April 28-29, 2007 HEROES! Hebrews 11:8 - 19, Selected

ABRAHAM – Wealthy Man Blesses the World!

(Senior Pastor Roger Storms)

*** Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” [New American Standard Bible]
*** Hebrews 11:2 “This is what the ancients were commended for.” [NIV]
*** Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” [NIV]

Abraham has a Risk-It-All Faith!

*** Genesis 11:30 “Now Sarai was not able to have any children.” [NLT]
*** Genesis 12:1 “The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.” [NIV]

ABRAHAM IS A FAITH-HERO BECAUSE HE BELIEVED GOD:

1. WHEN HE DIDN’T KNOW WHERE!
*** Hebrews 11:8-10 “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. [9] By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. [10] For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” [NIV]

*** Hebrews 11:13-16 “Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. [14] People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home. [15] If they were homesick for the old country, they could have gone back any time they wanted. [16] But they were after a far better country than that—heaven country. You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a City waiting for them. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” [Message Bible]

• RISK-IT-ALL FAITH DOESN’T LOOK FOR COMFORT!
• RISK-IT-ALL FAITH DOESN’T LOVE MORE STUFF!
• RISK-IT-ALL FAITH LIVES FOR HEAVEN!
*** Phil. 1:21 “For to me, living means opportunities for Christ, and dying--well, that's better yet!” [Living Bible]

2. WHEN HE DIDN’T KNOW HOW!
*** Genesis 15:2-6 “Abram said, "O Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?" [3] And Abram said, "You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir." [4] Then the word of the Lord came to him: "This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir." [5] He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars--if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." [6] Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”

*** Hebrews 11:11-12 “By faith Abraham, even though he was past age--and Sarah herself was barren--was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. [12] And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.” [NIV]

*** Romans 4:18-24 “When God promised Abraham that he would become the father of many nations, Abraham believed him. God had also said, "Your descendants will be as numerous as the stars," even though such a promise seemed utterly impossible! [19] And Abraham's faith did not weaken, even though he knew that he was too old to be a father at the age of one hundred and that Sarah, his wife, had never been able to have children. [20] Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. [21] He was absolutely convinced that God was able to do anything he promised. [22] And because of Abraham's faith, God declared him to be righteous. [23] Now this wonderful truth—that God declared him to be righteous—wasn't just for Abraham's benefit. [24] It was for us, too, assuring us that God will also declare us to be righteous if we believe in God, who brought Jesus our Lord back from the dead.”
[New Living Translation]

3. WHEN HE DIDN’T KNOW WHY!
*** Genesis 22:1-2 “Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. [2] Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." [NIV]

*** Genesis 22:5 “He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you." [NIV]

*** Genesis 22:7-8 “Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, Father?" "Yes, my son?" Abraham replied. "The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" [8] Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together.” [NIV]

*** Genesis 22:11-13a “But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. [12] "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." [13] Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns.” [NIV]

The Definition of a Risk-It-All Faith!

*** Hebrews 11:17-19 “By faith, Abraham, at the time of testing, offered Isaac back to God. Acting in faith, he was as ready to return the promised son, his only son, as he had been to receive him— [18] and this after he had already been told, "Your descendants shall come from Isaac." [19] Abraham figured that if God wanted to, he could raise the dead. In a sense, that's what happened when he received Isaac back, alive from off the altar.” [Message]

*** James 2:21-23 “Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? [22] You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. [23] And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.” [NIV]

Make your plans. But write them on paper, not in concrete. God has a way of intruding and leading you on a journey that you might not have anticipated in your wildest dreams. —Haddon W. Robinson