Exhibit Your Faith - Hebrews 11

Would you like to read a short scripture that will give you some of the greatest examples recorded in the Bible regarding men and women that have exhibited their faith? Yes, well then you need go no further than the first part of chapter eleven in Hebrews. Paul has gathered together in these few verses the greatest stories of people that truly lived a quality life that demonstrated their faith. However, if you really want to know more about faith, you should read the stories of the actual demonstrations of faith…you will need to go to the books referenced in the old testament and read the actual account of each experience. There are several examples of ‘EXHIBITED FAITH’ that have always fascinated me…and most of the examples are listed in this lesson.

If you choose to read about these exhibitions of faith; or if you already know them from memory—I have a suggestion that should help you to feel adequate in your faith. Just remember you do not have to decide now whether you would plunge the sword into your son’s heart…You do not have to decide whether or not you would work most of the years of your adult life building a boat of safety on dry ground…Neither do you have to give up your home and possessions, take your family and drive off to some unknown place. You only must have a mustard grain of faith which is adequate for you to say to Christ—“Here am I send me” and then you demonstrate your faith by obeying Christ in whatever he leads you to do for him.

It is difficult for me to realize that there are inhabited areas in the world where no rain ever fell…and the moisture needed to sustain life always came up from the ground. Noah lived in such a place. In my mind’s eye, I try to picture a man that had never seen rain…but he still had faith to believe God, and build a ship [ark] on dry land believing that it would be the refuge for his family and for all of the future generations of living things. You must remember that the construction of this ark took the greater part of his adult life, and that year after year, his unbelieving neighbors and friends constantly ridiculed him, made fun of him, chided him each day about his unbelievable story that the flood was coming that would float the ark away from its dry dock. By the way, this was probably the first ‘dry dock’ ever used by man to build ships.

Noah must have been a Godly man, a wonderful husband and father to have won his family over into the depth of faith needed to obediently follow him and God. OH! How I wish I could have had that kind of influence on my family! It is so very important that we believe that it is by FAITH that we will defeat the evil one who is bent on our destruction. It is not what I think. It is not what you think. It is not what the world thinks. And it is surly not the way the majority votes that will determine where we spend eternity. It is by God’s wonderful grace, through our steadfast faith…belief is not enough…the Devil believes and trembles. We must exhibit, show and prove our faith by personally accepting Christ as Savior. This calls for a personal ‘one on one’ relationship with Jesus Christ, the final and only true sacrifice that has the power to forgive sin.

Please allow me to stretch your imagination just a little; we will successfully arrive in heaven if we believe in the triune God head; and that he has the power to create an ocean in a desert area; that he also has the power superior to nature that will cause a barren woman, to old to conceive, to be with child; and finally he had the power to topple a huge city when the attacking army did no more than march around the city one time each day for six day and blow a trumpet. It is by Grace, through Faith [belief] that we are saved—it is not of ourselves [works] but the grace of God. This ‘faith’ is deeper than a simple belief…It must be an exhibited faith…It becomes active or exhibited when you act upon it and ACCEPT Christ as your personal Savior. Christ will accept your faith as strong and complete when you call on him to forgive your sins, and come into your heart and allow you to live, work and serve using his power.

***We will now go directly to Hebrews eleven [first verse] where we will find one of the best definitions of faith that is spelled out in the bible. Do you hope that you will go to heaven? Surely, we all do! “Now faith is being sure of what we hoped for.” As earthlings we have not, do not, and can never see heaven. “Now faith is being certain that heaven is a reality prepared for Christ and his bride [the church],” even though we can not see it. My faith has convinced me that God created the earth—I am sure of it even though I did not see him do it. Here is a bigger concept. I believe that God used ‘stuff’ that ‘did not’ exist anywhere in the universe’ and therefore could not be seen or even imagined as the building materials in his creation [verse 3]. The things he used in creation must have been a part of the great “I AM” and the materials had no beginning until he spoke them into existence as the need arose. He is so great and so powerful that everything was stored on one tiny chip in his spiritual computer [brain, head, heart and soul] and all he had to do was SPEAK it into existence. I believe that one reason that people have the power of speech is because of the greatness of ‘two simple words’ and they are voice and word. Jesus Christ is the WORD…and God used his VOICE [word] to SPEAK his entire creation into existence. God wanted his people to be a little higher than the animals.

Here is an assurance that gives me great pleasure, satisfaction and security. The Holy Book teaches us that there are some things that are meant to be beyond the understanding or even the imagination of man, I realize that there are men smarter than I, who understand more than I understand about God’s ways, but it does not bother me to tell you that God is so great and good that he prepared many things for us that I do not know about. And he has shown himself to be one that is beyond the imagination of the smartest minds of men. Do you believe this to be true? If so, then this is proof that you have faith. To save space I will not name and write about each and every one of the examples which starts with Able in verse four. These are self explanatory. I do hope you will read again about these men of great faith.

Why does a pastor or teacher emphasize the need for each Christian to know about these happenings that are six thousand years old? Because, as this book says in verse six—“It is IMPOSSIBLE for anyone without faith to please God.” No one can come to know God…no one can please him…unless they truly believe that there is only one God and that he will reward those that earnestly seek him. It is not easy for anyone to fully understand the meaning of faith…and it can not be over emphasized. The common reason why faith is hard to understand is simply because it is an abstract term…it is not a concrete item that can be seen, felt, heard or touched by human senses. It is more like the wind…which you do not see, but you know it is blowing when you see the leaves moving. Faith is not a figment of imagination [within the physical brain] it has its existence within the sole and spiritual heart of man—and this spiritual heart is not the one that pumps your blood through your body—it is that force in you that causes you to love your family, and your neighbors as yourself.

Pause for a moment my friends and realize that you probably will not see or even realize some of things you are hoping for within your lifetime. Just remember that once a goal in your life is reached, it is no longer a matter that requires your faith; instead it becomes a fact that is known. In verse 13 of this lesson it says that “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on this earth.” This passage is referring to Abraham and Sarah and their off spring that were countless like the sands of the sea shore. My fellow Christians—it is absolutely necessary that we live by faith until God calls us home. Governments, kingdoms, or any other power that is man made will not succeed: and will not suffice for your needs.

I have a set of the B.H.Carroll commentaries and even though they are not as professionally well done as others may be, I have great confidence in the content of these books. I have mentioned this man in my class, and it appears that several have never heard of B. H. Carroll. I will close this lesson today by giving you a brief history of one of his greatest accomplishments. He had a dream. He hoped for something that he could not see for two reasons. First he was literally deaf and could not hear. Second, his hope was at that time for something so big and important that he could not imagine it ever being a reality and therefore had to accept his responsibility in the task solely by faith. When God called him to the task—his answer was “I Will Try.” God’s first call was for him to become a Christian. He was saved. His second call was to submit to the ministry. He submitted. He was now an elderly Southern Baptist Preacher in Texas, intending to retire soon and devote his life to his writings. It was in the early 1900’s and he was traveling by train somewhere out in the Texas Panhandle. Not able to hold a conversation, he let his mind do his walking and it became centered upon the needs of all the rapidly growing Baptist churches in Texas that were depending upon uneducated and untrained young pastors.

He said that he thought about all the great schools and universities that had been established to train doctors, lawyers, dentist and school teachers which was great—but there was no place where Baptist preachers could receive a Christian education that included training for them as pastors. His third call came on the train as he sensed that God was calling him to start such a school. Riding for hours, he prayed and resisted because he was old and planning to retire soon. God’s spirit would not leave him be comfortable with his decision and without realizing that he was making a scene on the train he found himself standing holding to the seat ahead and he exclaimed out loud where all others could hear—“Lord, it is clearly thy will; what is impossible with man is possible with God; go thou with me, and I WILL TRY.

He said that he looked around and realized that his fellow passengers were staring at him with amusement and amazement. He sat down and used the surge of adrenalin flowing threw his veins to fully commit himself to God and the task set before him.

Armed with determination and faith for something that he HOPED FOR but could not see, B. H. Carroll founded Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth Texas in the year 1908. He responded to the call of God that he could not see. His faith was pleasing to God. He demonstrated his faith and God has rewarded him a thousand fold. Southwestern has been in existence ninety-eight years and is still growing. In my opinion, it is the model that all others should try to emulate. Southwestern Seminary is the result of one man’s faith. I am proud to say that my pastor is a graduate of Southwestern.