Apostles Church

Last week we said, “Faith is a firm confidence that all the good that’s in God’s heart for me will come to me as I move toward him and his promises.” Faith lays hold of the conditional promise and brings it into personal experience. The operation of faith activates the power of God (11:11 – Sarah received power to conceive). We see this played out in 11:29-40.

Sometimes the activation of God’s power in our lives by faith brings about unusual provision in the face of trial (29-35a). In Verses 32-35 a litany of examples of the power of God rescuing, delivering, providing. In the midst of trial, they were believing God for something great that they believed was in his heart for them and God came through. Their faith activated the power of God and it changed their situation.  Faith expects great things from God. Jesus has purchased this unusual provision for us. He has turned God’s countenance toward us favorably and works for those who wait on him. What great things are you expecting from God and believing him for and taking risk to see him bring them into reality. What breakthroughs are you believing him for? 

Sometimes the activation of God’s power in our lives by faith brings about unusual perseverance in the face of trial (35b-39). Sometimes we face a trial or suffering and God does not come through with unusual provision. First, The trial and suffering is not a result of a lack of faith but a direct result of faith. When we expect to live suffering free because we are faithful people, we are forgetting that often it is our faithfulness that leads to our suffering. They suffered because, out of faith, they refused to accept release and were tortured instead. The suffering and trial is was the consequence of choosing to be faithful. Faith does not make us exempt from these things. Second, realistic expectation of living in a broken, sin-filled world where people afflict us, sickness assails us and suffering surrounds us. If you have not tasted suffering, loss, trial, or immeasurable amounts of the salt of your own tears you have not lived very long. “This is not the way I drew it up in my mind.” Sickness; Marriage; finances; death of a loved one; betrayal; loss. You can expect painful things from this world. The Pastor gives a litany of examples in vv35b-39. God did not rescue them with unusual provision, but he did sustain them with unusual perseverance; a joyful endurance. By faith they kept their joy, their love and loyalty to God, and their hope even though they did not receive what was promised in their lifetime. They persevere because…

They Experienced God’s Presence: Knew that God was with them and he would be enough for them even if they didn’t have temporal rescue from the things that afflicted or threatened them. God is good and is present working all things together for our good; faith that this suffering will end and lose its power, but that Christ is ours forever. Scripture is replete with this: God is the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; near to the brokenhearted, saves those crushed in spirit; very present help… Faith lays hold of God’s presence.

They Believed God’s Promise. Faith (firm confidence that what God has promised will come to me) gives you eyes to see the prize at the end of the race; which gives birth to hope and gives us endurance.   There is a Difference between Hope and Desire. All of these people desired rescue and deliverance in their lifetime. But that was not their hope. Their hope was “that they might rise again to a better life (35).” Their desire went unfulfilled, but their hope was certain, so they endured. Our problem: We live as people of desire, but not as people of hope. We want all of the promises of God now – our desires fulfilled. But the best of what God has promised us is at the end of the race, not in the middle of it. Not all the promises of God will come to us in this life (v40). Expecting them to is what we call an over-realized eschatology – wanting what’s at the end to be fully present now (freedom from sin, suffering, sickness, pain, loss, or sorrow). Confusing desire and hope can lead to bitterness and the death of faith.  But Faith in what God has promised us at the end of the race gives birth to hope that empowers unusual perseverance in us as we suffer. Jesus is our example – Heb 12:1-3. Suffered; His desire was to be spared. God did not spare him. But he was able to joyfully endure because of what was at the end of his race. Faith in the reward at the end of the race, empowered him to keep running it even when it meant a cross. Heb 10:32-34 a better and abiding possession. Faith in God’s promise of what is at the end of our race (Christ and this great salvation) empowers endurance in us just as it did in Jesus and as it did in these OT saints.

NOTE: There are people who are guilty of an under-realized eschatology. They do not expect any of the promises of God in this lifetime (provision, supernatural protection, healing, strength, the power of God, answered prayer). This leads to fear and boredom (the irrelevance of God). All they hear is expect painful things in this world, but fail to lay hold of “expect great things from God.”  We have to embrace the tension of Hebrews 11. How does this tension play out?

Facing a trial (insert your own trial here). [Some trials are a direct result of our sin; you need God’s provision because you sinned against him in your finances. Your first step is repentance and a recalibration of your heart to God.] You desire his unusual provision in this trial. This seems inline with what is in God’s heart for you (healing, financial provision, a job, a spouse, or an open womb). And, you believe God for it and call on him and wait on Him. As you wait for his provision, he empowers you with an unusual perseverance, giving you a deep sense of his presence with you and that he is working all things together for your good, so that you don’t lose your joy or your confidence in God. The provision comes; or it doesn’t. But, the race finishes and the prize is a better and an abiding one. The best of what God promises is at the end of the race, so that what is at the end of this makes what is in the midst of this worth it. **As I am waiting with desire for the sword to fail (sickness, scarcity, sorrow, threat / lose its power), my faith empowers hope in me so that I will not fail. And if my desire goes unmet and the sword has its way – let it do its worst because I will finish my race and receive my prize and my reward. All that God is for me in this, and all that God has for me at the end of this will make all that I experience in the midst of this seem light and momentary. And God is good for working this way. Faith is laying hold of these truths and living in light of them.