Indestructible Faith (Hebrews 11)

Hebrews 11

This chapter serves as a reference for our lives as we seek to walk by faith.

The Lord is so gracious that He didn’t leave faith for us as a concept or a definition that we would figure it out as we go but, He actually furnished us with these examples from whose lives we can extract lessons.

There is no other way for us to live, but by faith.

Faith is life for the believer.

Romans 1:17 “The just shall live by faith”

Hebrews 10:38 KJV Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

In this life faith is not an option but it’s a requirement.

How do we get faith?

Romans 10:17 KJV So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

In chapter 11 we can establish a few realities of Faith:

1. Faith is proven by works

2. Trust does not require perfection

3. Hardships are a part of our Faith experience

4. We are a part of a living legacy of faith

5. Embrace our own journey of faith

Hebrews 11:4 KJV By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

In order to understand the power of Abel’s faith we must seek to appreciate first that the outcome of his faith is in contradiction to the expectation of him as his name suggests.

His name means “vapor” which suggests something that quickly disappears and has no real substance to it.

Interestingly in keeping with his name his life was not a long one as compared to the others who lived into old age, but his faith outlived him.

Lessons on Faith from the life of Abel

1. Faith initiates worship. Genesis 4, Hebrew 11:6

2. Faith is tested by sacrifice. Romans 12:1

3. Faith is proven by obedience.

4. Faith is personally demonstrated. Genesis 4:4

5. Faith attracts the attention and approval of God. Vs 4

6. Faith speaks when we are silenced. Hebrews 11:4

What is your Faith speaking?

Embrace the journey. Live by Faith. Become Indestructible

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It’s Our Turn

The runner's strategy

Text: Hebrews Chapter 1 to 13

The key word of the book of Hebrews - Better

Chapters 1–4: Christ is Superior to Leaders and Angels

• Chapter 1: Jesus is established as the Son of God and the final revelation of God to humanity. He is described as superior to angels, who are merely "ministering spirits".

  
  

  

• Chapter 2: A warning against "drifting away" from salvation. It explains that Jesus became fully human to suffer and die, thereby defeating death and becoming a "merciful and faithful high priest".

  
  

• Chapter 3: Jesus is compared to Moses, the greatest leader of Israel. While Moses was a faithful servant in God’s house, Jesus is the Son over the house.

  
  

  

• Chapter 4: The author warns readers not to miss God’s "Sabbath rest" through unbelief, as the Israelites did in the wilderness. It also describes the Word of God as living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword.

Chapters 5–7: Christ as our High Priest

• Chapter 5: Jesus is identified as a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. The author chides the readers for their spiritual immaturity, noting they still need "milk" rather than "solid food".

  
  

• Chapter 6: A stern warning against falling away and a call to press on to spiritual maturity. It emphasizes the unchangeable nature of God’s promises.

  
  

• Chapter 7: Explains the mysterious figure of Melchizedek and why Jesus’ priesthood—based on an "indestructible life"—is superior to the temporary, hereditary Levitical priesthood.

  
  

  

  
  

Chapters 8–10: The New Covenant and Better Sacrifice

• Chapter 8: Jesus is the mediator of a New Covenant, which is "better" than the Old Covenant because it is written on the heart rather than on stone.

  
  

  

  
  

• Chapter 9: Contrasts the earthly tabernacle and animal sacrifices with the heavenly sanctuary. Jesus entered the Most Holy Place once and for all with His own blood to secure eternal redemption.

  
  

• Chapter 10: Declares that animal sacrifices could never fully take away sins, but Christ’s single sacrifice is perfect and final. It concludes with a call to persevere and not shrink back.

  
  

  

  
  

Chapters 11–13: The Life of Faith

• Chapter 11: Known as the "Hall of Faith," this chapter lists Old Testament heroes (like Noah, Abraham, and Moses) who lived by faith in God's promises despite not seeing their full fulfillment.

  

• Chapter 12: Encourages believers to run the "race" of faith, looking to Jesus as the author and perfecter of faith. It describes God’s discipline as a sign of His love for His children.

  
  

• Chapter 13: Provides final practical instructions on brotherly love, hospitality, and marriage. It affirms that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever".

  

In Chapter 11 the writer challenges the believer in Christ that after you have considered all that has been functioning over the ages and what Christ has now presented to us that it’s now their turn.

He asserts that:

1. All previous arrangements were inadequate.

2. All previous arrangements were inferior

3. All previous arrangements were finite

We know that because he uses an analogy of an athletic engagement in 12:1-3 that those is chapter 11 have not just run and completed but are actively observing and serve as evidence of the power of faith.

In light of the forerunners and the obligation we now have he encourages us to:

1. Use the evidence that the lives of these great servants makes available to us.

2. Unnecessary attachments and activities will negatively affect our performance.

3. Unhinge ourselves from the sins that easily undermine and trip us up.

4. Accept the race that has been given and focus on delivering.

5. Fix your gaze on Christ as the origin and objective of our faith.

6. Observe the example of Christ who ran His race, paved the way, paid the price and pleads for us.

It's Our Turn: Infographic

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In His Hands

God is not against financial, educational or any type of success.

He gives the power to get wealth. It is in His Hands.

Deuteronomy 8:17-18 NLT [17] He did all this so you would never say to yourself, 'I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.' [18] Remember the LORD your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath.

God has the power to bless and the purpose for blessing.

Wealth and financial blessings are a part of our human experience.

The desire to succeed and to build is very important and should always be encouraged.

However there is a warning that we must acknowledge the source of all blessings and live accordingly.

James 4:13-17 13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Four considerations for our human existence

1. The Presumptions of life denies the sovereignty of God

• The presumption of time

• The presumption of direction

• The presumption of activity and success

2. The Plight of life declares the limitations of humanity

• The plight of limited knowledge

• The plight of shallow understanding

• The plight of our nature

• The plight of our existence

  
  

3. The Posture of life must depend upon the hand of God

• The Posture of humility

• The Posture of powerlessness

• The Posture of dependence on His will

4. The Problem of the human state

• We celebrate things that we have no contribution in if we are honest.

• We seek the applause of men to validate our false feeling of accomplishment

• We willfully deny God His due and irritate Him

  
  

Example Luke 12:13-21

Material success does not guarantee a healthy spiritual state.

• Consideration of life without consideration of God is foolish.

• Our plans do not guarantee that we will ever see them accomplished.

• God’s attention and judgment is attracted to the presumptuous soul.

In His Hands: The Path to Godly Success

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