Looking For A City
INTRO: I hope all of you had a good Thanksgiving Day. What a good holiday. What a a good day to have and keep. What a good day to spend time with family. What a good time we have today to look forward to the future when we can have Thanksgiving Days that overshadow these.
I do not mean better food, better deserts, and bigger reunions. It will be a time of greater joy, happiness, and thankfulness. There are good times here, but there they will be so much better. What a day that will be! What a day that will be! What a day that will be!
Today I want to talk about FAITH. For many they feel they can never get enough faith. Many try to build it up. Many bemoan their lack of it. Many know little about it.
Bro. Hulon, well over twenty-five years ago used the acronym Forsaking All I Trust Him. That stuck with me. We must trust God. That is where our faith shines and grows. Doubt kills our faith, trust builds it!
Hebrews 11:1-16(NKJV) 1Now faith
is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
3By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of
God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are
visible.
4By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain,
through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his
gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.
5By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and
was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had
this testimony, that he pleased God.
6But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for
he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder
of those who diligently seek Him.
7By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved
with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he
condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to
faith.
8By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place
which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he
was going.
9By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign
country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same
promise;
10for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder
and maker is God.
11By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed,
and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful
who had promised.
12Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as
many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is
by the seashore.
13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but
having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and
confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a
homeland.
15And truly if they had called to mind that country from
which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.
16But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country.
Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city
for them.
Faith was found in our forefathers (at least spiritually forefathers)
He is God in every way
Eager awaiting of God’s fulfillment of promises - 1
Obvious action for others to acknowledge – 2
Abel gave God his best -4
Enoch pleased God - 5
6But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Noah prepared for rescue when others doubted - 7
Abraham obeyed God without question – 4-8
His faith never seemed to let go
Faith fostered a hope for a better city in our forefathers
Abraham left behind earthly ties and followed God– 8-9
Abraham looked for a city made by God - 10
Abraham dwells in that city - 16
Sarah miraculously bore a child in her old age - 11
Saw the promises of God afar off - 13
Sought the promises of God - 13
Stood on the promises of God – 15-16
Secured the promises of God - 16
QUESTION TIME:
Matthew 17:20(NKJV) 20So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
Romans 10:17(NKJV) 17So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
2 Corinthians 5:7(KJV) 7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
Acts 26:18(NKJV) 18to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’
Ephesians 2:8-9(NKJV) 8For by
grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is
the gift of God,
9not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Romans 3:28(NKJV) 28Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.
Luke 5:20(KJV) 20And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
Romans 5:1-2(KJV) 1Therefore
being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we
stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Galatians 3:14(NKJV) 14that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Do you have the faith you need?
Gary Marcum – New Beginnings Church – 112810am