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Learning to Trust Jesus, Part 5 The Many Faces of Faith

5/25/2014

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 11:30-40

Memory Verse: “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.” Hebrews 11:39, NIV

Faith that receives the promise of God looks differently depending upon whose life it is in!

1. Faith wears many faces! Verses 30-32
A. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses!
B. Joshua gets bypassed for the group!
C. Rahab gets the headlines even as a prostitute!
D. Male/female, individual/group, well known/obscure, major/minor, expert/novice
E. Anyone can have faith, and most who have it are never noticed for it!
F. If you are in it for the public affirmation, forget it!

2. Faith walks many paths! Verses 33-35a
A. Wants the life that God gives: v. 33 “received what God had promised” NLT
B. Wins Battles:
> Conquered Kingdoms
> Administered Justice
> Shut the mouth of lions
> Quenched the fury of flames
> Escaped the sword
> Weakness turned to strength
> Powerful in battle, routing armies
> Receiving healing

C. Withstands Trials: v. 35, “placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection.” NLT
> Tortured
> Choose to Refuse Release
> Faced jeers and flogging
> Endured chains of imprisonment
> Stoned to death, sawn in two, killed by the sword
> Homeless wanderers: Verses 37-38
> The world was not worthy of them!!!

3. Faith seeks one object! Verses 39-40
A. Faith seeks Jesus! Faith doesn’t rest short of it’s goal in Christ! Hebrews 11:10
B. Faith makes it possible for us all to reach that same goal together in Christ! You can be faithful!
C. Faith is not satisfied with something less than the best, it seeks something better! v. 40
D. By-product of faith is the fame of a good name: Proverbs 22:1

SO WHAT?

Be the person God made you to be!
Be content not being the person you want to be or that others think you should be!
Be willing to follow God through good and bad circumstances!
Is Jesus your goal?

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Learning to Trust Jesus - Part 4 Courageous Faith

5/19/2014

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Scripture Reading: Hebrews 11:23-29
23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict."

24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ" as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

Faith has courage to:

1. Defend the defenseless! verse 23
A. Acknowledge the sanctity of human life
B. Every life is an extraordinary life in the hands of Jesus!

2. Deny the civil authority! verse 23

If government demands that you sin against God directly, you must choose to obey God over man.

3. Declare your Identify as a part of the people of God! Verse 24
A. Own your faith!
B. Own your people by standing with them!

Numbers 11:28 “Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ aide since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!”

C. Opt out of being the “son of the Pharaoh’s daughter”.

4. Desire fellowship with God and his people over the pleasures of sin! Verse 25
A. Reject the identity of evil!

2 Timothy 2:22 “Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

B. Remind yourself of the PASSING pleasure of sin

5. Develop the discerning eye of Christ: verse 26-27, 1 Corinthians 2:15-16
A. Disdains Egyptian Treasure: Hebrews 5:14
B. Drawn toward the promised reward
C. Dominion of the unseen King not the visible one: Ephesians 6:12, 2 Kings 6:17

6. Delivered by the blood and through the water: verses 28-29
A. Blood of Christ
B. Baptism of the Holy Spirit

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“Learning to Trust Jesus” Part 3 - Parenting in Faith

5/11/2014

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Scripture Reading: Hebrews 11:20-22

Memory Verse: All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. Hebrews 11:13

1. Faith enables Christian parents to shape the future of their children through blessing! Verse 20
A. Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau
B. Jacob blessed Joseph’s sons
C. Joseph anticipated the Exodus and told his children
D. Blessing & Instructing are the keys to the future shape of our children’s lives.

2. Faith empowers Christians to worship even when facing our own mortality! Verse 21
A. Worship based on God, not self
B. Worship based on God puts a focus on others: Lives to bless other people
C. While withering away:
1) No bad time to worship God,
2) don’t wait on the perfect time, now is the time

3. Faith instructs with the future in mind! Verse 22
A Near term instructions are of limited value!
B. Long term instructions are life changing!
C. Faith focuses on God’s plan for progress!
1) Our end is not God’s end or the end!
2) God has a plan!
3) God has the power!
4) God is moving everything in His direction for His glory!

4. Faith has final affairs in order!
A. Take care of the big issues now!
B. Teach them to your children!
C. Turn your life toward what matters every day in every decision!

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Learning to Trust Jesus; Part 2 “Examples of Faith: Abraham”

5/6/2014

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Scripture Reading: Hebrews 11:8-19

Memory Verse: “By faith Abraham, even though he was past age – and Sarah herself was barren – was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise.” Hebrews 11:11, NIV

1. Faith obeys God even when some of the directions remain uncertain. Verse 8

This is God’s avenue for sending His blessing
Hear God, believe God, obey God

2. Faith is willing to leave the known for the unknown. Verse 8

People
Place
Promise: Protection and provision from either Human or Divine Source

3. Faith looks forward and lives on the foundation that God provides. Verses 9-10

Even while the promise is currently unfulfilled!
Even when treated as a stranger and a foreigner with no standing among men!
Knowing that God is the designer and maker of the promise!

4. Faith willingly receives the grace of God and manifests His power to do the impossible! Verses 11-12

Barren lives produce fruit!
Testify to the power of God in us!

5. Faith anticipates a better day ahead and refuses to return to the past life. Verses 13-16

Not put off by the wait, patience
Not living only for the moment: Not too cozy with the culture
Not satisfied with lesser things!
Looking into the future of God: Big Picture thinking

6. Faith trusts God with everything! Verses 17-19

Life and death belong to Him!
Nothing is off limits to Him!

SO WHAT?

What command of God are you afraid to obey?
What call of God do you need to accept?
What testimony of provision are you quenching?
Where have you settled for less than God’s best in your life?
What area of life are you withholding from God?

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Learning to Trust Jesus, Part 5 The Many Faces of Faith

Learning to Trust Jesus - Part 4 Courageous Faith

“Learning to Trust Jesus” Part 3 - Parenting in Faith

Learning to Trust Jesus; Part 2 “Examples of Faith: Abraham”

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Learning to Trust Jesus, Part 5 The Many Faces of Faith

Learning to Trust Jesus - Part 4 Courageous Faith

“Learning to Trust Jesus” Part 3 - Parenting in Faith

Learning to Trust Jesus; Part 2 “Examples of Faith: Abraham”

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