Abraham
Let us go to the next picture hanging in the great hall of faith. This one is that of Abraham. Now Abraham was a giant in faith, indeed. Let me explain.
God went to Abraham and told him to leave his home where he had grown up and travel to a land he didn't know anything about. You see, God didn't give him the details, like it is in such and such place, or it has lots of good grazing land. No, God just told him to go where I lead you, and as an act of obedience he went. (Gen. 12:1-13; Heb. 11:8-10). This is not easy and can't be taken without a leap of faith. I know, because my husband & I moved to Ohio in obedience to God. You kind of feel as though you are throwing yourself off of as cliff, praying the whole time that God is going to catch you as you free fall. But as with Abraham and Sara, we found that god is faithful to take care of us when we obey him.
Because Abraham honored God by obeying him. God in turn honored Abraham by making a covenant with him, promising him land and heirs when he was 75 years old (Gen. 15). When Abraham was 99 years old, God came back and reminded him of that promise (Gen. 17:1-18:14). And then fulfilled that promise (Gen. 21:3).
But you can really see the relationship between God and Abraham in Chapter 18 of Genesis when God chooses to share his heart with Abraham. Let us look at that. After God had come back to remind Abraham of his promise of an heir through his wife Sara. God got up to head out towards Sodom to destroy it. But because he honored Abraham, God told him what he was about to go do. Abraham's nephew, Lot's family lived there. So Abraham asked God to spare the city. But God said, "no", for it was evil. So Abraham negotiated with God until he got God to say that if he found ten righteous men there, he would not destroy the city. I believe that he stopped with that number because there were that many people in Lot's family. But a last, there were not ten righteous people found in Sodom, so God went to the city and got Lot, his wife, and 2 of their daughters out before he destroyed it.
Years after Isaac was born, God tested Abraham to see if he still had faith in Him. Let us look at that. God went to Abraham and asked him to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac to him(Gen. 22:1-11). Abraham was again obedient to God, believing that God would come through for him (Gen. 22:8). And when God saw that he still had faith in him, he spared Isaac & provided a lamb for Abraham to use instead (Gen. 22:13).
Abraham died not seeing the total fulfillment of God's promise of a homeland, as did Isaac & Jacob. Yet, they lived that promise everyday of their lives (Heb. 11:12-21). They passed on that hope to their sons before dying, and even Joseph spoke of that land before he died. We could learn a lot from these men, as we too, travel this earth waiting for a city not made by human hands(heaven). We too are just travelers passing through this earth.
Monday, April 21, 2014
Friday, April 11, 2014
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Noah- the man who saved animal & mankind
Let us move on to the next picture on the wall. It is the picture of Noah. Let us take a closer look at Noah to see why he is in this great hall of faith, shall we?
Noah was blessed to come from a godly family. For his Great-grand father was Enoch, Grandfather was Methuslah and hid Father was Lamech. When Noah was born his Father prophesied over him by saying, "From the very ground om which the Lord put a curse, this child will bring relief from all our hard work" (Gen. 5:28-29 Today's English Version). These words were so true. Let us look at his life story to see why.
The Lord became upset with how wicked the people on earth was , so He decided to destroy them, but the Lord was pleased with Noah (Gen. 6:1-8). Noah had no faults & was the only good man of his time. He lived in fellowship with God (Gen. 6:9-10 Today's English Version). So God shared his heart with Noah & gave him instructions & blueprints in which to build the ark, and fill it with supplies for the animals, birds, and bugs. Then God told him to get into the boat seven days before the flood....AND NOAH OBEYED all that God had instructed him to do (Gen. 6:13-7:5).It is believed that he took 100 years to build it (Gen. 5:32,
7:13). That shows just how faithful he was to God and what God had asked of him.
It rained 40 days and nights, but that is not the only way God flooded the earth, check out Gen. 7:11-12. But Noah and his family were in the boat for one year (Gen. 7:11; 8:13-18). Can you imagine being on a boat for a whole year and not knowing when you would get off of it? Now that would take faith.
When the world finally became dry and they could get off of the boat, Noah built an altar and worshiped and thanked God. This pleased God so much that he made a covenant with Noah, his family, their descendants, all living things & their descendants. This is the first covenant recorded in the Bible (Gen. 8:20-9:17). We are reminded of that covenant every time we see a rainbow in the sky.
We could learn a lot from Noah, such as obeying God's instructions when he asks something of us... sticking to the task God gives us no matter how long it takes to do it... even when the task doesn't make sense at the time or place in which you are doing it...and remaining faithful to the task when you can not see its fruits.
What saw Noah through all these days of labor and waiting? His faith in God is what lead him to obey God & that obedience pleased God greatly & is why he is in the great hall of faith (Heb. 11:7).
Noah was blessed to come from a godly family. For his Great-grand father was Enoch, Grandfather was Methuslah and hid Father was Lamech. When Noah was born his Father prophesied over him by saying, "From the very ground om which the Lord put a curse, this child will bring relief from all our hard work" (Gen. 5:28-29 Today's English Version). These words were so true. Let us look at his life story to see why.
The Lord became upset with how wicked the people on earth was , so He decided to destroy them, but the Lord was pleased with Noah (Gen. 6:1-8). Noah had no faults & was the only good man of his time. He lived in fellowship with God (Gen. 6:9-10 Today's English Version). So God shared his heart with Noah & gave him instructions & blueprints in which to build the ark, and fill it with supplies for the animals, birds, and bugs. Then God told him to get into the boat seven days before the flood....AND NOAH OBEYED all that God had instructed him to do (Gen. 6:13-7:5).It is believed that he took 100 years to build it (Gen. 5:32,
7:13). That shows just how faithful he was to God and what God had asked of him.
It rained 40 days and nights, but that is not the only way God flooded the earth, check out Gen. 7:11-12. But Noah and his family were in the boat for one year (Gen. 7:11; 8:13-18). Can you imagine being on a boat for a whole year and not knowing when you would get off of it? Now that would take faith.
When the world finally became dry and they could get off of the boat, Noah built an altar and worshiped and thanked God. This pleased God so much that he made a covenant with Noah, his family, their descendants, all living things & their descendants. This is the first covenant recorded in the Bible (Gen. 8:20-9:17). We are reminded of that covenant every time we see a rainbow in the sky.
We could learn a lot from Noah, such as obeying God's instructions when he asks something of us... sticking to the task God gives us no matter how long it takes to do it... even when the task doesn't make sense at the time or place in which you are doing it...and remaining faithful to the task when you can not see its fruits.
What saw Noah through all these days of labor and waiting? His faith in God is what lead him to obey God & that obedience pleased God greatly & is why he is in the great hall of faith (Heb. 11:7).
Monday, March 24, 2014
Enoch- the man who walked with God
The next picture we see in this hallway is that of Enoch. To understand where in God's history Enoch falls, let us look at whom came before him, shall we? Here is a list of some of some of his relatives that we may know: God, Adam, Seth...Cainan...Jared, then Enoch. Enoch was 7th one from Adam. I find this interesting. Let us look at this great man of faith to see how his faith lead him to walk a holy life.
Enoch witnessed for God. As a prophet he spoke of how God would judge the ungodly(Jude 14). Some believe that he was speaking of the flood that would come later.
Enoch "walked with God" (Heb. 11:5-6). He must have been a holy man to have a holy God walk with him. The Bible tells us that he walked with God, 300 years after he had Methuselah (Gen. 5:21, 24).
Enoch pleased God (Heb. ll:5). Remember without faith we cannot please God (Heb.11:6). So Enoch had to have faith in who God was & acted upon that faith.
Enoch was such a good example of being an obedient servant of the Lord, that his son, Methuselah, and other generations behind him followed closely to God also (Gen. 5:18-32). In fact, God choose to bring his son, Jesus into the world through Enoch's blood line (Luke 3:23-38). You could say that those who came behind Enoch found him to be faithful to the God he had faith it.
He is one of two people the Bible says did not die. Enoch & Elijah (2 Kings 2:1-11). The Bible said that Enoch simply "was no more" (Gen. 5:24) . I believe that God felt so close to him, that when he just took him home to be with him.
We would do good by following Enoch's example as a great man of faith, as we strive to walk with God. If we do, we too can be in God's great hall of faith.
Enoch witnessed for God. As a prophet he spoke of how God would judge the ungodly(Jude 14). Some believe that he was speaking of the flood that would come later.
Enoch "walked with God" (Heb. 11:5-6). He must have been a holy man to have a holy God walk with him. The Bible tells us that he walked with God, 300 years after he had Methuselah (Gen. 5:21, 24).
Enoch pleased God (Heb. ll:5). Remember without faith we cannot please God (Heb.11:6). So Enoch had to have faith in who God was & acted upon that faith.
Enoch was such a good example of being an obedient servant of the Lord, that his son, Methuselah, and other generations behind him followed closely to God also (Gen. 5:18-32). In fact, God choose to bring his son, Jesus into the world through Enoch's blood line (Luke 3:23-38). You could say that those who came behind Enoch found him to be faithful to the God he had faith it.
He is one of two people the Bible says did not die. Enoch & Elijah (2 Kings 2:1-11). The Bible said that Enoch simply "was no more" (Gen. 5:24) . I believe that God felt so close to him, that when he just took him home to be with him.
We would do good by following Enoch's example as a great man of faith, as we strive to walk with God. If we do, we too can be in God's great hall of faith.
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Into the hall of the heroes of faith / Abel
Up to now, we have learned what faith is & that faith without action is dead. The Bible says that those in this hall received a good report from God.We all want that when we stand in front of Jesus, after we have served Him in this life and hear, "Well done my good and faithful servant", don't we? To learn how they did that, let us step into that great hall of faith that bear pictures of its heroes, & see what we can learn from each one, shall we?
When we first step into the hall we will see that it is a very long hall lined with many pictures from the beginning of time until today. Let us stop a moment and take in the vast length of this hall. It's a little overwhelming , huh? And as we look at each person and what they went through, it may seem even more so. But don't let it be so. Instead, let it encourage you as you realize that many,many has" walked by faith and not by sight"(2 Cor. 5:7), before you.
Ok, now it is time to start looking at these seemingly, giants of faith. The first picture is a picture of Abel.
Abel was Adam and Eve's second son (Gen. 4:2). Cain was his older brother (Gen. 4:1). When these two sons of Adam and Eve grew up they both brought sacrifices to God. Cain brought the first fruits of his harvest to God, while Abel brought his best lamb to God. God was pleased with Abel's sacrifice and not Cain's. Why? Because God had taught them to sacrifice the blood of an animal to cover their sins. When?
I believe that God did the first sacrifice of blood when he killed an animal and used it's hide to cover their naked bodies (Gen. 4:21). Their sin was disobeying God's one rule (Gen. 3:1-11). I also believe that he taught them how he wanted them to make blood sacrifices to cover their sins.
Why? Because of what God says to Cain when Cain had given a sacrifice of vegetables, grain, or fruit. God was speaking of him as a loving Father would speak to a son who broke the rule In other words, Cain disobeyed God. While Abel had obeyed God.
Why is that important? Obedience to God showed that Abel honored Him. And Because Abel honored God, God declared him righteous (Heb. 11:4). His faith lead him to obey God & that is why he is in the great hall of faith.
When we first step into the hall we will see that it is a very long hall lined with many pictures from the beginning of time until today. Let us stop a moment and take in the vast length of this hall. It's a little overwhelming , huh? And as we look at each person and what they went through, it may seem even more so. But don't let it be so. Instead, let it encourage you as you realize that many,many has" walked by faith and not by sight"(2 Cor. 5:7), before you.
Ok, now it is time to start looking at these seemingly, giants of faith. The first picture is a picture of Abel.
Abel was Adam and Eve's second son (Gen. 4:2). Cain was his older brother (Gen. 4:1). When these two sons of Adam and Eve grew up they both brought sacrifices to God. Cain brought the first fruits of his harvest to God, while Abel brought his best lamb to God. God was pleased with Abel's sacrifice and not Cain's. Why? Because God had taught them to sacrifice the blood of an animal to cover their sins. When?
I believe that God did the first sacrifice of blood when he killed an animal and used it's hide to cover their naked bodies (Gen. 4:21). Their sin was disobeying God's one rule (Gen. 3:1-11). I also believe that he taught them how he wanted them to make blood sacrifices to cover their sins.
Why? Because of what God says to Cain when Cain had given a sacrifice of vegetables, grain, or fruit. God was speaking of him as a loving Father would speak to a son who broke the rule In other words, Cain disobeyed God. While Abel had obeyed God.
Why is that important? Obedience to God showed that Abel honored Him. And Because Abel honored God, God declared him righteous (Heb. 11:4). His faith lead him to obey God & that is why he is in the great hall of faith.
Friday, March 14, 2014
Faith is more than Just believing
Ok, so now we know what faith is, but faith has to be more than just believing in God. James addresses this when he says, "You believe that God is one, you do well. Even the demons believe - and shudder" (James 2:19). James tells us just above us why that is not enough. Let us look at that.
"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, If you say that you have faith, but do not have works? Can faith save you" (James 2:14 NRSV)? than answer to this is no. Faith a lone can not save you. You have to ask for forgiveness & accepted Jesus to be saved. That required you to do something.
James goes on to say, "But some will say, 'You have faith & I have works'. Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith" (James 2:18 NRSV). James give an example of what he is talking about. "if a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you say to them, 'Go in peace; keep warmed and eat your fill,' and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that" (James 2:14-16). It goes on to say, "So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead" (James 2:17).
You see, if you have a faith that is a live it will change your thought pattern, & your actions. Those around you will see the change & wonder at it. Paul speaks of this when he says, " they will see your works & glorify your Father in heaven" ( Mat. 5:15-16). We are not saved just for ourselves, but for those around us who also needs God in their lives.
Now, let us go into the great hall of faith and look at each hero of faith's picture and see how this type of living faith moved them into acting out their faith & in doing so, helped others for the kingdom of God, shall we?
"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, If you say that you have faith, but do not have works? Can faith save you" (James 2:14 NRSV)? than answer to this is no. Faith a lone can not save you. You have to ask for forgiveness & accepted Jesus to be saved. That required you to do something.
James goes on to say, "But some will say, 'You have faith & I have works'. Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith" (James 2:18 NRSV). James give an example of what he is talking about. "if a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you say to them, 'Go in peace; keep warmed and eat your fill,' and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that" (James 2:14-16). It goes on to say, "So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead" (James 2:17).
You see, if you have a faith that is a live it will change your thought pattern, & your actions. Those around you will see the change & wonder at it. Paul speaks of this when he says, " they will see your works & glorify your Father in heaven" ( Mat. 5:15-16). We are not saved just for ourselves, but for those around us who also needs God in their lives.
Now, let us go into the great hall of faith and look at each hero of faith's picture and see how this type of living faith moved them into acting out their faith & in doing so, helped others for the kingdom of God, shall we?
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Faith, what is it?
First we need to understand what faith is, before we look at those in the great hall of faith. So what is faith, really? According to Hebrew 11:1, "...Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Let us look at that statement closer to better understand it. I wanted to really understand what each main word in this statement meant to make sure I understood what it meant to those who was reading it in the original language. So, I looked them up in the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible.
This is what I found out.
Faith means to have a conviction of religious truth or to have a strong assurance, belief , confidence, or trust in something. Substance means to have an abstract assurance or concrete essence of something to stand on. And Evidence means proof or conviction. So with that in mind, I would say that faith is to have a strong belief in things that we can not see with our physical eyes, yet have a strong conviction of the proof seen with our spiritual eyes.
Then Paul goes on to give an example of that in Hebrews 11:3, "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." In other words, when God spoke and made the worlds, he took something from the spiritual world & made our physical worlds.
You see, we often have things backwards in our lives. We often let our minds tell our bodies & then souls what to do, or we let our physical bodies' feelings tell our mind & soul how to act. Instead, we should have our souls dictate to our minds how things should be, and then our bodies will follow. When we do this, we will be walking in faith.
This is what I found out.
Faith means to have a conviction of religious truth or to have a strong assurance, belief , confidence, or trust in something. Substance means to have an abstract assurance or concrete essence of something to stand on. And Evidence means proof or conviction. So with that in mind, I would say that faith is to have a strong belief in things that we can not see with our physical eyes, yet have a strong conviction of the proof seen with our spiritual eyes.
Then Paul goes on to give an example of that in Hebrews 11:3, "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." In other words, when God spoke and made the worlds, he took something from the spiritual world & made our physical worlds.
You see, we often have things backwards in our lives. We often let our minds tell our bodies & then souls what to do, or we let our physical bodies' feelings tell our mind & soul how to act. Instead, we should have our souls dictate to our minds how things should be, and then our bodies will follow. When we do this, we will be walking in faith.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)