s life. He was determined to believe God in simple faith! He had learned to trust God through –

a). Exercising faith.
b). Experiencing failures.

(1). He took his family along with him when he left the city of Ur when God had told him to get out from among them.
(2). He took his nephew Lot with him when he left Haran and was not blessed until Lot departed.
(3). He did not wait upon the Lord to give a son through Sarah his wife and had a son, Ishmael, by Sarah’s handmaid.

He had learned that it is better to obey than to say I wish I had trusted and obeyed God the first time. “…I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.”

2). Revelation of God. Promises of the future. “…the elder shall serve the younger…”

a). The blessing to Jacob. Genesis 27:28,29 “God give thee –“

(1). Provision. “the dew of heaven …fatness of the earth…plenty of corn and wine.”
(2). Power. “…people serve the…nations bow down to thee…”

b). The blessing to Esau. Genesis 27:39,40

(1). Resourcefulness. “thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth…”
(2). Rebellion. “…thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.”

3). The Reward given to Joseph. Genesis 48:22 blessings at the end of trials.

“Moreover I have given one portion above thy brethren…” A double blessing.

4). The release of the people from Egypt.

Hebrews 11:22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

Joseph was confident that God would lead Israel out of Egypt to return to their land. This was a most unlikely expectation at the time.

They had prestige – Joseph was second in power over all of Egypt.
They had place – Pharaoh gave them the land of Goshen, a good land.
They had power –

Exodus 1:7 And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.

This was what Joseph knew at the time and, practically speaking, any people would be hard pressed to leave such good conditions. Joseph trusted God and knew that He would get His people where He wanted them to be. After all, God had used slavery and prison to lead him to the seat of power. He was confident that God would do whatever was necessary to take them home and Joseph made them promise not to leave him behind!

Genesis 50:24-25 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. And Joseph took an oath of the children of hence.

Have confidence in God through faith. He will take care of the circumstances!

c. Courage of God Hebrews 11:23-31

Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

The mountain of trial and tribulation before was removed by their faith in God.

1). Risked their lives to protect their child. (Moses’ parents) ,
Hebrews 11:23
“…they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.”

2). Rejected the favour of the world and sought the favour of God. (Moses)
Hebrews 11:24-27

“…refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt:…”

3). Received and obeyed the Word of God to the saving of the people. Hebrews 11:28,29

“…kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of blood…Passed through the Red Sea as by dry land….”

4). Relied on the power of God to fight their battles. Hebrews 11:30 (Joshua)

“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down…”

5). Remained safe in the midst of battle according to the promise of God. (Rahab) Hebrews 11:31

“…Rahab perished not with them that believed not……”

All by faith!! “The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

The Title Deed to truth and trust in God. Do you received this promise? Are you saved, holding the promise of life in God through the Lord Jesus Christ?