You say you have faith in God. I challenge you this morning, how is your faith in God manifested in your life?
In Hebrews chapter eleven we have what is commonly called the Hall of Faith. There we have listed by the Holy Spirit champions of the Old Testament faith. It shows the varied way in which these heroes showed they have faith in Almighty God. Let us look this morning and using these “witnesses” let us challenge ourselves in the way we manifest our faith in God.
Heb.11:[1] Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
[2] For by it the elders obtained a good report.
[3] 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.
[4] By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
Abel manifested his faith through his sacrifice. Now his was a literal sacrifice but our may be a sacrifice of praise, a sacrifice of our time, a sacrifice of our money. Surely, it must be a sacrifice of self for Christ and for others.
I cannot help but pause and think of the great sacrifices missionaries make to go to the foreign field to present the gospel to the lost.
I challenge you this morning does your sacrifices manifest your faith?
[5] By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Enoch manifested his faith in God by pleasing God. It says in Genesis he was not because he walked with God and God took him. I challenge you this morning, does your faith manifest a close walk and fellowship with God?
[6] But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
[7] By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Noah manifested his faith in his fear, work, and actions thus showing a contrast between a believer of God and those who do not. How about you this morning? Is your faith manifested by your fear, work, and actions? Is your fear, work and actions a light on the dark actions of the lost?
[8] By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
[9] By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
[10] For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Abraham manifested his faith by obedience. Stepping out on his faith. He gave up the comfort of family and home and lived as a nomad but was obedient to God.
[11] Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
[12] Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
Sara manifested her faith by trusting in God. I ask you this morning. Have you trusted God with your soul? Have you put your confidence in the shed blood of Jesus and received the promise of everlasting life?
[13] These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
[14] For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
They said it with their faith! They said it by the lives that they led. They did not cling to this world but rather sought another world. One where God dwells. This world was not their home. How about you this morning? Are you seeking a different world? Are you just passing through?
[15] And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
[16] But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
[17] By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
[18] Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
[19] Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
Abraham manifested his faith in his trial. He did not shirk or come up short. His faith was manifested in his complete trust in God. His faith was manifested by what he was willing to give up to God.
[20] By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
[21] By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
[22] By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
Isaac, Jacob and Joseph all manifested their faith by trusting God with the future. How about you this morning? Or you wringing your hands with concern for tomorrow or are you manifesting your faith by trusting God to take care of it?
[23] By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.
Moses’ parents manifested their faith by the lack of fear of the world. How about you this morning? Are you manifesting your faith by your lack of fear of what the world is going to do to you?
[24] By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;
[25] Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
[26] Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
[27] By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
[28] Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
Moses manifested his faith through his choices. He chose God over the world. Is your faith manifested in your choices?
[29] By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
[30] By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
The Israelites faith was manifested by the hand of God in their lives. Do the dark and troubled times cause your faith to be manifested or does it cause you to show worry and fear?
[31] By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
Rahab’s faith was manifested in her peace. Her faith was manifested in her love and care for the children of God. Is your faith manifested in who you care for?
[32] And 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:
[33] Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought 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, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
[35] Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
[36] And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
[37] They 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.
[39] And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
[40] God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
These people manifested their faith in the most trying of times. They never received the good things in this life. Their faith was manifested until their death. How about you this morning? Is your faith strong enough to carry you through this life? Will you be faithful all the way to the end?