The Patriarch’s Faith (Part C)

Some to be called apostles on profit some evangelists on their teachers. These things that we would be stirred, but too often that little pebble in the road flips you off.

You mail like we said guards post century we relieve the centuries with fresh centuries so that we can get it done in the church can do this and you can do it and anyone that tells you otherwise is not telling you the truth.

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 today.

Pastor Rick will continue teaching through Hebrews chapter 11 and his message called the patriarchs faith. The outcome proves that God's word is sure and Abraham is faithful, the outcome as you look on the map you see the nation Israel, not Palestine is morale.

The people of God, the descendents of Abraham, the outcome events have proven God sure the proof is with us today, Abraham and Sarah's descendents. Not Abraham, and could tour or not, Abraham and Hagar, though their descendents. You can then mixed into, but not with the Jews. That is, Abraham and Sarah proof this were the testimony that faith in God is what the believer is to pursue and relentlessly so not for season for a lifetime. I II enjoy that about our faith. I enjoy that my spirit does my flesh hates everything about the spirit and everything that comes from God.

My flesh always wanted now never wants to wait does not want to ever suffer and and on the same side. None of us should want to suffer but the spiritual man enjoys the fact that in the midst of whatever happens, God, God is there, and God will show himself to his people. He traverses the earth were told in Chronicles, to show himself strong on behalf of those seeking want.

Verse 13 these all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them or brace them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth all died in faith, that you and that seems to be contradictory, but God is a faithful keep you alive in this life. This faith will give you everlasting life, and so Abraham and Sarah never saw the fulfillment of the promises, the great increase of their offspring.

They saw Isaac. They saw Jake up while Elise Abraham saw Jacob, but they never saw sons of Jacob and the tribes of Israel, but they believed it as the stars in the sky the multitude you don't get to see them so much now.

But if you go to a place where the light is not washing out the sauce got first time I ever saw the sky or notice the sky and all her stars was out on the desert. I just happen to be looking up at. I couldn't believe what I saw. So in those days you can imagine that statement would've been quite profound because you couldn't count the stars are so many of them still there told anyway. The forces of faith is stronger than the forces of unbelief when we tap into them and we know what that's why we stick with the faith. Even when we suffer we stick with it because we know there are greater forces and operation. We understand that there are things happening that count beyond this life that this life is not everything. So we work, we train ourselves to not cling to this life.

It's not easy to do. In fact, it's impossible in the flesh to do it the way that God would have us do it, but it is very possible in the spirit. Others have done it and we are doing it. He says they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth again. There are tents declared their attitude towards this world again.

The altar of Abraham. It confessed his relationship with heaven.

So the tent said here's my relationship with the earth I'm not staying here is my altar. It confesses my relationship with heaven. I'm going there.

Romans 12 verse two, we all know this. Reminding us that we are strangers away from home. We are pilgrims going home traveling through. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed to the renewing of your mind all think like those who don't have Christ when it comes to the things of God. John first letter. Chapter 2 verse 17 world is passing away in the lust of it, but he who does the will of God abides forever. First Peter 215. This is the will of God, that by doing good. You may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men and foolish men of this world are the productive product of this world.

Verse 14 of Hebrews 11 for those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland say what things will do things we came across in verse 13 with a embraced and they confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims of verse 14 says those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland beyond beyond this life there. There is unbroken happiness and were working towards it, but we want to take with us more than us. We want to take a testimony we want to take a well done good and faithful servant with coming at God. We want God to say, I saw you you want for the kingdom. Are there any Christians here that your life is all about your life you come to church you worship God you believe in God you read the Bible, but you really don't do anything for God. If you are here this morning. I hope I'm not making you comfortable with that part of your life that part of your life needs to be disturbed. You need to be moved with a godly fear, as was Noah before you know went to work in a day when they had compared to today, crude tools, he went to work felling trees and building an ark. It is expected of you and me that we work for the kingdom. If you work for the kingdom of God, God will allow Satan to still come your way and say things like this, you are not doing it right. You're not doing enough.

You're not doing anything that doesn't matter. You're wasting your time. You have to learn how to stand against those things for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edification of the body of Christ. That's why he is given us some to be called apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastor teachers, but these things that we would be stirred, but too often that little pebble in the road flips you off the road you may alike so we said guards out post centuries and we relieve us centuries with fresh centuries so that we can get it done in the church can do this and you can do it and anyone that tells you otherwise is not telling you the truth, no intelligent Jew in the days of her revelation and her faith, whatever say that the promise land was all that they were going to get that that was the place of rest and there was nothing else they knew there was something more. So do we. We know that this life is not all that we get become the church and you hear things like this that may challenge you, what would happen if you didn't go to church and hear these things to be challenged. What what is the opposite. What is the antithesis of not receiving the preaching of the word in season and out of season.

You know Paul emphasize that Timothy said give heed to the doctrine to the Scripture preach it to them all the time. Some will not like someone the ears tickled, but there are others, they will receive it.

They will produce and they won't feel sorry for themselves, to the point where they can't get anything done. You know when you start those pity parties you can't you can't work gotcha little hat on annual party favors. And you prancing around feeling sorry for yourself and you can't work change that party had for hardhat and serve the Lord. Now those of you who are serving you're not you, not to come under conviction when you are serving as though you're not serving do God and injustice by saying well you know I'm just not doing anything below when you are and he'll come along as an ally you doing all these things, my spirit in you grab hold of that, enjoy it, one within understand the ushers that are sitting in the hallways, the children work is right now doing God's word whether they feel it or not, they take it by faith.

And if you don't take it that way, you become like someone in another church somewhere doesn't believe in Christ but yet is working in the children's ministry that happens and it happens quite a bit and it is shameful how does that happen. How do we let the leaven in this way. Verse 11 and truly, if they had call to mind that country from which they had come out they would have had opportunity to return if they really wanted to go back. They could've gone back to speaking of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac and Jacob. They could've gone back to the land that God called them out.

It happens lots wife remember her. She looked to back to the land that God saved her from and she perished Dimas.

Paul, having loved this present life. John Mark John was one of the beautiful stories of the New Testament.

He stepped out in the ministry with a lion's heart and ran like a lamb that God brought him back in.

Paul did the right thing by sinking one is I am not taking the one who dropped out like that and then years later writing to Timothy bring Mark with you. He is useful to me for ministry.

The mercy of God, the potential of his servants to rebound to recover to get back and maybe you have left the church where you were the problem. Bad mouthing sharing bad things. Now you come to church God is giving you another chance. Not to be that way again rise above it he being dead still speaks instead of able. We have to embrace these things as these patriarchs did so.

The recipients of this letter were to follow the example of the fruitful and not return to Judaism. As Abraham and Isaac, and Sarah did not return to Mesopotamia, from which they came. Jesus said to him, no one having put his hands of the plow.

Looking back is fit for the kingdom of God. John Mark did that he took his eyes off the plow.

He looked back he was unfit for service, and Paul held them to that. And then he was rebuilt and now we have the gospel according to Mark the mercy of God. No Christian, no Christian order multiple overall their past mistakes when there's opportunity to make future victories. We move forward know sometimes it we we post these excerpts from the sermons and sometimes a look at them and I'll sleep boy I'm I didn't want to say it that way. So if I am saying things the way I don't want to say them there. My problem not yours. My point that I'm trying to make out of that is listen to the Holy Spirit and not the preacher if the preacher is right on the spirit of God. Don't dismiss that he works through broken vessels. He works through those who really aren't all that that should give you great hope and great encouragement. So again that you feel like I need to say this again is there anyone here, you started out loving and serving the king and now you don't because you got so many other things going on. That's all what he installable more than likely it's going to burn up what is going to count on that day. When you stand before the Lord, what would happen if Noah said build an ark's work are not going to do it. God would've found someone else to do. This happens again and again and good churches. We don't want 10% of the people doing 100% of the work we want to hundred percent of the workers working together but now they desire a better verse 16. That is, a heavenly country there for God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. God certainly is ahead of us. I like him. I like what Augustine has to say we talking about a better place for us. The struggles between this place and that place between tent living and living in that city whose builder and maker of the foundations as God, Augustine in the fifth century, said two cities are formed by two lucky speaking about in our hearts the earthly by the love of self, even to the contempt of God, the heavenly by the love of God, even to the contempt of self so your carnal nature does not like your spiritual nature and your spiritual nature does not like your carnal nature and these two war against each other, the one you feed the most is the one is going to prevail. You will have this fight this dogfight throughout your life but you are in line or in formation with all the other saints before you and so two cities are formed by two loves and we are to keep our eyes on the Lord as much as we can, in spite of the setbacks and disappointments we incur. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God who those who live by faith. Verse 17 by faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac and he who had received the promise offered up his only begotten, of whom it is said in Isaac your seed shall be called the magnitude of this test is astounding. I would never want to be subject to such a test. He was called to slay the one that God gave him. He was called to personally slay the most single important person in his life. It was a commandment from God and imperative and he obeyed.

He stepped forward to do it. Isaac the living promise put on the altar but not lost. God is not like that he is good Abraham reason God knows what he's doing. If I slay the son he is able to raise him again, who was cut faith like this. Abraham that's in it should haunt me a little bit where I can say Lord.

Maybe I cannot get to that level of faith, but I'll get to a higher level of faith with it that I would have without it, standards of God, a high and they should be is never tell his children aim low try to get as little done as you can calls us to overcome. They did not love their lives to the death.

They overcame the blood of the llama tells us in Revelation of the martyrs verse 19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead from which he also received him in a figurative sense. So instead of saying this is crazy and a scroll I'm not doing it. Abraham obeyed and he trusted in the outcome. Of course, vindicates the Lord and establishes his faith.

Verse 20. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come of this is this is and that I love this partier, I said. Isaac kept the faith of these that's what it is saying he blessed and he prophesied he told the future the spiritual event.

Genesis 27 verse 33 talks about this. Then Isaac trembled exceedingly, and said who we are is the one who hunted game and brought it to me.

I ate all of it before you came in. I have blessed him, and indeed, he shall be blessed. Nonreading that as though you know the story and for those of you who don't, what is just taking places Jake up. The younger of the two twins, Esau and Jacob were twin sons of Isaac, Jacob deceived his father so that he could get the blessing and Esau shows up late. The elder son who went out to hunt game for his father so he could get the blessing and when he comes in and he says father had the game now. Blessed me. It says Isaac trembled exceedingly, and said who where is the one who hunted game and brought it to me. I ate all of it before you came in a listen to this and I have blessed him, and indeed, he shall be blessed. Did that by faith is a lot going on in the Tara Ware says he exceed trembled exceedingly because he realized he was fighting against God. He was trying to bless Esau when God had long ago before the birth prophesied that the younger would be the one to receive the blessing and so Isaac for his whole life he loving Esau who was a spiritual is a go and then little no pansy boy Jacob was mama's boy and in an instant.

Recognize he was on the wrong side so he trembled. Instead of cursing Jacob for pulling this stunt.

He fears God. He sees God overruled him and he submits instantly to that he bows in self judgment, and spiritually. He's in touch with the throne in heaven. And that's why he is Antero messed up before God, and it is a beautiful story when you remember it is that way he expresses his faith in those words. Indeed, he shall be blessed. Yeah, he did it the wrong way, but the blessing was given and it cannot be taken back.

I gave a blessing.

These are due, which was not as great but it wasn't shabby spiritually bed not much in it, but then you think about these two men from Jacob came Christ from Esau came Herr Rod, the Herr rods God is vindicated in his word again. Verse 21 by faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshiped, leaning on the top of the staff. Jacob blessed Jacob worship he passes all these colorful events in the life of Jake up and he goes to the finish line of Jacob talk about when he was in his use of the money was trusting God and making a pledge anointing a stone in creating altar. He passes all that and he goes to his deathbed, he says, that was faith to the end. He struggled with his faith but he struggled and he leaned on his staff by faith that staff indicated two things. Yes, he was old now but he was also lame because he wrestled with God.

The mark of God was on his body and these blessings Inc. and judgments when he blessed his children.

There were judgments involve some of them received this judgment. You know Benjamin is a ravenous wolf. I think that it did not complement the descendents of Benjamin and again events proved him right. But he did not see these things happen.

The latter generations did that was by faith and so is leaning on the top of the staff worshiping to an end supported by a dead piece of wood was supported in his spirit far above it all. Why does not the Holy Spirit right here recall at least one of Jacobs follow-ups and many are more than were written in Scripture. They were there. Why does he recall them put that on the list, Lord, why not is the mercy of God is showing us faith overrules those things in our life. For those who believe because I said so because of the blood of Christ. I believe this and I love it because I know how many times I fail and I know that the mercies of God, a new every morning. There's an endless supply for those who believe in him. According to the Scripture verse 22. By faith Joseph, when he was dying made mention of the departure of the children of Israel and gave instructions concerning his bones among Joseph laughs words remarkable words of faith. He knew God would someday fulfill the promise given to his parents that the Jews would have the promise land so it is deathbed he says make sure my dead bones end up in that promise land's testimony. He's saying this I know where I belong. Do we know where we belong. Do we know where we belong. As servants of God in this life we know where we belong. After this life that's in heaven would live along right now. How are you going to ever find that question know are you going to have to have Scripture because it has to be according to the Scripture which are also going to have to live what you find in Scripture is best you can. So the Holy Spirit passes over all those magnificent events in the life of Joseph. There is so much in his life that you would think he was asked by faith Joseph that the signal built the silos by faith. He interpreted the dream you think he do things like that. By faith he forgave his rotten no good scoundrel brothers doesn't say that by faith, he said get my dead bones into the promised land that covered everything is God's promises are sure whether you see them or not, whether you live or die before they happen.

God is sure that's what he is telling his audience. Jesus Christ is sure don't you want from him.

So in closing this word from the book of acts. Therefore, take heart. Men, for I believe God that it would be just as it was told to 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.

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