Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / Faith
Transcript
- 0:00Let's begin our worship this evening by singing to God's praise. We're going to sing in Psalm 18, the Sing Psalms version.
- 0:08Psalm 18 on page 20 of the psalm book. We're singing from verse 21 down to verse 30.
- 0:18Psalm 18 at verse 21, page 20 of the psalm books.
- 0:23Tune is Duke Street.
- 0:25For I have kept the ways of God from him. I have not turned away. I have not strayed from his decrees, whose statutes ever with me stay.
- 0:35We'll sing from verse 21 to 30 to God's praise.
- 0:55I have not turned away. I have not strayed from his decrees.
- 1:07This, the Jews ever with me stay.
- 1:15The Lord my God.
- 1:19The Lord my God.
- 1:31Since in his sight my hands were thee.
- 1:39The Lord my God.
- 1:43The Lord my God.
- 1:45The Lord my God.
- 1:47The Lord my God.
- 1:49The Lord my God.
- 1:51The Lord my God.
- 1:59The Lord my God.
- 2:09I will stand on you, but with a good value I should.
- 2:22You saved the humble and the mean, but bring the proud of their height.
- 2:39You, Lord, will keep my power, and all that hurts my darkness, change to life.
- 2:55Well, from God I can advance, and it's such good and right and all.
- 3:11And with the aid my God will hear, I can be more than any more.
- 3:28For perfect is the way of God, no choice than within His Word.
- 3:45To all who could bear trust in Him, I should have met you, Jesus, Lord.
- 4:00Amen.
- 4:06Let's bow our heads in a word of prayer.
- 4:08Let us pray.
- 4:09Lord, our gracious God, as we continue our worship of you on this yearday, we are thankful
- 4:17to be able to draw near to you, to be able to call upon your name, to be able to sing praise
- 4:23to you, to be able to open your Word and to have it at our very fingertips and to have
- 4:29it in our ears ringing this evening.
- 4:32For you speak to us powerfully and mightily through your Word.
- 4:37We thank you that it points us towards you and all your goodness to us through your Son,
- 4:43the power that you have over all creation, that all things were made through Him and by Him and for Him.
- 4:51And we thank you too, Lord, that your Word reminds us that you are the constant one,
- 4:57the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, that we see our own lives and we see the world in
- 5:04which we live with all the many questions that we may have and others may have, and yet ignoring
- 5:10the answers that are found in your truth, ignoring the answers that would show us our life through your
- 5:18lens and by your light. And yet we as a people are so guilty and so often of just walking in the
- 5:26darkness. But we thank you that your Word is light. And we thank you that the Psalm that we have sung
- 5:33reminds us of that, that you, Lord, will keep my lamp aflame. God turns my darkness into light.
- 5:41We thank you that that was the testimony of the Psalmist very long ago. But we thank you too,
- 5:48Lord, that these words remind us as your people that you are the one who sustains us, that you are
- 5:54the one who keeps us. You are the one who keeps faith with his people. You are with faithful people.
- 6:04You keep faith, the Psalmist said. And we thank you, Lord, for a people of faith. No matter how we feel
- 6:11our faith is, whether we feel strong in our faith or whether we feel weak, we thank you that faith is
- 6:19not about ourselves, but the one in whom our faith is placed. And that we have a great high priest,
- 6:27that we have one who we come to and look to this evening, who is greater than all, who is above us
- 6:34and whose ways are far above our ways, whose thoughts are far above our thoughts. And yet the one who we can
- 6:40come and come into relationship with the one who we can know as our Lord and as our God.
- 6:49And so we pray that as we come to your word anew this evening, that you will speak to us through it,
- 6:55that you will minister to all our hearts by it, that your word will continue to sustain us,
- 7:02to nourish us, to keep us, and to build us up in our faith, to strengthen us day by day.
- 7:09And no matter what comes our way, for as we turn to it this evening in the book of Hebrews,
- 7:15we are reminded of a people who were in many ways challenged, in many ways that they were being
- 7:22pulled in different directions, just as we are today. Yet their faith was to be secure and grounded
- 7:30and to be of full assurance for their faith was in Christ. And we pray, Lord, for your church and for
- 7:36your people, not just here, but far and wide as so many churches lose their faith in your word. So
- 7:45many churches change to suit the ways of this world, change the word to suit the tickling of the ears of
- 7:54the people around us. But we pray, Lord, that your word will be ever faithfully preached here and
- 8:01to all ends of the earth, that as you have your people, as you have your preachers, as you have
- 8:08all who will be witnesses for you to all ends of the earth, that your word will be kept pure,
- 8:14that your word will be according to what you have taught us in your scriptures, that we will not
- 8:20deviate from it or turn away from it in any way, but that we will remain faithful to it.
- 8:26And we thank you for how you have done that down through all the generations. We know that attacks
- 8:32on your word are nothing new. There is nothing new under the sun, as your word tells us. And though
- 8:38people will turn away, we thank you that you are a slug God who calls, calls a people to repentance,
- 8:44calls a people to turn to you and to be saved. And we pray that as the gospel goes out today,
- 8:51that will go out in your power and by your spirit, that will accomplish great things,
- 8:57that as it is heard everywhere, Lord, that your word will perish into the hearts of people,
- 9:03that it will perish into the darkness of this world, that it will shed your light of the gospel
- 9:08of the glory of God in your son Christ Jesus. That at this time of year, Lord, when we
- 9:15see so much of a Christmas season around us, we pray to see Christ. We pray to see and know more
- 9:24of him and to hear more of him and that people would know more of him, the Savior who was born
- 9:30for this world. So we pray, Lord, that you will hear your praying people, that you will draw near to
- 9:37us and all your people this night, that you will shelter them, that you will keep them, that you will
- 9:43uphold them and strengthen them. And we thank you that we can commit each other into your care
- 9:49and into your keeping, that all that we seek to do in your name, as we seek to live our lives,
- 9:56as we seek to walk with you, as we seek to serve you with all our hearts, that we can know your great
- 10:02presence with us, that we can know your strength for each and every day. And we thank you that that
- 10:08is true for whatever our circumstances, for whatever is going on in our lives, be it the time of
- 10:15excitement and joy at Christmas time for so many, as we see family and friends visiting and coming and
- 10:23going over these days. We pray your blessing on our homes and our families, all who travel, all who are
- 10:30gathered together, Lord, to know your peace and to know your blessing, to know your goodness upon us.
- 10:36But we know too, Lord, that for some and maybe even for many, there is much sorrow and sadness.
- 10:44There are many things that trouble us. There are many things that will make us ponder and wonder
- 10:49about the world in which we live, the lives that we live, all the things that go on either around us
- 10:57in our own families or our communities or even in our own hearts. We know that there are many troubles
- 11:02that we have to face up to many challenges. And yet we thank you that faith is the key there as well,
- 11:11to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author, the perfecter of our faith. And so we pray, Lord,
- 11:18that you will strengthen the weak knees, that you will uphold the feeble arms, that you will give
- 11:25grace, O Lord, as it is needed for every situation, in homes and families and hospitals,
- 11:31in homes for the old age and our community as a whole, Lord. May we know your grace and your mercy
- 11:38upon us. We do particularly pray for those for whom this is a time of great pain and grief and the loss
- 11:47of loved ones, be it recently or in the past, Lord. We know that times of year such as this,
- 11:54Christmas Day and New Year's Day, it brings with it much emotion. And so we look to you as the God of all
- 12:01comfort, the God of all grace, to surround and to uphold and to uplift people, Lord, who are feeling down,
- 12:10to help them in their great need, to know your comfort, to know your presence. We commit those who are unwell
- 12:17at this time as well, be it at home or in hospital. We commit them to your care, be it here around us
- 12:24or in other parts of our country or throughout the world, Lord. We know there are so many different
- 12:30needs around us, but we thank you that we can cast our cares upon you, for you care for us. You have
- 12:38loved us with an everlasting love, a steadfast love, an unchanging love. And so we pray for these promises
- 12:46to be very precious to many at this time, to know your nearness, to know your peace guarding minds and
- 12:53hearts. We pray for your gospel, for the word of God as it goes out, that you will bless it, that you
- 13:00will be the power behind it, to bring sinners to repentance, to build up your people, to keep us praying,
- 13:09to keep us looking to you as we come to the end of another year and as we look, God willing,
- 13:15to a new year, that we will go forward in your strength, that we will go forward with our faith
- 13:22and confidence and hope in the Lord Jesus Christ, the one who is with us, the one who is near. So,
- 13:31Lord, may you bless us and continue with us. Bless your word as we turn to read it now. Watch over us,
- 13:37we pray. Guard us and go before us in the week ahead, Lord. Keep us close to you and remain,
- 13:44O Lord, close to us as we ask all things with the forgiveness of all our sins, confessing them
- 13:50anew before you this night. Our sins there are many, but we thank you that your mercy is more.
- 13:57So, Lord, hear our prayers and go before us now as we ask all in Jesus' name. Amen.
- 14:04We'll turn to sing again in God's praise. We're singing in Psalm 86 in the Scottish Psalter. Psalm 86,
- 14:20page 341. We're going to sing from verse 8 down to verse 11. Psalm 86 at verse 8.
- 14:34Lord, there is none among the gods that may with thee compare. Like the works which thou hast done,
- 14:41not any work is there. All nations whom thou made shall come and worship reverently before thy face,
- 14:49and they, O Lord, thy name shall glorify. We're going to sing from verse 8 to 11 on the tune is
- 14:56of the Lord. We're going to sing from verse 8 to 11 on the tune is
- 15:26of the Lord. We're going to sing from verse 8 to 11 on the tune is
- 15:56of the Lord. We're going to sing from verse 9 to 11 on the tune is
- 16:26Choir to thee, and my God, I God thyself alone.
- 16:41Give me thy way, and yet thy truth, O Lord, then walk with I.
- 16:59Unite my heart, that I thy way, make thee continually.
- 17:22Let's turn to read God's word together.
- 17:25Now we're reading in the book of Hebrews.
- 17:26I'm taking our reading in chapter 10 at verse 19.
- 17:32Hebrews chapter 10 at verse 19.
- 17:36We're going to read down into chapter 11 and down to verse 6 in chapter 11.
- 17:45Hebrews chapter 10 at verse 19.
- 17:48You'll find this around page 1210.
- 17:51Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,
- 17:59by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,
- 18:06and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart,
- 18:14in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience,
- 18:20and our bodies washed with pure water.
- 18:23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope, without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
- 18:31And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
- 18:37not neglecting them to meet together, as is the habit of some,
- 18:41but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
- 18:47For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth,
- 18:52there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
- 18:55but a fearful expectation of judgment,
- 18:58and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.
- 19:04Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy
- 19:08on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
- 19:12How much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God,
- 19:19and who has profaned the blood of the covenant,
- 19:21by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace.
- 19:27For we know him who said,
- 19:29Vengeance is mine, I will repay.
- 19:32And again, the Lord will judge his people.
- 19:36It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
- 19:41But recall the former days,
- 19:43when after you were enlightened,
- 19:45you endured a hard struggle with sufferings,
- 19:47sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction,
- 19:52and sometimes being partners with those so treated.
- 19:56For you had compassion on those in prison,
- 19:59and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property,
- 20:03since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession,
- 20:06and an abiding one.
- 20:08Therefore, do not throw away your confidence,
- 20:11which has a great reward,
- 20:13for you have need of endurance,
- 20:16so that when you have done the will of God,
- 20:19you may receive what is promised.
- 20:21For yet a little while,
- 20:23and the coming one will come,
- 20:25and will not delay.
- 20:27But my righteous one
- 20:29shall live by faith,
- 20:31and if he shrinks back,
- 20:33my soul has no pleasure in him.
- 20:36But we are not of those
- 20:38who shrink back and are destroyed,
- 20:40but of those who have faith,
- 20:43and preserve their souls.
- 20:45Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for,
- 20:49the conviction of things not seen.
- 20:52For by it the people of old
- 20:53received their commendation.
- 20:56By faith we understand
- 20:57that the universe was created
- 20:59by the word of God,
- 21:01so that what is seen
- 21:03was not made out of things that are visible.
- 21:06By faith Abel offered to God
- 21:09a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain,
- 21:12through which he was commended as righteous.
- 21:15God commending him
- 21:16by accepting his gifts,
- 21:19and through his faith,
- 21:21though he died,
- 21:23he still speaks.
- 21:25By faith Enoch was taken up
- 21:27so that he should not see death,
- 21:29and he was not found
- 21:30because God had taken him.
- 21:33Now before he was taken,
- 21:35he was commended as having pleased God.
- 21:38And without faith,
- 21:40it is impossible to please him.
- 21:43For whoever would draw near to God
- 21:45must believe that he exists,
- 21:49and that he rewards those who seek him.
- 21:53And so on.
- 21:54And may God bless
- 21:55that reading from his word.
- 21:59But before we turn back to that passage,
- 22:01we'll sing again to God's praise,
- 22:03this time in Psalm 62
- 22:05in the Scottish Psalter.
- 22:09Psalm 62.
- 22:11I'm going to sing from verse 5 to verse 8.
- 22:16Page 294 of the psalm books.
- 22:19Psalm 62 at verse 5.
- 22:22My soul wait thou with patience
- 22:24upon my God alone.
- 22:26On him dependeth all my hope and expectation.
- 22:30He only my salvation is,
- 22:32and my strong rock is he.
- 22:34He only is my sure defense.
- 22:36I shall not move it be.
- 22:39We'll sing from verse 5
- 22:40down to verse 8
- 22:42to God's praise in the Tunis St. Lawrence.
- 22:44my soul wait thou with patience
- 22:56upon thy God alone.
- 23:02On Him the end of all my hope and expectation.
- 23:16He only my salvation is and my strong rocket's team.
- 23:32He only is my sure defense, I shall not do with thee.
- 23:46In God my glory place it is and my salvation sure.
- 24:01In God the rocket's of my strength, my refuge most secure.
- 24:16He made the place your confidence in Him continually.
- 24:29Faithful in glory, and your heart, God is the refuge high.
- 24:44Amen.
- 24:45We can turn back together this evening to look at Hebrews chapter 11 in particular.
- 24:58although as you see as you read through from verse 19 down into chapter 11 there is a theme of continuation there before us as we will see.
- 25:10We're going to look together this evening at a small word that stands out in the midst of this passage that we've read
- 25:18and think about this word as we approach the end of another year and think about our lives and our outlook on life and our hopes
- 25:27may be going forward as a people. The word that we're going to look at is a word that many songs have been written about
- 25:36both in a Christian context and also in a worldly context too. It's a word that is often discussed.
- 25:44The people of the world will tell us that we need this in differing circumstances but the foundation of it is what is important
- 25:53and what is ultimately usually different when people discuss it.
- 25:57But the word that we're looking at ultimately without being rooted in God and his word and his truth is of no use.
- 26:10And what is that word? I'm sure you've maybe guessed already what it is just reading through from verse 19 and into chapter 11
- 26:19which is this great passage that speaks about the word that we're going to think about.
- 26:23The word is faith. Faith. It's just a small word and yet it's a powerful word. It's an important word. It's a key word for us.
- 26:38Who or what is our faith in? How do you define faith? How would you think what is faith? How would you define that for yourself this evening?
- 26:49Some people will talk about faith in just a very general sense or a very vague sense.
- 26:56People's faith can be different depending who they are or where they are.
- 27:02You might look it up in the dictionary and look for a definition of what faith is there and what will it tell you.
- 27:08Some definitions say this. It's a complete trust or confidence in someone or something.
- 27:16And there's an element of truth in that but it's not the whole truth because that leaves it very open-ended.
- 27:25If it's just left us in someone or something then our faith is not clearly defined.
- 27:33But what the Bible speaks about when it speaks about faith is very clearly defined.
- 27:39It's very clear to us and especially as we read in this passage it's very clear to us what faith is.
- 27:49Because the Bible gives us a focus for our faith.
- 27:55And it's not just a vague sense of faith being in someone or something but in the Lord our God.
- 28:04So there's a clear definition for us.
- 28:11And as we read here in both Hebrews chapter 10 from verse 19 speaks about the full assurance of faith.
- 28:19And then going into chapter 11 it's that great passage that tells us about these great examples from the Old Testament
- 28:27who by faith did so much.
- 28:31We see what faith is.
- 28:34But it begins with this in verse 1 where it kind of defines faith for us.
- 28:40Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for.
- 28:45The conviction of things not seen.
- 28:50Or the evidence of things not seen.
- 28:55It is not blind.
- 28:57It has clear focus.
- 29:01And that's what the writer of the Hebrews is doing as he writes.
- 29:05He speaks so much throughout this book about faith in different circumstances and in different ways.
- 29:13If you go back to chapter 6 verse 11 and 12 there he speaks about faith.
- 29:19And it says,
- 29:20And it says,
- 29:20We desire each one of you to show the same earnestness, to have full assurance of hope until the end,
- 29:28so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
- 29:37So he's there almost leading us into where we are now in chapter 10 and 11.
- 29:44So that you may not be sluggish.
- 29:51But what he says just before that is interesting.
- 29:53So that you may not be sluggish.
- 29:55Now it's a time of year when we're all in danger of feeling sluggish.
- 30:02Maybe even you're coming to church this evening you're feeling sluggish because you've eaten so much today.
- 30:09And over the course of the week there'll be times when we feel sluggish because we've tucked into too much of the wrong things so often.
- 30:18And that's what the writer to the Hebrews is saying too.
- 30:22If we are feeding or overindulging in the wrong things we are going to become sluggish.
- 30:31If we are listening to the wrong voices, if we are listening to the wrong truths,
- 30:35if we are listening to the wrong definition of what faith is we are going to become sluggish.
- 30:43And there's always a danger as Christians of becoming sluggish.
- 30:48But he's saying but to be imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
- 30:59To keep ourselves focused.
- 31:01To keep ourselves on the right track.
- 31:05And that's what chapter 10 is doing in Hebrews.
- 31:09It speaks about having confidence in the finished work of the Lord.
- 31:14It speaks about having confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior of those who believes.
- 31:23And in having this confidence, this full assurance of faith, we are able to draw near to God.
- 31:31We are able to come into his presence.
- 31:33To hold fast our confession as he speaks about in chapter 10.
- 31:38And to consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.
- 31:44There's all these encouragements which is moving on from being sluggish to being exercised,
- 31:51to being healthy, to growing together in the Lord.
- 31:55And it's all got this foundation of faith.
- 31:58So the writer to the Hebrews is writing to a people who are feeling shaken in many ways.
- 32:07Their faith is being shaken by other things that they're being taught and hearing.
- 32:12Other people trying to pull them back to what they were in the past.
- 32:16Relying on the old ways of the sacrificial system or the Old Testament ways of the priesthood.
- 32:24Instead of having confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus as it says in verse 19.
- 32:32Confidence in the right things.
- 32:35Confidence in the Lord.
- 32:39And then they were being reminded at the end of chapter 10 how
- 32:42though they may lose all their earthly possessions.
- 32:46Though they may lose so many things that they feel are so important in life
- 32:51and which we can feel are so important.
- 32:54They're not lasting possessions.
- 32:56That's what the writer to the Hebrews is telling them there in verse 34.
- 33:02That they have a better possession and an abiding one.
- 33:07Therefore do not throw away your confidence which has great reward.
- 33:13Confidence.
- 33:15Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
- 33:18The relationship with God.
- 33:21And that's what faith is.
- 33:23It's a relationship with God.
- 33:26A very personal relationship.
- 33:29And that's what we are to seek to have.
- 33:32Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
- 33:35Confidence in him.
- 33:37Just like Paul wrote to the Romans.
- 33:39That great chapter.
- 33:40Chapter 8.
- 33:42He speaks about all the different challenges in this world.
- 33:47But he says in verse 35.
- 33:49Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
- 33:53There's a question.
- 33:54But there's also an answer.
- 33:56In verse 39.
- 33:57Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- 34:04Nothing can take this abiding possession away from us.
- 34:11Who have faith in him.
- 34:15And that's what leads us into chapter 11.
- 34:18As you see, verse 39 concludes with a response as to how we are to live.
- 34:25We are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed.
- 34:29But of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
- 34:33Again, it's just this confidence, this faith in the Lord Jesus.
- 34:41That is what is needed.
- 34:43And that's what the writer expands on in chapter 11.
- 34:47And we want to just focus on for a few moments this evening.
- 34:52Thinking about this word faith.
- 34:54First of all, we want to ask, what is faith?
- 35:00And secondly, we want to see, what is our life without faith?
- 35:05What would it be like?
- 35:08And then thirdly, by faith.
- 35:12What is life like?
- 35:13What are our lives to look like living by faith?
- 35:17So the first thing is, what is faith?
- 35:23Well, faith is not something we do ourselves.
- 35:28When we read in the letter to the Ephesians,
- 35:32we have that great reminder that we are saved by grace through faith.
- 35:39Faith is what God gives to his people.
- 35:47It is a gift from God.
- 35:51Therefore, behind that, there is substance.
- 35:55If it is a gift from God,
- 35:57that is what the writer to the Hebrews here expands on.
- 36:02When you think of what it says in verse 6,
- 36:06the middle of verse 6,
- 36:07for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists
- 36:12and that he rewards those who seek him.
- 36:15You must believe that he exists.
- 36:20Do you?
- 36:22There's a simple question in that.
- 36:25Do you believe that God exists?
- 36:28If you do, you're probably,
- 36:31we're now in the minority in this world,
- 36:34believing in the God of the scriptures that we have before us.
- 36:39But it says,
- 36:40you must believe that he exists.
- 36:45And in believing that he exists,
- 36:47you realize faith is not then just a blind leap.
- 36:51There are those who feel like to live by faith is the life of a fool.
- 36:55It's foolish to believe in this nonsense that the Bible teaches.
- 37:02But as we've looked at recently,
- 37:04it's the fool who says in his heart that there is no God.
- 37:09There is the fool.
- 37:11And that's what the Bible is showing to us.
- 37:15Verse 26 of chapter 10 makes it so clear for us.
- 37:18For if you go on sinning deliberately
- 37:20after receiving the knowledge of the truth,
- 37:22there is no longer remains a sacrifice for sin,
- 37:26but a fearful expectation of judgment.
- 37:31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God,
- 37:36it says in verse 31 of chapter 10.
- 37:39And yet there's no fear of God.
- 37:44But if we believe that God exists,
- 37:47then we realize that he is the God who is able to judge.
- 37:50And the only way away from that judgment is by faith
- 37:54in the Lord Jesus Christ who came to save us from that judgment.
- 38:01So faith is not just a leap in the dark.
- 38:06Faith is not just a crutch that people lean on.
- 38:09Faith is not just something that we look to
- 38:12when there is nowhere else to turn.
- 38:15Faith is a sign of strength,
- 38:17a sign of courage,
- 38:19recognizing our weakness,
- 38:21recognizing our inability,
- 38:23but looking to God who is able to save.
- 38:29The shorter catechism for us
- 38:31gives a great answer to what the Christian faith is.
- 38:36In question 86, the question is asked,
- 38:39what is faith in Jesus Christ?
- 38:41And the answer, it's not a long answer,
- 38:44but it's worth remembering and recalling often,
- 38:48because we can so often overcomplicate what faith is.
- 38:52But here, listen to this,
- 38:53faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace
- 38:57whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation
- 39:03as he is offered to us in the gospel.
- 39:06The gospel has so much to give,
- 39:30because it offers to us salvation.
- 39:33Faith is so much more than just blindly walking around.
- 39:41Faith is so much more than saying,
- 39:43oh, well, if God is going to save me, he'll do it.
- 39:47Faith asks questions.
- 39:51Faith is offered to us in the gospel.
- 39:55And faith is what we need to receive and rest upon
- 39:58for our salvation.
- 40:00Faith is leaning on God and all his promises.
- 40:06As one person put it,
- 40:08faith is when God says,
- 40:10I will lead you.
- 40:12Faith responds,
- 40:14I will follow.
- 40:16I will go.
- 40:19And this should be the attitude for ourselves,
- 40:22for every Christian,
- 40:23for everyone who is seeking the Lord.
- 40:25It is to hear the offer of the gospel,
- 40:29that Christ died for our sins,
- 40:32that we are to believe in him,
- 40:36that we must believe in God,
- 40:39that he exists,
- 40:41and that he rewards those who seek him.
- 40:47So faith has a substance.
- 40:51Faith, we see before us,
- 40:53as the substance of the word of God.
- 40:57Faith has conviction.
- 40:59It has evidence.
- 41:02When we look around us,
- 41:04we see the world that God has created.
- 41:07We see that we are made in his image.
- 41:12We see it being defined to us here
- 41:15in this great passage.
- 41:16Faith is the assurance of things hoped for,
- 41:21the convictions of things not seen.
- 41:26Now, this context of chapter 11
- 41:28is so much looking to the Old Testament,
- 41:32looking to many of the characters
- 41:34from the Old Testament,
- 41:36and what they were looking at,
- 41:37it was by faith,
- 41:39not seeing what was ahead,
- 41:41that they went forward in faith,
- 41:43trusting God.
- 41:44It was seeing what the natural eye could not see,
- 41:49but looking forward,
- 41:52looking ahead.
- 41:55And faith needs that.
- 41:56Faith, if we had all the answers,
- 41:58is not faith.
- 42:00Faith is confidence and assurance
- 42:02in the things that we hope for,
- 42:04the things that the Bible says
- 42:06are still to come.
- 42:09It's a conviction of things
- 42:10that we don't see just yet,
- 42:12but we will one day.
- 42:15Faith is what keeps us looking.
- 42:18When you think of Thomas,
- 42:21one of the disciples in the New Testament,
- 42:23after the Lord had risen,
- 42:25and they had met and seen the Lord,
- 42:27but Thomas wasn't there that day.
- 42:30But a week later, he was.
- 42:33And he saw the Lord.
- 42:35And he said,
- 42:37my Lord and my God.
- 42:40Because he'd said,
- 42:42unless I see his hands and his side,
- 42:44I will not believe.
- 42:48But what did Jesus say to him?
- 42:51He said,
- 42:51you believe because you have seen.
- 42:55Blessed are those
- 42:56who have not seen,
- 42:59yet have believed.
- 43:00They are those
- 43:02who look to him
- 43:04by faith.
- 43:06We have not seen
- 43:07what Thomas has seen.
- 43:10But we believe.
- 43:14We believe.
- 43:16We believe in all
- 43:17that the Scriptures reveal to us.
- 43:19Even as you go through
- 43:20the book of Hebrews itself,
- 43:22in chapter 2,
- 43:23it speaks about the world to come.
- 43:26In chapter 4,
- 43:27it speaks about eternal,
- 43:29the Sabbath rest.
- 43:31In chapter 9,
- 43:32it speaks about
- 43:33the internal inheritance.
- 43:35There's so much
- 43:36that it speaks of
- 43:37that is yet to come.
- 43:39And how is it seen?
- 43:42By faith.
- 43:44By faith.
- 43:47That is how
- 43:48we are to live.
- 43:51This chapter
- 43:52goes on to show us
- 43:54so many examples
- 43:55of those
- 43:55who lived by faith
- 43:57when everything else
- 43:58around them
- 43:58seemed lost
- 43:59or absurd
- 44:00or impossible.
- 44:02Faith took them forward.
- 44:05And as we come
- 44:06to the end
- 44:07of another year,
- 44:08as we go on,
- 44:09God willing,
- 44:10into a new year,
- 44:11are we going forward
- 44:12in faith?
- 44:14Into the uncertainty,
- 44:15into the unseen,
- 44:17but trusting God,
- 44:20going on
- 44:21by faith.
- 44:22chapter 12,
- 44:26which follows on.
- 44:27Again,
- 44:28it just highlights
- 44:28the importance
- 44:30of living by faith.
- 44:32Chapter 12,
- 44:33verse 1 says,
- 44:34Therefore,
- 44:34since we are surrounded
- 44:35by so great
- 44:36a cloud of witnesses
- 44:38that's expanded on
- 44:40in chapter 11,
- 44:41it says,
- 44:42Let us lay aside
- 44:43every weight
- 44:44and sin
- 44:44which clings
- 44:45so closely
- 44:46and let us run
- 44:47with endurance
- 44:48the race set before us,
- 44:50looking to Jesus,
- 44:52the founder
- 44:52and perfecter
- 44:54of our faith,
- 44:56who,
- 44:57for the joy
- 44:57that was set before him,
- 44:59endured the cross,
- 45:00despising the shame,
- 45:02and is seated
- 45:03at the right hand
- 45:04of the throne
- 45:05of God.
- 45:08Looking to Jesus,
- 45:10the founder
- 45:10and perfecter
- 45:12of our faith.
- 45:16The word of God
- 45:17is what gives us faith.
- 45:22It's the substance.
- 45:23It's the evidence
- 45:24for us.
- 45:26Faith is the assurance
- 45:28that God
- 45:29will do exactly
- 45:30what he has promised
- 45:32to do.
- 45:36Do you have faith?
- 45:40Do you have faith
- 45:41in the word of God?
- 45:43Faith in God?
- 45:44Faith in the Son,
- 45:47Christ Jesus.
- 45:48Faith in the Holy Spirit
- 45:50to work.
- 45:53Faith
- 45:53is the assurance
- 45:55of things hoped for,
- 45:57the conviction
- 45:57of things
- 45:58not seen.
- 46:01Secondly,
- 46:02we see
- 46:03the challenge
- 46:04to us.
- 46:04What is life like
- 46:05without faith?
- 46:08What are the consequences
- 46:09of being
- 46:10without faith?
- 46:13Well,
- 46:13in verse 4 and 5,
- 46:14we are told
- 46:15that by their faith,
- 46:16both Abel
- 46:17and Enoch
- 46:19pleased God.
- 46:22They pleased God.
- 46:24That was
- 46:25their priority.
- 46:30He had pleased
- 46:31God.
- 46:33But then look at
- 46:34what it says
- 46:34in verse 6.
- 46:36Without faith,
- 46:38it is impossible
- 46:40to please
- 46:41him.
- 46:42without faith,
- 46:45it is impossible
- 46:46to please
- 46:48him.
- 46:50Faith cannot,
- 46:53without faith,
- 46:54we cannot
- 46:54please God.
- 46:57And we surely
- 46:58know that ourselves
- 46:59already,
- 47:00for there have been
- 47:00days when we
- 47:02were without
- 47:02faith.
- 47:03And without
- 47:04faith,
- 47:05we were so
- 47:06against God
- 47:07that there was
- 47:08no way to
- 47:08please him.
- 47:09we were
- 47:11shunning God.
- 47:12We were living
- 47:13in darkness.
- 47:15Without faith,
- 47:16we are only
- 47:16trying to
- 47:17please
- 47:17ourselves
- 47:19or others.
- 47:21We're living
- 47:22selfish lives.
- 47:24We're living
- 47:24lives looking
- 47:25in the wrong
- 47:26place,
- 47:26trusting
- 47:27in the wrong
- 47:28things,
- 47:28just trying
- 47:29to please
- 47:30everybody.
- 47:32And that's
- 47:33impossible.
- 47:34it won't
- 47:36be long
- 47:36until we
- 47:37will be
- 47:37coming
- 47:37into another
- 47:38election.
- 47:40An election
- 47:41time is a
- 47:42time when
- 47:42you hear
- 47:43politicians
- 47:43or would-be
- 47:44politicians
- 47:45speaking about
- 47:46everything that
- 47:46they're going
- 47:47to do
- 47:47to please
- 47:49a people.
- 47:51And they'll
- 47:51tell one
- 47:52group that
- 47:52they're going
- 47:52to do
- 47:53this to
- 47:53win their
- 47:54votes.
- 47:55And then
- 47:55they maybe
- 47:55contradict
- 47:56themselves
- 47:56to another
- 47:57group by
- 47:58saying they're
- 47:58going to do
- 47:59something that's
- 47:59completely
- 48:00different.
- 48:00And in a
- 48:02day such as
- 48:03we live in,
- 48:04when a modern
- 48:05age of
- 48:05technology,
- 48:06when everything's
- 48:06recorded,
- 48:07when everything
- 48:08can be brought
- 48:09together,
- 48:09we see they're
- 48:11contradicting
- 48:12themselves.
- 48:12And it's
- 48:13impossible to
- 48:14please everyone.
- 48:16But they just
- 48:17want to try
- 48:17and win
- 48:18votes.
- 48:19They want to
- 48:19try and get
- 48:21into parliament.
- 48:25Now is
- 48:25God,
- 48:26when he speaks
- 48:27to us,
- 48:29is he trying
- 48:29to win
- 48:30our vote?
- 48:32Is he trying
- 48:33to please
- 48:34everybody?
- 48:36No.
- 48:37Because God
- 48:38makes it quite
- 48:39clear how
- 48:40we are to
- 48:41live.
- 48:41And if we
- 48:42live by faith,
- 48:43we're not
- 48:43going to
- 48:44please
- 48:44everybody.
- 48:47But our
- 48:47aim should
- 48:48always be
- 48:49to please
- 48:50God.
- 48:52And the
- 48:53only way to
- 48:53please God
- 48:54is through
- 48:56faith.
- 48:59Because
- 49:00without
- 49:00faith,
- 49:01we cannot
- 49:02please him.
- 49:04And it
- 49:05may be
- 49:06that we
- 49:06are a bit
- 49:06like the
- 49:07politician.
- 49:09We're saying
- 49:09one thing
- 49:10to God.
- 49:12We're saying,
- 49:13yes,
- 49:13Lord,
- 49:13I believe.
- 49:14I believe
- 49:15that you
- 49:15exist.
- 49:17We're saying,
- 49:18maybe I
- 49:18believe that
- 49:19you're my
- 49:20savior.
- 49:20fear.
- 49:23But only
- 49:23for a
- 49:24moment,
- 49:25until someone
- 49:25asks us a
- 49:26question,
- 49:27or until
- 49:27someone
- 49:27challenges us.
- 49:28I don't
- 49:29believe that.
- 49:29I don't
- 49:30believe the
- 49:30word of
- 49:31God.
- 49:32Because we're
- 49:32being pulled
- 49:33in different
- 49:34directions.
- 49:35We're trying
- 49:35to keep
- 49:36everybody
- 49:36happy.
- 49:39But it's
- 49:40the impossible
- 49:40task.
- 49:43It's
- 49:43impossible to
- 49:44please God
- 49:45without
- 49:46faith.
- 49:50And these
- 49:51two words
- 49:52underscore for
- 49:53us just
- 49:54that when
- 49:55it says in
- 49:56verse 6,
- 49:57without faith,
- 49:58it is
- 49:58impossible
- 49:59to please
- 50:01him.
- 50:02And the
- 50:03other word
- 50:03is must.
- 50:05For whoever
- 50:06would draw
- 50:06near to
- 50:07God must
- 50:08believe that
- 50:09he exists
- 50:10and rewards
- 50:11those who
- 50:12seek him.
- 50:15Faith
- 50:15is not
- 50:15just
- 50:16something
- 50:17nice that
- 50:19you can put
- 50:19into practice
- 50:20now and
- 50:21again.
- 50:23Faith is
- 50:24a life
- 50:24lived for
- 50:26God to
- 50:27please him
- 50:28alone.
- 50:30Faith is
- 50:31not something
- 50:31that is
- 50:32divided that
- 50:33says,
- 50:34I believe
- 50:35that God
- 50:35made the
- 50:37heavens and
- 50:37the earth.
- 50:39I believe
- 50:40that he
- 50:41exists in
- 50:42one hand,
- 50:43but then
- 50:44you're led
- 50:44down another
- 50:45path when
- 50:45somebody
- 50:46else is,
- 50:46oh, I
- 50:46don't
- 50:47really
- 50:47believe
- 50:47that.
- 50:50Faith is
- 50:51something that
- 50:52is challenged
- 50:52constantly.
- 50:54That's what
- 50:55was happening
- 50:55in the days
- 50:57of the writer
- 50:58to the Hebrews.
- 50:59The people
- 51:00were being
- 51:00challenged,
- 51:01their faith
- 51:01was being
- 51:02shaken in
- 51:03many ways,
- 51:04but they
- 51:05were to have
- 51:06confidence in
- 51:07what was to
- 51:07abide and
- 51:08to last.
- 51:09trust.
- 51:10And that
- 51:11is trusting
- 51:11in the
- 51:12Lord Jesus.
- 51:15I've told
- 51:16this story
- 51:16before, I
- 51:17think, but
- 51:17it's worth
- 51:18telling again
- 51:19about the
- 51:20tightrope
- 51:21walker called
- 51:22Blondin.
- 51:23He was one
- 51:24who would
- 51:25walk across
- 51:25a tightrope
- 51:26suspended
- 51:27across Niagara
- 51:28Falls.
- 51:29and he
- 51:31would dance
- 51:32on the
- 51:32wire, he
- 51:33would run
- 51:33on the
- 51:33wire going
- 51:34across back
- 51:35and forth,
- 51:35no problem,
- 51:36and it
- 51:37attracted great
- 51:38crowds that
- 51:39cheered him
- 51:39on.
- 51:41One time he
- 51:42was going
- 51:42back and
- 51:43forth with
- 51:43a wheelbarrow
- 51:44full of
- 51:45bricks, no
- 51:46problem again,
- 51:48and the
- 51:48crowd was
- 51:49cheering.
- 51:50And then he
- 51:51shouted out
- 51:52to the
- 51:52crowd,
- 51:54who believes
- 51:55that I could
- 51:55push a man
- 51:56across that
- 51:57wire in a
- 51:58wheelbarrow?
- 51:59And all the
- 52:00hands went
- 52:00up shouting,
- 52:01yes, we
- 52:02believe that
- 52:03you could do
- 52:04it.
- 52:05And his
- 52:05response was
- 52:06to say,
- 52:07great, now
- 52:08who would
- 52:09like to
- 52:10volunteer?
- 52:12And suddenly
- 52:12all the
- 52:13hands went
- 52:14down.
- 52:16They were
- 52:16saying on
- 52:16one hand,
- 52:17they believed
- 52:18that he could
- 52:19do it,
- 52:19they'd seen
- 52:20him do it
- 52:20in so many
- 52:21different ways,
- 52:22but when it
- 52:22came to
- 52:23actually themselves
- 52:24being in
- 52:25that wheelbarrow,
- 52:26they weren't
- 52:26willing to
- 52:27commit.
- 52:29They had
- 52:29no faith.
- 52:33And that's
- 52:34the challenge
- 52:34to each
- 52:35and every
- 52:35one of
- 52:36us.
- 52:38Without
- 52:38faith, it
- 52:39is impossible
- 52:40to please
- 52:41God.
- 52:43So are we
- 52:43just merely
- 52:44giving a
- 52:44token gesture
- 52:45of faith
- 52:46to God?
- 52:48Are we
- 52:49giving him
- 52:50just a
- 52:50small part
- 52:52of our
- 52:52life and
- 52:53saying,
- 52:53yes, Lord,
- 52:54I believe?
- 52:56But when
- 52:57it comes
- 52:57to the
- 52:57challenge,
- 52:58do you
- 52:59believe?
- 53:00Will you
- 53:01stand up
- 53:01for your
- 53:02faith?
- 53:03Will you
- 53:04commit
- 53:04yourself
- 53:04fully to
- 53:05the Lord?
- 53:06Your hand
- 53:07goes down
- 53:08and you
- 53:09say, oh,
- 53:09I'm not
- 53:10sure I
- 53:10can fully
- 53:11commit.
- 53:13Well, your
- 53:14faith is
- 53:14not complete.
- 53:17Without
- 53:18faith, you
- 53:20cannot
- 53:20please
- 53:21God.
- 53:23Martin
- 53:24Luther once
- 53:24said,
- 53:25God, our
- 53:26Father,
- 53:26have made
- 53:27all things
- 53:28depend on
- 53:28faith, so
- 53:29that whoever
- 53:30has faith
- 53:31will have
- 53:32everything,
- 53:33and whoever
- 53:33does not
- 53:34have faith
- 53:35will have
- 53:36nothing.
- 53:41Without
- 53:41faith, you
- 53:43cannot
- 53:43please God.
- 53:45Without
- 53:46faith, you
- 53:47face the
- 53:48challenge of
- 53:49that judgment
- 53:50that is so
- 53:51vivid and
- 53:51so clear
- 53:52in verse
- 53:5326 downwards
- 53:54in chapter
- 53:5510.
- 53:57It is a
- 53:57fearful thing
- 53:58to fall
- 54:00into the
- 54:00hands of
- 54:01the living
- 54:02God.
- 54:03It is a
- 54:03fearful thing
- 54:04to be before
- 54:05him without
- 54:06faith.
- 54:09We need
- 54:10faith.
- 54:12And faith
- 54:13is offered
- 54:14to us in
- 54:15the gospel
- 54:15through Jesus
- 54:17Christ,
- 54:19our Lord.
- 54:20And so
- 54:21finally, we
- 54:22just want
- 54:22to see
- 54:23what it
- 54:24is to
- 54:25live by
- 54:26faith.
- 54:27What does
- 54:28it mean to
- 54:29live by
- 54:30faith?
- 54:31Well, look
- 54:31at verse
- 54:322.
- 54:33For by it
- 54:34the people
- 54:35of old
- 54:36received
- 54:36their
- 54:37commendation.
- 54:39By faith
- 54:40we understand
- 54:41that the
- 54:42universe was
- 54:43created by
- 54:44the word
- 54:44of God,
- 54:45so that
- 54:46what is
- 54:46seen was
- 54:47not made
- 54:47out of
- 54:47things that
- 54:49are visible.
- 54:50By faith
- 54:51they received
- 54:53their
- 54:54commendation.
- 54:57The world
- 54:58often ridicules
- 54:59or despises
- 55:00the person
- 55:01who lives
- 55:02by faith,
- 55:03but that's
- 55:04not what
- 55:05counts.
- 55:07We don't
- 55:08live for
- 55:09them,
- 55:10we live
- 55:11for God,
- 55:13to receive
- 55:14commendation
- 55:15from him,
- 55:17to hear
- 55:18those words,
- 55:20well done,
- 55:21good and
- 55:22faithful
- 55:23servant,
- 55:25to be
- 55:25faithful
- 55:26to him.
- 55:28And if
- 55:28you have
- 55:28trusted in
- 55:29Christ as
- 55:30saviour,
- 55:31you are to
- 55:32live each
- 55:32day seeking
- 55:33not the
- 55:34approval of
- 55:35those who
- 55:35are around
- 55:36you,
- 55:36although we
- 55:36don't want
- 55:37to be
- 55:37deliberately
- 55:38offending
- 55:38or upsetting
- 55:39people,
- 55:40but we
- 55:40want to
- 55:40please God
- 55:41always,
- 55:42and to
- 55:43seek his
- 55:44approval.
- 55:48And what
- 55:48does it
- 55:48look like
- 55:49to live
- 55:50by faith?
- 55:52Well,
- 55:53what you
- 55:53look at
- 55:53is what
- 55:54follows in
- 55:55the rest
- 55:55of this
- 55:56chapter.
- 55:57When you
- 55:58see all
- 55:58the great
- 55:59examples of
- 56:00those in
- 56:00the Old
- 56:00Testament who
- 56:02lived by
- 56:02faith,
- 56:03whose names
- 56:03are mentioned,
- 56:04Noah,
- 56:05Abraham,
- 56:05Sarah,
- 56:06Rahab,
- 56:07Gideon,
- 56:07Samson,
- 56:09you look at
- 56:09their experience,
- 56:10you look at
- 56:11their situations,
- 56:12everyone so
- 56:13different,
- 56:14everyone with
- 56:15so many
- 56:15challenges,
- 56:16even some
- 56:16you're thinking,
- 56:17how did they
- 56:18make it onto
- 56:19this list in
- 56:20Hebrews 11?
- 56:24By faith.
- 56:27By faith.
- 56:30And you
- 56:30see,
- 56:31that's the
- 56:31key for
- 56:32us.
- 56:33So often
- 56:34we think
- 56:35it's the
- 56:36size of
- 56:37our faith,
- 56:38it's how
- 56:38great our
- 56:39faith is,
- 56:40but it's
- 56:40not.
- 56:42even when
- 56:44our faith
- 56:44seems weak
- 56:45and small,
- 56:46that doesn't
- 56:47matter.
- 56:49It's about
- 56:49who our
- 56:50faith is
- 56:51in.
- 56:53Is our
- 56:53faith in
- 56:54the Lord
- 56:55Jesus Christ?
- 56:57What does
- 56:58faith look
- 56:59like to
- 57:00you?
- 57:01What does
- 57:02faith look
- 57:02like?
- 57:02Maybe you
- 57:03see it in
- 57:03other people
- 57:04around you,
- 57:05and you've
- 57:05said maybe
- 57:06to yourself,
- 57:06I wish I
- 57:07had the
- 57:08faith that
- 57:09that person
- 57:09has.
- 57:11Well,
- 57:11what strength
- 57:12of faith
- 57:13that person
- 57:14has.
- 57:15And we
- 57:15see it,
- 57:16we see it
- 57:17in people
- 57:18who are
- 57:18going through
- 57:19trials that
- 57:20without faith
- 57:21you wonder
- 57:22how could
- 57:23they possibly
- 57:23go through.
- 57:25But that
- 57:26person wouldn't
- 57:27tell you the
- 57:28strength is
- 57:28theirs or
- 57:29from themselves.
- 57:31They would
- 57:32say it's
- 57:32from God
- 57:33and by
- 57:34his grace.
- 57:35the strength
- 57:38that God
- 57:39gives because
- 57:40his grace
- 57:41is sufficient
- 57:42for all
- 57:42things.
- 57:44And he
- 57:44gives grace
- 57:45to those
- 57:46who have
- 57:47faith,
- 57:48those who
- 57:49believe in
- 57:50him.
- 57:55Just like
- 57:56we are
- 57:56reminded in
- 57:57the shorter
- 57:57catechism,
- 57:59we receive
- 58:00and rest
- 58:00upon him
- 58:01alone.
- 58:02that is
- 58:04what faith
- 58:05is,
- 58:06receiving
- 58:06and resting
- 58:07on him
- 58:08alone.
- 58:10Like we were
- 58:10hearing this
- 58:11morning in
- 58:12this service,
- 58:12it's about
- 58:13pondering and
- 58:14laying up
- 58:15these things
- 58:15in our
- 58:16hearts,
- 58:16seeking a
- 58:17greater
- 58:17understanding
- 58:19of the
- 58:19Lord Jesus
- 58:20Christ.
- 58:22That is
- 58:22where our
- 58:23faith grows.
- 58:24That is
- 58:25where our
- 58:25strength
- 58:26comes from.
- 58:28And the
- 58:28examples that
- 58:29you have in
- 58:29Hebrews 11,
- 58:30if you look
- 58:31at them,
- 58:31you see
- 58:32so many
- 58:33of them
- 58:33had mistakes
- 58:34in their
- 58:34lives,
- 58:35they had
- 58:35faults,
- 58:36they had
- 58:36sin,
- 58:37just like
- 58:37all of
- 58:37us.
- 58:39And yet
- 58:40by faith
- 58:41they are
- 58:41there.
- 58:43And you
- 58:43look at
- 58:44the New
- 58:44Testament
- 58:44and you
- 58:45see what
- 58:46faith looks
- 58:46like,
- 58:47you see
- 58:47examples
- 58:48of faith
- 58:49going on
- 58:50through the
- 58:50New Testament
- 58:51and the
- 58:51Gospel of
- 58:52Mark.
- 58:53Just to
- 58:53highlight a
- 58:54couple there,
- 58:55you see
- 58:55one was in
- 58:57Mark chapter
- 58:582,
- 58:59verse 5,
- 59:00when
- 59:00Jesus was
- 59:02there gathered
- 59:03in the
- 59:03house with
- 59:04many people
- 59:05crammering in
- 59:06to see
- 59:06Jesus and
- 59:07to hear
- 59:07him.
- 59:08And their
- 59:09friends brought
- 59:10this paralytic
- 59:11to Jesus.
- 59:13They would
- 59:13not give
- 59:14up, they
- 59:14would not
- 59:14turn away,
- 59:15they dug
- 59:16their way
- 59:16down through
- 59:17the roof,
- 59:18brought him
- 59:18in before
- 59:19Jesus.
- 59:21And what
- 59:22did Jesus
- 59:22say?
- 59:23when Jesus
- 59:24saw their
- 59:25faith, he
- 59:27said to
- 59:28the paralytic,
- 59:29son, your
- 59:30sins are
- 59:31forgiven.
- 59:34When he
- 59:34saw their
- 59:36faith, what
- 59:37did it look
- 59:38like?
- 59:39An absolute
- 59:40dependence on
- 59:42him.
- 59:44They knew
- 59:45that there was
- 59:45no one else
- 59:46who could help
- 59:47but him.
- 59:50The same is
- 59:50true in another
- 59:51account in
- 59:52Mark chapter
- 59:525 verse
- 59:5433 with
- 59:55the woman
- 59:55with the
- 59:56issue of
- 59:57blood.
- 59:58When she
- 59:59came to
- 59:59Jesus, she
- 1:00:00came by
- 1:00:02faith.
- 1:00:03If I could
- 1:00:03just touch
- 1:00:04the hem
- 1:00:05of his
- 1:00:05garments, he
- 1:00:07could make
- 1:00:07me well.
- 1:00:11And then
- 1:00:12Jesus says,
- 1:00:13who touched
- 1:00:13me?
- 1:00:14The crowd
- 1:00:14is looking
- 1:00:15around and
- 1:00:15say, what
- 1:00:15do you
- 1:00:16mean who
- 1:00:16touched
- 1:00:16you?
- 1:00:17There's a
- 1:00:17crowd here,
- 1:00:18it could be
- 1:00:19anybody, but
- 1:00:20he knew that
- 1:00:21power and
- 1:00:21had gone
- 1:00:21out from
- 1:00:22him.
- 1:00:23And the
- 1:00:23woman, it
- 1:00:23says in
- 1:00:24verse 33,
- 1:00:25the woman
- 1:00:25knowing what
- 1:00:26had happened
- 1:00:26to her, came
- 1:00:28in fear and
- 1:00:29trembling and
- 1:00:30fell down
- 1:00:31before him and
- 1:00:32told him the
- 1:00:33whole truth.
- 1:00:35And he said
- 1:00:36to her,
- 1:00:37daughter, your
- 1:00:39faith has
- 1:00:40made you
- 1:00:40well.
- 1:00:41Go in
- 1:00:42peace and
- 1:00:43be healed
- 1:00:44of your
- 1:00:45disease.
- 1:00:46She came
- 1:00:47in fear and
- 1:00:49trembling,
- 1:00:50falling before
- 1:00:51him.
- 1:00:52And what
- 1:00:52did Jesus
- 1:00:53saw?
- 1:00:54He saw
- 1:00:55faith.
- 1:00:57Your faith
- 1:00:58has made
- 1:00:59you well.
- 1:01:01Go in
- 1:01:01peace.
- 1:01:03Both these
- 1:01:03situations,
- 1:01:05they were
- 1:01:05people who
- 1:01:07were helpless,
- 1:01:08just like we
- 1:01:09all are.
- 1:01:11And what you
- 1:01:12see in both
- 1:01:13of these
- 1:01:14related situations
- 1:01:16is it becomes
- 1:01:17about a
- 1:01:18relationship.
- 1:01:18relationship.
- 1:01:20In Mark
- 1:01:202, Jesus
- 1:01:22says to the
- 1:01:23paralytic son,
- 1:01:25your sins
- 1:01:25are forgiven.
- 1:01:27In Mark
- 1:01:28chapter 5, he
- 1:01:29says to the
- 1:01:29woman, daughter,
- 1:01:32your faith has
- 1:01:33made you
- 1:01:33well.
- 1:01:35There is this
- 1:01:35wonderful
- 1:01:36relationship.
- 1:01:40They are
- 1:01:40brought by
- 1:01:41faith to
- 1:01:43know the
- 1:01:44Lord Jesus
- 1:01:45in this
- 1:01:46personal way.
- 1:01:50And so
- 1:01:50where is
- 1:01:51your faith
- 1:01:52today?
- 1:01:54Do you
- 1:01:55have faith?
- 1:01:57Is it
- 1:01:58faith in a
- 1:01:59general sense?
- 1:02:01Or is it
- 1:02:02saving faith
- 1:02:04that you find
- 1:02:05in Jesus
- 1:02:06Christ?
- 1:02:07do you
- 1:02:09have faith
- 1:02:10to go
- 1:02:11on?
- 1:02:13Your faith
- 1:02:13may be
- 1:02:14small, but
- 1:02:15it's not
- 1:02:16about the
- 1:02:16size.
- 1:02:17It's about
- 1:02:18who it
- 1:02:20is in.
- 1:02:22And if
- 1:02:22it's in
- 1:02:22Christ, his
- 1:02:24grace is
- 1:02:25sufficient for
- 1:02:27all things.
- 1:02:29Faith in
- 1:02:30Jesus Christ
- 1:02:31means we
- 1:02:32have all we
- 1:02:33need for
- 1:02:33now and
- 1:02:35for eternity.
- 1:02:36and that
- 1:02:37is our
- 1:02:38hope.
- 1:02:40There's a
- 1:02:40hymn, I
- 1:02:41forget the
- 1:02:42name of
- 1:02:42the hymn,
- 1:02:43but the
- 1:02:43last verse
- 1:02:44of it
- 1:02:44says this,
- 1:02:45and it's
- 1:02:45looking by
- 1:02:46faith ahead
- 1:02:47to eternity.
- 1:02:49My
- 1:02:49knowledge of
- 1:02:50that life
- 1:02:51is small,
- 1:02:52the eye
- 1:02:53of faith
- 1:02:53is dim,
- 1:02:55but it's
- 1:02:56enough that
- 1:02:57Christ knows
- 1:02:58all, and
- 1:02:59I shall
- 1:03:00be with
- 1:03:01him.
- 1:03:03There is
- 1:03:04faith, no
- 1:03:05matter how
- 1:03:06small it
- 1:03:07seems, no
- 1:03:07matter how
- 1:03:08dim it
- 1:03:09seems.
- 1:03:10It's not
- 1:03:10what our
- 1:03:12faith is
- 1:03:12in, or
- 1:03:14our faith
- 1:03:15at all, but
- 1:03:16who our
- 1:03:17faith is
- 1:03:18in.
- 1:03:19Faith is
- 1:03:20the assurance
- 1:03:21of things
- 1:03:23hoped for,
- 1:03:24the convictions
- 1:03:25of things
- 1:03:27not seen.
- 1:03:29Faith is
- 1:03:30about looking
- 1:03:31to Christ,
- 1:03:33the author
- 1:03:33and
- 1:03:34perfecter
- 1:03:35of our
- 1:03:36faith.
- 1:03:37May God
- 1:03:38bless these
- 1:03:38few thoughts
- 1:03:39to us.
- 1:03:41We're going
- 1:03:42to conclude
- 1:03:43by singing
- 1:03:44to God's
- 1:03:45praise
- 1:03:45in Psalm
- 1:03:4846a.
- 1:03:53We'll sing
- 1:03:54from verse
- 1:03:558 to
- 1:03:56verse 11
- 1:03:57to the end
- 1:03:58of the
- 1:03:58psalm.
- 1:03:58Psalm 46a,
- 1:04:00page 60
- 1:04:02of the
- 1:04:02psalm
- 1:04:03book,
- 1:04:04verse 8
- 1:04:05to verse
- 1:04:0611.
- 1:04:08The tune
- 1:04:08is Stroud
- 1:04:09Water.
- 1:04:10Come see
- 1:04:11the works
- 1:04:11the Lord
- 1:04:12has done,
- 1:04:12the judgments
- 1:04:13he commands,
- 1:04:15the desolations
- 1:04:16he has brought
- 1:04:16to pass
- 1:04:17in many
- 1:04:18lands.
- 1:04:19Then verse
- 1:04:1910,
- 1:04:20be still
- 1:04:21and know
- 1:04:22that I am
- 1:04:22God,
- 1:04:23on earth
- 1:04:23exalted
- 1:04:24high,
- 1:04:25and all
- 1:04:25the nations
- 1:04:26of the
- 1:04:27world my
- 1:04:27name will
- 1:04:28glorify.
- 1:04:29We'll sing
- 1:04:30from verse
- 1:04:308 to
- 1:04:3111 to
- 1:04:32God's
- 1:04:32praise.
- 1:04:33Amen.
- 1:04:36Amen.
- 1:04:37He the words the Lord has done, the judgment he brought, the desolations he has brought
- 1:05:00to pass in many lands.
- 1:05:07A very land for the earth, he makes all complex things, he shatters through,
- 1:05:28and spirit, and cheer, and grace is reign of peace.
- 1:05:40Be still and know that I am God, on earth, they're exalted high,
- 1:05:56and all the nations of the world, my name will glorify.
- 1:06:12The Lord Almighty is with us, to strengthen us sustain.
- 1:06:28For Jacob's law, our strong, the best, and fortress will remain.
- 1:06:44Amen.
- 1:06:46After the benediction, I'll go to the door to my right.
- 1:06:50We'll close with a benediction.
- 1:06:52Now may grace, mercy, and peace from God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit rest upon and
- 1:06:59abide with you all now and forevermore.
- 1:07:01Amen.
- 1:07:02Amen.
- 1:07:02Amen.
- 1:07:04Amen.
- 1:07:06Amen.
- 1:07:08Amen.
- 1:07:10Amen.
- 1:07:11Amen.
- 1:07:12Amen.
- 1:07:13Amen.
- 1:07:14Amen.