Hebrews 11:8-19 Heroes of faith Part 2
Memory Verse Hebrews 11:13(KJV)
“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”.
Yesterday we saw some heroes of faith. Today we are going to look at the
father of faith- Abraham. We first encountered Abraham in Hebrews 6:13 and
Hebrews 7. Now, we are going to learn about this man of faith and as we learn
about Abraham today, I pray that our faith will be increased in Jesus name.
Amen.
Abraham was a man of faith and also a friend of God. We can find the
story of Abraham beginning from Genesis 12. The first test started in Genesis
12:1 when God told Abraham to leave his people and go to a place he will show
him. It was a very difficult task and it had to take faith to do that because
Abraham had no idea where he was going. Abraham left immediately;
he didn't deliberate on what God had told him to do.
It is not easy living in a foreign land and I am talking from
experience. I was born and bred in Africa but I had to come to the UK for my
Masters. I arrived in the UK during the winter, and was welcomed by the
terrible cold. This was my first winter experience. It is really hot in Africa
and we use Air conditions, but when I got here I didn’t need an air condition,
I needed an electric heater to make me warm. It wasn’t easy adapting to the
weather. I had to buy some thick winter jackets and gloves to keep me warm.
Prior to my coming, I have never been to the UK before, what I knew
about the country were things I saw on TV or read in the papers. And although I
had an idea about the place, I was still scared because for the first time in
my life I will have to be alone and in a strange place. At least my case was
better than Abraham’s. I had a slight idea about the UK but Abraham had no idea
where he was going yet he went on. That is faith. When Abraham left his own
people, he had no idea where he was going and he had no thoughts of returning
home, he knew God was taking him to a better place because of the relationship
he had with God.
Imagine God sending you to go to a remote village with no
electricity, water or internet to evangelise and win souls, I know many people
won’t go. Faith is total obedience to God’s command even when it looks
ridiculous or impossible.
It was faith that made Abraham take Isaac to the mountain to offer
him as a sacrifice unto God. Who in their right mind would want to sacrifice
their only child to God? Someone who has a close walk with God and understands
Him. A closer Walk with God can lead to obedience and work for God.
Faith is total obedience to God’s command even when it seems outrageous
or humanely impossible. Many Christians including myself would have questioned
God saying “didn’t you promise that Isaac will be the heir of many nations, how
can that promise be fulfilled if he dies?” Abraham knew that God was capable of
raising Isaac from the dead hence he acted in faith and total obedience to God.
Faith enables believers to obey God when they do not know the way to go.
It looks ahead trusting God. It helps Christians to receive God’s promises in
impossible situations. Faith and obedience go pari-pasu.
One thing we should never forget as believers is that we are pilgrims
and strangers on earth. It is faith that will enable us persevere even when the
promise is not immediately fulfilled. I know some people are waiting for Jesus
to come any minute and some have even grown weary of waiting. We shouldn’t give
up, we should learn from these people of old. They saw the promises from afar
and they believed. Although they didn’t receive it, they still had faith even
unto death.
Abraham and Sarah never saw the fulfilment of God to them.
They didn't live to see the tribe of Israel being formed but they
believed. We need faith in our Christian race.
We have some modern day heroes of faith. About two Sundays ago, I came
across an article on the web about men who sacrificed their lives for the sake
of the gospel. By faith, these men knew there is a greater reward awaiting them
and they readily offered their lives to gain that which is imperishable. Below
is the link to the article. Please do check it out and be encouraged. God bless
you. Amen.
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