EXAMPLES OF OF FAITHFULNESS - Chapter
11!
“THE ROLL CALL OF FAITH”
I. FAITH DEFINED, 11:1-3
A. “Substance of things hoped for”
1. “Substance” = assurance,
confidence, firm trust, reality.
2. Faith is the confidence regarding
things for which we hope.
B. “evidence of things not seen”
1. “evidence” = proof
2. Faith is the assurance and reality
of things that are real, though not seen – a conviction based on evidence
(compare 2 Corinthians 5:7; 1 Peter 1:7-8; John 20:29).
3. So, though there are things we
have not seen (past, present, and future), faith gives us confidence and
assurance concerning them.
C. “worlds were framed by the word of God” – see Genesis 1:1;
Psalm 33:6
1. The things seen (that which was
created) were not made of things which do appear.
2. God (not seen) made all that is
visible (seen).
FAITH = Conviction and Trust!
II. FAITH DEMONSTRATED, 11:4-40
A. Faith’s essentiality (verse 6).
1. It is impossible to please God
without faith (John 8:24).
2. The one who comes to God must
believe “that he is” (see Exodus 3:14; John 8:58).
3. God rewards those who diligently
seek Him
4. Note the refrain “by faith”: in
each example, it means knowing God’s will, and doing it.
CONSIDER THE
CONSEQUENCE OF UNBELIEF:
a. Man
consciously accepts himself as only an animal, nothing more.
b. Unbelief
is contrary to man’s nature and conscience.
c. Unbelief
is a denial of man’s highest hopes and aspirations.
B. Faith’s examples:
1. ABEL, v. 4
a. Abel
offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain (in substance, attitude, and
requirement – see Genesis 4:1-15; Matthew 23:35; 1 John 3:12).
b. His
sacrifice demonstrated he was righteous, and God testified of his gifts.
c. He being
dead yet speaks – his life is a demonstration of faithfulness!
2. ENOCH, v. 5
a. An Old
Testament character who was translated that he should not see death (see Genesis
5:21-24; cf. 2 Kings 2:9-12).
b. He pleased
God (“walked with God” = pleasing God!).
1. A Bible character whose life we should imitate, would be Enoch.
2. One of the few Bible characters about whom nothing negative is said.
a) Noah got drunk
b) Adam sinned
c) Abraham lied
d) The patriarchs sold their brother Joseph into slavery
e) David committed forn. & murder
f) Peter denied Christ
g) Paul persecuted Christians
h) Enoch walked with God.
III. THREE BIBLE TEXTS ABOUT ENOCH:
A. Genesis 5:21-24
B. Hebrews 11:5-6;
C. Jude 14-15
1. Fitting that such a godly man
would condemn the ungodly.
2. And warn them.
D. Notice what was not said about Enoch:
1. What he did for a living;
2. What kind of house he lived in;
3. How much money he made;
4. What he looked like;
E. What we can say about Enoch is something for which everyone ought to strive.
1. "When he , talked he talked
for God.”
2. “When he walked he walked with
God. “
3. “When he left he went home
to God."
IV. ABOUT THE MAN: Gen.5:18-24
A. Seventh from Adam, son Jared, Jared lived 962 yrs., Enoch was on earth 365
yrs.,
B. His son Methuseluh was 969 yrs.
C. He was 65 years old when Methuselah was born (5:21)
D. He walked with God 300 years afterward (5:22)
E. He was a family man; "begat sons & daughters" (5:22)
F. He lived 365 years (5:23)
G. He walked with God (5:24a)
H. He "was not for God took him" (5:24b)
I. He "was translated and did not see death" (Heb.11:5a)
J. He "was not found" (11:5b)
K. He "Pleased God" (11:5c)
V. WHEN HE WALKED HE WALKED WITH GOD: (Gen.5:24;Heb.11:5)
A. The term "walked with God" is applied to only two men in the Bible :
1. Noah (Gen.6:9)
2. Enoch (5:22-24).
B. Also rendered "pleased God" (Heb.11:5)
C. Hebrews 11:6 says “without faith it is impossible to please God”, so Enoch
must have walked by faith!
1. To walk with
God is to walk by faith (Heb.11:6)
2. To not walk by sight (2Cor.5:11)
3. To not be guided by human feelings and emotions (Rom.8:4)
Do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
4. To not rely on what seems right in our own eyes (Prov.
14:12)
5. To not be guided by human tradition (Mk.7:7-14).
6. To not be influenced by the opinions of the majority
(Ex.23:2; Mtt.7:14).
7. To not allow the views and customs of our ancestors
determine (1Pet.1:18).
8. To not rely on our own desires and pleasures in religious
matters (Rom.15:3).
D. Enoch walked with God and pleased God by putting forth a sincere effort to do
God's will (Jno.14:21-24; 8:29; Mtt.7:21-23).
F. Walking with God is not a short-lived matter but a life-time commitment
(Gen.5:22-24 for Enoch it was over 300 years!)
G. Walking with God makes us different from the people around us (Jd.14:15;
1Cor.3 1-3; Rom. 12:1-2).
H. Walking with God is a manner of life not something we do occasionally
(1Jno.1:7-10; ).
I. Walking with God is a prominent theme in Ephesians:
1. 4:1-3 Walk in lowliness, gentleness, long-suffering,
loving one another which will result in unity and peace.
2. 4:17-24 Walking in newness of life
3. 5:2- Walk in love
4. 5:8-13- Walk in light
5. 5:15-21- Walk wisely
III. WHEN HE LEFT HE WENT HOME TO GOD: (GEN.5:24)
A. Enoch was translated (Heb.11:5)
1. To "transfer", "transport" or "exchange" "To carry over"
2. TOOK- also used in (2Kgs.2:3,5,10) for Elijah;
(Psalms73:24; 49:15 "receive")
B. "Was not" (Gen.5:24); "Was not found" (Heb.11:5)
1. "His contemporaries looked for him and found him
not"
2. In the world to come, our contemporaries may look
for us in Hell but we won't be there.
C. Flesh and blood cannot inherit Heaven (1Cor. 15:51) He was changed.
D. Life after death for the faithful is better (Phil. 1:23-24).
1. Would Enoch's epitaph be suitable for your tomb stone?
2. "When he talked, he talked for God"
3. "When he walked, he walked with God"
4. "When he left, he went home to God"
5. When you are long gone and your children and grandchildren
are telling funny stories about you, let us all live so that the conversation
will always include something
about us being godly.
3. NOAH, v. 7
a. Noah was “warned” by God = divine revelation (see Ezekiel 14:12-14; note: the
word is “chrematizo,” and is the same word “called” in Acts 11:26).
b. He prepared an ark to save his
house (Genesis 6:14-22; 1 Peter 3:20).
c. By it, he condemned the world and
became an heir of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5; compare also Genesis 7:1 with
Romans 1:17; 3:21-22).
4. ABRAHAM, vv. 8-10, 12-19
a. He obeyed, sojourned, dwelt in
tabernacles, looked for a city (Genesis 11-25).
b. He offered Isaac, accounting that
God would raise him up (see Genesis 22:1-18; Romans 4:19-21).
5. SARA, v. 11
a. Through faith, she received
strength to conceive (though she had laughed, as had Abraham – Genesis
17:15-21).
b. Ultimately, Sara’s faith caused
her to judge Him faithful who promised.
6. ISAAC, v. 20
a. He blessed Jacob and Esau
concerning things to come.
b. See Genesis 27:26-40.
7. JACOB, v. 21
a. He blessed both the sons of Joseph
(Genesis 48:13-21).
b. He worshipped.
8. JOSEPH, v. 22
a. He made mention of the departing
of the children of Israel (Genesis 50:24 ff.).
b. He gave commandment concerning his
bones (his burial).
9. MOSES, vv. 23-28
a. He was hid by his parents for
three months (Exodus 2:1-15).
b. He refused to be called the son of
Pharaoh’s daughter, and chose rather to suffer affliction with God’s people
(Acts 7:17-36).
c. He esteemed the riches of Christ
greater than the treasures of Egypt.
d. He “endured, as seeing him who is
invisible” (11:1).
e. He forsook Egypt and endured,
keeping the Passover and the sprinkling of blood.
10. CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, vv. 29-30
a. They passed through the Red Sea
(see 1 Corinthians 10:1-2).
b. They obeyed, and the walls of
Jericho fell down (Joshua 6).
11. RAHAB, v. 31
a. Rahab the harlot did not perish
with the unbelievers.
b. She received the spied (see Joshua
2:1-21; 6:22-25; James 2:25).
12. OTHERS OF FAITH, vv. 32-40
a. GIDEON: defeated the Midianites
(Judges 6-8).
b. BARAK: defeated the Canaanites
(Judges 4-5).
c. SAMSON: defeated the Philistines
(Judges 13-16).
d. JEPHTHAH: defeated the Ammonites
(Judges 11-12).
e. DAVID: ruled Israel (1 Samuel
16-17).
f. SAMUEL: God’s prophet, priest, and
judge (1 Samuel 7-10).
g. THE PROPHETS
WHAT THEY ACCOMPLISHED BY FAITH:
1. They subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, and obtained promises.
2. They stopped the mouth of lions (Samson, Judges 14; David, 1 Samuel 17;
Daniel, Daniel 6).
3. They quenched the violence of fire (like Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego,
Daniel 3).
4. They escaped the edge of the sword (like David, Elijah, Elisha, Jeremiah).
5. They were made strong (like Abraham, Gideon, David).
6. They waxed valiant in fight (Judges 7:21).
7. They turned to flight armies of the aliens.
8. The women received their dead (like the widow of Zarephath or the woman of
Shuma by Elijah – 1 Kings 17:17-24).
9. Others were tortured.
10. Some had trial of cruel mocking, scourging, bonds, and imprisonment (like
Samson, Micaiah, Jeremiah – see also Genesis 39:20).
11. Some were stoned (like Zechariah; cf. 2 Chronicles 24:21).
12. Some were sawn asunder (2 Samuel 12:31).
13. Some were temped (like Joseph).
14. Some were slain with the sword (Uriah by Jehoiakim – Jeremiah 26:20-23).
15. Some wandered about, being destitute, afflicted, and tormented, wandering in
deserts, mountains, dens, and caves (see 1 Kings 18:4).
THEM: They obtained a good report through faith, without receiving the promise
(until Christ – 9:15)
US: We have a “better thing” (Christ, His sacrifice, His covenant!).