Hebrews 11.32-40

By faith…these folks did some incredible things. Faith that gave them the ability to act in confidence, trusting God, “seeing” beyond their circumstances, and so do and accomplish what might otherwise seem unexplainable and even impossible.

Important to note…it was God who acted. These folks just trusted that God would do what He said He would do. I think sometimes we confuse faith and make it more about us, putting ourselves at the center as if our faith “made” something happen rather than our faith being the confidence in our God who makes things happen. Super important distinction.

And while it’s easy to celebrate the great triumphs of faith…what even the world would call “winning”, the truly great triumphs of faith occur when we patiently endure in the midst of suffering never wavering in our confidence in the LORD despite the lack of circumstantial evidence to the contrary…when, in the eyes of the world, it looks like we are losing.

Living by faith is not easy…it takes practice, and we won’t always get it right. We will fail more often than we succeed in the beginning. But when we do, we don’t give up. We go at it again, asking the LORD for help to trust Him more and to patiently endure with our eyes fixed on the kingdom and our feet firmly planted on Torah Road, pursuing after Jesus, anxiously awaiting the return of our King.

BTW if you haven’t trusted in Jesus yet, please make today the day. It’s as simple as recognizing that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. Believing that Jesus is the Savior that God promised. He lived a perfect life. He died a sacrificial death on your behalf and was raised the third day conquering both sin and death, so that by faith in Jesus you can have forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our Hebrews series. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X or Threads: @ccclancaster. You can also download our Central Christian app in the iTunes App Store.

Hebrews 11.17-31

By faith…the only way to patiently endure…the only way to live a life that is pleasing to God… is by faith.

Faith is the assurance of things hoped. It’s the reality behind our confident expectation. It’s the proof…the conviction…of the things we cannot see. The Substance behind the shadows. And this faith becomes visible through our actions. When we do what God calls us to do despite what our circumstances may say to the contrary. Resting in the confidence that God always keeps His Word…He will never leave us or forsake us. He will complete the work He’s begun in us and through us.

Living by faith is not easy, and we won’t always get it right. But when we mess up (because we will), we don’t give up. Instead we get up and get back on Torah road, patiently enduring with our eyes fixed on the kingdom, pursuing after Jesus, anxiously awaiting the return of our King…by faith.

BTW if you haven’t trusted in Jesus yet, please make today the day. It’s as simple as recognizing that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. Believing that Jesus is the Savior that God promised. He lived a perfect life. He died a sacrificial death on your behalf and was raised the third day conquering both sin and death, so that by faith in Jesus you can have forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our Hebrews series. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X or Threads: @ccclancaster. You can also download our Central Christian app in the iTunes App Store.