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FOLLOWING AFTER GOD (series) WALKING BY FAITH HEBREWS 11:8-19. Hebrews 11:8-19.
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Hebrews 11:8-19 8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because sheconsidered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”
19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.
FOLLOWING AFTER GOD BY FAITH IS LIKE WALKING THROUGH LIFE’S MAZE
WHAT DOES WALKING THROUGH LIFE’S MAZE LOOK LIKE? “BY FAITH, ABRAHAM WHEN HE WAS BY GOD, OBEYED…” HEBREWS 11:8
I. FOLLOWING AFTER GOD BY FAITH INVOLVES THE UNKNOWN! “By faith, Abraham when he was called by God obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, NOT KNOWING where he was going.” Hebrews 11:8
BUT WHAT ABOUT MY OWN PLANS? “A man will plan his own ways, BUT GOD will direct his steps.” Proverbs 16:9
LIFE’S MAZE HAS IT’S UNKNOWNS THEREFORE, WE MUST ALWAYS MAKE ROOM FOR “BUT GOD…”
II. FOLLOWING AFTER GOD BY FAITHINVOLVES THE IMPOSSIBLE! “By faith, even Sarah herself received the ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. Therefore, also, there was born of one man, (Abraham), and him as good as dead at that time, as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.” Hebrews 11:11,12
“And Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said in his heart, “will a child be born to a man 100 years old? And will Sarah, who is 90 years old bear a child?” Genesis 17:17 And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” BUT GOD said, “No, but Sarah, your wife will bear you a son and you shall call him Isaac.” Genesis 17:18,19 “Why did Sarah laugh? Is there anything too difficult for the Lord? At this time next year, she shall have a son.” Genesis 18:13-15
LIFE’S MAZE HAS IT’SIMPOSSIBILITIES THEREFORE, WE MUST ALWAYS MAKE ROOM FOR “BUT GOD…”
FOLLOWING AFTER GOD BY FAITHINVOLVES THE UNTHINKABLE! “By faith, Abraham, when he was tested offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promise was offering up his only begotten son. It was he, to whom it was said, “IN ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE CALLED” And he (Abraham) considered THAT GOD WAS ABLEto raise men from the dead, from which he received him back.” Hebrews 11:17-19
WALKING BY FAITH INVOLVES: *BELIEVING GOD FOR WHO HE IS *BELIEVING GOD FOR WHAT HE SAYS *BELIEVING GOD FOR WHAT HE CAN DO *BELIEVING GOD FOR EVERYTHING
LIFE’S MAZE HAS IT’SUNTHINKABLES THEREFORE, WE MUST ALWAYS MAKE ROOM FOR “BUT GOD…”
“FOR WE KNOW THAT GOD CAUSES ALL THINGS TO WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THOSE WHO LOVE GOD, TO THOSE WHO ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.” (Romans 8:28)
COMMON FACTS • LIFE IS LIKE A MAZE FOR ALL OF US: *UNKNOWING *CONFUSING *DEAD-ENDS *FACING THE IMPOSSIBILITIES *DEALING WITH UNTHINKABLES
COMMON FACTS 2. EVERY ONE OF US WALK THROUGH LIFE’S MAZE EITHER WITH GOD OR WITHOUT HIM!
COMMON FACTS 3. GOD WANTS HIS VERY BEST FOR YOU AND HE CAN BE TRUSTED TO GUIDE YOU THROUGH LIFE.
HOW CAN I WALK BY FAITH TODAY? STEP ONE: EMBRACE GOD WITH YOUR LIFE AND GOD WILL HELP YOU! LOVE GOD WITH ALL YOUR BEING! “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30
HOW CAN I WALK BY FAITH TODAY? STEP TWO: FOLLOW THE BIBLE WITH YOUR LIFE AND GOD WILL LEAD YOU! “Thy Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Ps. 119:105
HOW CAN I WALK BY FAITH TODAY? STEP THREE: PRAY FOR WISDOM IN YOUR LIFE AND GOD WILL GIVE YOU THE WISDOM YOU NEED FOR EACH MOMENT! “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all me generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5
HOW CAN I WALK BY FAITH TODAY? STEP FOUR: SEEK THE ADVICE AND HELP OF OTHERS WHO WALK WITH GOD AND YOU WILL BE ENCOURAGED! “Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors, they succeed.” Proverbs 15:22
HOW CAN I WALK BY FAITH TODAY? STEP FIVE: USE YOUR HEAD AND COMMON SENSE AND GOD WILL GUIDE YOUR THINKING AND GUARD YOUR THOUGHTS WITH HIS PEACE! “And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:7
HOW CAN I WALK BY FAITH TODAY? STEP SIX: TRUST GOD FOR THE OUTCOME OF EVERY SITUATION! “Thou wilt show to me the path of life…” Ps. 16:11 “Man makes his plans, BUT GOD directs his steps.” Prov. 16:9
