HEBREWS 11:1-40
Vs. 1 now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Vs. 2 for by it the elders obtained a good report
Let us explore the meaning of Hebrews Chapter Eleven starting with prayers of faith in things we hope for.
We all have different things that we pray for in our lives. Our prayers are usually for the salvation of someone, finances, health or whatever the need may be. When it all seems impossible to our fleshly eyes and understanding then we have to rely on the faith of Gods promises to turn every situation around for the witness of Gods word. We are a generation that wants it and wants it now, but by faith if we wait on Gods timing which is always perfect then the blessings will be much greater and the witness of the blessing will bring others unto salvation of Jesus Christ. When we rely on faith, it brings with it Gods approval or Gods favor. God will grant unto his children the desires of their hearts through his grace, but also you must have forgiveness in your heart for others that do you wrong.
These two verses below explains why our prayers can go unanswered at times.
Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Mark 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Vs. 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.
We believe through faith that God commanded the universe to be just by speaking it all into existence, even though we did not hear Him speak it or see it happen. We believe because we have seen signs and wonders of the glory of the Lord through his marvelous works that we know in our hearts can only come from God.
Vs. 4 by faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
God accepted Abel’s sacrifice because Abel gave his best from a pure heart of faith knowing that what he had, God had given to him. Cain gave from a corrupt heart of greed wanting to keep the best for himself, but knowing he had to give back something of his gain and God rejected his offering and then for his disappointment towards Cain’s sacrifice and killing his brother Abel God cursed him. God wants to bless us and give us his best gifts, but only if we have faith to believe and trust him for everything we need in this life and for us to give him our very best in all things. When we trust and believe then will the abundance of our hearts desires be manifested in our lives as written in Luke 6:45.
Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
Vs. 5 by faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Enoch was the son of Cain, the father of Methuselah and walked in the ways of the Lord by faith knowing that even though sin was running rampant through the people of disobedience he did not fall into the temptations of evil, but stood strong on the spoken words of God. Enoch was taken up from the earth by God in a whirlwind (like a tornado that picks up objects and places them in other areas) and did not taste death because of his great faith in God, but no one knows where God placed him except to know he was taken out from those of disobedience. He also prophesied of the return of the Lord, with his saints, to judge the people of earth. Genesis, 2 Kings and Jude gives us some information about Enoch and Elijah.
Genesis 5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
2Kings 2:11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. (heaven here means the atmosphere above earth)
Jude 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
Jude 1:15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
Vs. 6 but without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
How can we please God if he doesn’t even know who we are. Our good intentions and or good works towards helping others are only temporal for the moment and fade away like a drop of rain when the sun shines on it and it disappears. We can only please God by accepting his son Jesus through faith to believe in who God said he was in his word and to those who seek and find him are rewarded with eternal life with the father.
Our faith is in Jesus whom the Father has sent to us to reconcile us back to the grace of God. Jesus sits at the right hand of the father making intercession for all those who believe and come to him through a repentant heart that wants to know the Lord. Faith takes us through every trial and tribulation and brings us out victoriously if we only believe in the one whom God has sent.
Vs. 7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Noah having favor of God because of his belief or faith in God listened and obeyed the instructions God had given him even though he had no understanding of why God wanted him to build an ark, (ref: Genesis 6). Noah had no idea of what an ark was and never heard of rain before it came as it never rained from the sky before as God watered the earth from the dew that he rose up through the ground. Faith helps us to trust God in all things he commands of us without us asking why as we know when God speaks it is for the betterment of his children through instruction.
From verse eight through nineteen we will read the faith of Abraham in whom God made His covenant to in Genesis 12:1-3.
Vs. 8 by faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Vs. 9 by faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Vs. 10 for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Vs. 11 through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
Vs. 12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
Vs. 13 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.
Vs. 14 for they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
Vs. 15 and truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
Vs. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Vs. 17 by faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
Vs. 18 of whom it was said, that in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
Vs. 19 accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
By faith Abraham listen to Gods calling for him to leave the land he knew to go into another not knowing what would be ahead of him or why God would direct him to another place. Some died on that journey, but died knowing God even though they did not come into the land God promised them, but by faith went with Abraham to find that land of promise who God would be the foundation of the people through faith. When God asked him to take Isaac up and sacrifice him, he did not question God, but only exercised his faith that God would raise Isaac up from the dead because he was the promised seed and heir of the covenant God made with Abraham, (ref: Genesis 12.)
Now comes the generational promise God made with Abraham seen through his son Isaac, Isaac’s son Jacob and Jacob’s son Joseph.
Vs. 20 by faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
Vs. 21 by faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshiped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
By faith Isaac gave the blessing and instructions to Jacob concerning the promise of the covenant God made with Abraham and all his seed to come. Esau lost his right to the promise because of his lack of faith, (ref: Genesis chapter 25,26,27,28). Through faith and what God had showed Jacob he gave the blessing onto Ephraim as the seed of the covenant, (ref: Genesis 48). God is not slack in concerning his promises. Even though Esau and Manasseh where the first-born and should have had the blessings handed down to them it was by faith in trusting in Gods instructions that Isaac and Jacob where shown who the true seed should be.
Vs. 22 by faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
Through an evil act of Josephs brothers Joseph still kept his faith in God to know God would bring good to that which was bad as Joseph and his brothers were still part of the promise God made with Abraham for them to be brought to a land of promise where God would be their foundation. God placed Joseph in a place of authority that he could care for his brothers until the day of his death and that they all would travel together to that promised land and his bones would be at rest to fulfill the promised covenant. It was by faith that Joseph forgave his brothers and cared for them and their families as God continues even today to place us in a Spiritual promised land by faith to be with him for eternity in paradise (ref: Genesis 50:15-26).
Let us look at the faith of Moses. God called Moses even before he was born to be a leader of Gods people to help set them free. When the time came for Moses to reveal his birthright as a Hebrew he had faith in God to know what he had to do, (ref: Exodus 2:23-25, chapter 2-14). Moses faced many adversities and many temptations, but knew the pleasures he could have had were only temporal and that he would ever have to bow down to Pharaoh, but by faith in the true God his blessings would be far greater then anything Pharaoh could offer as Moses was predestined to set his people free and through faith accepted that calling from God.
Vs. 23 by faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.
Vs. 24 by faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;
Vs. 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Vs. 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.
Vs. 27 by faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Vs. 28 through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
Vs. 29 by faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians attempting to do were drowned.
Another great man of faith was Joshua. By faith Joshua knew that God would always deliver the enemy into his hands because of the covenant promise made to Abraham and all his generation that kept their faith grounded in Gods words. Rahab hid the two spies, (ref: Joshua 2:1-24), sent to check out the city from the king; by faith she knew they were men of God and God spared her and gave her great faith. These covenant promises are the same today as they were with Abraham as we are of that same seed covenant through the promises of God as when we accept Jesus this makes us joint-heirs as being one body in Christ.
Vs. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
Vs. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
The rest of these verses are about other heroes of great faith that we read about in scripture that have gone through trials of faith beginning with Deborah, Gideon, Barak, Samson, David and Samuel.
Vs. 32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthah; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: (Ref: Judges 4:6; 6:11; 11:1; 12:7)
Vs. 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
Vs. 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Vs. 36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
Vs. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: (Ref: 1 Kings 17:22)
Vs. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Ref: Acts 7:58; 2 Kings 1:8; Zechariah 13:4)
Vs. 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
Vs. 39 and these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
Vs. 40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (Ref: Hebrews 5:9)
In Conclusion I saved Job for last as a lesson of faith for all of us.
Romans 10:17 so then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
We need the faith of Jesus everyday in our lives to stand strong in times of trials and tribulations. When our world seems to be crashing in on us is when we only have to look up to the heavens and know that the promises of God will manifest in our life if we only trust and obey his word. We have an adversary called Satan who wants nothing more than to try and steal our faith and have us denounce Jesus in our life as he wants to devour the children of God and he will use any measure he can to accomplish this.
God allowed Satan to come against Job to prove that his faith was stronger then all he owned. Job lost everything including his family. His health was deteriorating from what
Satan caused to come on him, but Satan could not take his faith in God away from him even though Job was anguished and sorrowful for what he went through. Job gave God first place above all he owned, his family and even his own life and for what Satan put him through God blessed him even more and increased all that he lost because he was faithful in all things. This is where we need to be also that we are careful to be faithful in all things as Satan will always try and come against those who are in Christ. Never worry about what might come against you as when you put God above everything in your life and have trust and faith in his promises he will always deliver you from the snare of the fowler.
I will leave you the reader with some scriptures of encouragement that are some of my favorite ones to stand on. God bless all of you that reads this blog on faith.
Psalms 91:3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds 😉
2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2 Corinthians 10:6 and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
God called Moses even before he was born to be a leader of Gods people to help set them free. When the time came for Moses to reveal his birthright as a Hebrew he had faith in God to know what he had to do, (ref: Exodus 2:23-25, chapter 2-14). Moses faced many adversities and many temptations, but knew the pleasures he could have had were only temporal and that he would ever have to bow down to Pharaoh, but by faith in the true God his blessings would be far greater then anything Pharaoh could offer as Moses was predestined to set his people free and through faith accepted that calling from God.
By faith Joshua knew that God would always deliver the enemy into his hands because of the covenant promise made to Abraham and all his generation that kept their faith grounded in Gods words. Rahab hid the two spies, (ref: Joshua 2:1-24), sent to check out the city from the king; by faith she knew they were men of God and God spared her and gave her great faith. These covenant promises are the same today as they were with Abraham as we are of that same seed covenant through the promises of God as when we accept Jesus this makes us joint-heirs as being one body in Christ.
Vs. 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.
Vs. 19 accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.