CHAMPIONS OF FAITH:- 7. ISAAC
(Hebrews 11:20 NLT)
# It was by faith that Isaac promised blessings for the future to his sons, Jacob and Esau.
@ Faith gives us the solid assurance about our future.
@ This assurance will give us the confidence & clarity to plan ahead.
@ Faith is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
@ Do we have faith?
@ If not, let's ask Jesus the author & finisher of faith to grant this gift.
CHAMPIONS OF FAITH:- 6. ABRAHAM'S SACRIFICE
(Hebrews 11:17-19 NLT)
# It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him.
# Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.”
# Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again.
# And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.
@ How deeply we are holding on to God's blessings?
@ All that we enjoy in this world (people & possessions) are blessings from God. If we start loving and cherishing God's blessings more than Him, it is idolatry.
@ Analyse. Check..If there is anything like that is found in your life, put them on the altar.
@ Let Christ be the first and foremost in your life.
CHAMPIONS OF FAITH:- 5. SARAH
(Hebrews 11:11-12 NLT)
# It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old.
# She believed that God would keep His promise.
# And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.
@ Are you waiting for an answer from God?
@ Today's situations may be dicy, and may look not in favour for what you are expecting from Him (technically, logically or medically)
@ But, still God can do a miracle. Coz, He is the creator and a wonder working God.
@ All you need is, clinging on to His promises and to remain intact in your faith.
@ God will surely fulfill His promise.
CHAMPIONS OF FAITH:- 4. ABRAHAM
(Hebrews 11:8-10 NLT)
# It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance.
# He went without knowing where he was going.
# And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents.
# And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise.
# Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.
@ Abraham's faith gave him the heart to obey God and to leave the inheritance of his earthly father.
@ He couldn't settle down in any particular place and was only living in tents (temporary shelter) as a foreigner.
@ Even though he had the provisions to built a solid building, he didn't.
@ He was patiently enduring and waiting for God's destined place for him.
# Will you be ready and willing to leave the current comforts of life, if God tells you?
# What we have now (our assets and possessions) are all temporary.
# So, don't put your heart and soul into it.
# Don't boast about what you have. In no time, God can take it away.
# Don't be worried over your needs and what you don't have. In no time, God can give you.
# Our destined dwelling place is with Jesus. Let's be prepared and remain prepared to inherit that permanent dwelling place...
CHAMPIONS OF FAITH:- 3. NOAH
(Hebrews 11:7 NLT)
# It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood.
# He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before.
# By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.
@ Noah went through moments of ridicule and abuse, while constructing the ark.
@ Building an ark to protect the animals from the expected flood was certainly a giant task, but was an act of foolishness before the entire world.
@ Yet, Noah stuck to his work and was rewarded for his obedience.
# YES!, Noah obeyed God because of his faith.
# God values Obedience more than sacrifices and offerings.
# Doing exactly what the Lord says is perfect Obedience.
# Many a times, delayed obedience is equivalent to denial.
# Do you obey God?
CHAMPIONS OF FAITH:- 2. ENOCH
(Hebrews 11:5-6 NLT)
# It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—
# “he disappeared, because God took him.”
# For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God.
# And it is impossible to please God without faith.
# Anyone who wants to come to HIM must believe that God exists and that HE rewards those who sincerely seek HIM.
@ Pleasing God or Pleasing Man - Pls check on your priorities.
@ Living a God Pleasing life may make you unpopular with people around.
@ The world may ridicule you & forsake you.
@ You may walk through paths of rejection, isolation, abuse & any other persecution.
@ Yet, if you stick to your priority of leading a God pleasing life, He will reward you to be with Him in Eternal bliss of unending Joy & Peace.
CHAMPIONS OF FAITH:- 1. ABEL
(Hebrews 11:4 NLT)
# It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did.
# Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and
# God showed his approval of his gifts.
# Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.
@ Giving our best to God is an expression of our love & faith in Him
@ When we give our best, God will certainly approves our offering and in turn will make it multiply to be a blessing for many others.
@ The very best thing you can give to God is your own self & your future life. (Sold out for Jesus)
@ Have you given your best to Jesus?
FAITH...
(Hebrews 11:1-3 GNT)
# To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for,
# to be certain of the things we cannot see. # It was by their faith that people of ancient times won God's approval.
# It is by faith that we understand that the universe was created by God's word, so that what can be seen was made out of what cannot be seen.
@ Without Faith, we cannot please God.
@ Right faith is like a guideway for us to move in the right way of life..else, we'll get lost into destruction.
@ Faith should be based on God's word.
@ Let's analyze our faith and take corrective actions.
DON'T TURN AWAY...
(Hebrews 10:36-39 NLT)
# Patient endurance is what you need now,
so that you will continue to do God’s will.
# Then you will receive all that He has promised.
# “For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay.
# God's righteous ones will live by faith. But He will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”
# So, let's not be like those, who turn away from God to their own destruction.
# We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.
DO NOT THROW AWAY...
(Hebrews 10:32-35 NLT)
# Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ.
# Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering.
# Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and
# sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things.
# You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and
# when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy.
# You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.
# So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord.
# Remember the great reward it brings you!
