Faith Has Evidence Enough (Part A)

The world would like to tell themselves that faith has no evidence that they feel that gets them off the hook and are no longer accountable to a personal God, but we know better. We who believe know that we do not simply believe because we want to we know that we believe also because there is proof.

There is evidence and that is what is being said right here straight out from our Scripture. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville.

Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Hebrews. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, but for now, here's Pastor Rick in Hebrews chapter 11 with a brand-new message called faith has evidence enough. You have your Bibles was open to Hebrews chapter 11.

Now if you're not a Bible student you're going to get a lot that you may not be able to take in a comfortable rate that would be a signal that you have a lot of work to do but this is a foundational section of Hebrews that is going to set the pace for what is to come in the remaining chapter versus of this 11th chapter will only take verses one through three. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen by the elders obtained a good testimony by faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Faith has evidence enough and the world would like to tell themselves that faith has no evidence they feel that gets them off the hook and are no longer accountable to a personal God, but we know better. We who believe know that we do not simply believe because we want to we know that we believe also because there is proof. There is evidence and that is what is being said right here straight out from our Scripture. This is of course one of the great chapters of the Bible and being in Hebrews. It is much like being in the Old Testament but were not in the Old Testament were in the New Testament in the New Testament is putting everything in the Old Testament in its proper place before the son of God, Jesus Christ of this chapter has many nicknames if you will, for example, the hall of faith, the heroes of the faith, but I I like to think of it as the hall of grace, the kindness in the goodness of God is all over the experiences of the characters that will be mentioned in the latter versus a for many religious people for many who beat his claim to believe in God action faith plays a small role in their lives. They may go to church. They may engage in ritual, they may talk a lot about faith but when it comes to acting on their faith. They often fall far short in the characters that again are going to be listed in this section, and it certainly is not an exhaustive list.

They were those who believed and acted upon their beliefs in spite of opposition in spite of trouble from within and from without, in spite of doubt they pressed forward and they are being held up before us by the Holy Spirit as heroes of our faith and grace. But before we get to them. We have to see what's behind it. What is involved in becoming one who acts upon their faith consistently throughout their life, so we look now at the first verse Hebrews chapter 11 verse one now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Now again as I mentioned is a going to be a lot of work here. Your hamsters are going to have to peddle a lot and fast to keep up but we we cannot sidestep these things again man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. What does the Bible if it's not opened up in God's own house and considered what good is the Bible of the if the fruit of doing that never finds its way into a lost world with damned souls is supposed to mean something and do something well. He begins this first verse with that word now in the Greek, works. Does it not the faith is the substance of things hoped for, the now links what he is going to say with what he said in the 10th chapter.

Remember this was a letter written there were no chapter divisions know versus he just continued to flow and in chapter 10 on the 30th day versus look up a little bit too versus before we get to our text. He says the just shall live by faith is quoting that a great Old Testament prophet Habakkuk.

Now if you again. If you're not a Bible student, you will have a Habakkuk to name that is worth knowing, especially the life, but who are the just when Habakkuk said the just shall live by faith with those of believers.

Those who believe in God and want to line up with him, not what the world you going to come into a lot of pressure to not do that.

You younger Christians as you go out into the workplace as you go out into the universities the colleges wherever you find yourself there's going to be this pressure put on you to be a chameleon to blend in with your background, but to not stand alone for Christ, you better learn how to defy it early on. Don't give an inch. It's not worth it. The world has nothing spiritually to offer you but death and death. Eternal get it into your noggin.

God is true. His word is dependable that the devil can mess with the mind without touching the brain. This is why there's so many brainiacs that are going to hell. Well let me get back on course live by faith live by that section, do something with it instead of just I went to check today. I will now what faith is that ever developing being part of us. It involves repentance that is turning from sin that's without that there is there is going to be no faith, then it involves saving faith that is turning to the Savior, Jesus Christ, and no other on purpose deliberately admitting you're a sinner admitting he is who he says he is an admitting that what he says about man, including use true then from repentance to saving faith. There should be serving faith. Faith put into action doing something with repentance in your confession of faith. Collectively, these illustrated in this chapter, but here in this section he says substance faith is the substance is not a theory it's real you can touch it. He says there is evidence evidence. The visible unseen. You can get there without faith you cannot see what God has that is not visible but can be seen without faith. And then he says there's a testimony that's a historical fact. They did it.

You didn't you're doing others will do it substance evidence and testimony. These things belong to faith without them is not action is the philosophy that's not much use world of sin, the un-surrendered.

If you're sitting here this morning.

Your listening online. Or maybe you listen later through the radio or CD recording of something about gas. Maybe you're not a believer you not surrendered to Jesus Christ, you cannot understand.

You can get some of it but not enough of it because faith is the key.

Faith unlocks the revelation of God and without that key. There's no unlocking the unseen just because it's not visible doesn't mean it's not there will get to some of that as we move on, but Paul wrote this in Corinthians, he said the natural man. That's the person that is just born.

That's all one wants natural untouched by God, natural born in sin every single person born is born in sin is only been one exception by fate, the natural man does not receive the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. So you go on may be some YouTube site you see an atheist, ragging on the faith and then you look at the not being not attacking them saying like it is you look at the dimwitted comments spiritually dim witted and you say that they cannot discern they cannot see it is foolishness to them.

They not have the key, and so it's selling for. Incidentally, speculation not regulation. They settle for what I think God is and they just make it up while they buy into something that's been handed down from someone else who's made it up. Without that spiritual feature without any punch in it without any truth that is spiritual and right and good. We often hear them say more religions of the same know they are not there is one that is different from all of them is nothing like this is one reason why you can talk Bruno or Mohammed or anybody else in the workplace. Would you mention Jesus Christ. You fight faith is.

That's what he says faith is. It's an attitude of the soul. Hope is an experience that flows from that attitude.

Hope is not a demand. It is an expectation that God is going to do right faith holes one to the one who is to be believed, and that is the Christ, no matter what.

That's what faith is. You will hold to Christ no matter what.

Otherwise it would be no martyrs. Martyrs would not be held, but you can be monitored and not be a disciple.

What is it matter if you give your body to be burned and you have not love, for example, what kind of love, the love that comes from a relationship with Christ being twice born one naturally one spiritually so faith, trust in the person of Jesus Christ and his power Naha on the property as a whole. Again, if you don't know the Scriptures another profit you don't know Habakkuk and mayhem. God spoke to these people, you should know them. Then it won't do you any harm will do you good. Erode Yahweh's good stronghold in the day of trouble. He knows those who trust in him. He knows the value of prayer in trust even if you don't get what you're praying for and trusting in God knows your trusting in him. That's what counts more than anything that you could ever again. As far as answered in prayer that you are known by God and that you are approved by God. It's illustrated in the book of Esther that God will lift up his scepter to you and say come in Hebrews chapter 11, wherein verse 27, has to keep talk to this faith thing. Hebrews 1127 by faith he that is Moses forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. There it is. Faith sees the invisible, seeing him who is invisible and emphasize that it takes hold of the unseen realities even towards the future even towards eternity that other senses don't pick up you have other senses that I constantly scanning and they never pick up what faith picks up. You have taught shifts malady of hearing you have site as sensitive as the skin is the eye how sensitive it is to do that is at the touch of a piece of dust they can never do what faith does. I wouldn't say it's 1/6 sense like the world of psychology likes to say it is. I will say it's the superior sense it is that which holes in every of other senses every other part of us in place to do something meaningful so it clings. Faith does to the unseen realities of God as fact it acts upon them, and is upheld by God, you get support from God. You have to still do your part.

That's why it's not easy and it holds up faith in those who stand in the face of that which contradicts God. Faith is additional site at the world again has not and whatever faith they may have. We say it's counterfeit. They don't like us for saying that they want us to lockstep with them. They want us on the reservation to stay there and don't you dare come off that reservation you go to where we tell you to go and don't believe outside the box and we defiant and therefore persecution comes do you know that faith is what defeats death. I don't mean it stops death faith defeats death because it overcomes lies about God lies about God cause death and Val in the in the garden of Eden.

Satan the liar brought all mankind down to it truth about God restores her eternal life to man. Jesus said you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free but without faith you cannot do it without trusting God without believing it based on evidence unseen facts about God can only be touched by faith trusting him. According to the Scripture. That's how it is set up Isaiah chapter 40 verse eight. The grass withers, the flowers fade with the word of God. It stands what God has said no human being. No climate change or who is going to upset that poor polar bears.

Anyway, stay focused were not let's me.

Matthew four verse four as I mentioned mansion. I live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth about how profound is that is such a simple statement coming from the very throne in heaven of God you live by my word. All of it kosher again is AW Dozier.

It takes the whole Bible to make a whole Christian I love that state and you. Not many Christians don't want to get respect receive instruction from the pulpit.

They rather get it from the Internet or clean it somewhere but they don't want to sit in the church and receive the word they want to be entertained and it's unfortunate churches that entertain her for parking lots. Churches that preach the word, they don't. As a rule, John's Gospel seven verse 38 Jesus being here in the Army. He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow living waters, living water, singular, Hebrews 11 verse six without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that he is and and that he is a rewarder of those who trust him who delivers the verses that diligently seek him through hard work.

So again you come to church, and I can keep up with this. It is hard there's no diligence there. Paul says study to show yourself approved, a worker who does not need to be a shame he's study means hard work is God not worth that much here some things about faith, we cannot dismiss it.

Faith is such a big topic. You cannot exhausted but you cannot dismiss it either. Faith is not centered on what one can get out of this life, but will you go after how many Christians think faith is something to get something in this life to have fun with a better house, a better car, a better lifestyle is not faith doesn't mean those things are wrong in and of themselves. That's not what faith is centered in faith is not centered in objects.

It centered in a person.

What does he want with my life, lays hold of what Jesus is said what he is done and what he is foretold, that's big prophecy coming to to pass in our lifetime. Just the last 50 years alone are astounding in detail.

Setting up the stage for the big show. You go to the theater and if you happen to get there early enough.

You're allowed in my the stagehands are putting the props in place. You can see what's going on where this is going that they set up a battlefield was going to be a battlefield scene. They set up a kitchen is going to be food involved or something. Christ to set the stage to the prophecies in Scripture. Faith leaps into the light because of it based on evidence enough. According to the Scripture trusting God that is our shield of life and so Paul says take up the shield of faith that you gonna need that if you're going to block what's going to come at you and there is going to be a lot especially the children of the world.

The world is attacked with things. Part of being under the curse when attacked with the same things, and our faith doubts challenge us to push us away to make is useless how many Christians right now be what I believe Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. I believe I'm a sinner and only by him I'm safe will not come into the house of God, is it doing their thing. I think that's noble and I understand I don't want to sound malicious, but it's not right you you have to be in on the field of battle will go come to some more of that in a minute but a difference between a saved person in an unsafe person is not that one has faith in the other does not have faith. The difference is what they have faith in, or who they have faith in everybody exercises faith, believe it or not you succumb into a building. You trusted that the structure is not going to randomly collapse, but of course, is much more to faith than just trusting in proven laws of physics. The unbeliever they trust something other than Scripture we trust the Scripture. And that's where the contest is faith being no greater than the object because in the because is are important. Faith is not believing without evidence.

Superstition is that's what superstition is, throw some salt over your shoulder to ward off the demons but a rabbits foot in your pocket.

You'll have a happy day whistle while you go to the cemetery and none of them will grab you but whatever it it is faith, not superstition. We don't have to let the world dictate to us what proof is proof the sports listen device to near zero world link. You know the pilgrims settled America in 1940 and they did it in Wyoming. They would laugh.

We have records we have writing so you trust those things than what you marked the Scripture what you market when we trust the Scripture well this is the battle that we are engaged in faith rejects what rejects Scripture as part of faith to so here we go.

The verses are take this one from second Thessalonians.

Now Paul is writing to the church's new believers. They came to him when he came to them beaten. He and Silas. They were they were scourged with canes in Philippi. They made their way to Thessalonica.

They were chased around for their faith and he gets there he makes converts hey, anybody want to be a Christian look look at the meeting we just took and that many of them said yeah anything is bad better than these fake idols on anything.

Truth is better in support boast about them well when he left Thessalonica because they chased him out of Thessalonica. They wrote and they wanted to know what is going to happen at the end of the world. So he writes to them, and he says there is coming a political leader who the world is going to love is going to have charisma, but he's going to be a liar.

He's going to act like he loves the Jews even act like he's everybody's friend is not and he gives us some information he says the coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan with all power signs and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perished because they did not receive the love of the truth that they might be saved. For this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie guts is fine and everything I can to make you believe you reject that or I take a lie.

That's what you want here you go, so faith rejects what rejects Scripture. They are rejecting Scripture Matthew 1312.

False Christ and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible.

The elect Matthew 720 therefore by their fruits you will know them. The lying wonders, you see them do things you see it with these people are immoral, they are harmful. They are frauds. Because of that. That's why the Lord says by their fruits you will know them first Timothy 41 now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons demons teach human beings and human being thoroughly banal acknowledge their teachers while as a surprise, many of them don't acknowledge the creator to commit fraud, sign someone else's name. The creation of the world and that's what were talking about here, the creator and and all that he is doing but he says in the end times the going to leave the face.

That's the apostate church that will be very much alive and well during the days of antichrist. Second Timothy 43 for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers are already doing this, I didn't like cheesecake is not our doctrine is never idle like what he said about Scripture it's always something else move you've been listening to cross reference radio the daily radio ministry of Pastor Rick asked Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia. As we mentioned at the beginning of today's broadcast. Today's teaching is available free of charge at our website.

Simply log on to cross reference radio.com that's cross reference radio.com would also like to encourage you to subscribe to the cross reference radio podcast subscribing ensures that you stay current with all the latest teachings from Pastor Rick, you can subscribe cross reference radio.com or simply search for cross reference radio your favorite podcast to the next time as Pastor Rick continues teaching through the book of Hebrews right here on cross reference radio