[:en]SCRIPTURE: HEBREWS 11
“Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1)
“And without faith, it is impossible to please God because anyone who come to Him must believe that He exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6)
“Moses chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a short time” (Hebrews 11:25)
The definition of faith has two important aspects. First – assurance of our hope; Second – certainty of the unseen. It involves two different timeline – future and present. Although the future is unknown, but with faith, we consider our hope fulfilled. Although we are not sure at present, but with faith, we have previewed what has not happened.
The author mentioned people who have demonstrated their faith as follows:
- Abel – He shown his faith by following God’s command to offer blood sacrifice. So God accepted his offering.
- Enoch – He lived a life that pleased God. So God took him to heaven without experiencing death
- Noah – He built an ark by God’s instruction. So his whole family was saved.
- Abraham – He left his home, lived as a pilgrim and followed God’s leading. At his old aged, he believed in God’s promise to become a father. And by faith, he was willing to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. So God blessed him and his descendants and he was called the “Father of Faith”.
- Isaac – He confimed blessings on Jacob and Esau based on the Word passed on to him from Abraham.
- Jacob – He blessed Ephraim and Manasseh according to God’s Word.
- Moses – He refused pleassres and treasures in Egypt and identified with the Israelites. His faith led to the Passover deliverance and crosing of the Red Sea.
- Joshua – He followed God’s command to march around the wall of Jericho for 7 days. The wall fell and they were able to conquer it.
- Rahab – She risked her life to save the spies. As a result, she was able to save her whole family and became the human ancestry of Christ.
- Gideon – He was able to conquer kingdoms
- Barak – He was able to administer justice
- Samson – He shut the mouths of the lions with the power to win over foreign armies.
- Jephthah – He was a mighty warrior and a judge and God had endowed him with supernatural power to quench the fury of the flames of the Ammonites.
- David – He was a young shepherd who killed Goliah by his faith when he said: “You come against me with sword, and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied” (1 Sam. 17:43)
- Samuel – He was consecrated to God before his birth and was a prophet and last of the judges. When called by God, he answered” “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening” (1 Sam. 3:10)
- Elijah – Through faith, he challenged the prophets of Baal at Mt. Carmel and showed the people who is the tur God. (1 Kings 18:”16-39)
- Elisha – He was able to restore Shunammite’s son to life with his faith in God. (2 Kings 4:32-35)
- Stephen – He was appointed by the Apostles to ber a deacon serving the Jerusalem’s community of Hellenistic converts. He was a courageous witness for Christ and described as being a man full of God’s grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous sings among the people (Acts 6:8). Before he was stoned to death, he saw heaven open and the Sonof Man standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:56)
- Paul – He was imprisoned and exposed to death. He was flogged 39 lashes, beaten 3 times with rods, stoned once, shipwrecked thrice and spent a night and day at open sea. He encountered dangers from rive, bandits, own countrymen, false brothers, Gentles, in the city, the the country, and at sea. He underwent sleepless nights, hunger, thirst and without food. He experienced cold and nakedness (2 Cor. 11:23-31). But he trusted the Lord with His sufficient grace (2 Cor. 12:9)
LESSONS:
Faith in Christ is the only way to salvation and the only way to please Him. Faith is a gift from God through His Word and Spirit. It came from hearing the message through the Word of Christ (Rom. 10:17) With faith, all things will be made possible.
[:]