This summer, we are camping out in Hebrews 11 to learn from a group of ordinary, everyday people who chose to live by faith rather than shrinking back. From Abel to Rahab, we’ll look closely at their distinguishing perseverance and inspiring trust in God amid hopeless-looking circumstances.
The Brilliance of Faith
Speakers
Josh Blount
Lead Pastor
Worship
Notes
Hebrews 12:1
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
1. Faith Is Fundamental
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
Hebrews 11:1 (MSG)
The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.
FAITH = TRUST
Faith - putting your trust in something or someone, it’s relying and clinging.
2. Faith Comes Standard
Romans 12:3
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has distributed to each of you.
Measure - metron - a standard, determined measure
2 Peter 1:1
Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
Like precious - isotimos - of equal value or honor.
You have the same amount of faith Jesus had!
Galatians 2:20
I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
3. Faith Is In God
Fear is projecting a bad outcome with God absent from it; faith projects a good outcome with God present in it.
Romans 10:17
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear
1 John 4:8
God is love
Faith is not about the unknown, we know! It’s about the unseen.
Why faith?
Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Faith is chosen by Christ to wear the crown of salvation because it refuses to wear the crown.
Charles Spurgeon
Luke 4:16
So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” 20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Luke 4:30
Then passing through the midst of them he went on his way
1. Salvation
Luke 4:18
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor;
Poor - ptōchos - the poor that are not able to work.
2. Inner Healing
Luke 4:18
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
Brokenhearted - syntribō - to shatter, to break into many pieces.
3. Freedom
Luke 4:18
To proclaim liberty to the captives
Captives - aichmalōtos - a captive taken by the spear
Ephesians 4:8
“When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men."
Led captivity captive - He led in triumph a great multitude of captives.
4. Healing
Luke 4:18
And recovery of sight to the blind,
1 Peter 2:24
Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree (Cross), that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
Healed - iaomai - it means - to cure, heal to make whole - spirit, soul and body.
Matthew 8:16-17
When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.”
5. Holy Spirit Anointing
Acts 10:38
God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
John 1:33
When God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, 'The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.'