THE WORK OF FAITH
Hebrews 11:1-3.6,
Psalms 46:1-3,8-11
THE POWER OF FAITH
V:1. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen."
A. Definitions:
1. Faith=pistis=
moral conviction of religious truth
2. Substance=
hupostasis= setting under, support
3. Things hoped
for = elpizo= to expect, anticipate
4. Evidence=
elegchos= proof
5. Our moral
convictions are supported by what we expect and the proof of what we
can't see. Faith is the foundation of what we expect
from God.
B. Faith stands on
the Word of God as the only truth.
C. Things hope for.
1. Peace with
God.
2. Pardon of our
sins.
3. The promise
blessings of God.
4. Joy
5. Present
security
6. Eternal
security
7. Home in heaven
V:2. "For by it the elders obtained a good
report."
A. It requires faith
to follow God.
1. Abraham
believed God and was counted righteous. Gen 15:6, Rom 4:3
a. Abraham
having never seen God, was tuned to His voice.
b. God
instructed him to move from his home town. He moved without question.
2. We don't know
much about Enoch. But the Word said he walked with God. God
was so pleased
with his faith that he did not allow him to see death. God took
Enoch into Heaven. Gen
5:24.
B. When we believe
the Word, act on the Word and live by the Word, we gain a good
report with
God.
V:3. "Through faith we understand that the worlds were
framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of
things which do appear."
A. God created the
world out of that which was formless and void.
Gen 1:2
1. Out of
nothing, God created all worth.
2. We were not
here when God created the world.
a. It's in
the Word.
b. Faith is
believing the Word of God.
B. When we consider
the world, we know that man does not have the power or resources
to create it or
maintain it.
1. There must be a
higher power that is in control.
2. If man was in
control, there would be a charge for "air".
3. As far as we
know, air cannot be created or depleted.
4. There must be a
higher power that is in control of this basic substance.
5. It takes faith
to believe in what you can't understand.
V:6. " But without faith it is impossible to please
him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a
rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
A. Requirements to
please God
1. You must have
faith in Him and all of His Word.
a. You must
love the Lord enough to believe Him. Deu
6:5
2. You must come
to God.
a. You must
worship Him as the only God.
3. You must
believe that He is.
a. That He
exists
b. That He is
love
c. That He is
all powerful
d. That He is
all knowing.
c. That He is
everywhere all of the time
4. You must
believe that He will reward you.
5. You must be
diligent in seeking Him.
GOD IS OUR STRENGTH
Psalms 46: 1-3, 8-11
V:1. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present
help in trouble."
A. "God is our
refuge"
1. In God we can
put all of our hope.
2. In God we can
trust.
3. God is always
available to us.
B. God is our
strength.
1. When we are
weak, God is strong. 2 Cor 12:9
2. God gives
physical strength.
3. God gives us
emotional strength.
4. When we are at
the end of our rope, God has more rope.
5. God is more
than enough for us.
C. God is our present
help in times of trouble.
1. God is in
control of all trouble.
2. God knows
trouble before it is trouble. Isa 46:10
3. God is the
solution to trouble.
4. We must rely on
God in the mist of trouble.
5. There is
nothing to hard for God.
V:2. "Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be
removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea."
A. God has not given
us the spirit of fear, but power, love and sound mind. 2 Tim 1:7
1. Fear is a lack
of trust in the Lord.
2. Fear shows up
in the mist of trouble.
B. We have the power
of God on our side.
1. God's power is
more powerful than any other power.
2. All power
comes from God. Col
C. We need a sound
mind in the mist of trouble.
1. We can easily
get confused in the mist of trouble.
2. Doubt shows up
in the mist of trouble.
3. Sound mind comes
from the Lord.
a. We have to
keep our focus on the Lord.
b. We have to
keep our hope in the Lord.
c. The Lord is
our shepherd, so He will guide and protect us in
our trouble.
d. We may lose
some stuff because of our trouble, but God has us
in His
hands.
e. God has our
future in His hand.
V:3. "Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled,
though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof."
A. The hurricane
flooded parts of Louisiana
1. This is the
second time in 7 years that this has happen.
2. Yet, God is
still in control.
3. God is still
in the blessing business.
B. We may have some
troubled times ahead of us, but God is in control.
1. When the forces
of nature rages in the form of storms, we see the power of
God.
2. God is in
control of the storms.
3. The storms
calls attention to the Glory of God.
4. This same God
takes His power and blesses His people.
5. Trusting God is
a prerequisite for believers.
THE WORK OF THE LORD
V:8. "Come, behold the works of the LORD, what
desolations he hath made in the earth."
A. God is sovereign.
He can do what He wants to do.
1. What takes
man years to build, God can destroy in a moment.
2. God allows
storms in our lives to keep us mindful of who He is.
3. The storms
reminds us, that we came here with nothing, and we will leave
with
nothing.
4. The storms
reminds us not to get to attached to our stuff.
B. The storms
reminds us the only thing that is important to God is our souls.
1. God sent Jesus
to die for our souls and not for our stuff.
a. God may
protect our stuff.
b. If we get
too attached with stuff, He can remove it in a second.
V:9. "He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the
earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the
chariot in the fire."
A. He makes wars
cease to the end of the earth.
1. God has the
power to end all wars.
2. God allows man
to wage war with His neighbors.
3. This same God
has the power to end all wars and bring peace.
B. Jesus is the prince of peace.
1. Jesus death on
the cross reconciled the world to God. 2 Cor 5:18 -19.
2. Without Jesus
in our lives, the war in our souls is out of control. Rom 7:23-25
C. The only true peace is in Jesus. Luke 7:50
1. Faith in Jesus
brings peace to us. John 14:2:10
V:10. "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be
exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."
A. "Be still,
and know that I am God."
1. The only way to
know God is to study and meditate on His Word.
2. We have to make
time for serious study of God's Word.
3. God speaks to
us in His Word.
4. Coming to
Church is great, but the study of God's word is fantastic and
rewarding!
a. You may soon
forget the Pastor's sermon.
b. You may soon
forget the choir's songs.
c. The Holy
Spirit will not let you forget the Word you have studied. John 14:26
B. "I will be
exalted among the heathens."
1. Even those who
don't know God see the power of God in storms.
2. With an
earthquake from the sea, God destroyed parts of Japan
3. With a
hurricane, God destroyed parts of Louisiana Mississippi Alabama
4. Nobody can
deny that this power is greater than any power of man. Mat 19:26 .
C. With television
and the internet the whole world sees the awesome power of God.
1. They get a
first hand view of the power of God.
2. The storms of
life causes man to seek God.
a. We come to
God for His protection.
b. We come to
God to seek understanding.
c. We come to
God for salvation.
GOOD NEWS FROM GOD
V:11. "The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob
is our refuge."
A. In the mist of the
storms of life, God is with all believers
1. God will never
leave us or forsake us. Heb 13:5
2. God will carry
you through your storms.
B. Storms destroy
homes and cars, yet people survive.
1. God flooded
houses to the roof tops, but the roof top was a place of safety.
2. God dosen't get
confused in the storms. He knows where his people are.
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