Week 6
READ Hebrews 11:29-40 “Heroes of the Faith”
QUESTIONS:
Today I want to clear up any confusion on what a life of faith may look like. I’ve seen boxers with Philippians 4:13 on their robes only to get knocked out in the first few rounds. I’ve seen people trusting that God will give them the job that they want so badly only to be destroyed and their view of God hurt when they don’t get it. I’ve seen people have faith in God that they will be successful in their careers and maybe they are. But in all these things, is this really faith? Think of the bottom line of all these things. Ultimately, your faith is reduced down to things you want God to give you apart from anything to do with God. If we are not careful, we can use faith as a way to ease our conscience to go after the things we really want in life that may or may not have anything to do with what God wants. Remember from a few days earlier, one essential aspect of faith is that God has promised to do something. Are you really confident enough to say you know God has promised you’ll win this boxing match or that God has ordained you to have this job? Maybe, and maybe not? If you reduce faith down to winning sports games, getting jobs, getting girlfriends, or being successful, you’ve harmed what faith is. Faith is the assurance of a better and lasting possession that is better than ANYTHING this world can offer.
FAITH DOESN’T PROMISE SUCCESS IN LIFE……
…….IT TRUSTS GOD IS EVERYTHING YOU NEED IN LIFE!
Let’s look at an AWESOME and very real lesson that we will learn about faith in Hebrews today.
Read Hebrews 11:29-35a, stopping with the phrase, “Women received back the dead by resurrection.”
What are the first 2 words of verse 29? (ESV) Keep this in mind!
List all the things that happened by faith in these passages. (I count 12)
In your opinion are these good things or bad things?
Why do you think God enjoys helping and delivering saints from things like the things mentioned here?
It is a fact. God can and will do amazing miracles on behalf of those he loves. He is a powerful and loving God. Peter was reminded by Jesus that ALL things are possible with God. This is true and as we have been reading, this God takes delight in you through his Son Jesus! God stopped the mouths of lions for Daniel, spared Peter from the sword, put armies to flight for Joshua, and much more! He can and will work amazing things in your life BY FAITH!
What are the first 2 words of v. 29? (ESV) Keep this in mind!
Verses 29-40 are all one train of thought. It is all connected by these two words. Everything happening in chapter 11 is by faith. Now read verses 35b-38. List all the things that happened in this passage by faith. (I count roughly 13.)
In your opinion are these good things or bad things?
Why do you think God allowed these things to happen when we saw earlier he can obviously stop things like this from happening?
Basing your answer on Hebrews 11:35b-38 is the following statement True or False? “Having faith in God is a guaranteed way to have a comfortable and easy life.” Explain your answer.
True or False: “Having faith in God may actually usher in difficulties and trials in my life.” Explain your answer. Can you think of biblical examples to back this up?
If you research the life and death of the prophet Isaiah, it is believed that he was sawn in two. This is probably what v. 37 is speaking of. Isaiah was a faithful prophet and even authored a book of the Bible inspired by the Holy Spirit. There are not many things I could think of that would be worse than being sawn in two. How do you explain that God allow Isaiah to be killed this way? What could possibly be the reason?
True or False: “Sometimes faith allows you to be sustained during trials rather than delivered from them.” Explain your answer.
Sometimes God chooses not to stop a torturer from torturing his victim. Sometimes he will and God receives glory from that. But there are times the completely Sovereign God of the universe will allow horrible things to happen because in those moments, when you are being sawn in two, and your heart’s affection is still God, God is greatly glorified. If you are going through a trial now, it may be because God knows your faith is strong and can use you to bring tremendous glory to his name!
Closing Question: God is sovereign! He can do anything at any time. Because of this, he can stop any trouble you have in your life and he can also bring trials into your life. How does it help to know that trials that come in your life aren’t wrath or displeasure from God, but come by faith? What is a good response in your life to trials? (Read Job 13:15)
The common thread of faith that enjoys miracles of God and faith that endures trials is this: your faith believes that God himself is better than any miracle, any trial, and anything you’ll experience in this world. He truly is a better and lasting possession. Faith treasures Christ as the supreme satisfaction above anything that this world can offer or any experience you can go through. Be strengthened in your faith. For it has at its object the most valuable thing in the universe!
Watch the video below and meditate on the power and value we have in our great treasure that is Christ!