OceanSide church of Christ

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THE PAST ENCOURAGES THE PRESENT

Hebrews 11:9-11a

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    The primary exhortation to the Hebrew Christians to whom the book was written is:  “Be faithful!”

 

B.      The writer has already used examples from the past to encourage his readers.

1.      Israel who did not enter into the Promised Land because of unbelief (Heb. 3:7-19).

2.      Hebrews 6:12

 

That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

 

C.     In Hebrews 11, the writer turns to the examples of faithful individuals from the past.

1.      This is another tactic used to encourage his readers to be faithful.  If they could be faithful, so can you.

2.      “If these Hebrews would learn of saving faith, then let them take a closer look at the record in their possession, and let their own Scriptures teach them what is involved in saving faith” (Wacaster, 434). 

3.      Therefore, we have entitled the chapter:  “The Past Encourages the Present.”

a.      Some refer to this chapter as “The Hall of Fame of the Faithful.”

b.      The words “by faith” occur 18 times in the chapter.

c.       We are given 25 examples of men and women who lived by faith. 

a.      (Wacaster, 428).

 

D.    Outline of the chapter:

 

i.                    FAITH (Heb. 11:1-3)

ii.                  FATHERS (Heb. 11:4-22)

iii.                FOUNDER (Heb. 11:23-31)

iv.                FEARLESS (Heb. 11:32-38)

v.                  FASTENING (Heb. 11:39-40)

 

I.                   FAITH (Heb. 11:1-3)

 

II.                FATHERS (Heb. 11:4-22)

 

A.    It is interesting that the inspired writer does not go back to Adam and Eve as the first example of faith.

 

B.      Abel (Heb. 11:4)

 

C.     Enoch (Heb. 11:5-6)

 

D.    Noah (Heb. 11:7)

 

E.      Abraham (Heb. 11:8-19)

1.      Abraham’s Departure (Heb. 11:8)

2.      Abraham’s Dwelling (Heb. 11:9-10)

a.      Traveler (Heb. 11:9a)

By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country…

 

1)      Sojourned

a)      Strong (3939):  to reside in as a foreigner

b)      Thayer:  to be or dwell in a place as a stranger

2)      Travelling a few hundred miles was like travelling thousands today.

3)      It would be like our taking up a residence in a foreign country today.

4)      It was in the land of promise.

It was “as in a strange country.”

He never actually possessed the land himself.

5)      LESSON:  We are just like Abraham.  We are sojourners in this world.  We have promise of a better land to come.  Our faith is in something we will receive at a time after our death just as Abraham’s faith did.

b.      Tents

 

…dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.

 

1)      A tabernacle was considered a temporary dwelling.

It was a tent made of animal skins.

2)      Can you imagine leaving a home that is a permanent structure to live in a tent for the rest of your life?  It had to be packed and moved from place to place.

3)      His family was subject to the same destiny in this world. 

4)      Abraham’s decision to obey the Lord impacted his family for generations to come.

5)      NOTE:  God renewed His promises to both Isaac (Gen. 26:2-4) and Jacob (Gen. 28:13).

c.       Target

 

For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

 

1)      Hebrews 12:22 explains what this city is.

 

But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels.

 

2)      Cities were held in high esteem in the time of Abraham. 

a)      Life flourished

b)      Many resources

c)      A gathering place

d)     Wealth

e)      Walled and powerful

f)       Home of the rulers

3)      Barnes:  “This fact showed that he regarded himself as a stranger and sojourner, and yet he had a strong expectation of a fixed habitation, and a permanent inheritance. He must, therefore, have looked on to the permanent abodes of the righteous; the heavenly city; and though he had an undoubted confidence that the promised land would be given to his posterity, yet as he did not possess it himself, he must have looked for his own permanent abode to the fixed residence of the just in heaven” (e-sword).

4)      This city has foundations. 

a)      Foundations are poured in order to keep structures intact and permanent. 

b)      This city will never be destroyed. 

5)      This city was not constructed by man.  It was built by God himself.  If God is eternal, this city is also eternal.

6)      LESSON

a)      Abraham had a firm belief that there was life beyond the grave. 

b)      “The notable trait in this aspect of Abraham’s faith was his ‘de-emphasis’ of this present world.  God was his inheritance, and heaven his home” (Wacaster, 450).

c)      The city of God stands in stark contrast to the camp of tents in which Abraham and his descendants lived.  They had something wonderful for which to look.

d)     Christians do not need to have their eyes focused on the world, but on the world to come as well (Col. 3:1-2).

 

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

 

3.      Sarah Delivers (Heb. 11:11-12)

a.      Faith of Sarah (Heb. 11:11a)

 

Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed…

 

1)      Abraham was married to Sarah when he was called to leave his home (Gen. 12:5).

2)      In Genesis 15, we learn that Abraham had no children at the time (Gen. 15:3).

a)      Abraham thought his steward, Eliezer, would be his heir (Gen. 15:2).

b)      God, however, told him one who “shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir” (Gen. 15:4).

3)      Sarah was concern about her being barren.  She encouraged Abraham to have a child by her handmaid and he did at the age of eighty-six (Gen. 16:1-2, 4, 16-16).

4)      When Abraham was given the covenant of circumcision, he was promised a son again (Gen. 17:16). 

a)      At the time, he was a hundred years old and Sarah was ninety years old (Gen. 17:17).

b)      Abraham exhorted the Lord to allow Ishmael to be the child of his lineage (Gen. 17:18).

c)      God confirmed that Isaac would be born to the couple (Gen. 17:19).

5)      God confirmed His promise again (Gen. 18:10)

a)      Sarah heard the promise and laughed (Gen. 18:12).

b)      However, after she was chided for laughing, she came to believe fully in the promise of God.  LESSON:  Sarah is an example of a person who can overcome doubts and possess a tremendous faith.  We need an example like this in our lives because there are times when we all doubt.

b.      Fulfillment of the promise (Heb. 11:11b)