Tags
1 Corinthians 15:1-5, Faith In Spite of Sight?, Faith or Sight?, Genesis 15:6-7, Hebrews 11:1-6, Hebrews 11:8-19, John 10:14-18, Luke 13:1-5, Seeing Jesus in spite of the worldliness around us., Walking by Faith or Sight?, What are you seeing?, Who are YOU following?
Faith In Spite Of Sight??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #227
“Now faith is
the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
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…
….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.” Hebrews 11:1-3, 6
We hear lots of talk about faith today—in this or that, even the faith regarding Jesus. But what is your faith really in? A myth? A story? A legend? People? Promises? The significant thing we must remember is that it is absolutely important what we believe about Jesus. Many believe he was a good man, or even a good teacher or prophet, but Jesus claimed to be The Son of God—to be God (See John 10:30)! Paul says that salvation only comes when we believe the Gospel and tells us exactly what that is!
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you
the gospel which I preached unto you,
which also ye have received,
and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved,
if ye keep in memory
what I preached unto you,
unless ye have believed
in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all
that which I also received,
how that Christ died for our sins
according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried,
and that he rose again the third day
according to the scriptures:
5 And that he was seen of Cephas,
then of the twelve:” 1 Corinthians 15:1-5
Jesus also reminded us that we can only come to Him when we are willing to repent of our own sin and trust in His blood to save us; as Paul says, His death, burial and resurrection “for our sin”!
“I tell you, Nay:
but, except ye repent,
ye shall all likewise perish…
….5 I tell you, Nay:
but, except ye repent,
ye shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3, 5
So the question comes, what do you believe or what have you placed your faith in? Money, power, influence, family, politics, fame…the list could go on, but the question remains. Have you trusted in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice to pay for your sin? If you have, are you also trusting to God’s faithful provision even when you can’t see the way? I want to share a simple story with you this morning, and I ask that you ponder the amazing truth of it.
“By faith Abraham,
when he was called to go out into a place
which he should after receive for an inheritance,
obeyed;
and he went out,
not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise,
as in a strange country,
dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob,
the heirs with him
of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city
which hath foundations,
whose builder and maker is God…
….13 These all died in faith,
not having received the promises,
but having seen them afar off,
and were persuaded of them,
and embraced them,
and confessed that they were strangers
and pilgrims on the earth…
…17 By faith Abraham,
when he was tried,
offered up Isaac:
and he that had received the promises
offered up his only begotten son,
18 Of whom it was said,
That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
19 Accounting that God was able
to raise him up,
even from the dead;
from whence also he received him
in a figure.” Portions of Hebrews 11:8-19
Abraham believed God’s promises which He gave Him for a seed, a land and a nation when he was childless at 75 years of age! That was a promise which Abraham clung to even when God asked him to offer Isaac on the altar. This was faith over sight! And when you study this encounter, you will find that God took Abraham and Isaac to Mount Moriah (the place where Jesus was offered) and Abraham’s answer to Isaac’s question, “where is the sacrifice”, was, I believe, from a faith-vs-sight beyond his own wisdom as we see in Genesis 22; and I truly believe God let Abraham see that HE would provide “Himself” as The Lamb in His time. Check it out. John the Baptizer understood: “Behold the lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world…”. Have you looked to Jesus, The Lamb to take away your sin? Are you looking with eyes of faith or being swayed by worldly distractions.
“And he believed in the LORD;
and he counted it to him for righteousness.
7 And he said unto him,
I am the LORD that brought thee out
of Ur of the Chaldees,
to give thee this land
to inherit it.” Genesis 15:6-7
Don’t let the world distract your faith by leading your eyes in a different direction—for it will never lead you closer to your Lord. Jesus gave His all for me and you, what will we give for/to Him?
“I am the good shepherd,
and know my sheep,
and am known of mine.
15 As the Father knoweth me,
even so know I the Father:
and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 And other sheep I have,
which are not of this fold:
them also I must bring,
and they shall hear my voice;
and there shall be one fold,
and one shepherd.
17 Therefore doth my Father love me,
because I lay down my life,
that I might take it again.
18 No man taketh it from me,
but I lay it down of myself.
I have power to lay it down,
and I have power to take it again.
This commandment
have I received of my Father.” John 10:14-18
He died for sin—but rose the victor over it!!
Amen and Amen!!!