Let's begin our worship this evening by singing to God's praise. We're going to sing in Psalm 18, the Sing Psalms version.
Psalm 18 on page 20 of the psalm book. We're singing from verse 21 down to verse 30.
Psalm 18 at verse 21, page 20 of the psalm books.
Tune is Duke Street.
For I have kept the ways of God from him. I have not turned away. I have not strayed from his decrees, whose statutes ever with me stay.
We'll sing from verse 21 to 30 to God's praise.
I have not turned away. I have not strayed from his decrees.
This, the Jews ever with me stay.
The Lord my God.
Since in his sight my hands were thee.
The Lord my God.
I will stand on you, but with a good value I should.
You saved the humble and the mean, but bring the proud of their height.
You, Lord, will keep my power, and all that hurts my darkness, change to life.
Well, from God I can advance, and it's such good and right and all.
And with the aid my God will hear, I can be more than any more.
For perfect is the way of God, no choice than within His Word.
To all who could bear trust in Him, I should have met you, Jesus, Lord.
Amen.
Let's bow our heads in a word of prayer.
Let us pray.
Lord, our gracious God, as we continue our worship of you on this yearday, we are thankful
to be able to draw near to you, to be able to call upon your name, to be able to sing praise
to you, to be able to open your Word and to have it at our very fingertips and to have
it in our ears ringing this evening.
For you speak to us powerfully and mightily through your Word.
We thank you that it points us towards you and all your goodness to us through your Son,
the power that you have over all creation, that all things were made through Him and by Him and for Him.
And we thank you too, Lord, that your Word reminds us that you are the constant one,
the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, that we see our own lives and we see the world in
which we live with all the many questions that we may have and others may have, and yet ignoring
the answers that are found in your truth, ignoring the answers that would show us our life through your
lens and by your light. And yet we as a people are so guilty and so often of just walking in the
darkness. But we thank you that your Word is light. And we thank you that the Psalm that we have sung
reminds us of that, that you, Lord, will keep my lamp aflame. God turns my darkness into light.
We thank you that that was the testimony of the Psalmist very long ago. But we thank you too,
Lord, that these words remind us as your people that you are the one who sustains us, that you are
the one who keeps us. You are the one who keeps faith with his people. You are with faithful people.
You keep faith, the Psalmist said. And we thank you, Lord, for a people of faith. No matter how we feel
our faith is, whether we feel strong in our faith or whether we feel weak, we thank you that faith is
not about ourselves, but the one in whom our faith is placed. And that we have a great high priest,
that we have one who we come to and look to this evening, who is greater than all, who is above us
and whose ways are far above our ways, whose thoughts are far above our thoughts. And yet the one who we can
come and come into relationship with the one who we can know as our Lord and as our God.
And so we pray that as we come to your word anew this evening, that you will speak to us through it,
that you will minister to all our hearts by it, that your word will continue to sustain us,
to nourish us, to keep us, and to build us up in our faith, to strengthen us day by day.
And no matter what comes our way, for as we turn to it this evening in the book of Hebrews,
we are reminded of a people who were in many ways challenged, in many ways that they were being
pulled in different directions, just as we are today. Yet their faith was to be secure and grounded
and to be of full assurance for their faith was in Christ. And we pray, Lord, for your church and for
your people, not just here, but far and wide as so many churches lose their faith in your word. So
many churches change to suit the ways of this world, change the word to suit the tickling of the ears of
the people around us. But we pray, Lord, that your word will be ever faithfully preached here and
to all ends of the earth, that as you have your people, as you have your preachers, as you have
all who will be witnesses for you to all ends of the earth, that your word will be kept pure,
that your word will be according to what you have taught us in your scriptures, that we will not
deviate from it or turn away from it in any way, but that we will remain faithful to it.
And we thank you for how you have done that down through all the generations. We know that attacks
on your word are nothing new. There is nothing new under the sun, as your word tells us. And though
people will turn away, we thank you that you are a slug God who calls, calls a people to repentance,
calls a people to turn to you and to be saved. And we pray that as the gospel goes out today,
that will go out in your power and by your spirit, that will accomplish great things,
that as it is heard everywhere, Lord, that your word will perish into the hearts of people,
that it will perish into the darkness of this world, that it will shed your light of the gospel
of the glory of God in your son Christ Jesus. That at this time of year, Lord, when we
see so much of a Christmas season around us, we pray to see Christ. We pray to see and know more
of him and to hear more of him and that people would know more of him, the Savior who was born
for this world. So we pray, Lord, that you will hear your praying people, that you will draw near to
us and all your people this night, that you will shelter them, that you will keep them, that you will
uphold them and strengthen them. And we thank you that we can commit each other into your care
and into your keeping, that all that we seek to do in your name, as we seek to live our lives,
as we seek to walk with you, as we seek to serve you with all our hearts, that we can know your great
presence with us, that we can know your strength for each and every day. And we thank you that that
is true for whatever our circumstances, for whatever is going on in our lives, be it the time of
excitement and joy at Christmas time for so many, as we see family and friends visiting and coming and
going over these days. We pray your blessing on our homes and our families, all who travel, all who are
gathered together, Lord, to know your peace and to know your blessing, to know your goodness upon us.
But we know too, Lord, that for some and maybe even for many, there is much sorrow and sadness.
There are many things that trouble us. There are many things that will make us ponder and wonder
about the world in which we live, the lives that we live, all the things that go on either around us
in our own families or our communities or even in our own hearts. We know that there are many troubles
that we have to face up to many challenges. And yet we thank you that faith is the key there as well,
to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author, the perfecter of our faith. And so we pray, Lord,
that you will strengthen the weak knees, that you will uphold the feeble arms, that you will give
grace, O Lord, as it is needed for every situation, in homes and families and hospitals,
in homes for the old age and our community as a whole, Lord. May we know your grace and your mercy
upon us. We do particularly pray for those for whom this is a time of great pain and grief and the loss
of loved ones, be it recently or in the past, Lord. We know that times of year such as this,
Christmas Day and New Year's Day, it brings with it much emotion. And so we look to you as the God of all
comfort, the God of all grace, to surround and to uphold and to uplift people, Lord, who are feeling down,
to help them in their great need, to know your comfort, to know your presence. We commit those who are unwell
at this time as well, be it at home or in hospital. We commit them to your care, be it here around us
or in other parts of our country or throughout the world, Lord. We know there are so many different
needs around us, but we thank you that we can cast our cares upon you, for you care for us. You have
loved us with an everlasting love, a steadfast love, an unchanging love. And so we pray for these promises
to be very precious to many at this time, to know your nearness, to know your peace guarding minds and
hearts. We pray for your gospel, for the word of God as it goes out, that you will bless it, that you
will be the power behind it, to bring sinners to repentance, to build up your people, to keep us praying,
to keep us looking to you as we come to the end of another year and as we look, God willing,
to a new year, that we will go forward in your strength, that we will go forward with our faith
and confidence and hope in the Lord Jesus Christ, the one who is with us, the one who is near. So,
Lord, may you bless us and continue with us. Bless your word as we turn to read it now. Watch over us,
we pray. Guard us and go before us in the week ahead, Lord. Keep us close to you and remain,
O Lord, close to us as we ask all things with the forgiveness of all our sins, confessing them
anew before you this night. Our sins there are many, but we thank you that your mercy is more.
So, Lord, hear our prayers and go before us now as we ask all in Jesus' name. Amen.
We'll turn to sing again in God's praise. We're singing in Psalm 86 in the Scottish Psalter. Psalm 86,
page 341. We're going to sing from verse 8 down to verse 11. Psalm 86 at verse 8.
Lord, there is none among the gods that may with thee compare. Like the works which thou hast done,
not any work is there. All nations whom thou made shall come and worship reverently before thy face,
and they, O Lord, thy name shall glorify. We're going to sing from verse 8 to 11 on the tune is
of the Lord. We're going to sing from verse 8 to 11 on the tune is
of the Lord. We're going to sing from verse 9 to 11 on the tune is
Choir to thee, and my God, I God thyself alone.
Give me thy way, and yet thy truth, O Lord, then walk with I.
Unite my heart, that I thy way, make thee continually.
Let's turn to read God's word together.
Now we're reading in the book of Hebrews.
I'm taking our reading in chapter 10 at verse 19.
Hebrews chapter 10 at verse 19.
We're going to read down into chapter 11 and down to verse 6 in chapter 11.
Hebrews chapter 10 at verse 19.
You'll find this around page 1210.
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,
by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,
and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart,
in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience,
and our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope, without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
not neglecting them to meet together, as is the habit of some,
but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth,
there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
but a fearful expectation of judgment,
and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.
Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy
on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
How much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God,
and who has profaned the blood of the covenant,
by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace.
For we know him who said,
Vengeance is mine, I will repay.
And again, the Lord will judge his people.
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
But recall the former days,
when after you were enlightened,
you endured a hard struggle with sufferings,
sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction,
and sometimes being partners with those so treated.
For you had compassion on those in prison,
and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property,
since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession,
and an abiding one.
Therefore, do not throw away your confidence,
which has a great reward,
for you have need of endurance,
so that when you have done the will of God,
you may receive what is promised.
For yet a little while,
and the coming one will come,
and will not delay.
But my righteous one
shall live by faith,
and if he shrinks back,
my soul has no pleasure in him.
But we are not of those
who shrink back and are destroyed,
but of those who have faith,
and preserve their souls.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for,
the conviction of things not seen.
For by it the people of old
received their commendation.
By faith we understand
that the universe was created
by the word of God,
so that what is seen
was not made out of things that are visible.
By faith Abel offered to God
a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain,
through which he was commended as righteous.
God commending him
by accepting his gifts,
and through his faith,
though he died,
he still speaks.
By faith Enoch was taken up
so that he should not see death,
and he was not found
because God had taken him.
Now before he was taken,
he was commended as having pleased God.
And without faith,
it is impossible to please him.
For whoever would draw near to God
must believe that he exists,
and that he rewards those who seek him.
And so on.
And may God bless
that reading from his word.
But before we turn back to that passage,
we'll sing again to God's praise,
this time in Psalm 62
in the Scottish Psalter.
Psalm 62.
I'm going to sing from verse 5 to verse 8.
Page 294 of the psalm books.
Psalm 62 at verse 5.
My soul wait thou with patience
upon my God alone.
On him dependeth all my hope and expectation.
He only my salvation is,
and my strong rock is he.
He only is my sure defense.
I shall not move it be.
We'll sing from verse 5
down to verse 8
to God's praise in the Tunis St. Lawrence.
my soul wait thou with patience
upon thy God alone.
On Him the end of all my hope and expectation.
He only my salvation is and my strong rocket's team.
He only is my sure defense, I shall not do with thee.
In God my glory place it is and my salvation sure.
In God the rocket's of my strength, my refuge most secure.
He made the place your confidence in Him continually.
Faithful in glory, and your heart, God is the refuge high.
Amen.
We can turn back together this evening to look at Hebrews chapter 11 in particular.
although as you see as you read through from verse 19 down into chapter 11 there is a theme of continuation there before us as we will see.
We're going to look together this evening at a small word that stands out in the midst of this passage that we've read
and think about this word as we approach the end of another year and think about our lives and our outlook on life and our hopes
may be going forward as a people. The word that we're going to look at is a word that many songs have been written about
both in a Christian context and also in a worldly context too. It's a word that is often discussed.
The people of the world will tell us that we need this in differing circumstances but the foundation of it is what is important
and what is ultimately usually different when people discuss it.
But the word that we're looking at ultimately without being rooted in God and his word and his truth is of no use.
And what is that word? I'm sure you've maybe guessed already what it is just reading through from verse 19 and into chapter 11
which is this great passage that speaks about the word that we're going to think about.
The word is faith. Faith. It's just a small word and yet it's a powerful word. It's an important word. It's a key word for us.
Who or what is our faith in? How do you define faith? How would you think what is faith? How would you define that for yourself this evening?
Some people will talk about faith in just a very general sense or a very vague sense.
People's faith can be different depending who they are or where they are.
You might look it up in the dictionary and look for a definition of what faith is there and what will it tell you.
Some definitions say this. It's a complete trust or confidence in someone or something.
And there's an element of truth in that but it's not the whole truth because that leaves it very open-ended.
If it's just left us in someone or something then our faith is not clearly defined.
But what the Bible speaks about when it speaks about faith is very clearly defined.
It's very clear to us and especially as we read in this passage it's very clear to us what faith is.
Because the Bible gives us a focus for our faith.
And it's not just a vague sense of faith being in someone or something but in the Lord our God.
So there's a clear definition for us.
And as we read here in both Hebrews chapter 10 from verse 19 speaks about the full assurance of faith.
And then going into chapter 11 it's that great passage that tells us about these great examples from the Old Testament
who by faith did so much.
We see what faith is.
But it begins with this in verse 1 where it kind of defines faith for us.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for.
The conviction of things not seen.
Or the evidence of things not seen.
It is not blind.
It has clear focus.
And that's what the writer of the Hebrews is doing as he writes.
He speaks so much throughout this book about faith in different circumstances and in different ways.
If you go back to chapter 6 verse 11 and 12 there he speaks about faith.
And it says,
We desire each one of you to show the same earnestness, to have full assurance of hope until the end,
so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
So he's there almost leading us into where we are now in chapter 10 and 11.
So that you may not be sluggish.
But what he says just before that is interesting.
So that you may not be sluggish.
Now it's a time of year when we're all in danger of feeling sluggish.
Maybe even you're coming to church this evening you're feeling sluggish because you've eaten so much today.
And over the course of the week there'll be times when we feel sluggish because we've tucked into too much of the wrong things so often.
And that's what the writer to the Hebrews is saying too.
If we are feeding or overindulging in the wrong things we are going to become sluggish.
If we are listening to the wrong voices, if we are listening to the wrong truths,
if we are listening to the wrong definition of what faith is we are going to become sluggish.
And there's always a danger as Christians of becoming sluggish.
But he's saying but to be imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
To keep ourselves focused.
To keep ourselves on the right track.
And that's what chapter 10 is doing in Hebrews.
It speaks about having confidence in the finished work of the Lord.
It speaks about having confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior of those who believes.
And in having this confidence, this full assurance of faith, we are able to draw near to God.
We are able to come into his presence.
To hold fast our confession as he speaks about in chapter 10.
And to consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.
There's all these encouragements which is moving on from being sluggish to being exercised,
to being healthy, to growing together in the Lord.
And it's all got this foundation of faith.
So the writer to the Hebrews is writing to a people who are feeling shaken in many ways.
Their faith is being shaken by other things that they're being taught and hearing.
Other people trying to pull them back to what they were in the past.
Relying on the old ways of the sacrificial system or the Old Testament ways of the priesthood.
Instead of having confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus as it says in verse 19.
Confidence in the right things.
Confidence in the Lord.
And then they were being reminded at the end of chapter 10 how
though they may lose all their earthly possessions.
Though they may lose so many things that they feel are so important in life
and which we can feel are so important.
They're not lasting possessions.
That's what the writer to the Hebrews is telling them there in verse 34.
That they have a better possession and an abiding one.
Therefore do not throw away your confidence which has great reward.
Confidence.
Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The relationship with God.
And that's what faith is.
It's a relationship with God.
A very personal relationship.
And that's what we are to seek to have.
Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Confidence in him.
Just like Paul wrote to the Romans.
That great chapter.
Chapter 8.
He speaks about all the different challenges in this world.
But he says in verse 35.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
There's a question.
But there's also an answer.
In verse 39.
Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Nothing can take this abiding possession away from us.
Who have faith in him.
And that's what leads us into chapter 11.
As you see, verse 39 concludes with a response as to how we are to live.
We are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed.
But of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
Again, it's just this confidence, this faith in the Lord Jesus.
That is what is needed.
And that's what the writer expands on in chapter 11.
And we want to just focus on for a few moments this evening.
Thinking about this word faith.
First of all, we want to ask, what is faith?
And secondly, we want to see, what is our life without faith?
What would it be like?
And then thirdly, by faith.
What is life like?
What are our lives to look like living by faith?
So the first thing is, what is faith?
Well, faith is not something we do ourselves.
When we read in the letter to the Ephesians,
we have that great reminder that we are saved by grace through faith.
Faith is what God gives to his people.
It is a gift from God.
Therefore, behind that, there is substance.
If it is a gift from God,
that is what the writer to the Hebrews here expands on.
When you think of what it says in verse 6,
the middle of verse 6,
for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists
and that he rewards those who seek him.
You must believe that he exists.
Do you?
There's a simple question in that.
Do you believe that God exists?
If you do, you're probably,
we're now in the minority in this world,
believing in the God of the scriptures that we have before us.
But it says,
you must believe that he exists.
And in believing that he exists,
you realize faith is not then just a blind leap.
There are those who feel like to live by faith is the life of a fool.
It's foolish to believe in this nonsense that the Bible teaches.
But as we've looked at recently,
it's the fool who says in his heart that there is no God.
There is the fool.
And that's what the Bible is showing to us.
Verse 26 of chapter 10 makes it so clear for us.
For if you go on sinning deliberately
after receiving the knowledge of the truth,
there is no longer remains a sacrifice for sin,
but a fearful expectation of judgment.
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God,
it says in verse 31 of chapter 10.
And yet there's no fear of God.
But if we believe that God exists,
then we realize that he is the God who is able to judge.
And the only way away from that judgment is by faith
in the Lord Jesus Christ who came to save us from that judgment.
So faith is not just a leap in the dark.
Faith is not just a crutch that people lean on.
Faith is not just something that we look to
when there is nowhere else to turn.
Faith is a sign of strength,
a sign of courage,
recognizing our weakness,
recognizing our inability,
but looking to God who is able to save.
The shorter catechism for us
gives a great answer to what the Christian faith is.
In question 86, the question is asked,
what is faith in Jesus Christ?
And the answer, it's not a long answer,
but it's worth remembering and recalling often,
because we can so often overcomplicate what faith is.
But here, listen to this,
faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace
whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation
as he is offered to us in the gospel.
The gospel has so much to give,
because it offers to us salvation.
Faith is so much more than just blindly walking around.
Faith is so much more than saying,
oh, well, if God is going to save me, he'll do it.
Faith asks questions.
Faith is offered to us in the gospel.
And faith is what we need to receive and rest upon
for our salvation.
Faith is leaning on God and all his promises.
As one person put it,
faith is when God says,
I will lead you.
Faith responds,
I will follow.
I will go.
And this should be the attitude for ourselves,
for every Christian,
for everyone who is seeking the Lord.
It is to hear the offer of the gospel,
that Christ died for our sins,
that we are to believe in him,
that we must believe in God,
that he exists,
and that he rewards those who seek him.
So faith has a substance.
Faith, we see before us,
as the substance of the word of God.
Faith has conviction.
It has evidence.
When we look around us,
we see the world that God has created.
We see that we are made in his image.
We see it being defined to us here
in this great passage.
Faith is the assurance of things hoped for,
the convictions of things not seen.
Now, this context of chapter 11
is so much looking to the Old Testament,
looking to many of the characters
from the Old Testament,
and what they were looking at,
it was by faith,
not seeing what was ahead,
that they went forward in faith,
trusting God.
It was seeing what the natural eye could not see,
but looking forward,
looking ahead.
And faith needs that.
Faith, if we had all the answers,
is not faith.
Faith is confidence and assurance
in the things that we hope for,
the things that the Bible says
are still to come.
It's a conviction of things
that we don't see just yet,
but we will one day.
Faith is what keeps us looking.
When you think of Thomas,
one of the disciples in the New Testament,
after the Lord had risen,
and they had met and seen the Lord,
but Thomas wasn't there that day.
But a week later, he was.
And he saw the Lord.
And he said,
my Lord and my God.
Because he'd said,
unless I see his hands and his side,
I will not believe.
But what did Jesus say to him?
He said,
you believe because you have seen.
Blessed are those
who have not seen,
yet have believed.
They are those
who look to him
by faith.
We have not seen
what Thomas has seen.
But we believe.
We believe.
We believe in all
that the Scriptures reveal to us.
Even as you go through
the book of Hebrews itself,
in chapter 2,
it speaks about the world to come.
In chapter 4,
it speaks about eternal,
the Sabbath rest.
In chapter 9,
it speaks about
the internal inheritance.
There's so much
that it speaks of
that is yet to come.
And how is it seen?
By faith.
That is how
we are to live.
This chapter
goes on to show us
so many examples
of those
who lived by faith
when everything else
around them
seemed lost
or absurd
or impossible.
Faith took them forward.
And as we come
to the end
of another year,
as we go on,
God willing,
into a new year,
are we going forward
in faith?
Into the uncertainty,
into the unseen,
but trusting God,
going on
by faith.
chapter 12,
which follows on.
Again,
it just highlights
the importance
of living by faith.
Chapter 12,
verse 1 says,
Therefore,
since we are surrounded
by so great
a cloud of witnesses
that's expanded on
in chapter 11,
it says,
Let us lay aside
every weight
and sin
which clings
so closely
and let us run
with endurance
the race set before us,
looking to Jesus,
the founder
and perfecter
of our faith,
who,
for the joy
that was set before him,
endured the cross,
despising the shame,
and is seated
at the right hand
of the throne
of God.
Looking to Jesus,
the founder
and perfecter
of our faith.
The word of God
is what gives us faith.
It's the substance.
It's the evidence
for us.
Faith is the assurance
that God
will do exactly
what he has promised
to do.
Do you have faith?
Do you have faith
in the word of God?
Faith in God?
Faith in the Son,
Christ Jesus.
Faith in the Holy Spirit
to work.
Faith
is the assurance
of things hoped for,
the conviction
of things
not seen.
Secondly,
we see
the challenge
to us.
What is life like
without faith?
What are the consequences
of being
without faith?
Well,
in verse 4 and 5,
we are told
that by their faith,
both Abel
and Enoch
pleased God.
They pleased God.
That was
their priority.
He had pleased
God.
But then look at
what it says
in verse 6.
Without faith,
it is impossible
to please
him.
without faith,
it is impossible
to please
him.
Faith cannot,
without faith,
we cannot
please God.
And we surely
know that ourselves
already,
for there have been
days when we
were without
faith.
And without
faith,
we were so
against God
that there was
no way to
please him.
we were
shunning God.
We were living
in darkness.
Without faith,
we are only
trying to
please
ourselves
or others.
We're living
selfish lives.
We're living
lives looking
in the wrong
place,
trusting
in the wrong
things,
just trying
to please
everybody.
And that's
impossible.
it won't
be long
until we
will be
coming
into another
election.
An election
time is a
time when
you hear
politicians
or would-be
politicians
speaking about
everything that
they're going
to do
to please
a people.
And they'll
tell one
group that
they're going
to do
this to
win their
votes.
And then
they maybe
contradict
themselves
to another
group by
saying they're
going to do
something that's
completely
different.
And in a
day such as
we live in,
when a modern
age of
technology,
when everything's
recorded,
when everything
can be brought
together,
we see they're
contradicting
themselves.
And it's
impossible to
please everyone.
But they just
want to try
and win
votes.
They want to
try and get
into parliament.
Now is
God,
when he speaks
to us,
is he trying
to win
our vote?
Is he trying
to please
everybody?
No.
Because God
makes it quite
clear how
we are to
live.
And if we
live by faith,
we're not
going to
please
everybody.
But our
aim should
always be
to please
God.
And the
only way to
please God
is through
faith.
Because
without
faith,
we cannot
please him.
And it
may be
that we
are a bit
like the
politician.
We're saying
one thing
to God.
We're saying,
yes,
Lord,
I believe.
I believe
that you
exist.
We're saying,
maybe I
believe that
you're my
savior.
fear.
But only
for a
moment,
until someone
asks us a
question,
or until
someone
challenges us.
I don't
believe that.
I don't
believe the
word of
God.
Because we're
being pulled
in different
directions.
We're trying
to keep
everybody
happy.
But it's
the impossible
task.
It's
impossible to
please God
without
faith.
And these
two words
underscore for
us just
that when
it says in
verse 6,
without faith,
it is
impossible
to please
him.
And the
other word
is must.
For whoever
would draw
near to
God must
believe that
he exists
and rewards
those who
seek him.
Faith
is not
just
something
nice that
you can put
into practice
now and
again.
Faith is
a life
lived for
God to
please him
alone.
Faith is
not something
that is
divided that
says,
I believe
that God
made the
heavens and
the earth.
I believe
that he
exists in
one hand,
but then
you're led
down another
path when
somebody
else is,
oh, I
don't
really
believe
that.
Faith is
something that
is challenged
constantly.
That's what
was happening
in the days
of the writer
to the Hebrews.
The people
were being
challenged,
their faith
was being
shaken in
many ways,
but they
were to have
confidence in
what was to
abide and
to last.
trust.
And that
is trusting
in the
Lord Jesus.
I've told
this story
before, I
think, but
it's worth
telling again
about the
tightrope
walker called
Blondin.
He was one
who would
walk across
a tightrope
suspended
across Niagara
Falls.
and he
would dance
on the
wire, he
would run
on the
wire going
across back
and forth,
no problem,
and it
attracted great
crowds that
cheered him
on.
One time he
was going
back and
forth with
a wheelbarrow
full of
bricks, no
problem again,
and the
crowd was
cheering.
And then he
shouted out
to the
crowd,
who believes
that I could
push a man
across that
wire in a
wheelbarrow?
And all the
hands went
up shouting,
yes, we
believe that
you could do
it.
And his
response was
to say,
great, now
who would
like to
volunteer?
And suddenly
all the
hands went
down.
They were
saying on
one hand,
they believed
that he could
do it,
they'd seen
him do it
in so many
different ways,
but when it
came to
actually themselves
being in
that wheelbarrow,
they weren't
willing to
commit.
They had
no faith.
And that's
the challenge
to each
and every
one of
us.
Without
faith, it
is impossible
to please
God.
So are we
just merely
giving a
token gesture
of faith
to God?
Are we
giving him
just a
small part
of our
life and
saying,
yes, Lord,
I believe?
But when
it comes
to the
challenge,
do you
believe?
Will you
stand up
for your
faith?
Will you
commit
yourself
fully to
the Lord?
Your hand
goes down
and you
say, oh,
I'm not
sure I
can fully
commit.
Well, your
faith is
not complete.
Without
faith, you
cannot
please
God.
Martin
Luther once
said,
God, our
Father,
have made
all things
depend on
faith, so
that whoever
has faith
will have
everything,
and whoever
does not
have faith
will have
nothing.
Without
faith, you
cannot
please God.
Without
faith, you
face the
challenge of
that judgment
that is so
vivid and
so clear
in verse
26 downwards
in chapter
10.
It is a
fearful thing
to fall
into the
hands of
the living
God.
It is a
fearful thing
to be before
him without
faith.
We need
faith.
And faith
is offered
to us in
the gospel
through Jesus
Christ,
our Lord.
And so
finally, we
just want
to see
what it
is to
live by
faith.
What does
it mean to
live by
faith?
Well, look
at verse
2.
For by it
the people
of old
received
their
commendation.
By faith
we understand
that the
universe was
created by
the word
of God,
so that
what is
seen was
not made
out of
things that
are visible.
By faith
they received
their
commendation.
The world
often ridicules
or despises
the person
who lives
by faith,
but that's
not what
counts.
We don't
live for
them,
we live
for God,
to receive
commendation
from him,
to hear
those words,
well done,
good and
faithful
servant,
to be
faithful
to him.
And if
you have
trusted in
Christ as
saviour,
you are to
live each
day seeking
not the
approval of
those who
are around
you,
although we
don't want
to be
deliberately
offending
or upsetting
people,
but we
want to
please God
always,
and to
seek his
approval.
And what
does it
look like
to live
by faith?
Well,
what you
look at
is what
follows in
the rest
of this
chapter.
When you
see all
the great
examples of
those in
the Old
Testament who
lived by
faith,
whose names
are mentioned,
Noah,
Abraham,
Sarah,
Rahab,
Gideon,
Samson,
you look at
their experience,
you look at
their situations,
everyone so
different,
everyone with
so many
challenges,
even some
you're thinking,
how did they
make it onto
this list in
Hebrews 11?
By faith.
And you
see,
that's the
key for
us.
So often
we think
it's the
size of
our faith,
it's how
great our
faith is,
but it's
not.
even when
our faith
seems weak
and small,
that doesn't
matter.
It's about
who our
faith is
in.
Is our
faith in
the Lord
Jesus Christ?
What does
faith look
like to
you?
What does
faith look
like?
Maybe you
see it in
other people
around you,
and you've
said maybe
to yourself,
I wish I
had the
faith that
that person
has.
Well,
what strength
of faith
that person
has.
And we
see it,
we see it
in people
who are
going through
trials that
without faith
you wonder
how could
they possibly
go through.
But that
person wouldn't
tell you the
strength is
theirs or
from themselves.
They would
say it's
from God
and by
his grace.
the strength
that God
gives because
his grace
is sufficient
for all
things.
And he
gives grace
to those
who have
faith,
those who
believe in
him.
Just like
we are
reminded in
the shorter
catechism,
we receive
and rest
upon him
alone.
that is
what faith
is,
receiving
and resting
on him
alone.
Like we were
hearing this
morning in
this service,
it's about
pondering and
laying up
these things
in our
hearts,
seeking a
greater
understanding
of the
Lord Jesus
Christ.
That is
where our
faith grows.
That is
where our
strength
comes from.
And the
examples that
you have in
Hebrews 11,
if you look
at them,
you see
so many
of them
had mistakes
in their
lives,
they had
faults,
they had
sin,
just like
all of
us.
And yet
by faith
they are
there.
And you
look at
the New
Testament
and you
see what
faith looks
like,
you see
examples
of faith
going on
through the
New Testament
and the
Gospel of
Mark.
Just to
highlight a
couple there,
you see
one was in
Mark chapter
2,
verse 5,
when
Jesus was
there gathered
in the
house with
many people
crammering in
to see
Jesus and
to hear
him.
And their
friends brought
this paralytic
to Jesus.
They would
not give
up, they
would not
turn away,
they dug
their way
down through
the roof,
brought him
in before
Jesus.
And what
did Jesus
say?
when Jesus
saw their
faith, he
said to
the paralytic,
son, your
sins are
forgiven.
When he
saw their
faith, what
did it look
like?
An absolute
dependence on
him.
They knew
that there was
no one else
who could help
but him.
The same is
true in another
account in
Mark chapter
5 verse
33 with
the woman
with the
issue of
blood.
When she
came to
Jesus, she
came by
faith.
If I could
just touch
the hem
of his
garments, he
could make
me well.
And then
Jesus says,
who touched
me?
The crowd
is looking
around and
say, what
do you
mean who
touched
you?
There's a
crowd here,
it could be
anybody, but
he knew that
power and
had gone
out from
him.
And the
woman, it
says in
verse 33,
the woman
knowing what
had happened
to her, came
in fear and
trembling and
fell down
before him and
told him the
whole truth.
And he said
to her,
daughter, your
faith has
made you
well.
Go in
peace and
be healed
of your
disease.
She came
in fear and
trembling,
falling before
him.
And what
did Jesus
saw?
He saw
faith.
Your faith
has made
you well.
Go in
peace.
Both these
situations,
they were
people who
were helpless,
just like we
all are.
And what you
see in both
of these
related situations
is it becomes
about a
relationship.
In Mark
2, Jesus
says to the
paralytic son,
your sins
are forgiven.
In Mark
chapter 5, he
says to the
woman, daughter,
your faith has
made you
well.
There is this
wonderful
relationship.
They are
brought by
faith to
know the
Lord Jesus
in this
personal way.
And so
where is
your faith
today?
Do you
have faith?
Is it
faith in a
general sense?
Or is it
saving faith
that you find
in Jesus
Christ?
do you
have faith
to go
on?
Your faith
may be
small, but
it's not
about the
size.
It's about
who it
is in.
And if
it's in
Christ, his
grace is
sufficient for
all things.
Faith in
Jesus Christ
means we
have all we
need for
now and
for eternity.
and that
is our
hope.
There's a
hymn, I
forget the
name of
the hymn,
but the
last verse
of it
says this,
and it's
looking by
faith ahead
to eternity.
My
knowledge of
that life
is small,
the eye
of faith
is dim,
but it's
enough that
Christ knows
all, and
I shall
be with
him.
There is
faith, no
matter how
small it
seems, no
matter how
dim it
seems.
It's not
what our
faith is
in, or
our faith
at all, but
who our
faith is
in.
Faith is
the assurance
of things
hoped for,
the convictions
of things
not seen.
Faith is
about looking
to Christ,
the author
and
perfecter
of our
faith.
May God
bless these
few thoughts
to us.
We're going
to conclude
by singing
to God's
praise
in Psalm
46a.
We'll sing
from verse
8 to
verse 11
to the end
of the
psalm.
Psalm 46a,
page 60
of the
psalm
book,
verse 8
to verse
11.
The tune
is Stroud
Water.
Come see
the works
the Lord
has done,
the judgments
he commands,
the desolations
he has brought
to pass
in many
lands.
Then verse
10,
be still
and know
that I am
God,
on earth
exalted
high,
and all
the nations
of the
world my
name will
glorify.
We'll sing
from verse
8 to
11 to
God's
praise.
Amen.
He the words the Lord has done, the judgment he brought, the desolations he has brought
to pass in many lands.
A very land for the earth, he makes all complex things, he shatters through,
and spirit, and cheer, and grace is reign of peace.
Be still and know that I am God, on earth, they're exalted high,
and all the nations of the world, my name will glorify.
The Lord Almighty is with us, to strengthen us sustain.
For Jacob's law, our strong, the best, and fortress will remain.
Amen.
After the benediction, I'll go to the door to my right.
We'll close with a benediction.
Now may grace, mercy, and peace from God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit rest upon and
abide with you all now and forevermore.
Amen.