Hebrews 11:32-40

“Faith in a Coronavirus Crisis”

Introduction: Do you have FAITH in God? Faith in God doesn’t mean everything always turns out the way we want it to. Is there anybody reading this that is experiencing some things in life that you never thought you would? Life sometimes does not make sense! But God knows His will for His children, and He can be trusted. We can draw strength and encouragement from this passage of Scripture (Heb 11:32-40). Will you RENEW your FAITH in the God of the Bible by considering three (3) qualities of real FAITH?

1. Faith RELEASES what God can do! (Heb 11:32-34)

“32And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.”

{Battles will need to be fought; Victories will need to be won- vv 32-34}

2. Faith Recognizes what God will not do! (Heb 11:35-38)

“35Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, 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 in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.”

{Have you noticed that even though you may serve the Lord, it’s not a bargain agreement with God?; i.e., as long as I do this, Lord I expect you to do this}

{Rather, this life is full of setbacks, disappointments, troubles & trials, hurts & pain….and yet Jesus can be trusted no matter what}

{They didn’t give up or give in – vv 35-38}

3. Faith REMEMBERS what God is going to do! (Heb 11:39,40)

“39And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”

{Faith is looking beyond our present circumstances & seeing the fulfillment of what’s to come in the future}

Conclusion: A life of FAITH will be REWARDED by our FAITHFUL Lord! According to His Word, we can depend on Him because He has our best interest in mind. Even though things may not always go the way you we would like, that is not a reason to quit having… 

FAITH in Jesus!

**Remember 
The other alternative – “To Have Faith in ourselves”, which is not the best option on the table! Rather, may we….”Let FAITH  ARISE” in our hearts and homes!!