By Faith
Stay in the Running
March 27, 2016 • Toby Henson
1. Let Us Seek Encouragement (12:1a) A. Seek encouragement through biblical study of faith heroes B. Seek encouragement by connecting with fellow believers 2. Let Us Throw Off (12:1b) We are to free ourselves from anything, however innocent, which hinders us in the Christian race. It could be any thought, attitude, or practice which slows us in the least. 3. Let Us Fix Our Eyes (12:2-3) We are to fix our attention on Jesus. This means that we must continually look away from distractions. As the "author" of our faith, Jesus is the originator of our faith. As the "perfecter" of our faith, He is the finisher of our faith. Fixing our eyes upon Jesus describes an attitude of faith, and not just a single act of saving faith. It describes an enduring faith.
Various Heroes of the Faith
March 20, 2016 • Toby Henson
1. Living by faith does not guarantee an easy life "They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goat skins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated--the world was not worthy of them" (Hebrews 11:37-38). 2. Living by faith does guarantee God's commendation "These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised" (Hebrews 11:39). 3. Living by faith does guarantee something better "God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect" (Hebrews 11:40).
Israel Part 2
March 13, 2016 • Toby Henson
"By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days. By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient." -Hebrews 11:30-31 1. Faith and Worship (Joshua 5:13-15) Joshua needed to worship before warring, to bow before battling, to submit before serving. Warren Wiersbe writes, "There can be no victory for the Lord in public unless we experience worship of the Lord in private." 2. Faith and Warfare (Joshua 6:1-5) Why did God choose this military strategy for the first battle in the promised land? It was because the real battle was not with the Canaanites, but with the Israelites. Not with the wall of a city, but with human hearts. 3. Faith and Waiting (Joshua 6:6-21) Every day, God tested the faith of the Israelites. They had to march by faith, play trumpets by faith, walk each day by faith, and then eventually shout a victory cry by faith. Faith and patience go together. 4. Faith and Winning (Joshua 6:22-25) Sometimes, we obey the Lord before the battle, but we disobey him after the victory. What takes place in winning is important. When God grants His people a great spiritual victory, it is for His purpose and His glory.
Israel Part 1
March 6, 2016 • Toby Henson
"By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned." -Hebrews 11:29 1. Crying Out in Fear As Israel was hemmed in by the Egyptian army, they were full of fear. The Red Sea was before them and the pursuing Egyptian army was behind them. They cried out in fear. 2. Walking in Faith Moses urged the people to do three things to help erase their fear of the Egyptians: A. Stand Firm B. Be Still C. Step Out 3. Praising in Triumph This great victory which God won for his people was celebrated in a song of praise. Israel goes from crying out in fear to walking in faith to praising in triumph.
Moses
February 28, 2016 • Toby Henson
1. A Self-denying faith (11:24-26) As the adopted son of the daughter of Pharaoh, Moses could have led an easy life in the palace. But his faith moved him to refuse that kind of life. He chose to identify with God's suffering people. 2. A Steadfast Faith (11:27) Moses' "persevered because he saw him who is invisible" (11:27). Moses paid more attention to the King of Kings than to the king of Egypt. Vance Havner noted, "Moses chose the imperishable, saw the invisible, and did the impossible." 3. A Saving Faith (11:28) Moses kept the Passover in faith because he believed that the sprinkling of blood would deliver from death. As the lamb was slaughtered in the first Passover in days of Moses, Christ "has been sacrificed" on the cross (1 Corinthians 5:7).
Abraham Part 2
February 14, 2016 • Toby Henson
"By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, 'It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.' Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death." -Hebrews 11:17-19 1. The testing of our faith produces spiritual growth The promise of God required that Isaac should live while the command of God demanded that he should die. Abraham chose to believe that God's promise could not fail, and he obeyed. God uses trials and tests to strengthen our faith and grow us spiritually. 2. The sacrifice of our faith is our spiritual worship Abraham did not withhold from God his "only son" (Genesis 22:12). True faith is not selfish in its duty to God. God needed no human sacrifice from Abraham, nor would He allow it. He wanted Abraham's willingness to offer up his most prized possession. Authentic worship will always include sacrifice. 3. The triumph of our faith results in spiritual blessings Abraham's faith ascended to the level of a resurrection, and God restored Isaac to him as one snatched unexpectedly from the dead. The resurrection of Isaac resulted in Abraham receiving and being a spiritual blessing. What we place on the altar will be resurrected by God for his purpose.
Abraham Part 1
February 7, 2016 • Toby Henson
1. Trust God's promises when faced with the unknown Abraham received a call to follow God which he accepted without question. He left Haran, his home, by faith and let God supply the road map. He set out for a promised new home. He had no idea where he was going. Every single day is filled with unknowns, but we worship the One to whom everything is known. 2. Trust God's promises when faced with the impossible God promised Abraham that he would be the father of "a great nation" (Genesis 12:2). In Genesis 17, God confirmed his covenant with Abraham. Abraham at 99 believed the promise that first caused him to laugh. The truly impossible became a possibility. The certainty of God's word far outweighs the impossible. 3. Trust God's promises when faced with waiting None of the patriarchs, including Abraham, saw the complete fulfillment of God's promises, but they saw from "afar off" what God was doing. They endured in faith because they embraced the promises of God. While we are waiting, we must also be obeying. It could be that we are laying a foundation today for a great revival generations away.
Noah
January 31, 2016 • Toby Henson
1. Faith Building "By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family" (Heb. 11:7a). Because of the corruption of humanity, God announced that He would blot out humanity, except for one family. Noah and his family survived as a consequence of God's grace. God's plan of rescue involved Noah building the ark, an act of faith. Noah's actions model faith building for us today. 2. Faith Preaching "By his faith he condemned the world..." (Heb. 11:7b). Noah, "a preacher of righteousness" (2 Peter 2:5), preached repentance and belief in God's salvation. The ark represented salvation. Anyone who repented would have been rescued from the judgement of God. Likewise, we are called to preach the gospel, which delivers from the penalty of sin. 3. Faith Righteousness "http://...and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith" (Heb. 11:7c). The good news of the gospel is that Jesus paid the penalty for our sin and made a way for the unrighteous to be declared righteous. Paul wrote, "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe" (Romans 3:22).
Abel
January 10, 2016 • Toby Henson
1. Acceptable Sacrifices are outward expressions of a Servant's heart "By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did" (Hebrews 11:4a). God sees the condition of the human heart. He has the ability to weigh the motive of the worshiper. Abel's offering was acceptable because it was offered in faith. 2. God Rewards the faith of a Righteous life "By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings" (Hebrews 11:4b). Is there any greater reward than the commendation of God? God detests those who pretend to worship Him. Even a sacrifice does not win His favor. But when a person has an upright heart, a simple act of worship is pleasing to God. 3. Authentic Worship produces an everlasting Witness "And by faith he (Abel) still speaks, even though he is dead" (Hebrews 11:4c). Even though Cain murdered Abel, the faith of Abel still speaks today. Even a violent death could not muzzle the message of faith.