Pastor Marshall Ochs | March 19, 2023
In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Hebrews 11. This chapter is a chronological study of our ancestors in the faith. It shows how men and women believed God’s promises and that belief shaped their daily lives. The author of Hebrews ends the chapter with a contrast of how these people of faith lived extraordinary lives but never inherited any of God’s promises. However, we have inherited these promises, through Christ, and should therefore live by faith in our daily lives.
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We saw today in Hebrews 11:1 that people of faith “have the assurance of things hoped for.” We should believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that we can trust God and are confident about the future He declares. Are there areas of your life where your faith is being challenged?
Read Hebrews 11:3-31 and take notice of all those who never saw the day of Christ, and yet – they were confident in God’s promise to them and faithful in the waiting. Are you confident and faithful in the waiting? As you read Hebrews 11, ask the Lord to fill you with faith like those who came before us.
Our faith in God and His word shapes our daily life. We should be living out our faith in God with obedience to Him. Our daily activities should not be done because we feel obligated, but rather as an expression of our faith. Abraham was willing to give up his only son because he trusted God. Has God asked you to surrender or give up something that has given you a sense of security or comfort?
Read Hebrews 11:32-40. These verses summarize the lives of some of the great men and women of faith. Some had great victories, and others experienced great adversity, persecution and even death. Faith in God does not promise us a life without difficulty. We may not see the reason for our struggles here on earth, but we can be confident in God’s promises to us for the future. Are you confident in God and His provision even when you are suffering?