[Linux4christians] B7 - Thursday - Hebrews 11

Wed Apr 25 23:27:18 EDT 2012

    Thursday

      Hebrews 11

People Commended for Their Faith

11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of 
what we do not see.

11:2 For by it the people of old received God's commendation.

11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were set in order at God's 
command, so that the visible has its origin in the invisible.

11:4 By faith Abel offered God a greater sacrifice than Cain, and 
through his faith he was commended as righteous, because God commended 
him for his offerings. And through his faith he still speaks, though he 
is dead.

11:5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death, and he 
was not to be found because God took him up. For before his removal he 
had been commended as having pleased God.

11:6 Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who 
approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who 
seek him.

11:7 By faith Noah, when he was warned about things not yet seen, with 
reverent regard constructed an ark for the deliverance of his family. 
Through faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the 
righteousness that comes by faith.

11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place he 
would later receive as an inheritance, and he went out without 
understanding where he was going.

11:9 By faith he lived as a foreigner in the promised land as though it 
were a foreign country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who were 
fellow heirs of the same promise.

11:10 For he was looking forward to the city with firm foundations, 
whose architect and builder is God.

11:11 By faith, even though Sarah herself was barren and he was too old, 
he received the ability to procreate, because he regarded the one who 
had given the promise to be trustworthy.

11:12 So in fact children were fathered by one man -- and this one as 
good as dead -- /like the number of stars in the sky and like the 
innumerable grains of sand/ /on the seashore/.

11:13 These all died in faith without receiving the things promised, but 
they saw them in the distance and welcomed them and acknowledged that 
they were strangers and foreigners on the earth.

11:14 For those who speak in such a way make it clear that they are 
seeking a homeland.

11:15 In fact, if they had been thinking of the land that they had left, 
they would have had opportunity to return.

11:16 But as it is, they aspire to a better land, that is, a heavenly 
one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has 
prepared a city for them.

11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He had 
received the promises, yet he was ready to offer up his only son.

11:18 God had told him, "/*Through Isaac descendants will carry on your 
name*/,"

11:19 and he reasoned that God could even raise him from the dead, and 
in a sense he received him back from there.

11:20 By faith also Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future.

11:21 By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of 
Joseph and /*worshiped as he leaned on his staff*/.

11:22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, mentioned the exodus of 
the sons of Israel and gave instructions about his burial.

11:23 By faith, when Moses was born, his parents hid him for three 
months, because they saw the child was beautiful and they were not 
afraid of the king's edict.

11:24 By faith, when he grew up, Moses refused to be called the son of 
Pharaoh's daughter,

11:25 choosing rather to be ill-treated with the people of God than to 
enjoy sin's fleeting pleasure.

11:26 He regarded abuse suffered for Christ to be greater wealth than 
the treasures of Egypt, for his eyes were fixed on the reward.

11:27 By faith he left Egypt without fearing the king's anger, for he 
persevered as though he could see the one who is invisible.

11:28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so 
that the one who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.

11:29 By faith they crossed the Red Sea as if on dry ground, but when 
the Egyptians tried it, they were swallowed up.

11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell after the people marched around 
them for seven days.

11:31 By faith Rahab the prostitute escaped the destruction of the 
disobedient, because she welcomed the spies in peace.

11:32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of 
Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets.

11:33 Through faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, 
gained what was promised, shut the mouths of lions,

11:34 quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained 
strength in weakness, became mighty in battle, put foreign armies to 
flight,

11:35 and women received back their dead raised to life. But others were 
tortured, not accepting release, to obtain resurrection to a better life.

11:36 And others experienced mocking and flogging, and even chains and 
imprisonment.

11:37 They were stoned, sawed apart, murdered with the sword; they went 
about in sheepskins and goatskins; they were destitute, afflicted, 
ill-treated

11:38 (the world was not worthy of them); they wandered in deserts and 
mountains and caves and openings in the earth.

11:39 And these all were commended for their faith, yet they did not 
receive what was promised.

11:40 For God had provided something better for us, so that they would 
be made perfect together with us.

      Prayer

Lord, Your list of faith-models is instructive, the martyrdom of 
Christians a sobering testimony to the hate-filled fury of the enemy and 
the power of truth to prevail. May I learn from those who have come 
before, share their testimonies, and model my commitment after theirs.

      Summary & Commentary

Hebrews challenges the reader with a powerful statement "Now faith is 
being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see." 
The text then sets out to explain and "prove" this through the lives of 
OT persons.

In the OT "... people of old received God's commendation". A prime 
example is Abraham in Genesis 15:6 "Abram believed the Lord, and the 
Lord considered his response of faith proof of genuine loyalty."

"... we understand that the worlds were set in order at God's command, 
so that the visible has its origin in the invisible.

"Now without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who 
approaches God must believe that He exists and that he rewards those who 
seek Him."

"By faith Abel ..."

"By faith Enoch ..."

"By faith Noah ..."

"By faith Abraham ..."

"These all died in faith without receiving the things promised, but they 
saw them in the distance and welcomed them and acknowledged that they 
were strangers and foreigners on the earth ... they were seeking a 
homeland ... a heavenly one"

"By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future."

"By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and 
worshiped as he leaned on his staff.

By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, mentioned the exodus of the 
sons of Israel and gave instructions about his burial."

[Note: Joseph prophesied the Exodus and that his bones should travel 
with his people to the Promised Land.]

Hebrews 11 reports the faith that caused Moses' parents to hide him 
without fear of Pharaoh, Moses to leave Pharaoh for God's people, and on 
through the generations leaders of faith; Joshua, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, 
Samson, Jephthah, David, and Samuel. It also describes the deprivation 
and suffering and death of the faithful over time.

Hebrews 11 concludes "For God had provided something better for us, so 
that they would be made perfect together with us."

      Interaction

        Consider

The Lord God places great importance on a genuine faith.

        Discuss

How might wedisciple a genuine faith like that which empowered these OT 
persons to be used so mightily of the Lord God?

        Reflect

These people of faith recognize the dividing line of value between the 
things and faith.

        Share

When have you experienceda difficult choice you have made, knowing that 
the consequences would likely not be to your temporary benefit here on 
earth, but that based on faith you knew to be right before God?

      Faith in Action

        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to show you one place in your life where you have 
placed worldly comfort or convenience above faithfulness to God's call.

        Action:

Today I will study the OT people of faith to prayerfully reflect on how 
I may bring more of my life into line with felicity to the call of the 
Lord God on me.

        Be Specific ______________________________________________________

    Friday's text will be:

      Hebrews 12

-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
Have an Ultrafidian.com Day!
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Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
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1Cor. 15:22 "For just as in Adam all die,
so also in Christ all will be made alive."
Savannah-Statesboro needs a Bible College/Seminary!
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