The Patriarch’s Faith (Part A)

You obey, not knowing where he was going did not get the next step in the first one in many after that. Finally, God said with this is what I'm going to do and that was not the whole story's man Abraham really live in this man Abraham really believe. Furthermore, he never took possession of that which God promised to his descendents through him, not in his lifetime he see the word of God fulfill the only thing Abraham owned in the promised land was a grave cave grave that this is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Hebrews. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, and now here's Pastor Rick with a brand-new study called the patriarchs faith in Hebrews chapter 11 we are in Hebrews chapter 11 beginning at verse eight by faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance and he went out, not knowing where he was going by faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. He waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God by faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore, from one man and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were short of them, embrace them and confess that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland and truly they had called to mind that country from which they had come out they would've had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared the city for them by faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said in Isaac your seed shall be called concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead from which he also received him in a figurative sense by faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come by faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshiped, leaning on the top of the staff. By faith Joseph, when he was dying made mention of the departure of the children of Israel and gave instructions concerning his bones. Quite remarkable.

Everything we just read happened.

There are those that wanting to come from under the accountability of God's word attempt to reduce this to myth or hearsay or something else, anything but the truth, and for that there there will be accountability. Believe it or not, but what we are considering in this section of Scripture Hebrews 11 through 22 is the faith of the patriarchs last session we consider those before the flood, and now this section we be we begin those after the flood, who began what we know as the Jewish race. Now Christianity had proven difficult of these Jews who the writer is writing to. Thus the name Hebrew slave had converted to Christianity. The pressures of culture was upon them to return to Judaism and they were falling they were caving crumbling to those pressures and so the Holy Spirit move this writer to address these very things and to do this he presents to them. Those who have had uncompromising faith, imperfect but uncompromising and by that I mean firm that would describe many of the Christians throughout the ages and hopefully us today. We have faith that is not perfect doesn't always show up the way we wanted to show up in our lives but we know who our Lord is and he is the one whom we are determined to trust nonetheless. So how God works this out. This is not a simplified but his daughter says because I said so it is apparent you say that to a child under certain circumstances, is it because I say so if you are a loving parent behind those words, there is love, there is wisdom there is justice there is everything that is right, not a smart Alec statement child may not fully understand the imperative laid upon them, but that because I say so has much authority and that that is one way you can look at how our salvation works. God has a grand because I say so, but that is based on something as a foundation says this to us who often times again.

Our faith is imperfect, but it is firm. Let me give you a Scripture view this in several verses concerning belief in Christ. The terms that he is set John's gospel chapter 6 verse 35 Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life you comes to me shall never hunger. He who believes in me shall never thirst. One another God when you come to Christ, you abide in Christ you never thirst for another truth you abide in Christ. Those of the terms you must come to him, believe him and even though your faith is not all that you know it should be because I say so. From God to us.

We are established as is the case with all of these heroes of the faith that we are reading about John's gospel chapter 1 as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in his name.

These are the terms you want to benefit from that great. I say so of God, then you must come to God on his terms. John six verse 47, most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in me is everlasting life. John 738.

He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said only that part out. Cannot believe in Christ, as you say, or someone else says, unless it matches what Jesus has said, through the Scriptures so again he who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. What else could flow from a heart if there's no Scripture is not according to God's word to his revelation, but don't sound angry but I love this stuff and I'm passionate about it as much as I can be. I don't do the greatest job at that.

But I'm a lot better off than I was in those days when I made no effort at all. When I was a stranger to God, alienated from God. But I'm not that way anymore. Neither are many of you. John 11 verse 25 Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die.

You shall live. John 1244 Jesus cried out and said he who believes in me believes not in me, but in him who sent me, that is the Godhead that is the father. You cannot divide them.

You cannot separate them in that sense their distinct with the cannot be divided and then finally Hebrews 11 six or he who comes to God must believe that he is see faith. It does matter what you say to God, what you think about God matters. It is the most important thing about any human being ever born.

What do you think about Jesus Christ and there are many of never even heard of. So we must trust in his character when he says without faith it is impossible to believe God and that he is a rewarder of those who trust in any just the trust's character. If you believe that he is who he says he is.

He is good that he is loving in spite of cursing this life. So now we look at verse eight we reread by faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance and he went out, not knowing where he was going wasn't wandering but he was getting out of where he came from because God told him to and he knew which direction he was headed in, but he didn't know what to find the last session we considered able that man name able and he worshiped God on the basis of blood sacrifice and then we considered Enoch who walked with God all the way into heaven, we considered Noah who work for God in the midst of a corrupt and violent generation and what we got from Noah. One thing was that he was moved with godly fear. He was moved. I hope I hope we do not become those who hear truths over and over again read them and are no longer moved by them become critical of them or lethargic in our faith, dull hearted, the Scripture says, preaching no longer stirs us reading no longer excites us. The Holy Spirit no longer works through us. I hope we never become that way, but are always those who were moved by the Holy Spirit.

But now we come to Abraham and where as we emphasize the worship to walk in the work of the other three before him.

What is emphasized here this morning Abraham as he obeyed. Who how many Christians are afraid of that word. You have to obey me not to do something me Christ doesn't just die and suffer and I just get the benefit we have to obey. We can obey this Abraham. He had no promise when he stepped out in faith of receiving a promised land that did not come to the recheck come deep into his journey.

Genesis 12 verses one and two.

Now the Lord said to a promised before he changed his name from a Brahm to Abraham get out of your country from your family and from your father's house to a land that I will show you and I will make you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great and you shall be a blessing than verse four. So Abraham departed, as the Lord had spoken to him and then verses six and seven of Genesis 12 a Brahm pass through the land to the place of Shechem verse seven. Then Yahweh appeared to a Brahm and said to your descendents I will give this land and there he built an altar to Yahweh who appeared to him when I'm emphasizing his God said get out and he obeyed, not knowing where he was going did not get the next step he took the first one in many after that before. Finally, God said with this is what I'm going to do and that was not the whole story man Abraham really live in this man.

Abraham really believed. Furthermore, he never took possession of that which God promised to his descendents through him, not in his lifetime did he see the word of God fulfilled. The only thing Abraham owned in the promised land was a grave a cave grave at that.

That's it. He was a farmer.

These Jews, that the writer is addressing in Hebrews is saying to them, you are now foreigners your own people have ostracized. You have alienated you have attacks you and persecute you are persecuting you. You now are strangers, but Abraham was such non-don't don't feel alone nothing to do some strange thing happening to you and Christ was with Abraham and he will be with you to because we know that Jesus Christ was alive and well and in control.

Long before the manger is the eternal son in verse nine he continues strengthening this this group of Hebrews, he says, by faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob and heirs with him of the same promise, 19 times in Hebrews we hear that by faith, by faith. It matches what we are reading earlier when Jesus said, he who believes in me, I read it repeatedly.

Different verses. He who believes in me, it's by faith is trusting based on the evidence.

Many don't even want to look at the evidence, afraid they might trust saying that is sin makes fools of human beings all the time and we who believe the Lord is supposed to live like we know that this is the case, he says, dwelling in tents. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents and he emphasizes this.

They these are there not permanent structures or temporary their mobile you can pack up and leave very easily and take your house with you when you dwelling in attendance.

Symbolism is all over. This is the writer will save you were to read to the section verses eight through 22, you would find his emphasis on the tents that they were pilgrims passing through, but the trust was on God because this was not their homeland and that comes through and so is is doing and it in this section of verse by verse teaching from the Old Testament. Abraham was not at home. Here he kept his distance and that's how he kept his testimony when he compromise that just a little bit in Egypt be paid lot. The man name a lot his nephew. He did not live this way. In contrast, lot settled down in Sodom bought himself a house and lost his family in the process and what was not lost of his family was twisted in their thinking. You never hear the God of lot, the God of lots children.

Abraham remained mobile. Unable to find a permanent spot.

He just could not get comfortable in this world.

This is to preach to us.

It says to you don't love this place first dog. You can stay here. Secondly, I got a better place for you and on and on aching you can develop so he was a stranger who never felt at home here, his tent living said to the world on this thing. I'm passing through his altars declared a citizenship in heaven.

I worship up in Italy was altar behind where is the pagans of those days and understand that you take your altar with you make it pretty.

Make elaborate, he was making us the statement. I'm not the same. The God that I worship is not the God who you worship.

This was the case of the Jews through history ever all the way down to that diet was to say we are not like everybody else because of our God, not because it's something special about me.

There's something special about God. Therefore, I share in that and that is to be the case with Christians, we fail so much. There tents and altars passing through and praising John 1716. They are not of the world.

Jesus said concerning his followers. Just as I am not of the world will Abraham got that he had gotten to his head.

Do we get it. I think all of us jetted who believe at one point or another. Satan just wears on us the enemy wears owners in Daniel. It speaks of the antichrist in the last days that he will wear out the saints. That's what he tries to do. Just wear us out wear us down to persecution or to temptation through luxury.

If you have it really good. You need to be asking God what do I do with your goods because it's all yours. Verse 11 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God of the writer is cause has more light, more knowledge of of God through Jesus Christ and Abraham had, though Abraham knew God, no question about but as far as revelation from God about where is going with Messiah and how is going to save mankind.

The writer has more information then Abraham had and yet he is also saying, but Abraham who can live like that man. He waited for the city which has foundations. This is no Jerusalem that's the New Testament knows that Abraham just knew God had a better city for him without knowing the details. There are situations in this life will we find ourselves incapable of doing anything with our faith, or in our faith both so he says in verse 10, for he waited network stands out anyway. Who wants the way, who wants to sleep, charging a bumper-to-bumper traffic somewhere you know you go to the beach, have the time on the way home what you have. If you're not careful you don't know some of the routes you and have bumper-to-bumper traffic and no one likes waiting is not easy for us but spiritually speaking, we must learn how to do it. Like it or not, you will be cast into positions where you do have to do it or you will get into your flesh and cause more problems. Story of Hagar the life of Abraham. So when we are forced to be passive. We are forced to endure. We are forced to suffer what may appear to be defeat, but we've not sinned.

What may appear to be shame, but we cannot send, we are frustrated, but we've not sinned to bring these things on us, that is God saying you have to wait. You must wait for things to develop. God works while we wait. He works in us, because James will have more to say on being patient when we get there you'll just have to wait to get to James, but it's much easier to be a busybody for God and to wait for God.

This unfortunately is carried out all over the place.

When is the Holy Spirit. I can do it in my own energy I can muster up enough support resources or whatever I want through my business savvy through preaching sermons to pull on people's hearts to get them to do what I would like them to do needs the Holy Spirit for that one about when God says just wait reason why Ishmael was born in all the problems that came from not only Ishmael but the descendents of Ishmael was because Abraham and Sarah did not wait, they learn to but they did not get it right away. One can become a Christian in an instant.

She cannot become a man of faith or woman of faith in an instant. Not not in the faith in the full saving faith. Yes, serving faith, no, that is worked in that is called maturity that comes from hanging on the vine abiding in Christ in all weather. John's gospel chapter 14, Jesus said in my father's house are many dwellings. I know some say no that word is mansions know it's not the Greek is not mentioned but the prosperity teachers love that they all think you're going to get a mansion. We will will maybe deal that another time. But right now my father's house are many dwellings if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am there. You may also be what you have to wait every one of all those disciples had to wait all of them suffered for Christ while they were waiting they suffered violence, suffered life suffer the loss of loved ones, they suffered what comes with ministry in Christ amongst those who claim Christ. They suffered it all just like we do. They had to wait so while Abraham waited one thing he did not do and that is depart from the faith, and so is telling these Hebrews look at Abraham. He knew how to wait. You have to wait yes to going through some tough times what you know Jesus is the sufferings that come your way. All of them have been told for, told don't grow frustrated and start believing in less how easy it is to do that how easy it is to set standards high that this great vision of the coming of the word of God and sing yes I love this. I'm going to do this. I'm going to be that matter faith. I'm going to be a Daniel, then you set out on your journey and you find how you don't have it and what are you going to do now you wait you work you see what also even covering this and in the life of David David could not build the temple and David Sybil.

What else can I do. So he stockpiled for the temple so that when the Jews came when the temple was finally dedicated to God they could say God use David to do this fact. Use David Moore the Solomon. He says the city. As I mentioned here in verse 10, that is, the new Jerusalem that is spoken of in Revelation 21 verse 11. By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Oh wait wait wait.

Sarah was faithful yeah man she was. But before she got there before she got to that fateful moment when she overheard the stranger show up and tell Abraham that you will have a child. This time next year she laughed.

He said here right what God called her out on yes Abraham.

Why did Sarah laugh now you can imagine Abraham's faith could talk but don't test me. I didn't even hear her laugh. As the Scripture says she laughed and her are will Sarah said I did not laugh or what you did no passes given here the letter off the hook.

She never forgot it and she adjusted her course. Otherwise, she never would have received the child move you've been listening to cross reference radio the daily radio ministry of Pastor Rick asked Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia. As we mentioned at the beginning of today's broadcast. Today's teaching is available free of charge at our website.

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