A good report through faith

Heb 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
Heb 11:18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
Heb 11:19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.


Abraham believed that God would keep His promise that through Isaac he would become the father of a nations.


Gen 17:3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,
Gen 17:4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
Gen 17:5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
Gen 17:6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.


Abraham believed God, Abraham had faith in God to do as He said He'd do.


Gen 17:19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.


Abraham believed that Isaac would be the one with whom the covenant would be established. Even when called to sacrifice Isaac, Abraham believed that God would raise Isaac from the dead if necessary to keep that promise. Faith.



Heb 11:20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
Heb 11:21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
Heb 11:22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
Heb 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
Heb 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
Heb 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Heb 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.


We have to truly believe that the pleasure of sin are only for a season and choose to endure affliction rather than enjoy sin. This world and it's pleasures are only temporary. We have to make this REAL to ourselves. We have to live with eternity a reality, not just a fable, not just a chance happening, but reality. Eternity, whether or not we inherit it, is real. To those who have a living faith in God that eternity is real, in fact more real than this temporary life because so many have suffered so much to inherit eternity rather than living for now.


Heb 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Heb 11:28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
Heb 11:29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
Heb 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
Heb 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
Heb 11:32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
Heb 11:33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
Heb 11:34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Heb 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
Heb 11:36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
Heb 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
Heb 11:38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
Heb 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
Heb 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.


If you've got the time, reread that entire section.


By faith- fire was quenched.
By faith- escaping the sword was possible.
By faith - the weak were made strong.
By faith- some were tortured rather than forsaking their faith.
By faith- some were mocked cruelly.
By faith- some were scourged- whipped.
By faith- some were imprisoned.
By faith- some were stoned.
By faith- some were torn in two.
By faith- some were destitute, afflicted, tormented.
By faith- some were homeless.
By faith
By faith…
By faith…… So when people believe and suffer is it any surprise? When we believe that our God is a Santa Clause who ends up ignoring all the naughtiness and hands out presents anyway, we aren't believing in God at all. We are told we will SUFFER! Yet when we suffer we are quick to blame God rather than draw closer to Him. We have to believe what God's word tells us- all of the word, not just pick out the pleasant bits and ignore the rest- that is NOT faith.


Having faith when there is NO REASON at all to have faith- is faith.


We don't have to understand, we do have to have faith without understanding why some are called to suffer and others aren't. You might not be called to suffer physically but emotionally, mentally you may be tortured and still you must have faith.


We need to read of the faithful that have lived before us because this can give us hope. Just because our lives are filled with seemingly bad luck and disappointment, it doesn't mean we aren't God's. We can be God's through faith no matter our situation. It's not a testament to our faith to not suffer. God is NOT necessarily smiling down on us because we have happy, happy lives. What happens to faith when it is only strong as things seem to be going great, when God seems to be answering prayers the way we want Him too? Faith that is only strong in good weather so to speak isn't faith at all. Faith needs to be strong during good and bad weather.


Faith in God.
Faith in God's promises.


Rom 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
Rom 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Rom 4:22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
Rom 4:23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
Rom 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead


Strong in faith!


Not written for his sake alone….but for us also.


These things are written for us, we need to study them, to learn them, to believe them.


By the grace and mercy of God we will have faith as strong as Abraham's faith, faith as strong as all those who have ever had faith from the beginning of the world.


In the righteousness of our Savior now and forever!


Amen.