Faith

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4 (NIV)

“Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For WHEN YOUR FAITH IS TESTED, your endurance has a chance tovgrow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.” James 1:2-4 (NLT)

GOD ALWAYS TESTS THOSE HE INTENDS TO USE

In each person we see...

• An Opportunity     (God gives a promise)

• An Obstacle or Opponent

• An Ordeal     (A waiting period or test)

1. (NOAH) GOD MAY TEST YOUR FAITH WITH...

• AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK

“It was by faith that Noah built an ark to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about something that had never happened before.” Hebrews 11:7 (NLT)

FAITH IS BELIEVING WHEN I DON’T SEE IT

“Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

1. (ABRAHAM) GOD MAY TEST YOUR FAITH WITH...

• A MAJOR CHANGE

“It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to LEAVE HOME AND GO TO ANOTHER LAND that God would give him as his inheritance. HE WENT WITHOUT KNOWING WHERE HE WAS GOING.” Hebrews 11:8 (NLT)

•  DELAYED PROMISE

“And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, LIVING IN A TENT. AND SO DID ISAAC AND JACOB, to whom God gave the same promise. Abraham did this because he was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.” Hebrews 11:9-10 (NLT)

• AN UNSOLVABLE PROBLEM

“It was by faith that Sarah together with Abraham was ABLE TO HAVE A CHILD, even though they were too old and Sarah was barren. Abraham believed that God would keep his promise. And so a whole nation came from this one man, Abraham, who was too old to have any children—a nation with so many people that, like the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.” Hebrews 11:11-12 (NLT) 

• A SENSELESS TRAGEDY

“It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God's promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had promised him, ‘Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.’” Hebrews 11:17-18 (NLT)

FAITH IS OBEYING WHEN I DON’T UNDERSTAND IT

“Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death!” Hebrews 11:19 (NIV) 

1. (MOSES) GOD MAY TEST YOUR FAITH WITH...

• PROLONGED PAIN

“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. HE CHOSE TO BE MISTREATED along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.” Hebrews 11:24-26 (NIV) 

FAITH IS PERSISTING WHEN I DON’T FEEL LIKE IT

“By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; HE PERSEVERED because he saw him who is invisible.” Hebrews 11:27 (NIV)