1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:17,520 Good morning, family. 2 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:23,280 I'm going to finish up chapter 10, going through all of chapter 11. 3 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:28,480 This will be different than what you've ever heard a faith message to be. 4 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:29,480 Yes. 5 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:31,360 Thank you. 6 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:32,360 Thank you so much. 7 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:33,760 She got me. 8 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:38,480 So before we do that, we have a congregational reading. 9 00:00:38,480 --> 00:00:41,760 So let us read together. 10 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:45,440 We believe of saving faith. 11 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:53,920 This faith is different in degrees, weak or strong, may be often and many ways attacked, 12 00:00:53,920 --> 00:01:03,760 abused, weakened, but gets the victory, growing many to full assurance through Christ, who 13 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:09,840 is both the author and finisher of our faith, Westminster Confession. 14 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:12,280 So what is saving faith? 15 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:13,440 What is faith? 16 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:15,240 Have we ever really thought about that? 17 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:20,840 I'm sure you've heard many messages on faith as being sure what you hope for in the evidence 18 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:22,480 and what you don't see. 19 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:25,760 Faith is being able to move mountains. 20 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:30,140 Faith is little and faith is great and faith is all those things. 21 00:01:30,140 --> 00:01:33,920 But I want to share with you that faith is even more than that. 22 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:36,520 It's one thing to say that you have faith. 23 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:46,100 Many people have made a profession of faith, yet live faithless lives. 24 00:01:46,100 --> 00:01:52,160 So how can you be a person of faith and yet live as if you have none? 25 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:58,880 We're going to answer this question because real true biblical faith is a lot more evident 26 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:02,720 in believers and clearly not seen in unbelievers. 27 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:08,340 So before we get into that part, I want to build something here and this is the issue 28 00:02:08,340 --> 00:02:16,840 of confidence because what we'll learn in chapter 11 verse 1 is that faith is the assurance 29 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:21,640 of things hoped for and the conviction or the confidence of things not seen. 30 00:02:21,640 --> 00:02:27,360 And so one of the things I think that the writer does so masterfully in Hebrews is he 31 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:34,720 builds us up to this point where he says those who claim to be believers yet willingly and 32 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:40,040 deliberately continue to sin, they are not believers. 33 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:44,520 And so he leaves us as believers with some very important things we need to understand 34 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:46,480 and that is where we're at now. 35 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:51,120 So verse 32 of chapter 10 is where we're going to start. 36 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:58,200 First principle, when you live in confidence, hold fast, not neglecting one another in love 37 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:04,280 and walk in obedience and holiness with our King, you will joyfully give everything to 38 00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:08,120 and for him even your life in death and suffering. 39 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:14,080 In other words, if Christ is your confidence and you are fully convinced that he is and 40 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:19,360 you hold fast to the gospel, you don't neglect one another, you walk in obedience, you are 41 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:24,800 willing to give everything to the point of death. 42 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:30,800 In 1 Peter 1, 6 through 7 says it this way, in this you rejoice though now for a little 43 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:38,800 while if necessary you have been grieved by various trials so that the tested genuineness 44 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:46,000 of your faith more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire may be 45 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:53,640 found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 46 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:58,520 Now when we read this we come to understand some very important things in Hebrews 10, 47 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:01,320 32 through 34. 48 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:08,120 But recall the former days when after you were enlightened, in other words remember 49 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:16,680 the day that you came to Christ, how you were imbued, permeated with the saving knowledge 50 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:21,160 of Jesus that the saving knowledge of Christ would pour out of you. 51 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:25,080 Do you remember those days? 52 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:31,480 You endured a hard struggle with sufferings as a result of understanding that saving grace. 53 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:32,760 That's the point. 54 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:41,200 Are you willing to endure struggles and sufferings because of the saving knowledge that permeates 55 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:42,680 through your life? 56 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:46,720 Your life is saturated with Christ. 57 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:52,120 And as a result of understanding that my life is permeated with the saving knowledge of 58 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:58,640 God and that I have endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes those sufferings 59 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:03,040 being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction. 60 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:10,160 How many of you guys can truly say that I am willing to suffer for the cause of Christ? 61 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:11,880 Put myself out there. 62 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:18,480 I am willing to go through the affliction for the cause of Christ. 63 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:21,000 Do we love affliction? 64 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:27,880 Do we look at affliction and reproach as a badge of honor because we carry the name? 65 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:34,400 And sometimes being partners with those who are also treated that way. 66 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:40,440 That would you leave your house seeing that your neighbor who is a believer is being persecuted, 67 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:47,080 mistreated, afflicted, that you would go out and get on your knees with them and so be 68 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:52,280 treated the same way? 69 00:05:52,280 --> 00:05:54,320 Got quiet. 70 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:56,120 Even the kids are quiet. 71 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:59,240 Like, that's a true statement, right? 72 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:07,800 So for you had compassion on those in prison and you joyfully accepted the plundering of 73 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:13,040 your property, would you be happy for someone to pull you out of your house, take your house 74 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:17,040 and your things and say you are no longer welcome here? 75 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:19,800 And then beat you in public. 76 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:24,560 See, they joyfully accepted the plundering of their property. 77 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:29,000 Their property was not only taken from them but destroyed. 78 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:30,800 Would you be happy with someone destroying your house? 79 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:34,400 See, I think in America we would have a serious problem with that. 80 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:38,640 Because we don't live for the city to come. 81 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:42,080 We don't really live for our future home. 82 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:45,120 We are not looking forward to what we will have. 83 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:47,920 We are looking forward to what we have now. 84 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:53,260 And if I can make it a little bit better, a little bit more comfortable, do I have the 85 00:06:53,260 --> 00:06:56,960 right stuff? 86 00:06:56,960 --> 00:07:02,320 And so they joyfully accepted the plundering of her property. 87 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:03,320 Why? 88 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:08,380 Because you knew that yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. 89 00:07:08,380 --> 00:07:14,280 That's one thing I want you to understand is one day when you are gone, your house will 90 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:17,240 be gone too. 91 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:20,060 Everything on this planet will burn. 92 00:07:20,060 --> 00:07:21,060 Nothing will be left. 93 00:07:21,060 --> 00:07:24,440 You are not building for a future. 94 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:27,760 You are building for the kingdom. 95 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:30,840 That is now and to come. 96 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:38,160 Now if anyone throws away their confidence, does not hold fast to their hope, neglects 97 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:44,600 the brotherhood in love, and walks in disobedience and unholiness, they will receive what was 98 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:48,220 always intended for them, destruction. 99 00:07:48,220 --> 00:07:51,200 God has no pleasure in them. 100 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:57,900 So there is a distinction between those who believe and hold on tightly to the reality 101 00:07:57,900 --> 00:08:04,160 of their convictions, of their confidence in Christ, than those who say they believe 102 00:08:04,160 --> 00:08:14,520 but yet forfeit and walk away thinking they are still in because they said a prayer. 103 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:21,960 First Peter 1,7, so that the tested genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold, that 104 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:27,560 perishes though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and 105 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:31,120 honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 106 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:38,200 Can you say that when Christ comes and that he has been revealed that you will beyond 107 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:45,840 the shadow of a doubt hear from him, well done my good and faithful servant. 108 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:49,400 Hebrews 10, 35-39. 109 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:56,520 Therefore do not throw away, apabalo, throw off, cast off a garment. 110 00:08:56,520 --> 00:09:04,240 This word throw away means to take Jesus off and toss him away. 111 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:07,400 See for the believer that is an impossibility. 112 00:09:07,400 --> 00:09:12,660 But for those who claim that they are religious and know Christ, it is easy because when they 113 00:09:12,660 --> 00:09:19,640 go under the trial and under the test, they are willing to quickly get rid of it. 114 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:25,300 Jesus says if you deny me before men I will deny you before my father which is in heaven. 115 00:09:25,300 --> 00:09:31,560 So what the writer is saying here to us is don't be quick, therefore do not throw away, 116 00:09:31,560 --> 00:09:34,600 do not cast off the garment of Christ. 117 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:35,860 Why? 118 00:09:35,860 --> 00:09:39,520 Because your confidence which has a great reward is him. 119 00:09:39,520 --> 00:09:40,960 That's what it means. 120 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:45,560 Do not throw away your confidence which has a great reward. 121 00:09:45,560 --> 00:09:47,040 What is your great reward? 122 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:48,120 Him. 123 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:49,720 What do you get from him? 124 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:51,100 A place. 125 00:09:51,100 --> 00:09:52,460 What is the place called? 126 00:09:52,460 --> 00:09:53,600 The city. 127 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:55,120 What is in that city? 128 00:09:55,120 --> 00:09:58,180 Your home. 129 00:09:58,180 --> 00:10:01,440 Verse 37, verse 36. 130 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:05,360 For you have need of endurance. 131 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:10,160 We have to hold on to our confidence because we must learn to endure. 132 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:13,120 That's one of the problems with the church in America today. 133 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:15,600 It doesn't know how to endure. 134 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:19,320 She does not know how to stand under the pressure. 135 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:23,880 She wants to be told how amazing she is. 136 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:28,440 They find preachers that tell them you know what, God loves you. 137 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:30,100 He does. 138 00:10:30,100 --> 00:10:33,840 But God also wants you to be conformed to the image of his son which requires that he 139 00:10:33,840 --> 00:10:37,400 disciplines you and discipline is not pleasurable. 140 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:40,320 Next chapter, chapter 12. 141 00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:42,480 We'll learn that. 142 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:46,440 So look what it says, continue to read. 143 00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:51,960 And you have need of endurance so that when you have done the will of God, when you have 144 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:57,480 done the will of God, when you have obeyed, you may receive what is promised. 145 00:10:57,480 --> 00:10:58,480 What is promised? 146 00:10:58,480 --> 00:11:00,900 The kingdom. 147 00:11:00,900 --> 00:11:01,900 What is promised? 148 00:11:01,900 --> 00:11:03,280 Him. 149 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:04,320 What is promised? 150 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:06,560 No more crying anymore. 151 00:11:06,560 --> 00:11:07,560 What is promised? 152 00:11:07,560 --> 00:11:08,940 No more disease. 153 00:11:08,940 --> 00:11:11,000 What is promised? 154 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:12,840 Where he is, you will be. 155 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:14,920 He is the promised. 156 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:24,800 Now verse 37, because we live in this earth, yet a little while, only for a little while, 157 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:28,680 and the coming one will come and will not delay. 158 00:11:28,680 --> 00:11:30,520 Why? 159 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:35,000 But my righteous one shall live by faith. 160 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:39,020 You must live by faith. 161 00:11:39,020 --> 00:11:40,020 What is faith? 162 00:11:40,020 --> 00:11:41,760 I'll answer that in a minute. 163 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:46,560 You the righteous one shall live by faith. 164 00:11:46,560 --> 00:11:56,280 And if he shrinks back, hu pastule means to be timid, to cower, to shrink, or to hesitating 165 00:11:56,280 --> 00:11:59,600 to avow what they believe. 166 00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:07,160 Are you willing to hesitate what you believe, what you claim that you believe? 167 00:12:07,160 --> 00:12:08,160 Are you timid? 168 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:09,640 Do you cower? 169 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:10,640 Do you shrink? 170 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:14,960 What does it mean to do that? 171 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:20,240 I think many people, when the pressure is on, shrink real fast. 172 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:22,920 Now here we go. 173 00:12:22,920 --> 00:12:31,320 So and if he shrinks back, my soul who has no pleasure in him, if the person shrinks 174 00:12:31,320 --> 00:12:35,520 back, my soul has no pleasure in him, the Lord says. 175 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:41,840 My righteous shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, I'm not pleased with him at 176 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:42,840 all. 177 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:45,280 Isn't that incredible? 178 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:48,240 What's it mean to have no pleasure? 179 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:52,400 But we are not of those who shrink, are you? 180 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:55,880 We are not destroyed, are you? 181 00:12:55,880 --> 00:13:01,640 But of those who have faith and preserve their souls. 182 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:07,540 That through the power of faith, the gift of faith, we are preserved by the power of 183 00:13:07,540 --> 00:13:10,560 God for all eternity. 184 00:13:10,560 --> 00:13:17,560 Now what is this faith that he's talking about? 185 00:13:17,560 --> 00:13:21,600 Here's my clarification of this definition. 186 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:23,240 I want you to hear this. 187 00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:31,040 Faith, the gift of God, is to know with firm trust and full assurance in God's word by 188 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:34,320 which we are fully convinced without wavering. 189 00:13:34,320 --> 00:13:35,980 That's faith. 190 00:13:35,980 --> 00:13:44,480 It's to know what God says is true, to trust him, and to live in action. 191 00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:47,960 Because if I'm convinced without wavering, I do. 192 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:54,360 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing. 193 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:55,360 What? 194 00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:56,360 Faith. 195 00:13:56,360 --> 00:13:57,360 So here we go. 196 00:13:57,360 --> 00:13:58,360 You guys ready for this? 197 00:13:58,360 --> 00:13:59,360 It's gonna hurt. 198 00:13:59,360 --> 00:14:01,680 I like doing stuff like this. 199 00:14:01,680 --> 00:14:03,040 You guys know? 200 00:14:03,040 --> 00:14:04,440 Faith. 201 00:14:04,440 --> 00:14:06,320 Do dead things talk? 202 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:07,640 No. 203 00:14:07,640 --> 00:14:10,220 Do dead things breathe? 204 00:14:10,220 --> 00:14:13,120 Do dead things have faith? 205 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:16,760 Then how come we have a bunch of walking dead people who don't know Christ that are dead 206 00:14:16,760 --> 00:14:20,680 in their trespasses and sins for the wages of sin is death, but yet they say they have 207 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:23,920 faith? 208 00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:25,720 Because it's my faith. 209 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:29,680 That's my faith, and I put my faith in Jesus. 210 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:31,360 You're dead. 211 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:32,880 What faith are you putting in? 212 00:14:32,880 --> 00:14:35,620 You have no faith to give. 213 00:14:35,620 --> 00:14:37,880 What faith is that? 214 00:14:37,880 --> 00:14:42,000 This is not like a window goes up and it stays up because you believe it's gonna stay. 215 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:44,440 This is a faith that's beyond you. 216 00:14:44,440 --> 00:14:46,420 This is a supernatural faith. 217 00:14:46,420 --> 00:14:50,280 This is a faith given by God. 218 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:52,680 Dead people, dead things don't have faith. 219 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:55,480 So how do we receive faith? 220 00:14:55,480 --> 00:14:59,080 Faith comes by hearing and hearing that of the word of Christ. 221 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:04,240 So the faith that you have to have to know that God will do what he says he's gonna do 222 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:08,960 comes from him and that comes through the preaching of the gospel. 223 00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:14,220 There is no other way to receive the gift of faith. 224 00:15:14,220 --> 00:15:18,800 And then when the faith has been deposited in you from the power of the Holy Spirit, 225 00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:25,040 the Holy Spirit regenerates you, renews you, and in response to that gift, you confess 226 00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:27,860 that he is Lord. 227 00:15:27,860 --> 00:15:34,960 You cannot confess without being made alive because dead people don't talk. 228 00:15:34,960 --> 00:15:41,080 Now this gift of faith is not a result of works so that no one may boast. 229 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:48,000 I can't say it's my faith, it's really God's faith. 230 00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:49,360 I use this analogy a lot. 231 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:57,680 If you ever watch Frosty the Snowman, he is dead until he receives the power of the hat 232 00:15:57,680 --> 00:16:04,520 by which the first response of being alive is, happy birthday. 233 00:16:04,520 --> 00:16:06,040 I'm alive. 234 00:16:06,040 --> 00:16:12,520 The first response to a believer who has been made alive is, Jesus is Lord. 235 00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:13,520 I'm alive. 236 00:16:13,520 --> 00:16:22,640 If you ever watch Frosty the Snowman, I believe it's a Christian cartoon. 237 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:23,640 Just saying. 238 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:28,480 The problem is he keeps losing his salvation which means he's an Arminianist. 239 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:32,480 See if he was a Calvinist, he'd never lose his hat. 240 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:34,880 Just saying. 241 00:16:34,880 --> 00:16:36,680 Just trying to be funny. 242 00:16:36,680 --> 00:16:37,760 All right. 243 00:16:37,760 --> 00:16:38,760 Here it is. 244 00:16:38,760 --> 00:16:39,760 All right. 245 00:16:39,760 --> 00:16:41,640 Now let's go, verse two. 246 00:16:41,640 --> 00:16:49,560 So verse one, now faith is the assurance, the firm trust of hope. 247 00:16:49,560 --> 00:16:51,040 See that? 248 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:55,840 Faith is the assurance or the firm trust of things hoped for. 249 00:16:55,840 --> 00:16:56,840 No. 250 00:16:56,840 --> 00:16:58,320 I like it better this way. 251 00:16:58,320 --> 00:17:02,800 It's not just the things, it's who my hope is in. 252 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:08,760 Faith is the assurance of my hope, Christ. 253 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:16,460 For the end, the conviction of things not seen or the conviction of unseen things. 254 00:17:16,460 --> 00:17:22,560 Now what's interesting about this word conviction is it's literally just conviction. 255 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:24,440 What am I convicted of? 256 00:17:24,440 --> 00:17:26,200 I'm convicted that God is. 257 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:27,400 And here's the clarification. 258 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:29,920 The writer clarifies this. 259 00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:35,520 In understanding faith, he gives a very clear declaration of what faith is. 260 00:17:35,520 --> 00:17:42,560 For by faith, by it, the people of old received their commendation. 261 00:17:42,560 --> 00:17:44,160 What did they receive? 262 00:17:44,160 --> 00:17:45,160 What was promised? 263 00:17:45,160 --> 00:17:46,160 Did they see it? 264 00:17:46,160 --> 00:17:48,160 They did not. 265 00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:49,720 They died. 266 00:17:49,720 --> 00:17:56,340 But they still knew, convicted, absolutely knew, and were assured that they would receive 267 00:17:56,340 --> 00:17:58,080 what was promised. 268 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:05,120 And by faith, verse three, we understand that the universe was created by the word of God. 269 00:18:05,120 --> 00:18:10,680 So that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. 270 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:11,680 Now I want you to get this. 271 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:15,960 I love talking Genesis and creationism, which you guys know. 272 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:20,100 I've talked a lot about this over my several years here. 273 00:18:20,100 --> 00:18:26,160 So one of the things I want you to see when you see Genesis, Genesis is not just God creating. 274 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:29,000 Like he speaks in woohoo. 275 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:34,480 Like Genesis is a masterful piece of art. 276 00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:41,000 So when God speaks, he speaks the things that you cannot see, which become the things that 277 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:42,720 you see. 278 00:18:42,720 --> 00:18:43,720 How do you know? 279 00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:46,600 Can you see hydrogen? 280 00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:47,600 Can you see oxygen? 281 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:54,740 Do you know that's what he did after day one? 282 00:18:54,740 --> 00:18:58,080 He separated the waters from the waters. 283 00:18:58,080 --> 00:19:03,340 And he brought together the waters and created the earth. 284 00:19:03,340 --> 00:19:07,040 And out of the earth, he creates land. 285 00:19:07,040 --> 00:19:10,680 Isn't that interesting? 286 00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:13,080 Things you don't see, he creates the visible. 287 00:19:13,080 --> 00:19:15,120 The invisible creates the visible. 288 00:19:15,120 --> 00:19:19,520 And what's interesting about that reality is that is what God created. 289 00:19:19,520 --> 00:19:25,560 He created the very gas of hydrogen, H2O, two oxygen. 290 00:19:25,560 --> 00:19:30,040 And he gathers them together and creates water. 291 00:19:30,040 --> 00:19:31,040 Water is H2O. 292 00:19:31,040 --> 00:19:35,280 And the gathering of together is the oceans. 293 00:19:35,280 --> 00:19:39,200 And that's what you see. 294 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:40,200 That's what this means. 295 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:43,520 He speaks it and it happens. 296 00:19:43,520 --> 00:19:45,920 So why is this important? 297 00:19:45,920 --> 00:19:48,120 Why is this so important, especially? 298 00:19:48,120 --> 00:19:49,520 Here's one of the things I want you to see. 299 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:52,600 So we know what faith is. 300 00:19:52,600 --> 00:19:59,040 But did you know that the way the writer writes chapter 11 is he writes it from the perspective 301 00:19:59,040 --> 00:20:04,200 of several events through history. 302 00:20:04,200 --> 00:20:13,500 And he points out people and events that these people lived in to show you faith in action. 303 00:20:13,500 --> 00:20:14,500 So here we go. 304 00:20:14,500 --> 00:20:16,000 You guys ready? 305 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:17,000 Good. 306 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:18,720 This is going to be fun. 307 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:28,040 So what we see in verses four through seven is faith before the flood. 308 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:34,320 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. 309 00:20:34,320 --> 00:20:37,360 And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering. 310 00:20:37,360 --> 00:20:38,360 Why? 311 00:20:38,360 --> 00:20:42,640 Because by faith he brings the best of his offering. 312 00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:46,960 Not just the best of his offering, but the firstborn. 313 00:20:46,960 --> 00:20:48,960 Who is the firstborn? 314 00:20:48,960 --> 00:20:57,800 Jesus, firstborn of Mary, the firstborn to break the womb, the only begotten of the Father. 315 00:20:57,800 --> 00:21:03,600 And so what do you see in the very sacrifice of Abel is the gospel. 316 00:21:03,600 --> 00:21:05,720 That's why God had regard. 317 00:21:05,720 --> 00:21:11,180 Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him. 318 00:21:11,180 --> 00:21:16,320 Notice again, Abel lives in obedience by giving the best of what he has, the firstborn. 319 00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:22,440 Enoch walked with God being obedient and God took him because he lived right. 320 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:23,440 Genesis 524. 321 00:21:23,440 --> 00:21:25,320 And then Noah did this. 322 00:21:25,320 --> 00:21:27,520 He did all that God had commanded him. 323 00:21:27,520 --> 00:21:29,040 Genesis 622. 324 00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:36,600 So what do we see in verses four through seven is that true faith is obedience in action. 325 00:21:36,600 --> 00:21:42,800 If I really believe and trust God and what he says, I will do it. 326 00:21:42,800 --> 00:21:43,800 No questions. 327 00:21:43,800 --> 00:21:45,600 Don't need to figure it out. 328 00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:49,080 Don't need to worry about what reward I'm going to get now. 329 00:21:49,080 --> 00:21:51,520 I see a reward coming, but I'm not doing it for the reward. 330 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:53,440 I'm doing it for Christ. 331 00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:54,640 Because that's what matters to me. 332 00:21:54,640 --> 00:21:55,640 I love God. 333 00:21:55,640 --> 00:21:56,640 I love his word. 334 00:21:56,640 --> 00:21:57,640 I love his ways. 335 00:21:57,640 --> 00:21:58,640 I love his things. 336 00:21:58,640 --> 00:21:59,640 That's what matters to me. 337 00:21:59,640 --> 00:22:00,640 That's my drive. 338 00:22:00,640 --> 00:22:01,640 And this is what we see. 339 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:10,440 My faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, though or through which 340 00:22:10,440 --> 00:22:20,680 he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gift through faith. 341 00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:23,280 Though he died, he still speaks. 342 00:22:23,280 --> 00:22:26,040 Isn't that interesting? 343 00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:28,340 Isn't that interesting? 344 00:22:28,340 --> 00:22:33,880 Though he died, his blood still speaks from the ground. 345 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:34,880 Why? 346 00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:43,480 Because he preached the gospel in offering of the firstborn of his flock. 347 00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:51,200 By faith, Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death and he was not found because 348 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:52,720 God had taken him. 349 00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:57,440 Now before he was taken, he was commended as having pleased God. 350 00:22:57,440 --> 00:22:58,440 Why? 351 00:22:58,440 --> 00:22:59,440 Because he was obedient. 352 00:22:59,440 --> 00:23:04,040 See, faith is obedient. 353 00:23:04,040 --> 00:23:09,400 Without faith, it is impossible to please him for whoever would draw near to God must 354 00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:13,120 believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 355 00:23:13,120 --> 00:23:14,120 Why? 356 00:23:14,120 --> 00:23:18,800 Because every good father blesses his children when they're obedient. 357 00:23:18,800 --> 00:23:19,800 That's the point. 358 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:20,800 Do you see the point? 359 00:23:20,800 --> 00:23:25,000 Do you start, you're starting to see what real faith is. 360 00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:26,000 Look what it says. 361 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:35,200 Noah, for by faith, Noah being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, 120 years 362 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:39,120 he built an ark and preached the gospel. 363 00:23:39,120 --> 00:23:40,200 That's what it says. 364 00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:46,920 He preached the good news to the people 120 years as he was building the ark, being made 365 00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:49,720 fun of and teased and thought he was crazy. 366 00:23:49,720 --> 00:23:57,000 Being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear, constructed an 367 00:23:57,000 --> 00:24:01,200 ark for the saving of his household. 368 00:24:01,200 --> 00:24:04,080 What's reverent fear? 369 00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:06,000 Obedience. 370 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:12,760 By this, he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by 371 00:24:12,760 --> 00:24:13,760 faith. 372 00:24:13,760 --> 00:24:15,820 You want heaven? 373 00:24:15,820 --> 00:24:17,600 It only comes by faith. 374 00:24:17,600 --> 00:24:18,720 How do you get faith? 375 00:24:18,720 --> 00:24:20,640 It is a gift of the living God. 376 00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:27,160 You cannot get in just by your own quote unquote my faith. 377 00:24:27,160 --> 00:24:29,680 Faith after the flood. 378 00:24:29,680 --> 00:24:36,400 So Abraham went and as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him and Abram was 75 years 379 00:24:36,400 --> 00:24:43,440 old when he departed from Haran, Genesis 12, 4. 380 00:24:43,440 --> 00:24:49,400 So in Hebrews chapter 11, 8 through 12 says this, by faith Abraham obeyed when he was 381 00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:57,400 called to go out to the place that he was to receive as an inheritance and he went out 382 00:24:57,400 --> 00:25:02,540 knowing not knowing sorry, not knowing where he was going. 383 00:25:02,540 --> 00:25:06,640 How many of you guys would go and follow Jesus but not know where you're going? 384 00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:08,400 He did. 385 00:25:08,400 --> 00:25:14,480 So by faith he went to live in the land of promise as in a foreign land. 386 00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:19,000 See, this was his land but he lived there as if it wasn't. 387 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:20,520 Why? 388 00:25:20,520 --> 00:25:22,280 Because it was what was to come for him. 389 00:25:22,280 --> 00:25:24,320 Look what it says. 390 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:30,480 Living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise for he was looking 391 00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:36,600 forward to the city that has foundations whose designer and builder is God. 392 00:25:36,600 --> 00:25:37,600 What city? 393 00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:44,320 Not the city of Jerusalem, the city of the New Jerusalem he was looking forward to. 394 00:25:44,320 --> 00:25:48,920 Not the buildings that were built on this earth, it's the buildings that are eternal 395 00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:50,920 that he was looking forward to. 396 00:25:50,920 --> 00:25:56,520 The true foundations, the foundations that will never be shaken by faith Sarah herself 397 00:25:56,520 --> 00:26:00,000 received power to conceive. 398 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:06,680 Even when she was past the age since she considered him faithful who had promised, you remember 399 00:26:06,680 --> 00:26:09,960 she was in the tent and she makes a laugh and God says why are you laughing? 400 00:26:09,960 --> 00:26:11,560 And she goes I am not laughing. 401 00:26:11,560 --> 00:26:13,720 He says no you're laughing. 402 00:26:13,720 --> 00:26:21,160 I can't help but think that after that moment Sarah sits down and goes oh my goodness I 403 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:25,880 seen him do all this and I laughed and I told him I didn't. 404 00:26:25,880 --> 00:26:35,680 But she by faith had received power from God to conceive and bear a child from Abraham. 405 00:26:35,680 --> 00:26:41,600 Power from one man and him as good as dead. 406 00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:47,600 Abraham was going to die, he was 100 years old when she got pregnant. 407 00:26:47,600 --> 00:26:53,960 From him were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the inerrable 408 00:26:53,960 --> 00:26:56,200 grains of sand by the seashore. 409 00:26:56,200 --> 00:27:04,360 So I want you to understand that this is not the Jews. 410 00:27:04,360 --> 00:27:07,840 All the stars in the heaven were not all the Jews. 411 00:27:07,840 --> 00:27:11,080 All the sand was not the Jews. 412 00:27:11,080 --> 00:27:15,360 It was all believers. 413 00:27:15,360 --> 00:27:17,240 All believers. 414 00:27:17,240 --> 00:27:21,240 He will be a father of many nations. 415 00:27:21,240 --> 00:27:26,120 That is the grain of sand and the stars of heaven. 416 00:27:26,120 --> 00:27:31,320 Not only is he a father of a nation called Israel but he's the father of us all. 417 00:27:31,320 --> 00:27:39,680 Friends, faith of pre and post flood is the same faith given to us today. 418 00:27:39,680 --> 00:27:42,120 Chapter 11 verse 12 through 16. 419 00:27:42,120 --> 00:27:47,040 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. 420 00:27:47,040 --> 00:27:51,680 In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your path. 421 00:27:51,680 --> 00:27:57,780 Have you ever read Proverbs 3 and looked at it from the perspective that this is a true 422 00:27:57,780 --> 00:28:00,240 faith statement? 423 00:28:00,240 --> 00:28:06,080 Or do we just stick it on our wallpaper on our computers or put it on the wall of our 424 00:28:06,080 --> 00:28:11,040 house as a picture or a print because we trust in the Lord with all of our heart. 425 00:28:11,040 --> 00:28:13,760 Do we really trust in the Lord with all of our heart? 426 00:28:13,760 --> 00:28:16,400 Or do we really depend on our own understanding? 427 00:28:16,400 --> 00:28:26,760 Do you acknowledge him in all your ways and trust that he will straighten your path? 428 00:28:26,760 --> 00:28:31,440 One of our motto here is to love God, to love his word, love his ways and love his things. 429 00:28:31,440 --> 00:28:34,960 It's very important that we understand that precept. 430 00:28:34,960 --> 00:28:35,960 Why? 431 00:28:35,960 --> 00:28:39,400 Because if we can't love his things we can't love his ways. 432 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:42,360 Because if you're being obedient by loving his things you're going to love his ways because 433 00:28:42,360 --> 00:28:44,360 that's what being obedient is about. 434 00:28:44,360 --> 00:28:48,760 And you cannot be obedient unless you know his word. 435 00:28:48,760 --> 00:28:51,760 Unless you know what he's telling you you should do. 436 00:28:51,760 --> 00:28:54,240 And Jesus says you can't love me if you don't obey me. 437 00:28:54,240 --> 00:28:58,600 Which means if we love his word then we're loving him. 438 00:28:58,600 --> 00:29:04,680 Love his stuff, love his ways, love his word, you love him. 439 00:29:04,680 --> 00:29:08,200 The greatest commitment, love the Lord your God. 440 00:29:08,200 --> 00:29:12,360 It's a practical way of learning to love God. 441 00:29:12,360 --> 00:29:19,320 So this wonderful post and pre and post flood is the, faith pre and post flood is the same 442 00:29:19,320 --> 00:29:21,000 that we have today. 443 00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:30,080 12 through 16, these all died in faith not having received the things promised but having 444 00:29:30,080 --> 00:29:37,160 seen them and greeted them from afar and having acknowledged that they were strangers and 445 00:29:37,160 --> 00:29:38,440 exiles on the earth. 446 00:29:38,440 --> 00:29:42,960 They saw what they were to, what was to come. 447 00:29:42,960 --> 00:29:43,960 What was that? 448 00:29:43,960 --> 00:29:46,920 Christ crucified. 449 00:29:46,920 --> 00:29:48,720 They saw what was to come. 450 00:29:48,720 --> 00:29:49,720 What was that? 451 00:29:49,720 --> 00:29:53,360 The promised inheritance of eternal life with him. 452 00:29:53,360 --> 00:29:54,680 They saw what was to come. 453 00:29:54,680 --> 00:29:55,680 What was that? 454 00:29:55,680 --> 00:29:59,040 That I will go and prepare a place for you and if I go to prepare a place for you I will 455 00:29:59,040 --> 00:30:03,380 come and take you unto myself. 456 00:30:03,380 --> 00:30:08,200 We know what he brings to us. 457 00:30:08,200 --> 00:30:16,480 And more than all those things they knew what was to come and that was him. 458 00:30:16,480 --> 00:30:21,840 As King, look what it says, they lived as exiles on the earth. 459 00:30:21,840 --> 00:30:24,920 Do you live as strangers and exiles on this earth? 460 00:30:24,920 --> 00:30:28,720 What are you really leaving behind? 461 00:30:28,720 --> 00:30:34,320 The house and wealth or Christ and his gospel? 462 00:30:34,320 --> 00:30:41,560 Verse 14, for people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 463 00:30:41,560 --> 00:30:42,560 What homeland? 464 00:30:42,560 --> 00:30:43,560 Jerusalem? 465 00:30:43,560 --> 00:30:44,560 Nope. 466 00:30:44,560 --> 00:30:45,920 The kingdom of God. 467 00:30:45,920 --> 00:30:51,840 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out they would have had 468 00:30:51,840 --> 00:30:54,060 opportunity to return. 469 00:30:54,060 --> 00:31:00,120 If Abraham said, you know what, I'm going to go back home, he could have easily went 470 00:31:00,120 --> 00:31:04,640 back home, but they weren't seeking what they had left. 471 00:31:04,640 --> 00:31:06,880 They were seeking what was to come. 472 00:31:06,880 --> 00:31:14,820 Now, verse 16, but as it is they desire a better country that is a heavenly one. 473 00:31:14,820 --> 00:31:24,280 For God is not ashamed to be called their God for he has prepared for them a city. 474 00:31:24,280 --> 00:31:29,480 Though I live in America and I am American, this is not my country. 475 00:31:29,480 --> 00:31:32,480 My country is called the kingdom of the living God. 476 00:31:32,480 --> 00:31:34,120 I have a king. 477 00:31:34,120 --> 00:31:41,120 And as a sojourner walking through this earth, I will live in responsible and show the love 478 00:31:41,120 --> 00:31:47,360 of God by being obedient to those masters by which I am placed under and live as a light 479 00:31:47,360 --> 00:31:52,400 in the country of this temporary dwelling place. 480 00:31:52,400 --> 00:31:55,160 This is not my home. 481 00:31:55,160 --> 00:31:58,480 Our home is eternal. 482 00:31:58,480 --> 00:32:04,720 Be a shining light as you walk through the earth until the Lord takes you. 483 00:32:04,720 --> 00:32:09,180 But don't live here as if this is your final resting place. 484 00:32:09,180 --> 00:32:11,200 You are walking through it. 485 00:32:11,200 --> 00:32:13,200 You are foreigners. 486 00:32:13,200 --> 00:32:20,960 That's what it said previously, that knowing that God is not ashamed to be called their 487 00:32:20,960 --> 00:32:23,840 God for he has prepared a city for them. 488 00:32:23,840 --> 00:32:34,520 I have a home that is far more grand than I can ever imagine, not because he's made 489 00:32:34,520 --> 00:32:39,120 it for me, but because he's there. 490 00:32:39,120 --> 00:32:41,960 He is the beauty of the city. 491 00:32:41,960 --> 00:32:46,960 Godly men of old, by faith, believed God and obeyed. 492 00:32:46,960 --> 00:32:49,800 Knowing all these things, how should I live? 493 00:32:49,800 --> 00:32:53,680 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. 494 00:32:53,680 --> 00:32:55,320 He saw it and was glad. 495 00:32:55,320 --> 00:32:59,600 John 8, 56. 496 00:32:59,600 --> 00:33:02,120 Can you imagine? 497 00:33:02,120 --> 00:33:04,520 Take your son. 498 00:33:04,520 --> 00:33:08,700 God says, go, I want you to sacrifice your son, your only son. 499 00:33:08,700 --> 00:33:13,180 You build an altar, you grab the knife, you are going to kill that boy. 500 00:33:13,180 --> 00:33:20,680 And he sees the picture of the crucifixion of the son of God and the resurrected Christ. 501 00:33:20,680 --> 00:33:24,640 That'd be the thing that would draw me to kill him. 502 00:33:24,640 --> 00:33:29,840 If God commanded me to sacrifice my son, Jesus is enough for that. 503 00:33:29,840 --> 00:33:30,840 Why? 504 00:33:30,840 --> 00:33:32,720 Because look at what Abraham does. 505 00:33:32,720 --> 00:33:35,280 I'm not going to kill you. 506 00:33:35,280 --> 00:33:37,400 It's okay, you can sleep. 507 00:33:37,400 --> 00:33:39,880 Don't have to worry, bro. 508 00:33:39,880 --> 00:33:45,480 His face, mama bear like, yeah. 509 00:33:45,480 --> 00:33:49,100 I know where that shotgun is, honey. 510 00:33:49,100 --> 00:33:57,320 By faith, Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac and who had received the promises 511 00:33:57,320 --> 00:34:04,840 was yet in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, through Isaac shall 512 00:34:04,840 --> 00:34:06,000 your offspring breathe. 513 00:34:06,000 --> 00:34:15,440 You know why Abraham takes the knife and lifts the knife to kill his son and he was absolutely 514 00:34:15,440 --> 00:34:17,120 going to do it. 515 00:34:17,120 --> 00:34:23,680 It's because God said to Abraham, through Isaac, your offspring shall be. 516 00:34:23,680 --> 00:34:29,580 If I kill Isaac and he does not rise from the dead, no more offspring. 517 00:34:29,580 --> 00:34:37,080 But God, who I have listened to my entire life and obeyed every time he's asked me to 518 00:34:37,080 --> 00:34:41,080 do something, I know that this is true. 519 00:34:41,080 --> 00:34:43,280 I don't see how he's going to provide. 520 00:34:43,280 --> 00:34:45,880 I don't see the ram that's going to be in the thicket. 521 00:34:45,880 --> 00:34:49,360 I don't see any of that, but I know one thing. 522 00:34:49,360 --> 00:34:53,560 If I am going to have offspring through Isaac, he will raise him from the dead. 523 00:34:53,560 --> 00:34:54,700 Look at verse 19. 524 00:34:54,700 --> 00:35:01,080 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which figuratively 525 00:35:01,080 --> 00:35:03,960 speaking he did receive him back. 526 00:35:03,960 --> 00:35:04,960 Why? 527 00:35:04,960 --> 00:35:08,680 Because in the heart of Abraham, he was a dead boy. 528 00:35:08,680 --> 00:35:10,760 He was going to kill him. 529 00:35:10,760 --> 00:35:23,560 But God stops him, gives him an offering called a ram, and then he raises Isaac from the dead 530 00:35:23,560 --> 00:35:29,560 without even Abraham killing him because in the heart of Abraham, he was dead. 531 00:35:29,560 --> 00:35:30,920 God did. 532 00:35:30,920 --> 00:35:35,840 By faith, Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. 533 00:35:35,840 --> 00:35:43,720 And by faith, Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over 534 00:35:43,720 --> 00:35:45,240 the head of his staff. 535 00:35:45,240 --> 00:35:46,240 Why? 536 00:35:46,240 --> 00:35:51,000 Because by faith, Joseph, I want you to see this, the connection of faith, the thread 537 00:35:51,000 --> 00:35:56,240 of faith from Adam all the way to Joseph. 538 00:35:56,240 --> 00:35:58,760 See the connection of faith, the thread of faith. 539 00:35:58,760 --> 00:36:00,040 It's God's faith. 540 00:36:00,040 --> 00:36:06,720 Look, by faith, Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites 541 00:36:06,720 --> 00:36:09,600 and gave directions concerning his bones. 542 00:36:09,600 --> 00:36:14,120 When you leave, take my bones with you. 543 00:36:14,120 --> 00:36:19,580 Four hundred years later, they take Joseph's bones back home. 544 00:36:19,580 --> 00:36:23,880 He knew it was not his resting place. 545 00:36:23,880 --> 00:36:31,320 Though our bones may be buried there, that is not our resting place. 546 00:36:31,320 --> 00:36:35,120 Faith before the exodus. 547 00:36:35,120 --> 00:36:41,240 Now a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a Levite woman. 548 00:36:41,240 --> 00:36:43,980 The woman conceived and bore a son. 549 00:36:43,980 --> 00:36:49,160 And when she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months, Exodus 2, 1 550 00:36:49,160 --> 00:36:50,680 through 2. 551 00:36:50,680 --> 00:36:51,800 Notice obedience. 552 00:36:51,800 --> 00:36:57,640 The Levites were required to marry a Levite woman. 553 00:36:57,640 --> 00:36:58,720 And he does that. 554 00:36:58,720 --> 00:37:02,840 This particular man marries a Levite woman. 555 00:37:02,840 --> 00:37:07,400 She then gives birth and she for three months hides the child. 556 00:37:07,400 --> 00:37:08,400 Why? 557 00:37:08,400 --> 00:37:11,400 Because he was different. 558 00:37:11,400 --> 00:37:15,240 Knowing he was different, she hid him. 559 00:37:15,240 --> 00:37:17,040 She did not see what was coming. 560 00:37:17,040 --> 00:37:22,240 She did not know the firstborn of all of Egypt was going to die who were Jews. 561 00:37:22,240 --> 00:37:23,840 She did not know any of that. 562 00:37:23,840 --> 00:37:27,400 But she knew he was special. 563 00:37:27,400 --> 00:37:33,040 So by faith, Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents because 564 00:37:33,040 --> 00:37:36,400 they saw that the child was beautiful. 565 00:37:36,400 --> 00:37:41,040 And they were not afraid of the king's edict. 566 00:37:41,040 --> 00:37:45,640 So by faith, Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's 567 00:37:45,640 --> 00:37:51,680 daughter unlike Hollywood who makes you think he was happy. 568 00:37:51,680 --> 00:37:54,840 He was a Jew and he knew he was a Jew. 569 00:37:54,840 --> 00:37:56,680 He was not a happy Egyptian. 570 00:37:56,680 --> 00:38:02,060 Choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures 571 00:38:02,060 --> 00:38:03,160 of sin. 572 00:38:03,160 --> 00:38:04,160 Where did we read that? 573 00:38:04,160 --> 00:38:07,880 Oh, we read that in chapter 10, verse 32 through 34. 574 00:38:07,880 --> 00:38:09,760 Interesting, right? 575 00:38:09,760 --> 00:38:11,480 See the connections here. 576 00:38:11,480 --> 00:38:14,840 This wonderful thread of faith. 577 00:38:14,840 --> 00:38:16,240 Look what it says in verse 26. 578 00:38:16,240 --> 00:38:23,200 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he 579 00:38:23,200 --> 00:38:25,040 was looking for the reward. 580 00:38:25,040 --> 00:38:34,360 Are we looking for Christ or are we indulging in the pleasures of this world that will one 581 00:38:34,360 --> 00:38:38,360 day fall away? 582 00:38:38,360 --> 00:38:39,360 Verse 27. 583 00:38:39,360 --> 00:38:45,520 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing 584 00:38:45,520 --> 00:38:47,520 him who was invisible. 585 00:38:47,520 --> 00:38:52,880 He knew that God was greater though he could not see him. 586 00:38:52,880 --> 00:38:59,760 And by faith, Moses, he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood so the destroyer, 587 00:38:59,760 --> 00:39:08,220 the Holy Spirit of God of the firstborn might not touch them. 588 00:39:08,220 --> 00:39:11,760 God gives and takes life. 589 00:39:11,760 --> 00:39:15,320 So faith after the Exodus. 590 00:39:15,320 --> 00:39:20,720 And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground and the waters being 591 00:39:20,720 --> 00:39:23,880 a wall to them on the right and the left. 592 00:39:23,880 --> 00:39:28,200 Now I don't know about you, but if I'm being chased by the Egyptians and I come to the 593 00:39:28,200 --> 00:39:34,200 edge of the water and then all of a sudden two walls of water shoot up and the ground 594 00:39:34,200 --> 00:39:41,400 is dry, I don't know if I'm going to walk through that because the water could decide 595 00:39:41,400 --> 00:39:45,840 not to stay. 596 00:39:45,840 --> 00:39:52,860 So by faith, the people, verse 29, crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians 597 00:39:52,860 --> 00:39:55,840 when they attempted to do the same were drowned. 598 00:39:55,840 --> 00:39:57,240 I want you to notice this. 599 00:39:57,240 --> 00:40:00,320 Why weren't the unbelieving Jews drowned? 600 00:40:00,320 --> 00:40:02,560 It's called the elect. 601 00:40:02,560 --> 00:40:09,360 God preserves his elect, but the Egyptians were not. 602 00:40:09,360 --> 00:40:12,840 Isn't that interesting? 603 00:40:12,840 --> 00:40:15,520 The promise that God gave. 604 00:40:15,520 --> 00:40:20,120 So by faith, the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been circled for seven days. 605 00:40:20,120 --> 00:40:23,000 I don't know about you, but that's kind of weird. 606 00:40:23,000 --> 00:40:29,000 Walk around walls for seven days, blow a trumpet, last day, scream your head off and everything 607 00:40:29,000 --> 00:40:30,520 falls. 608 00:40:30,520 --> 00:40:36,240 That's kind of cool, but kind of weird. 609 00:40:36,240 --> 00:40:42,760 Maybe if the Eagles do that, they might win the Super Bowl. 610 00:40:42,760 --> 00:40:49,200 So by faith, Rahab, the prostitute, did not perish with those who were disobedient because 611 00:40:49,200 --> 00:40:51,920 she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. 612 00:40:51,920 --> 00:40:52,920 Why? 613 00:40:52,920 --> 00:40:56,560 Because Rahab had heard of the God of Israel. 614 00:40:56,560 --> 00:41:01,920 She knew what he can do. 615 00:41:01,920 --> 00:41:05,480 It has always been by faith alone. 616 00:41:05,480 --> 00:41:10,760 For you had compassion on those in prison and you joyfully accepted the plundering of 617 00:41:10,760 --> 00:41:15,840 your property since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession than an abiding one. 618 00:41:15,840 --> 00:41:21,560 Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has great reward. 619 00:41:21,560 --> 00:41:26,720 In closing, verse 32 through 40 says this, and what more shall I say? 620 00:41:26,720 --> 00:41:31,320 In other words, is there anything else I can say? 621 00:41:31,320 --> 00:41:36,560 Because if I continue to share about all the men and women who have walked in obedience 622 00:41:36,560 --> 00:41:45,600 because of faith, I don't have enough time or enough space to write this letter. 623 00:41:45,600 --> 00:41:47,560 So he gives a little sprinkle. 624 00:41:47,560 --> 00:41:56,160 He says, for time would fail me to tell you of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah 625 00:41:56,160 --> 00:42:03,560 and of David and Samuel and the prophets who through faith conquered kingdoms and enforced 626 00:42:03,560 --> 00:42:09,360 justice and obtained promises and stopped the mouths of lions and quenched the power 627 00:42:09,360 --> 00:42:17,040 of the fire and escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty 628 00:42:17,040 --> 00:42:21,120 in war and put foreign armies to flight. 629 00:42:21,120 --> 00:42:29,920 Men and women of faith do those things, not claim something. 630 00:42:29,920 --> 00:42:40,720 You can claim all day long by faith you're going to get a Benz or buy a $5 million house. 631 00:42:40,720 --> 00:42:42,480 You know what true faith is? 632 00:42:42,480 --> 00:42:45,480 Don't give money to them fools. 633 00:42:45,480 --> 00:42:48,560 Preach the gospel to your neighbor. 634 00:42:48,560 --> 00:42:52,640 You'll do more for the kingdom of doing that than give them money to an idiot who claims 635 00:42:52,640 --> 00:42:58,040 that he knows God and preaches a gospel that's contrary to the very gospel that Christ gave 636 00:42:58,040 --> 00:43:03,040 and then encourages them to live any way they want because it's okay. 637 00:43:03,040 --> 00:43:05,920 Women received back. 638 00:43:05,920 --> 00:43:09,880 They're dead by resurrection. 639 00:43:09,880 --> 00:43:17,400 Some were tortured, refusing to accept release so that they might rise again to a better 640 00:43:17,400 --> 00:43:18,400 life. 641 00:43:18,400 --> 00:43:24,560 In other words, when a woman loses her family and they're placed in jail, they're dead and 642 00:43:24,560 --> 00:43:26,640 some made it out. 643 00:43:26,640 --> 00:43:32,900 Some had been resurrected and some were resurrected to new life. 644 00:43:32,900 --> 00:43:39,600 Some were tortured, but they refused to accept release so that they might rise again to a 645 00:43:39,600 --> 00:43:41,240 better life. 646 00:43:41,240 --> 00:43:45,960 I'd rather die in prison than lose Jesus. 647 00:43:45,960 --> 00:43:47,960 That's their idea. 648 00:43:47,960 --> 00:43:53,920 Others suffered mocking and flogging and even chains and imprisonment. 649 00:43:53,920 --> 00:43:55,760 They were stoned. 650 00:43:55,760 --> 00:43:58,060 They were sawn in two. 651 00:43:58,060 --> 00:44:00,240 They were killed by the sword. 652 00:44:00,240 --> 00:44:05,760 They went about in skins of sheep and goats and destitute and afflicted and mistreated. 653 00:44:05,760 --> 00:44:06,760 How would you do? 654 00:44:06,760 --> 00:44:07,760 What would you do? 655 00:44:07,760 --> 00:44:12,320 How would you live of whom the world was not worthy? 656 00:44:12,320 --> 00:44:21,560 Can you imagine if you, being believers, could say beyond a sat of a doubt that the world 657 00:44:21,560 --> 00:44:26,720 was not worthy of you? 658 00:44:26,720 --> 00:44:29,300 The world didn't deserve you. 659 00:44:29,300 --> 00:44:34,220 Those who die for the cause of Christ, those who martyr, those who are before the throne 660 00:44:34,220 --> 00:44:40,000 of God pleading the Lord, when will you avenge my blood? 661 00:44:40,000 --> 00:44:44,640 Those are the worthy ones of whom the world was not worthy wandering about in deserts 662 00:44:44,640 --> 00:44:48,960 and mountains and in dens and caves of the earth. 663 00:44:48,960 --> 00:44:52,720 Look what it says in verse 39 and 40, such an amazing statement. 664 00:44:52,720 --> 00:44:59,760 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised. 665 00:44:59,760 --> 00:45:03,800 They hadn't received it yet because Christ hadn't come yet. 666 00:45:03,800 --> 00:45:10,120 Since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us, they should not be 667 00:45:10,120 --> 00:45:11,120 made perfect. 668 00:45:11,120 --> 00:45:12,520 I want you to get this. 669 00:45:12,520 --> 00:45:19,120 There is only one way to be made perfect in Christ. 670 00:45:19,120 --> 00:45:25,960 And that is to be washed by the water of the word because Christ has washed his bride and 671 00:45:25,960 --> 00:45:29,920 she has cleansed her and made her spotless. 672 00:45:29,920 --> 00:45:32,080 That's what this means. 673 00:45:32,080 --> 00:45:39,160 That the day when the church is removed from the earth, when it's finally over, all the 674 00:45:39,160 --> 00:45:45,840 church comes, which includes those who had been waiting for the promise. 675 00:45:45,840 --> 00:45:49,740 It's called the principle of one. 676 00:45:49,740 --> 00:45:53,400 There is one temple. 677 00:45:53,400 --> 00:45:56,320 There is one tree. 678 00:45:56,320 --> 00:45:58,960 There is one people. 679 00:45:58,960 --> 00:46:00,800 One nation. 680 00:46:00,800 --> 00:46:03,040 One body. 681 00:46:03,040 --> 00:46:05,080 We are one in Christ. 682 00:46:05,080 --> 00:46:13,760 And one day he will engraft back in the cultivated branch when the wild branches are done. 683 00:46:13,760 --> 00:46:21,040 They will be made perfect with us because we are one church, one amazing thought. 684 00:46:21,040 --> 00:46:23,440 I pray you enjoy this message. 685 00:46:23,440 --> 00:46:28,320 Really look at chapter 11 from a different perspective now. 686 00:46:28,320 --> 00:46:33,160 Although there are upteen ways to be able to present this chapter, I wanted to present 687 00:46:33,160 --> 00:46:40,000 it in the moments throughout history of how faith was the same from the beginning of time 688 00:46:40,000 --> 00:46:41,280 to today. 689 00:46:41,280 --> 00:46:48,440 The same faith that Adam needed to be saved, the gift of God is the same faith that we 690 00:46:48,440 --> 00:46:50,680 need to be saved, the gift of God through Christ. 691 00:46:50,680 --> 00:46:53,800 Father, I want to thank you so much for your word. 692 00:46:53,800 --> 00:46:59,840 Thank you for your faithfulness and thank you for this amazing gift given to us by the 693 00:46:59,840 --> 00:47:08,520 through the gospel by Christ placed in our heart by which you raise us to new life. 694 00:47:08,520 --> 00:47:12,560 And we receive an amazing inheritance that we are eagerly awaiting. 695 00:47:12,560 --> 00:47:13,560 And that is you. 696 00:47:13,560 --> 00:47:14,560 We praise you and thank you. 697 00:47:14,560 --> 00:47:15,560 Our great reward. 698 00:47:15,560 --> 00:47:16,560 Jesus Christ. 699 00:47:16,560 --> 00:47:17,560 In Jesus name. 700 00:47:17,560 --> 00:47:24,560 Amen.