Faith

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.

The Lord my God.

Since in his sight my hands were thee.

The Lord my God.

The Lord my God.

The Lord my God.

The Lord my God.

The Lord my God.

The Lord my God.

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 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.

Hebrews 10 · chapter mention

We're going to read down into chapter 11 and down to verse 6 in chapter 11.

Hebrews chapter 10 at verse 19.

Hebrews 10 · chapter mention

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.

Hebrews 11 · chapter mention

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.

Hebrews 10 · chapter mention

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,

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.

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.

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

Mark 2:5

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

Mark 5:33

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.

relationship.

In Mark

2, Jesus

says to the

paralytic son,

your sins

are forgiven.

In Mark

Mark 5 · chapter mention

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.

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.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.