Fixing our eyes on Jesus
Why it is important?
- Because Without faith it is impossible to please God
- Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see.
- Faith is to believe God can do extra ordinary things far much better than we can possibly do.
- Believing in God promises more than our doubts and fears
Examples of faith
- We believe God made the heavens and earth
- We believe that our sins are forgiven when we pray
- When you come face to face with very difficult situation (exam or )and you have no idea what to do about, faith comes to rescue
- When you meet some difficult person like a Bully person in school and try to make you feel bad
- When someone you love is sick and we pray for their healing
- Most importantly we believe that we have everlasting life because Jesus died for us
- In all of these and many more we stick our selves to Gods
Lessons from Hebrews 11
- In the journey of faith, the metaphor of running a race is a powerful image.
- The New Testament frequently uses this analogy to encourage believers to persevere in their spiritual journey (1 Corinthians 9:24-27, 2 Timothy 4:7-8).
- Hebrews 11, often referred to as the "Faith Hall of Fame," provides profound insights and examples of enduring faith.
- Jesus also taught us a crucial lesson about priorities.
- In John 6:27, He said, "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you."
- This reminds us to focus on eternal values rather than temporary, perishable things.
The Heroes of Faith
- Hebrews 11 recounts the stories of numerous individuals who demonstrated extraordinary faith.
- These "heroes" faced diverse challenges, yet they remained steadfast in their trust in God
- Abel: Demonstrated the importance of offering our best to God, even if it means standing alone
- Enoch: Walked faithfully with God, showing us the value of a close relationship with the Divine
- Noah: Built an ark in obedience to God's command, illustrating the importance of trusting God's plan even when it seems improbable (Hebrews 11:7).
- Abraham: Left his home for an unknown land, embodying the call to step out in faith without knowing the full picture (Hebrews 11:8-10).
- Sarah: Believed in God's promise of a child despite her old age, teaching us to trust in God's timing and promises (Hebrews 11:11-12).
Faith in Action
- These stories emphasize that faith is not passive but active.
- It requires movement, decisions, and sometimes even risks
- This assurance and conviction drive believers to act in accordance with God's will, even when circumstances are challenging (James 2:22).
Overcoming Obstacles
- The heroes of faith faced significant obstacles.
- Abraham was called to sacrifice his promised son Isaac (Genesis 22:1-19, Hebrews 11:17-19).
- Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt despite immense opposition (Exodus 3:1-10, Hebrews 11:24-29).
- These stories remind us that enduring faith often involves overcoming trials and tribulations.
- James 1:2-4 reinforces this idea, encouraging believers to consider trials as opportunities for growth, resulting in maturity and completeness.
The Ultimate Example: Jesus
- Hebrews 12:1-2 shifts our focus to the ultimate example of enduring faith: Jesus Christ.
- He is described as "the pioneer and perfecter of faith."
- Jesus endured the cross, scorning its shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2).
- His journey exemplifies ultimate endurance and faithfulness, providing us with the perfect model to follow (Philippians 2:5-11).
Practical Steps for Running with Endurance
- Lay Aside Every Weight: Hebrews 12:1 urges us to "throw off everything that hinders from running and the sin that so easily entangles."
- Identify and let go of anything that slows your spiritual progress
- Fix Your Eyes on Jesus: Keep your focus on Christ, drawing strength from His example and presence (Philippians 3:13-14).
- Run with Perseverance: Understand that the race is a marathon, not a sprint. Stay committed, even when the path is tough
- Draw Strength from Community: The "great cloud of witnesses" mentioned in Hebrews 12:1 includes those who have gone before us. Draw inspiration from their stories and lean on your faith community for support (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Faith has three components that should not be separated,
- Righteousness
- Relationship
- Responsibilities
Righteousness
Romans 4:7
Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;
- In this scripture we also learn that when God forgives us we are considered blessed by default
- No work of once own is needed to reach that level
- We are just the byproduct of what Jesus has completed on the cross
- As result we are considered now saints where the fact is we were vagabond and sinners who all rebelled against the word of God
- The package of our salvation comes first before every other thing before we even think how to please God with our actions
Relationship
Romans 5:1
By faith we have been made acceptable to God.
And now, thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ, we have peace with God.
Christ has also introduced us to God's gift of undeserved grace on which we now take our stand. So we are happy, as we look forward to sharing in the glory of God.
Responsibilities
James 2:14
Faith without work is dead
- We are required to live up to the expectation by God that is away from wickedness and in love
- For every wrong doing or an act of faith, there is a consequence of our action that we must reap
- God faithfully bless those who faithfully obey him and rebuke who rebeled against his teaching
- The righteousness of man is faith accompanied by work and not work accompanied by faith