Faith Through Obedience...
Hebrews Chapter 11
Scripture: Hebrews 11:8 (Contemporary English Version)
"Abraham had faith and obeyed God. He was told to go to the land that God had said would be his, and he left for a country he had never seen."
Observation: Hebrews chapter 11 is often called “the faith chapter" or “the hall of faith.” There are so many verses that I could have chosen and even verse 8 is a sample of what you can find throughout the whole chapter. Over and over again chapter 11 speaks of people who because of their faith were obedient to God. They did something in response to their faith. Look at verse 8, Abraham literally picked up and moved in obedience to God and he did not even know where he was going. He simply trusted his destination to God. Later in the chapter verse 17 tells us that Abraham offered his son Isaac as a sacrifice to God in obedience to his faith. We see this pattern again and again in the chapter.
In obedience to their faith:
· Isaac blessed Jacob.
· Joseph spoke of the Promised Land.
· Moses’ parents hid him.
· Moses choose affliction.
· Moses forsook Egypt.
· Moses kept the Passover.
· Moses walked through the Red Sea.
· The Children of Israel walked around Jericho.
· Rahab took in the spies and hid them.
Our obedience is the proof of our faith. Hebrews chapter 11:1 (N.I.V.) states, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Each one of these people had to trust a God they couldn’t see about things they could not control. They stepped out in obedience, and that is FAITH! They did not know the results but acted in trust anyway depending on God for the outcome. Remember James 2: 17-18 (N.K.J.V.), “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."
Application: My faith will reveal itself by my obedience to God’s direction for my life. How I listen and respond to God’s leadings will expose the level of dependence that I have in God. Will I leave the outcome to him? Will I just obey? I want to have true faith. I want to OBEDIENTLY LIVE BY FAITH!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, please show me my lack of obedience. Let me hear you and by faith obey you. I want to live by faith today!
