Faith that Shook the World Hebrews 11:19ff. What is Biblical Faith? All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive

Faith that Shook the WorldHebrews 11:19ff

What is Biblical Faith?

All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. Heb. 11:13 (NLT)

Abraham’s Legacy: Trusted God


Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own.

If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back.

Hebrews 11:14-15



But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Heb. 11:16


•Anticipates the future.▫A hope for something better.

Heb. 11:16 – But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for… Hebrews 11:1 (BBE)

Faith Unleashed…

Faith Unleashed…


Heb. 11:16 – But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Counterfeit Kingdom• Popular, great promises• Great disappointment

God’s Kingdom• Unpopular, God promises• Anchored in Eternity


Faith Unleashed…

It was by faith that Isaac promised blessings for the future to his sons, Jacob and Esau. It was by faith that Jacob, when he was old and dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff.

Hebrews 11:20-21 (NLT)


Faith Unleashed…

Abraham

•Anticipates the future.▫A hope for something better.▫Discontent with the status quo.

Faith Unleashed…

Jacob…blessed each of Joseph’s sons and bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff. It was by faith that Joseph, when he was about to die, said confidently that the people of Israel would leave Egypt. He even commanded them to take his bones with them when they left. Hebrews 11:21-22


Faith Unleashed…Could say:

“I’ve arrived!”

@#!* THEM!


Faith Unleashed…Could say:

“I’ve arrived!”

@#!* THEM!Instead:• when he was about to die, said confidently

that the people of Israel would leave Egypt. He even commanded them to take his bones with them when they left.


Faith Unleashed…

Instead:• when he was about to die, said confidently

that the people of Israel would leave Egypt. He even commanded them to take his bones with them when they left.

God can (and will)…

Replace your ???

with hope.

Introduce discontent-

ment

•Anticipates the future.•Defiance

Faith Unleashed…

It was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s command. Hebrews 11:23 (NLT)

Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. 1 Peter 2:17 (NASB)

•Anticipates the future.•Defiance▫Non-conformist

Faith Unleashed…

It was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s command. Hebrews 11:23 (NLT)

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…Romans 12:2 (NASB)

•Anticipates the future.•Defiance▫Non-conformist▫Cannot Be Bought

Faith Unleashed…

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, Hebrews 11:24


Faith Unleashed…


choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, Hebrews 11:25 (NASB)


Faith Unleashed…



Kosmos: ‘Fun!’People of God


Faith Unleashed…




And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. 1 John 2:17 (NLT)


Faith Unleashed…




And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. 1 John 2:17 (NLT)


Faith Unleashed…

He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. Hebrews 11:26 (NLT)


•Anticipates the future.•Defiance▫Non-conformist▫Cannot Be Bought▫Daring, Bold, Clear!

Faith Unleashed…It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible. Hebrews 11:27 (NLT)

•Anticipates the future.•Defiance▫Non-conformist▫Cannot Be Bought▫Daring, Bold, Clear!


•Anticipates the future.•Defiance▫Non-conformist▫Cannot Be Bought▫Daring, Bold, Clear!▫On Offense!


It was by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons. Hebrews 11:28

•Anticipates the future.•Defiance▫Non-conformist▫Cannot Be Bought▫Daring, Bold, Clear!▫On Offense!▫Through Love

Faith Unleashed…

“Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.” Matthew 5:41 (NASB)

•Anticipates the future.•Defiance•Moves/Acts/Useful!▫Active dependence.

Faith Unleashed…


Faith Unleashed…

By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.

Hebrews 11:29 (NASB)


Faith Unleashed…




Faith Unleashed…



Options

Fight

Surrender

“Go THERE”

Watch…


Faith Unleashed…



Options

Fight

Surrender

“Go THERE”

Watch…


Faith Unleashed…



Options

Fight

Surrender

“Go THERE”

Watch…


Faith Unleashed…



Options

Fight

Surrender

“Go THERE”

Watch…


Faith Unleashed…



Options

Fight

Surrender

“Go THERE”

Watch…

•Anticipates the future.•Defiance•Moves/Acts/Useful!▫Active dependence.▫Free to BE Different!

Faith Unleashed…

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.


•Anticipates the future.•Defiance•Moves/Acts/Useful!▫Active dependence.▫Free to BE Different!▫Switching Sides

Faith Unleashed…

By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.

Hebrews 11:31

•Anticipates the future.•Defiance•Moves/Acts/Useful!▫Active dependence.▫Free to BE Different!▫Switching Sides▫Unleashing the Power of God!

Faith Unleashed…And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,

quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection…Hebrews 11:32-35

•Anticipates the future.•Defiance•Moves/Acts/Useful!•Perseveres

Faith Unleashed…

Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment.

They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. Heb. 11:35-38


Faith Unleashed…


Faith Unleashed…

“The Faith that Shook the World”

ContrastingFaith Is: Empowerment Is Not: Stumbling, Grumbling

• Discontentment• Active, Practical Steps Forward• Hope-fillled - Mariam• Long-term vision• Waits on God• Counter-cultural• Daring: nothing is impossible.• Perseveres: whether recognized or

not▫ How: see 12:1▫ Luther, Wesley, Taylor, countless

Chinese saints…

• Contentment• Passive• Fatalism• Get it now!• Taking Control• Conformity• Safe• A Quitter

Chandlers 3 Points•Anticipates the Future

▫“…never saw…” IL: Joseph… The promises of Christ will come through, no matter how long we have to fight or wait.

•It moves, it acts, it is useful!▫v.32f “who by faith…” moved!▫Frees us up to follow the absurd: e.g., Jericho…marching

band conquest…is not static…always MOVING. If you’re using this place to hide from people out there you

can’t deal with, you’re not engaged in faith; you’re just going to church.

The entire James 2 debate… “Go, be warm…What use is that?”

It produces…▫Or entering the Red Sea…



•It moves, it acts, it is useful!•Always Perseveres

▫The cross isn’t all about you! (Contra our theologically-flawed songs.)

▫“Without receiving…” & v.39 “did not receive…” You & I are caught up in a story that began long before us & will

continue after us…a 2-second sound-bite…our lives serving God in this & the next generation.

“The whole of the story” – I have issues today, handed down to me… What if I have to struggle for 50+ more years? Maybe I don’t win, but my

son does… I wrestle so they’ll start a new legacy…I’m OK with that… Now it’s our turn: we’re included in the list of “surrounding witness” – let

us lay aside



•It moves, it acts, it is useful!•Always Perseveres•Let Us RUN!

▫ Now it’s our turn: We’re included in the list of “surrounding witness” – let us lay aside

▫ Fix our eyes on JC Transformed from one…next. Not behavioral modification. Behold…then become.

Two Flows in History#1) The Kosmos #2) God’s Kingdom

•What you see is what you get.

•Great promises, great betrayal.▫Electric, fast, appealing,

flattering.▫Depressing, empty, lonely,

dead-end.•Immensely popular.

•Anchored in eternity.•Anchored in God’s

character.▫Slowly, surely, steadily

forward.▫Joyful, meaningful,

love-filled life.•Immensely unpopular.

Documents

Faith that Shook the World Hebrews 11:19ff. What is Biblical Faith? All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive