... he's doing everything he possibly can to make that vision a reality. Let's look at the passage of Scripture for this morning: Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-15 because in it Paul talks about faith and hope, all of which are essential ingredients of a vision. [1] Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. [2] Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. [3] By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that ...
... translation says it this way, "What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen." (Hebrews 11:1, NLT) Faith sees the future as guaranteed in the present. This is important for you to understand. Faith is not believing something ... anything. The only problem is - number one that is not the way the Bible says it happened." As we see here in verse 3, we are told that everything that was created was created out of nothing that previously existed. Now we learn what real faith is ...
... all you are? Will you lean on the “Everlasting Arms?” Will you let your weight down on “the Cloud?” COMMENTARY This week’s epistle reading continues to the conclusion of what has been called the Hebrew’s “great faith” chapter. Beginning with a definition of faith in 11:1-3, the Hebrews’ author then proceeds to cite a long list of examples of great faithfulness, from Abraham on throughout Israel’s long history. Among those singled out and their faithfulness raised up, there are both the ...
... . It affirms God's faithfulness. He does what he promises! 2. It affirms the validity of Jesus' teachings - all of them! 3. It affirms God's victory and power over death. 4. It affirms the destiny of believers. So affirmed, we are rightly counseled to trust God. The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews 11:1 tells us: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Such is our trust of God! Isaiah writes: "Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock ...
... said in any other way, either that everything is in good fun, or that something is very, very wrong.[3] Laughter is spontaneous. We may laugh when something tickles our funny bone. But we also laugh when we find ... in our lives at any moment. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen,” says the author of Hebrews (11:1). For every Christian, for every human being created and sanctified by God, faith is that irrational force that laughs in the face of darkness, barrenness ...
... has to do with hope, love, peace, and joy. Faith is “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). That is where we start. Faith. For a mustard seed of faith, just a little bit of faith in the vast power and ... Consecration of the First Born (Exodus 13) A Woman’s Purification Sacrifice (Leviticus 12) God’s Firstborn Requirements (Numbers 3) The Levite’s Responsibility for God’s Sacrifices (Numbers 18) Psalm 55: The Anguished Heart Psalm 74: The Desire of the ...
... it is.” Instead, Job 38-41 contains one of the most impressive descriptions of God’s power that you will find anywhere. (3) For the Christian community the concept of a limited God is simply unacceptable. It is clearly unbiblical. We believer that God is all ... and the great plan God has for us, we call faith. The writer of Hebrews defines faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) And so it is. Philosopher Peter van Inwagen puts it this way: “I have ...
... your name's sake lead me and guide me, take me out of the net that is hidden for me, for you are my refuge" (Psalm 18:3-4). In Psalm 62:5-8 we hear: "For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him. He alone is my rock, ... faith? The best answer is in the scriptures: "Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). Paul challenges the people to protect themselves with the helmet of salvation, that is the realization that there is more that awaits ...
... intellectual suicide and taking a leap in the dark. But faith is response on our part to the inthrust of God.”[3] I believe this is what happened to Abraham. God “inthrusted” power and promise upon Abraham, and Abraham gave in and gave ... God take on a whole new meaning. The profound statement of faith in Hebrews becomes flesh in us: “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Our faith becomes a living out of the expectation that God’s promises ...
... of hope. Faith holds together in tension, both our experiences and our expectations.3 We long for justice and desire a God who will guarantee it, but this also makes us vulnerable to irresponsible escapism and false religious comfort. We come back to the primary basis of our hope which is God’s grace and not our experiences. "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). For the Christian, the most powerful symbol for "assurance of things hoped for ...
... to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?" The author of the book of Hebrews wrote that faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Charlie Chaplin mixed his comedy with tenderness. In the film City Lights, Chaplin is a tramp ... . I'm going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn't any Narnia."3 "These (stories) are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name ... For ...
... this Real Peace is based on what some would call "Holy Baloney." I think this Peace we're looking for begins with Faith. In Hebrews 11:1 Paul says, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." A lot of normal people hear that ... of God's Spirit and love in our lives. As you come forward, listen to these words from Paul's letter to the Colossians 3:8-15 (NRSV) [8] But now you must get rid of all such things anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your ...
... In site of the fact that Jesus instructed his followers to visit those in prison; in spite of the fact that Hebrews 13: 1, 3 teaches us “Let mutual love continue. Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who ... , I went to the Southeast for 3 weeks and treated the poor Native Americans free of charge.” “Welcome,” said St. Peter, then asked the second doctor, “And what did you do?” “I was a missionary in Africa for 11 years, and worked in a hospital helping ...
... clearly made that God was not assigned to a single work shift. There are those who work from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., afternoon to night, and there are others who work 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. But God worked all night long. The game of football is fascinating. In ... the definition of faith as, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see… (Hebrews 11:1 NIV).” The sad commentary is that far too many of us subscribe to the presupposition that seeing is believing. Whenever this position ...
... loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life… (John 3:16 NIV).” God’s ultimate concern, therefore, is for the salvation of the world. Let us look at four functions of the ten ... ; “The substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen,” according to the writer of the book of Hebrews (11:1). We must be able to declare the words printed on U.S. currency, “In God We Trust.” Unashamedly, we declare our faith ...
... had been sun-worshipers, but in Haran, God (Yahweh) spoke to Abraham and gave him some unbelievable promises. The Promises and the Promiser (verses 1-3) There is no promise without a Promise-maker. Who the promiser is makes all the difference in the world as to how we regard ... the promise of God when there was no visible evidence. And that’s the definition of faith, according to Hebrews 11:1: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Faith always sees the ...
... talk about "faith" in many different ways. One of my favorites is the letter to the Hebrews (11:1) where "faith" is described as "the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen ... would put the meaning of your life into question. God had promised Abraham a son and many descendants in addition to a land to call his own (Genesis 12:1-3). But that was a long time ago and in his waning years the promise was still unfulfilled. But God repeated that promise and, even though it seemed that time ...
... That Israel Will Not Return No Matter What He Does (Amos 4) God Bids Ezekiel to Eat a Scroll and is Therefore Bound to Decree God’s Words of Warning (Ezekiel 3) The Coming Restoration of Israel (Isaiah 40) The Importance of Faith Throughout Covenant History (Hebrews 11) The Prophecy About John the Baptist (Luke 1) John the Baptist’s Prophecy and His Baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3; Mark 1:1-11; John 1:1-34) Peter’s Sermon and the Prophesy of Joel (Acts 2:14-41) The Punishment of Locusts (Revelation 9 ...
... intense that he forced the believers to flee from Jerusalem, driving them forth in all directions (Acts 8:1-4; 9:1; 22:3, 4:26:10, 11). This action, however, backfired on Saul of Tarsus, as he was called at that time. As the Christians ... same assurance and promise: "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee ... Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" (Hebrews 13:5; Matthew 28:20). There is a parallel for you, today. You have a national heritage, a great privilege; you have much for which ...
... image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation" (Colossians 1:15). The Hebrew's writer uses these words, "He is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being" (Hebrews 1:3). If you want to see God, look at Jesus. If you ... Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. (vv. 6-11) Having prayed with an inward emphasis and an upward emphasis, now Jesus prays with an outward emphasis. He prays for the sustaining power ...
... verses, the author associates Jesus with prophets (God speaks through the son, v. 1), priests (purification for sins, v. 3), and kings (seated in majesty on God's right hand, v. 3). In the first chapter, the author uses some of the most creative ideas ... of us know these stories by heart anymore. Hebrews encourages us to reread them. He introduces these stories with a remarkable sentence. "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (11:1). In a sense, each part of the ...
... Genesis 38: The Story of Tamar Joshua 1-6: The Story of Rahab The Story of Ruth Numbers 9: All shall keep the Passover, one Passover for resident and native 2 Samuel 11-12: The Story of Bathsheba (the wife of Uriah) and King David Psalm 47 Psalm 51 Psalm 67 Psalm 100 Psalm 117 Isaiah 54, 55, 56 (a covenant for all people) Zephaniah 3:8-13 (the Gathering of all people….in unity) Luke 3 (signs of the Messiah in genealogy) Acts 9: The Conversion of Saul Hebrews 11: A Genealogy of Faith The Scriptures for ...
... all. Or maybe there’s issues of abuse in the household, and you find that your judgments were very, very wrong. An old Hebrew sage once made it a rule of life, “Do not judge someone else, unless you have stood in his or her shoes in ... 1-6) Minor Text God’s Guidelines for Justice and Mercy (Exodus 23:1-9) King Solomon Judges With God’s Wisdom (1 Kings 3:16-28) God Empowers Othniel, First Savior (Judge) of Israel (Judges 3) God Entreats Judges to Judge As God Would Judge With Love (2 Chronicles 19:4-11 ...
... conceived in the womb of his virgin mother (as reported in Matthew 1:20) and who (according to Matthew 3:16) descended like a dove to demonstrate the Father's approval of ... the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him" (vv. 10-11). This would not be the last time the unrelenting Satan would try to tempt ... Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested" (Hebrews 2:17-18). What is more, we have the never-ending promise of God's word for us, " ...
... a more heroic courage. "Let us also go," he said, "that we may die with him" (John 11:16). Thomas was ready to die with Jesus, because he would not live without him. Having ... s amazing grace embodied and made effective for us by Jesus, the crucified and risen Lord. Scripture: Jonah 1, 3, 4 The story of Jonah is remembered chiefly for Jonah's trip in the belly of that ... upon Nineveh at once. A delightful prospect for a pious and patriotic Hebrew like Jonah! But something goes wrong. Jonah has hardly reached the ...