[Blessed Beyond Imagination, part 13]. It’s one of the most important messages that could ever be spoken… And it answers the most important question of all: can I know for sure that I have a good standing with God? EVERYTHING depends on it! In this episode we look at:
Faith is very important to God. In fact, the Bible says in four key places, “The just shall live by faith”. So why is it “of faith”. Romans 4:16 says, “That it might be according to grace.”
All of the blessedness that we have is only because of the Grace of God.
God blesses us because He is good. And is the source of all blessing
But what was at the epicenter of Abraham’s faith? At the center of his faith was God’s ability:
Romans 4:20-25 (faith in God’s ability to perform what He promised):
[20] He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, [21] and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. [22] And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”* [23] Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, [24] but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, [25] who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.
Hebrews 11:17-19 (faith in God’s ability to raise the son of promise from the dead):
[17] By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, [18] of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,”* [19] concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. In contrast, Abraham’s inability was so great that he was described as “as good as dead”:
Hebrews 11:12
[12] Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. Romans 4:19 (NKJV)[19] And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.
How much ability does a dead person or body have? Zero. We’re talking total inability. Here’s the second key of Abraham’s great faith: he did not consider his total inability but was looking to GOD’s total ability!
The subject of suffering frequently comes up in Christian teachings. Many times the speaker will quote a passage like Romans 5:3-4
3 And not only [that], but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Then they go on and on about “the value of suffering”: God is using suffering, hardship, difficulty to improve our character, refine us, make us stronger, make us “more Christ-like”.
[Hebrews 12:3-11] After having dealt with the common misconceptions about Hebrews 12:3-11 in our last episode, in this lesson we focus on what these verses are really all about: the child training of our Loving Father. We look into:
The word “chasten” and “chastening” appear repeatedly throughout these verses. The Greek words translated “chasten” and “chastening” literally mean “child training”, as opposed to punishment.
This “child training” is meant to train us — the “just who live by faith” — to walk by faith, not by sight, our own ability or our human understanding.
Why the commonly held notion that “God will never us more than we can handle” is in fact an unbiblical and harmful myth. God frequently uses circumstances far beyond our capability to handle in order to train us to rely on Him, not ourselves.
We look at similar passages in James 1:2-4 and 1 Peter 1: 6-8 to understand the tremendous value of the trying of our faith.
[Hebrews 11:30-33a] In this episode, we continue to look at OVERCOMING FAITH:
Joshua and the Conquest
The leadership of God’s people BY FAITH and its effects. They were ordinary people OF FAITH who trusted in an EXTRAORDINARY GOD! God is the one who is great, The Hero, and HE does mighty things through those who have FAITH IN HIM.
[Hebrews 11:23-29] In this episode, we look at the faith of Moses, the man of God who was called of God to forsake Egypt and bring deliverance to God’s people from the hand of Pharaoh. Over and over again we see that by living by faith, Moses:
Had a godly response, despite fearful situations.
Identified with God and His people, not the world.
Kept steadfast, even in the face of persecution.
Had the forward look of faith and hope.
Forsook Egypt, didn’t fear wrath of the king, led the people out of Egypt and through the Red Sea.
[Hebrews 11:13-22] How did they do it? How did those memorialized in Hebrews Chapter 11 live in such a way that God selected them and their story as examples of faith? The answer: they lived by faith. In this episode we:
Remember the important context of Hebrews 11 — the full book of Hebrews, centered on CHRIST and His finished work.
How knowing the promises of God and embracing them gives us great assurance that leads to God-pleasing, triumphant faith
How to face the impossible task, like Abraham, and see victory.
[Romans 4:13-25]. In this episode we discover FAITH GROUND ZERO. This is the epicenter of faith — true, saving faith, the righteousness of faith. The Bible points to Abraham as the prime example of one who demonstrates “the just shall live by faith”. We’ll see that real faith is focused on God Himself, rests on grace, strengthened by glorifying God and convinced by the ability of Almighty God Himself.
[Romans 3:27-4:12] Who are the people God blesses? The biblical answer will probably surprise you. In this episode we dive into the key scriptures on the righteous OF FAITH and NOT by the works of the law. God is always and ever the SOURCE, the MEANS and the GREAT END of all that is good (Romans 11:36). The only person that God considers righteousness is the one who DOES NOT WORK, but believes on Him — has faith in Christ — who justifies the ungodly.
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