with Elder Elico Manenji
✝️The main objective of this faith chapter is to show the efficacy of faith and how confidence in the divine promises had been embraced by the patriarchs who obtained a good report before God. All who came to God believed that He is and the rewarder of them.that trust in His name.
The author begins with the definition of faith and how it worked for Abel who offered a more excellent offering than Cain, of Enoch who walked with God, of Noah who built and Ark although it had never rained, of Abraham who offered his only son as a sacrifice, of Sarah who conceived and bore a son, Isaac although she had passed the age of child bearing.
The faith of the righteous posterity of the seed of promise as in Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and the children.of Israel who crossed the Red Sea, marched in the wilderness as God provided them water and food.
Of how they conquered Jericho were only Rahab and her family were saved.
It shows also how prominent judges of Israel, Samuel and David prevailed as the trusted God's leading. It shows how the prophets trusted in divine power even when some were persecuted, scourged, saved from lions, sawn asunder, yet they trusted God. This faith produced glorious effects even many were martyred for their belief in God.
1️⃣Hebrews 11: 31: Definition of faith and.Examples of the faithful.
⏹️ Faith is the subsistence of things hoped for and the demonstration of things not seen.
The Bible uses the word "substance" for subsistence which signifies a foundation for another thing to stand on. Without faith, their is no conviction of the mind, without conviction, no one can please God.
The Apostle Paul says, "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."( 2 Corinthians 4:18)
⏭️ Faith makes people believe that the world was framed by God.
Faith removes all doubt as we see from its demonstration of the state of things as provided by the Word of God. Such is the faith by which the soul is justified and obtains peace of God which passes all understanding as the love of God is shed abroad in the heart by the actions of the Holy Ghost.
At the same time the Spirit of God witnesses with the spirits of mankind who have this faith that their sins are blotted out and this is as fully manifest to their judgment and conscience testifying that God exists, for all things seen and unseen were all created by Him.
The Apostle says, "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." (Hebrews 11:3)
⏹️Faith is the basis of obedience as did the patriarchs beginning with Abel, Noah, Enoch, Abraham , Sarah, Isaac and all those who believed God even when what they did had not ever happened or been seen or demonstrated in their times.
The Apostle says,*"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."(Hebrews 11:6)
⏭️There is no truth in supposition except by obedience of faith. Faith is the fountain, the basis of all belief and action leading to the obedience which God can accept.
Faith can never come out of a heart which thinks God a liar, but faith is wrought in us by the Spirit of the Lord through our believing in the truth and love and grace of our God in Christ Jesus. There is a free grace road to obedience and that is received by faith the Lord Jesus who is the gift of God and is made of God to us our sanctification as we accept the Lord Jesus by faith which obeys.
The Apostle Paul says, "But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith." (Romans 16:26)
⏭️True faith lives beyond the grave, faith overcomes temptations, sees a better world as promised by God through His Word and goes on to obey God against our natural affections and feelings.
The Psalmist says, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivers him out of them all."(Psalm 34:19)
2️⃣Hebrews 11:32-40: Faith of Israel's judges and the work of prevailing faith amidst persecutions
⏹️Faith makes heroes even from the rank of the lowly, even from the worst of sinners who will turn against their own weaknesses and turn to trust in divine guidance as it is said of Gideon, Barak, Jephthah, Samson, David and many who overcame their sinful weaknesses and here counted as heroes of faith.
The Apostle Peter says, "Casting all your care on him; for he cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brothers that are in the world."(1 Peter 5:7-9)
⏹️Faith subdued kingdoms, faith overcomes sin, faith wrought righteousness, faith obtains the promises of God, faith stopped the mouths of lions, it quenched violent fires.
The prophet Daniel said, "My God has sent his angel, and has shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: for as much as before him innocence was found in me; and also before you, O king, have I done no hurt."(Daniel 6:22)
⏭️Faith gives strength to every feeling and principle in us, faith bears trials and cruel mockings such as the open opposition, an unbridled, undisguised hatred we get from the world to which we are called to bear.
The king of Babylon said of the three Hebrew boy, "He answered and said, See, I see four men loose, walking in the middle of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."( Daniel 3:25)
🅰️Appeal
True and genuine faith is acknowledged and accepted by God even when it is mingled with many failings, it will be sustained by the working of the Holy Spirit in the heart of mankind.
The believer's faith should endure to the end and should give him victory over death and all his deadly enemies as his greatest conquest is dying the death of faith.
The Apostle John says, "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith"(1John 5:4).
Amen!!!
Elico Manenji
(+263712952704)
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