Ridiculous Faith: Faith Sees God In Everything
Part 12 of the Ridiculous Faith series.
Hebrews 11:29-38
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.
32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
- Faith sees God in everything and faith in God can get us through anything
#1 Through faith, God can and does work miracles.
#2 God also works through faith in our ordinary day to day lives, even when it doesn’t seem miraculous.
#3 Sometimes the miracle or the act of God that comes through faith, doesn’t look or feel like we want it to…Sometimes God works through faith to help us endure.
Hebrews 11:35-37
35 …Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented.
Hebrews 11:34
…some escaped the edge of the sword…
Hebrews 11:37
…they were slain, or put to death, with the sword…
Acts 12:1-2
“About that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church, in order to mistreat them. And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword.”
- Sometimes, by faith, God will sustain and strengthen His people through hard times and sufferings and give them endurance to get through.
- Having faith in God doesn’t guarantee you nothing but good times and blessings.
- Having faith in God does not exempt you from tragedy, heartache, sickness, or perilous times.
- Having faith in God sees Him in through the good, the bad, and the ugly and it trusts Him through it ALL.
Philippians 1:20-21
20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
#4 Faith believes that God Himself, is better than what life can give to you now, and better than what death can take from you later.
Hebrews 11:35
“[by faith] women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, in order that they might obtain a better resurrection.”
#5 Those who have Faith in God and Love God, while enduring suffering, and look still to His Hope and Him being better than this world, are a gift from God.
Hebrews 11:37-38
“. . . they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated people of whom the world was not worthy, wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.”
Romans 11:33-36
O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory for ever. Amen.