Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:05 — 26.8MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | TuneIn | RSS
Text: Hebrews 11:1-16
Other References: Hebrews 11:27; Romans 10:17; Hebrews 12:2; Luke 18:7,8
Characteristics of Faith:
1) Faith is led by something beyond the immediately visible (v.15)
Christians are strangers and pilgrims, seeking a city God has prepared for us.
Above all the other differences, a foreigner is particularly different from those around him in the way he thinks. Are our thoughts the thoughts of a spiritual pilgrim and foreigner? Or have we absorbed the culture around us?
Christians at the time of Christ were markedly different from those around them. They were willing to suffer and die for something that was beyond the immediately visible.
2) Faith is focused on God and on Christ
The faith is beyond even God’s promises, in God Himself. As we learn to know God we have a deepening trust and faith in Him.
Trust must be backed with a relationship.
One of our major temptations in America is to place our trust in finances or possessions.
Sometimes we get focused on our problems rather than on our great God, Who is much bigger than our problems.
3) Faith produces action
Hebrews 11 is full of action, demonstrating faith. Christ often asked for action of those He heals; He wanted to see how far does their faith go.
The action produced by faith is often counter-intuitive. Faith looks beyond what common sense would say is right.
Faith also produces ongoing action; Faith is a progression. (Story of Abraham, Moses, etc.)
Our faith grows by hearing, by spending time in God’s Word. As we spend time with Him we will grow in our trust.
Christ is the leader and source of faith, and we can ask Him to increase our faith.
As strangers and pilgrims, we need to ask God for wisdom in our priorities and activities.
Let us be faithful, and like the disciples, pray, “Lord increase our faith.”