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The Bible Teaching Commentary on Genesis: The Book of Foundations
Commentaries that specialize on training the teacher!
The Godly Man: Transformed by God's Faithfulness
Faith: The Tie between Heaven and Earth - Hebrews 11
Paul J. Bucknell
Faith & Faithfulness | Hebrews 11 | Counterfeit Faith | Righteous live by Faith | God's Faithfulness | Words of Faith | Cultivating Faith | God's Extreme Faithfulness | Faithfulness in Temptation | Testimonies on Faithfulness
We cannot be godly men without being men of faith.
The Bible's whole emphasis is to create a people of faith, a people who would be shaped and characterized by the God of their faith. We see this clearly laid before us in Hebrews 11, "The Academy of Faith." Actually, 'The Academy of the Faithful' better describes them because these men and women lived out the faith deep within them. They were men of faith, but they were not just empty professors. They were people God delighted to associate with.
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Daniel (12:1), Jesus in Matthew 24:21 and Paul in 2 Timothy 3 all portray the escalating of good and evil at the end of time. We might think persecution and affliction is something new. They are not. Our difficulties depend upon our many kinds of circumstances. These men of Hebrews 11 clearly showed their resistance against lusts, disloyalty, temptations and sufferings so that they could gain something greater and enduring. Their strong faith made them faithful. And so we pursue this same kind of faith, regardless of its effect upon our lives. For only one thing matters to them who know God - to obey and enjoy Him.
Below is a special study of Hebrews 11 where we focus on the test and faith each person listed faced. As the author of Hebrews, we left the last blocks empty for lack of space. But each person would become a great study. Undoubtedly, we will run up against on of these foul fiends. We will do well to keep these models before us so that we too might be strong.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval. (Hebrews 11:1,2). |
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People in generalcreation |
Test of secularism.If I recognize a Creator, I am obligated to obey Him. |
By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. (Hebrews 11:3). |
Abelsacrifice |
Test of MaterialismI can get by with offering less. |
By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks. (Hebrews 11:4). |
Enochtaken up |
Test of IntimacyI love God more than life. |
By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. (Hebrews 11:5). |
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6). |
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Noahthe ark |
Test of Obedience Obey in spite of ridicule. |
By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. (Hebrews 11:7). |
Abrahamthe land |
Test of Insecurity Could not be sure of what he would face. |
By faith Abraham, when he was called, 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). |
Sarahconception |
Test of Miraculous Ability to conceive beyond proper time. |
By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised; (Hebrews 11:11). |
All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them. (Hebrews 11:13-16). |
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Abrahamoffered son |
Test of the Impossible Trusting God to bring back life |
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac; and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; (Hebrews 11:17). |
Isaacblessing |
Test of the Future Confident God's blessing would come. |
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come. (Hebrews 11:20). |
Jacobblessed and worshiped |
Test of Allegiance Trusting God to work out Joseph's anger |
By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. (Hebrews 11:21). |
Josephhis bones |
Test of God's Promise Somehow God would take His people back. |
By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones. (Hebrews 11:22,). |
Moses' parentshid their son |
Test of Fear Chose to fear God more than man. |
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's edict. (Hebrews 11:23). |
Mosesriches of Egypt |
Test of Indulgence Chose God's promises over many riches. |
choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin; (Hebrews 11:25). |
Mosesleft Egypt |
Test of Confrontation He would trust God with Pharoah's army |
By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen. (Hebrews 11:27). |
Moseskept Passover |
Test of the Unusual |
By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the first-born might not touch them. (Hebrews 11:28). |
Mosescrossed Red Sea |
Test of Surrender Willing to trust God with lives |
By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned. (Hebrews 11:29). |
Israelencircled Jericho |
Test of Strategy Never heard of walls falling down! |
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encircled for seven days. (Hebrews 11:30). |
Rahabwelcomed the spies |
Test of Risk Had everything to lose or did she? |
By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace. (Hebrews 11:31). |
Gideon |
Test of Faith They lived by faith in God's awesome power and works. |
who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, |
Barak |
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Samson |
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Jephthah |
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David |
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Samuel |
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Prophets |
Test of Endurance They lived in light of the distant but sure future. |
Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, in order that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. (Hebrews 11:35-38). |
And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:39,40). |
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We can be sure that though faith is a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8), we will be faced with situations to apply our faith. Genuine faith produces faithfulness. Faithfulness is the appropriate response to what God would expect in a given situation. What areas have you been tested with? Each test is a test of faith. If we fail, we cannot go on. "For without faith, it is impossible to please God." Jesus was full of faith. During His baptism, God spoke, "Thou art My beloved Son, in Thee I am well-pleased" (Mark 1:11). The Spirit was fully upon Him because of His faith. For us to have a greater portion of His Spirit, we must exercise our faith in the areas that He gives us. We would always succeed if we did what God wished.
In order for God to deal with us in the context of a material-filled place, He often has to remove us from our securities either through job loss, change, death, illness, conflict, etc. These situations are our opportunity to trust Him. Even if the difficulty is our fault, with a change of heart, that same circumstance can become an opportunity of growing in faith.
In hope against hope he (Abraham) believed, in order that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, "SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE." And without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief, but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, (Romans 4:18-20).
Abraham's very weakness was also his opportunity to show his trust in God.
A Prayer
Dear Lord, no matter what our present circumstances, give us the faith to trust you in them. We just don't want to get by. We want to see you in our very difficult circumstances to come through in your great and impossible ways. Only You can help us out. We wait on You, our Faithful One. In Christ's Name we pray, Amen.
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Scriptures typically quoted from the New American Standard Bible unless noted:
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