SUSTAINING FAITH (10 OF 10)
Scripture: Hebrews 11:35-40
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Sustaining Faith (10 of 10)
Series: Hebrews 11
Stephen Whitney
Hebrews 11:35-40
Inscribed on the wall of a cellar in Cologne, Germany, during World War II where Jews hid from the Nazis was this statement:
I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love when feeling it not. I believe in God even when he is silent.
True faith is not based on our feelings which change, but upon our belief in the character and person of God who does not change.
Someone had defined faith with the acrostic, Forsaking All I Trust Him. This certainly describes the men and women mentioned in Hebrews 11 as they persevered though great suffering, trusting that God would fulfill his promises.
We like to think that God always rewards our faith by blessing us with good health, success in what we do and enjoyment of life. But what about when we do not enjoy our best life now because we are going through disappointment, suffering or physical illness? Do we still have the same strong faith in God?
The writer has been given us examples of God rewarding people for their faith in his promises so they were blessed and victorious. John Calvin wrote, ''He now refers to examples of a different kind, - that saints, reduced to extreme miseries, struggled by faith so as to persevere invincible even to death.''
RECEIVES GOD'S APPROVAL :35-36
Blessing :35a
Women received back their dead - recalls the woman of Zarephath whose child was brought back to life by Elijah (I Kings 17:19-22) and the son of the Shunammite woman whose life was restored by Elisha (II Kings 4:18-37). In each case the prophet prayed by faith that the life of this women's only child would be restored and God graciously answered their prayer.
Application It is wonderful when God intervenes in our suffering to give us joy in place of our sorrow. Sometimes he heals us or the person we were praying for. Other times he takes us out of a terrible situation so we don't continue to experien ...
Series: Hebrews 11
Stephen Whitney
Hebrews 11:35-40
Inscribed on the wall of a cellar in Cologne, Germany, during World War II where Jews hid from the Nazis was this statement:
I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love when feeling it not. I believe in God even when he is silent.
True faith is not based on our feelings which change, but upon our belief in the character and person of God who does not change.
Someone had defined faith with the acrostic, Forsaking All I Trust Him. This certainly describes the men and women mentioned in Hebrews 11 as they persevered though great suffering, trusting that God would fulfill his promises.
We like to think that God always rewards our faith by blessing us with good health, success in what we do and enjoyment of life. But what about when we do not enjoy our best life now because we are going through disappointment, suffering or physical illness? Do we still have the same strong faith in God?
The writer has been given us examples of God rewarding people for their faith in his promises so they were blessed and victorious. John Calvin wrote, ''He now refers to examples of a different kind, - that saints, reduced to extreme miseries, struggled by faith so as to persevere invincible even to death.''
RECEIVES GOD'S APPROVAL :35-36
Blessing :35a
Women received back their dead - recalls the woman of Zarephath whose child was brought back to life by Elijah (I Kings 17:19-22) and the son of the Shunammite woman whose life was restored by Elisha (II Kings 4:18-37). In each case the prophet prayed by faith that the life of this women's only child would be restored and God graciously answered their prayer.
Application It is wonderful when God intervenes in our suffering to give us joy in place of our sorrow. Sometimes he heals us or the person we were praying for. Other times he takes us out of a terrible situation so we don't continue to experien ...
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