Let's Not Be Silenced - Part 866

And the Lord Jesus said, "If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree -- be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you." (Luke 17:6)

As believers in Jesus who regularly seek His righteousness and counsel for our lives, we are often drawn to scripture that will edify us in our faith journey. In this context, I have discovered Hebrews to be a source of strength when the world at large tries to burden me with the cares of this world. Certainly, there are enough examples given to prove that the God we serve is a gracious God. "That "this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us." (I John 5:14)

Concerning faith, we learn in Hebrews 11 that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen ... through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear .." (Hebrews 11:1-3; Psalm 33:6)

Our faith is similarly edified knowing that Abel by faith obtained witness that he was righteous ... by faith Enoch was translated so that he should not see death ... by faith Noah became the heir of the righteousness which is by faith ... by faith Abraham sojourned in the land of promise ... through faith Sara herself received strength to conceive seed. 

The importance of faith to move mountains in one's life does not stop with the above examples. Indeed, by faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, by faith Joseph ... by faith Moses ... by faith Gideon and Barak, and Samson, and Jeph-thae ... of David and Samuel and the prophets -- who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.

Note that these also by faith "quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of the weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, [turning] to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection." (Hebrews 11:33-38)

As a consequence, these old covenant examples of faith have become the substance of many sermons within the religious culture today. This is all well and good except that none of these -- as the scripture points out -- received the promise. 

"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to be returned." (Hebrews 11:13-15)  
"These all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise." (Hebrews 11:40)

Why? Because "without faith it is impossible to please Him, for He that comes to God must believe that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6) "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God ..." (Hebrews 11:3) "God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." (Hebrews 11:40; Hebrews 5:7-11)

"Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience, the race that is set before us." (Hebrews 12:1)

What race? The race that is set before us "looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith -- who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God ... for consider Him that endures such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds -- ye have not yet resisted unto blood -- striving against sin." (Hebrews 12:2-4)

Therefore, if we point only to those who lived by faith in Hebrews 11, without acknowledging the author and finisher of our faith, we have missed the mark. We have sidelined the good news gospel wherein lies salvation.

Paul wrote: "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you." (Philippians 3:14; II Timothy 4:7) 

Moreover, preach the Word. (Philippians 4:2) Preach Jesus "the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. See that ye refuse not Him that speaks ... for if they escaped not who refused Him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaks from heaven -- whose voice then shook the earth, but now He has promised, saying, "Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven." (Hebrews 11:24-26)

"And this Word. Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore, we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear -- for our God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:27-29)

"Brethren be followers together of me and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample ... and desire a better country, that is heavenly; wherefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city." (Philippians 3:17; Hebrews 11:16)

Let him who hath ears to hear, hear. Stand in the offering plate.