“THE FAITH OF THE PATRIARCHS – PART 2”

Hebrews 11:20

INTRODUCTION:

-each of these men and women included in Heb. 11 (called “Hall of Faith”) were brought to the mind of the writer of Hebrews (many Bible commentators believe Paul wrote the book)

-each example in ch. 11 had something to do with the trials and tribulations being experienced right then by those Hebrews who had trusted Jesus to be the promised Messiah

-because of their faith in Jesus as the Messiah these Hebrew believers had suffered greatly, both from their own countrymen and from the Romans among whom they lived

-in those difficult times, there were some who were rethinking their commitment to Jesus

-they were considering that maybe they shouldn’t have let go of the old system of laws and ceremonies, of rites and ordinances

-this book was written to encourage them, to strengthen them in their faith and to show them clearly that Jesus indeed fulfilled all the requirements of the old covenant for them

-through their faith in Jesus, they were fully accepted of God as righteous; don’t turn back

-today we are only going to look at Heb. 11:20; there is something addressed here that is needful for us to be reminded of today

-it has to do with passing down the faith to the next generation

-read Heb. 11:20; pray

I. FAITH IN THE MIDST OF WEAKNESS

A. Background Before the Blessing

-Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were the forefathers of the Hebrew people

-they were men who walked by faith in the person of and in the promises of God

-they believed those promises and passed them down to the next generation

-but as you read their accounts in the book of Genesis, you discover that they were also men who erred and yielded to sin at times

-their children and grandchildren also did not always walk in the way of godliness

-yet these men and women continued to have an active faith in God

-it is interesting to me that none of their sins and transgressions are mentioned here in ch. 11; all that stands out is the faith by which they lived

-Jacob and Esau were twins; they were born to Isaac and Rebekkah when Isaac was 60 years old

-about 70 yrs. later, when Isaac was 130 years old, he gave this family blessing

-Jacob and Esau each received separate blessings; but as we will see there was such a difference between those blessings

B. Betrayal in the MIdst of Blessing

-the Scriptures tell us that when Esau was 40 years old he married two Hittite women from the area; these were a grief of mind to Isaac and Rebekkah

-some 30 years seems to have gone by since Esau had married these women

-although Esau may have been a ‘man’s man’ he was not a ‘God’s man’; his life can be summed up as a life lived after the flesh, in the strength of the flesh

-Isaac was around 130 years old when this blessing was pronounced by him

-Gen. 27:1 tells us that Isaac was old and couldn’t see; maybe he had severe cataracts being out there in the sun all of his days

-Isaac felt that his own death was near; he needed to impart the family heritage before he died

-if he died before the blessing was imparted he wouldn’t be able to control what would happen with the family heritage

-because of that fear he leaned on his own understanding and emotional weakness and put into motion things that could have been disastrous

-it’s almost as if Isaac’s physical blindness mirrored his own spiritual blindness because of his favoritism of Esau

-Isaac’s favorite son was Esau, the oldest twin; Isaac told him to go out and prepare the blessing dinner so he could impart the firstborn’s blessing

-Rebekkah overheard this and immediately went into crisis mode

-she knew that the spiritual heritage was to pass to the younger twin, Jacob, and not to the older twin, Esau

-God had told her before the twins were even born that the older would serve the younger, implying that the birthright was to go to Jacob over Esau

-it is likely that Rebekkah communicated this to Isaac at least in the beginning

-Esau was a man of the flesh, only concerned with outward prosperity, outward strength and might, and had no heart for the things of God

-he is referred to in Hebrews 12:16-17 as a “profane person”

-years earlier Esau had sold his birthright to Jacob over some humble pottage; this showed Esau’s distain for spiritual things

-but Jacob had tricked his father into bestowing upon him the blessing of the firstborn since it was obvious to the family that Isaac preferred Esau

-this was done at the instigation of Jacob’s mother, Rebekkah; I wonder if Rebekkah was falling back upon the deceitful ways of her brother, Laban

-here is the blessing that was bestowed upon Jacob as recorded in Genesis 27

Gen 27:27-29

27 And he came near and kissed him; and he smelled the smell of his clothing, and blessed him and said: “Surely, the smell of my son Is like the smell of a field Which the Lord has blessed. 28 Therefore may God give you Of the dew of heaven, Of the fatness of the earth, And plenty of grain and wine. 29 Let peoples serve you, And nations bow down to you. Be master over your brethren, And let your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, And blessed be those who bless you!” NKJV

-the blessing of the firstborn included three major items:
a double portion of the inheritance; rule over the household when the father dies; the promise of the coming Redeemer through their seed

-yet Jacob came in by deceit and stole this blessing from Esau

-it appears that Jacob never told anyone about Esau’s contempt for the spiritual side of the blessing

-this doesn’t mean that Jacob’s deceit was looked upon by God as acceptable

-God would deal with Jacob in the coming years concerning those deceitful ways

-this brings up an interesting point: when another person undermines goodness that should have come to you, is God able to turn all that around for you?

-the answer is yes; but we get so focused on the rights we’re supposed to have in this life that we forget the purpose of Jesus’ entry into this world

-our inheritance is in heaven; that’s where our reward is safe and waiting for us

-to live out a life of physical blessing here on earth is just a special favor from the hand of God; but it is not our right to demand it

-getting back to the story, when Esau came in to receive the firstborn’s blessing from his father Isaac it was discovered that Jacob had stolen his blessing

-Esau begged for some kind of blessing showing that all he was interested in was the outward things and not the inward spiritual future

C. Belief in God’s Providence Concerning the Blessing

-it was at that time that Isaac realized the fullness of what had just happened

-he knew deep down from the prophecy given at least 70 years earlier that the younger was to receive the birthright

-it was then that Isaac affirmed in faith the initial blessing imparted upon Jacob

-this blessing was to remain on him and not be changed

-Esau pleaded for some kind of blessing, something physical at least

-so Isaac in faith then imparted a physical blessing upon Esau

-yet that blessing showed that the strife which had been a part of Esau’s life would pass down upon his heritage

Gen 27:39-40

39 Then Isaac his father answered and said to him: “Behold, your dwelling shall be of the fatness of the earth, And of the dew of heaven from above. 40 By your sword you shall live, And you shall serve your brother; And it shall come to pass, when you become restless, That you shall break his yoke from your neck.” NKJV

-each of these blessings was spoken by Isaac in faith, as weak as that faith may have been at the beginning

-Isaac then in faith affirmed the blessing upon Jacob as he sent him off to the northern area of Aram to find a wife for himself

Gen 28:1-4

1 Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him, and charged him, and said to him: “You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan. 2 Arise, go to Padan Aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father; and take yourself a wife from there of the daughters of Laban your mother’s brother.

3 “May God Almighty bless you, And make you fruitful and multiply you, That you may be an assembly of peoples; 4 And give you the blessing of Abraham, To you and your descendants with you, That you may inherit the land In which you are a stranger, Which God gave to Abraham.” NKJV

II. FAITH TO BE PASSED DOWN TO THE NEXT GENERATION

A. Sharing the Stories

-Isaac in his own frailty ‘jumped the gun’ so to speak, when he determined to impart that initial blessing upon Esau; he lived another 50 yrs.

-yet after all had been said and done Isaac saw the hand of God working in the midst of it

-with this blessing he was passing down the hope in the promises of God to the next generation, to those who had a true heart for spiritual things

-how important this is to consider for us! it is one thing to live out our faith privately; but what about the work of discipleship to the next generation?

-do we just leave that to the pastors and elders of a church?

-no, we are to understand that it is up to us individually to share our life of faith

-we at least should share our life of faith with our children and grandchildren, and then with other young people the Lord puts into our path

-we may think that our life is no story to be used to display true faith

-but if that’s what you feel, you really need to rethink that; your children and grandchildren love to hear your times of trial and rescue

-illustration: my children and grandchildren

-discipleship isn’t merely a course one takes over a twelve week period and then it’s said, “It is finished”

-discipleship is an ongoing, ‘walking with’ another person through life’s situations

-it’s showing by example what to do, what not to do, how to respond, what those first steps should be when encountering each days’ situations

-all that takes time, it takes being with others, it takes loving others more than you love yourself

-God calls us to pass down the faith to the next generation; but how will that happen if we isolate ourselves from them?

-I encourage all of us to plug into the lives of those who are younger than us

-this is true not only of physical age, but also spiritual age; Jesus commands us to make disciples of all nations

-start at home with your kids, with your grandkids; then look around at the younger generation here in our church

-use the small group settings of the men’s and women’s Bible studies; make use of the home fellowships that are offered

-spend time with those younger than yourself; although you may not like to ‘Twitter’ and ‘Facebook’, at least seek to understand why this is so important to them

-the future of our church depends on the next generation having a passionate faith and living it out; encourage them, support them, pray for them

B. Strengthening the Hebrew Believers

-why did the writer of Hebrews mention this particular incident?

-these things were written to encourage them in their faith during their difficult times of persecution and tribulation

1 Peter 1:6-9

6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith — the salvation of your souls. NKJV

-the Holy Spirit inspired all the writers of these 66 books of the Bible

-the accounts that were included had great significance to those who would believe in the future

Ps 102:18 This will be written for the generation to come, That a people yet to be created may praise the Lord. NKJV

Rom 15:4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. NKJV

1 Cor 10:11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. NKJV

-God is working in your lives today so that the comfort you receive and the lessons you learn can be passed along to the next generation

-by faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come

2 Cor 1:3-7

3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. 6 Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. 7 We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.  Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

Click here to view the sermon notes in .pdf format.

INTRO: We all have times where we get angry, frustrated, distraught with life. Life is hard.

Have you ever been angry with God? “UNFAIR”, “UNJUST”, “HOW COULD YOU…”

When we throw our tantrums, He doesn’t kick us out of the family… works on us/ with us – patiently reasoning, lovingly disciplining, graciously teaching us.

* Ninevah has repented; God has relented…. Jonah is frustrated.

JONAH’S TEMPER TANTRUM: (V.1-4)

DISPLEASED, DISCOURAGED,  & DISPLACED: (V.1-3)

displeased exceedingly = (“vexed, irritated, spoiled toward, “it was evil for Jonah”)

He could not come to grips with God on this issue (forgiveness for enemies:  Ninevah destroyed his family/people, hurts run deep… cried out their wickedness, cried out Your doom, JUDGE THEM!!)

* There is a sinful part of us that resists the display of grace & mercy to anyone we don’t think worthy! Jonah has a mistaken patriotism – idolizing own people above God’s heart.

“angry” = “to glow or grow warm” (Hot Head about to blow his top!)

*Anger was not directed toward Ninevah’s response, but toward God’s release. (brother in prodigal son story:  angry at Father’s grace toward the lost son  returning– Luke 15:27)

(2)  In his anger he prays (different heart than one in belly).  He complains to God about God’s character as if there is a flaw in God’s nature.

- Jonah was angry, not because he didn’t understand God’s ways (knew God’s character, experienced personally)…He didn’t like God’s ways! Didn’t want enemies experiencing God… whole reason he fled!  He is discouraged with God…

*How do you respond when God blesses your enemies?  When unrighteous people do the right thing? (show, fake, hypocrite… just watch…)

*God’s mercy toward others is not based on what I think.  Doesn’t consult me.

5 things I KNOW:  1) gracious – getting what’s not deserved (forgiveness) 2) merciful – not getting what’s deserved (punishment) 3) slow to anger – patient, (delayed judgment) 4) abundant in lovingkindness – aspect of favor granted 5) relents from harm – turns from wrath to grace.

problem is not with God, but with us… God chose Jonah for this mission because He wanted to deal with an area in Jonah’s character.  How about you?

Jonah is displaced…”better for me to die than watch my enemies be forgiven!”

earlier saw life gone, saw grace & mercy personally, now different…lost focus, reason.

Note 2 things: 1) Jonah’s honesty with God…not hiding feelings.  Ministers of God – real men!

- the key is to know where to go (God); air out your heart and then don’t leave…listen, learn, love.

Hab. 2:1 I will stand my watch And set myself on the rampart, And watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected.

2) Even believers despair of life:

1 Kings 19:4 (Elijah – running from Jezebel’s threat on his life) But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I [am] no better than my fathers!”

Job 6:8-9 (Job – circumstances) “Oh, that I might have my request, That God would grant [me] the thing that I long for! That it would please God to crush me, That He would loose His hand and cut me off!

2 Cor. 1:8-11 (Paul – trials/ ministry) For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver [us], you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift [granted] to us through many.

DIRECT QUESTION TO JONAH: (V.4)

“Is it right…”

God’s question is not condemning, but searching… get him to see own heart. (hard heart = no blessing)  (1^st mention of anger in Bible – at God…)

Gen. 4:6-7 (Cain) So the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire [is] for you, but you should rule over it.” (God reasons, by questions to get man to see his own failure…)

*Is there such thing as righteous anger?  YES!

(ex. Jesus @ temple – zeal for Your house…angry at sin)

Ephesians 4:26-27 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.

It is right to be upset at sin…but don’t let it lead you to sin…don’t give the enemy a place with the issue

Romans 12:17-21 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but [rather] give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance [is Mine, I will repay],” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Release to the Lord the issue…released by the Lord to bless.

James 1:19-20 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

How do I know when my anger is justifiable?

Is it about me and my rights or His glory? 2) Is it over sin or just personal preferences?  3) What is the fruit of my anger?

GOD’S TEACHING TOOLS: (V. 5-11)

THE PLANT LESSON: (V.5-8)

40 days past…out of city…builds a  shelter to shade himself to watch the show

- doesn’t even want to see their faces…

- that shelter would become a “school of discipline”

prepared a plant:  “prepared” (appointed, ordered – 4x in Jonah)

- From whales to worms to winds…God is in control teaching us through His tools. (plant pic)

(Hb) “kikaion” (palma Christi) Grows up to 39ft. tall, 18” leaves like a vine, quick growth – hallow stalk, fruit – spiney green capsules – castor oil.

- plant is a miracle (1 day came up – v. 10) shaded Jonah from sun’s heat…comfort Jonah in his misery (from inner conflict).

* God’s GRACE /provisions – cares for us even when we are angry at Him!  What love!

“Jonah was very grateful” …self-oriented, self-absorbed.

**Be careful that your thankfulness is not self-oriented…  only for good things with ME.

(7) prepared a worm: (maggot)

- bit the root, sucked the moisture, useless, withered….brought death.

- Physical illustration to Jonah… bitten & being ruined by anger… missing My Grace!

Heb.12:15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

(8) prepared a vehement wind: desert sandstorms (blowing away the dead plant/shade, burning Jonah…uncomfortably hot!)

- Once again Jonah is lost in perspective… wishes death. Before it was God’s way with others, now it’s God’s way with him – personal comforts effected.

THE PITY APPLICATION: (V. 9-11)

(9) questions again…is it right? (persistent, patient, loving)

* God brings the plants (comforts us in our situation…providing His grace), brings the worms (discomforts us…eating up our security), brings the wind (trials to beat on us) to see if our hearts will turn to Him or from Him.  Will we lift our eyes up or bury our heads in the sand?

(10-11) Application:

Pity on plant (did nothing, no watering, no fertilizing) why mad?  Are the material benefits of more concern to you than the souls of men?

(11) 120,000 infants. (common score 1/5 of total pop. = 600,000)

Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Ends book with a question on purpose:  (searching of heart – “Is it right?” type)

Is it right that we receive God’s mercy, but don’t pass it to others?

God’s mercy to us should extend to others… (Matt.  18:23-33)

The lost world is His concern.  Is it right that it is not MINE too?

Are we too focused on the “plants” that shade ME?…the worms that “bug” ME?  The wind or sun that beat on ME? That we lose focus of eternity and the souls of men that need a Savior!

Although my notes were ready for Hebrews 11:20, I believe the Spirit of God was prompting me to do something different this morning.

I sensed in my spirit there were several folks in the congregation who needed help getting their cares up to the Lord. There were others that were ready to make that commitment to follow Christ either for the first time, or to re-commit their lives because of recent trials and difficulties.

Because we were ready this morning to also partake of the Lord’s Table, it made sense to me to just tie it all in and make a CALL TO OPEN OUR HEARTS TO GOD. When you view the video you will see what unfolded.

INTRO: (VIDEO: WELSH REVIVAL)

Ch. 3 – story of revival:  Not of God’s people back to Himself, but of pagan hearts turning to the true God = new life/ salvation.

Great picture of mercy/ love of God toward Gentile sinners…sending His representative, with His message, to turn people to Himself. (Jesus)…He CAN reach them.

JONAH’S OBEDIENCE (FINALLY) (V. 1-4)

Given a second chance: (v.1-2)

Jonah is washed up (literally)…battered by a storm, bruised inside a fish, barfed up by the fish… what a sight! (bleached, hair loss, smells “fishy”, sea weed hanging off of him…not the same guy who left!)

(1) “Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time”

God doesn’t forget the man (Jonah), nor His plan with him.   Jonah chastened by God for disobedience, afflicted, but still in God’s heart and hand.

“Whom the LORD loves, He chastens.”

**Though we fail, He isn’t finished – GOD OF SECOND CHANCES (GRACE)

REVIVAL LESSON #1: REVIVAL is in God’s heart first. (He loves people, pursues continually, He longs for restoration/ renewal – God’s servants & sinners)

(2) “message that I tell you” (not to be Jonah’s message, but God’s)

= God restores Jonah fully as His preacher – entrusts with same work, same message. (GRACE)

Now is the test of Jonah’s repentance (phase or true obedience)… now out of belly, will he obey?  Take up the call & do the duty once neglected?  Seen God’s mercy, now share it? Will he live in the light what he spoke in the dark?  True repentance or worldly sorrow?

2 Cor. 7:10-11 For godly sorrow produces repentance [leading] to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, [what] clearing [of yourselves], [what] indignation, [what] fear, [what] vehement desire, [what] zeal, [what] vindication! In all [things] you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

** When we are truly repentant our actions & words go hand in hand (changed direction, changed life!)

REVIVAL LESSON #2: REVIVAL in others, begins with me.  When God’s people align themselves with God’s Word fully surrendered to do God’s Will. (2 Chr. 7:14…if My people, called by My name…”)

Given the same direction: NINEVAH: (v.3-4)

(3) “Jonah arose and went. “– not complaining about the trip, people, own country peril…obey.

Same energy fleeing, he now goes obeying.  Heard His voice, now does His choice!

Matthew 21:28-29 “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’  He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went.

* At repentance – God Restores the man to fellowship (love of God), Renews the man in ministry (humility), Recomissions him into His field again (power of Spirit)

NINEVAH: “exceedingly great city”

bigger than Babylon)/ 60 miles circumference, 100’ walls, 1500 towers each 200’ tall, race 3 chariots wide around city walls/ commerce center (riches, luxury)/ corrupt morally (immorality, idolatry, violence) (NAHUM)

“3 days journey” walkthrough every part of city sharing God’s message (all to hear)

(4)  “cried out” in boldness & power, not fearing people’s reaction (2 Tim. 1:7).  WHY?  God’s message not Jonah’s; God’s plan, not Jonah’s; God’s power, God’s Spirit, God’s responsibility, God’s glory…

- Message was of God’s judgment (divine act of destruction) (no love, no grace, no hope – under His wrath) (picture: Jonah’s appearance…Jonah’s message…doom!)

- Jonah was a sign to Ninevah, one who tasted death & now alive, knew justice on sin, knew mercy by experience, now his mouth & life work hand in hand to declare God’s plan.

-“40 days” (number of judgment: 40 lashes/ 40 days of rain in flood…enough time to evaluate & repent) (probably more than 8 words – know what to do:  conditional message- IF you repent, you will be spared; IF you don’t you will be destroyed)

* God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but patiently works, longing for repentance.

Jeremiah 18:7-8 The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy [it], if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it.

Ezekiel 18:21-23 “But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live. Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord GOD, “[and] not that he should turn from his ways and live?

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning [His] promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, [fn] not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

NINEVAH’S ADHERENCE & REPENTANCE: (V. 5-9)

Personal level – By the people: (v.5)

FAITH -believed God (He would do as Jonah said) 2) FASTING & SACKCLOTH– serious issue, time to mourn over state– personal affliction/ uncomfortable 3) FELLOWSHIP – all united in this, all under judgment for sin.

- The impact of God’s Word and God’s Spirit, working through God’s man, was life altering.

REVIVAL LESSON #3: Revival is initiated on the heals of His Word declared. (Ps. 119:25 “Revive me according to Your Word”) Guideline of change (ex. King Josiah – finding Word buried in temple – 2 Kings 22-23)

Righteous proclaimed, Conviction of sin, Sense of immediate action to cleanse, Unity in changing.

Joel 1:14 Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly; Gather the elders [And] all the inhabitants of the land [Into] the house of the LORD your God, And cry out to the LORD.

REVIVAL LESSON #4: Revival comes when we realize our own sinfulness in light of God’s holiness and truly change our lives in word & action. Not just an emotional experience, but a true changed life with continued fruits. Forsaking of all that is displeasing to God.

Public level – By the king: (v. 6-9)

King led his people in personal example & public exhortation.  Deep humiliation, He lowers himself to the common man’s level (robes off) and there he leads in repentance & fasting.

Proclaims a decree (v.7)  (3 parts)

1) OUTWARD– FASTING & SACKCLOTH: (7-8a) “even animals under this judgment” (all creation subject to bondage of sin – Rom.8)  Why? – moaning of animals would weigh upon their hearts (under sin)

2) INWARD – WEEPING & TURNING (8b)- “cry mightily to God” (weeping, wailing over sin)/ Turn from evil ways…violence” (thefts, oppression, social injustices…chief sin among them – Goliath)

3) HOPE – “Who can tell if God…”(9)

They honestly believed that if they didn’t act, they would perish, doomed! Yet there is a thread of hope for change with repentance – be saved from wrath.

Joel 2:12-14 “Now, therefore,” says the LORD, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, For He [is] gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm. Who knows [if] He will turn and relent, And leave a blessing behind Him– A grain offering and a drink offering For the LORD your God?

REVIVAL LESSON #5: Revival is meant to penetrate both personal & public arenas (not just about MY walk with God)…changes inwardly a man’s relationship with God and then moves him in this world effecting/influence others…he acts to see righteousness established in God’s world, loves the sinner with Christ’s heart – reaching out to the broken, longs for justice in society’s injustices (Ninevah – violence done away with).

*Revival is an Overflowing effect – inside out….cup – fills then flows

GOD’S RESPONSE: (V. 10)

changed life gets God’s attention…  “God relented” (He turned, changed way, repented -KJV)

**Does God repent? NO – NOT as man does (turning from sin).

Numbers 23:19 “God [is] not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

Yet it is the only word we understand that portrays a proper turning from something…180 degrees. (radical change of course from under wrath to under grace)

Outwardly the sentence changed; inwardly the counsel of God remained.

Bible says God will certainly judge sin (Rom. 6:23), but yet through repentance man can certainly “exchange camps”. (go from one side to other)  God still will judge sin, but when I’m on God’s side, the cross of Christ stands between me and God’s wrath.  As a result, His wrath against sin is met and now He is free to bless me without being unjust in His wrath or compromising His holiness.

God gives us “conditional promises” =  “whosoever will” (John 3:16; Rom. 10:13)

by my free will I either choose His way or not…effect is either life or death.

**End of story** Beautiful & sad lesson:  Ninevah – temporary change – delayed judgment:  612 BC  destroyed by Babylon…judgment fell, ultimately rejected God’s Word…

*They never passed down the Revival to the next generations.

*God is merciful – reaching out still knowing judgment would come.

“THE FAITH OF THE PATRIARCHS – PART 1”

Hebrews 11:17-19

INTRODUCTION:

I. FAITH TESTED VV. 17-18

A. Letting Go into the Hands of the Lord

-in our last study we focused on Abraham’s faith in leaving his country, his family and his father’s house to go to a land that God would show to him

-Abraham made it step by step to the land of Canaan; it was after he entered the middle of the land that God confirmed His promises to him

-then because of famine he wandered down to Egypt on his own without asking counsel from the Lord; in doing so, he endangered his entire household

-he got into trouble with the Pharaoh when he lied to him about Sarah his wife

-he was rebuked by Pharaoh, sent away, came back into the land of Canaan

-it was then that his nephew, Lot, separated from him and went to live in the area of Sodom and Gomorrah

-just after that separation, which was the final ‘departing from his family’, God once again affirmed to him about the land and also his future inheritance

-this was the time where the Lord caused a wonderful thing to be written:

Gen 15:6 And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. NKJV

-Abraham’s faith had been a work in progress

-God had given him the faith by which to believe; we know from Josh. 24 that Abraham’s father was an idolater

-yet Abraham received the witness that there was only one God and it was Him that should be served; then he received the call to depart

-Abraham exercised that faith in each situation, step by step, albeit with a failure here and there

-through it all Abraham clung to God and to His promises; yet the ‘working out’ of those promises was something he had little knowledge of

-Abraham’s greatest test of faith, though, came when the Lord called him to offer up Isaac, the son upon which all the future promises was based

-Isaac was probably in his late teens or early twenties when this happened; Abraham would have been around 120 years old at this time

-Abraham’s faith in God was tested in this way: he had to let go of his own natural understanding on how God would fulfill His own promises

-Abraham had to put all into the hands of God

B. Lessons on Faith Tested

-the writer of Hebrews said at the end of ch. 10 that the just shall live by his faith

-he was quoting from the book of Habakkuk

-these Hebrew believers in Jesus had been through quite a lengthy time of trial

-their faith had been tested on numerous occasions; Heb. 11 was written to encourage them, to strengthen them, to let them know they were not alone

-Abraham had received God’s promise that in Isaac, not through Ishmael, the spiritual blessing would be passed down, culminating in the Redeemer

-Abraham knew that only through Isaac this was to happen; it was as if Isaac was  to Abraham his only begotten son

-this of course formed a foreshadow of things to come through God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ

-God the Father, offered up His only begotten Son, Jesus, and received Him back from the dead; He is now at the Father’s right hand right this moment

-just as Abraham’s faith was tested by God, so our faith gets tested by Him

-God does not test our faith to destroy it; He tests our faith to show what He’s already done in us

-that work–His work–can only be revealed through allowing trials and testings

-it’s similar to an engineer who has drawn up a schematic for a piece of computer hardware

-he can prove on paper that it will work; but it has to be tested to be shown that the project actually is valid and solid

-I believe the Lord does the same thing with us who are His children

-there will come times in our lives when the circumstances surrounding us collapse into a heap of rubble

-it may be a marriage that is failing; it could be the project you’re responsible for at work that is being rejected by the client

-possibly it is that tumor or that disease you never thought would happen

-and we find that the more we try to shore it up, the harder we seek to stop the hemorrhaging, the worse it gets

-we are at our wits end with no more strength, no more courage, no more means to deal with it

-it is at that time that we must–we must–we must–fall upon our Savior Jesus and cry out for mercy, for strength and for strategy

-Abraham, when he was tested, obeyed and offered up Isaac by faith; he had to trust God more than in his own understanding of ‘how will it happen?’

-is there an Isaac in your life? are you having to let go of something that is very precious to you?

-it’s not so much that you just let go; it’s that you commit it into the hands of God

-our perspective of “the right time” can be so different than God’s perspective of “the right time”

-I believe there are certain appointed times in our lives when God brings us to crossroads for purposes possibly far different than we initially thought

-an opportunity may have been presented to you to do this or that; and it has been on your mind and heart for a long time

-but the question needs to be, “Is this God’s timing?”; the need may be obvious, but it may not necessarily be the timing of God

-God’s desire is that the blessing we receive from Him is a 100% blessing of what He has in mind; but so often we settle for less through impatience

-how do you know when God is giving direction to do this or that?  5 tests

-1.) in the course of your daily reading of Scripture you keep coming across principles and phrases that bring to mind a particular direction or involvement of your life

-2.) you find a real desire to be involved in that particular endeavor

-3.) seasoned brethren in the Lord are a safe gateway through which to discern if a direction or opportunity is possibly God’s leading

-4.) there is peace in your heart and conscience over the prospect of being used in that way

-5.) the circumstances of your life seem to be pointing in that direction

-whether you step forward or wait until further notice, both will require you to step forward in faith

-waiting on the Lord is very much an active, forward movement on our part

II. FAITH FULFILLED V. 19

A. Setting Our Sights on God Instead of Our Reasoning

-v. 19 tells us that Abraham had to make sure his trust was in God’s ability to bring to pass His own promises

-it was a definite clear command from the Lord to offer up Isaac his son

-Abraham had walked with the Lord for many, many years now

-he had grown in his faith to know through experience and the witness of the Holy Spirit upon his spirit when it was really the Lord’s voice

-the questions on his mind as to the ‘how’ had to be left with God; he lifted his reasoning to a higher level

-he concluded that if God had given the promise in the first place, and now God was calling him to offer up Isaac, God was going to have to raise him from the dead to fulfill His own promise

-in this way he lifted his reasoning and faith to a higher level and rested his faith upon God instead of upon his own reasoning

-it’s not that you let go of reasoning altogether when you enter situations like this; it’s that you lift your reasoning to include the ‘God Factor’

-including the ‘God Factor’ means you understand that your collection of factors at hand are not complete; sound logic is based upon sound facts

-there may be some good initial factors that point to a direction; but the outcome of it has to be left into the hands of God

B. Setting Our ‘Isaacs’ Into God’s Hands

-what is your ‘Isaac’ right now? it could be your deepest hopes, your deepest desires, those things that are most precious to you

-it could be your ‘five year plan’, your upcoming marriage, your oldest child’s educational opportunities that you never had

-it’s not a time to get superstitious and think, “If I release these things into the hand of God, He will take them away from me and never give them back.”

-release means that you count Him more important and worthy of more value than anything that is a part of your life here on earth

Luke 14:25-27

25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.  27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. NKJV

-Jesus isn’t seeking to turn His disciples against family relationships; it’s just that He must have first place in the hearts of each of His disciples

-although family relationships are usually the most precious things to us (as it has been said, “The most precious things in life are not ‘things’”), we are usually more concerned about our own life more than others

-but even here Jesus calls us to release the concerns of our own life into His hands; choosing to follow the Savior Jesus will eventually get you into trouble

-this is the reality of the case in many countries today; yet when they trust Christ for their salvation, they realize they take upon themselves a ‘death-sentence’

-sold out, no turning back, total commitment…these are terms descriptive of Christ’s call to all His disciples, including you and me