The Demands of Faith — Hebrews 10-11

0:00 Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Alright.

0:04 I really appreciated the the singing this morning. I am not musically inclined, but I was told that this thing was on while we were, you know, when those stinging started and so we figured that that might be a good strategy to get you in here so that you won't hear the howling out there, right? And so, I I think it temporarily kind of worked. So, alright. Open your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 11.

0:31 Hebrews chapter 11. Now, I had the lord had laid this these thoughts on on my heart before I found out that they were going to start a study on Hebrews. So, this is just going to be a little a little glimpse into this these verses. Then, we're to go to other passages. So, I don't feel too guilty.

0:53 Whoever, whoever is going to cover these passages, they'll have plenty of substance still available to them, alright? So, let's read. We're going to read Hebrews chapter 11. We're going to read verse one. Three, and six.

1:09 One, two, three, and six. So, let's start. By faith, I'm sorry. Now, faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen, for by it, the men of old gain approval. By faith, we understand that the world were prepared by the word of god so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

1:38 Verse six, and without faith, it is impossible to please him, that is god. For he who comes to god must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him. He rewarder of those who seek him. Let's pray. Father, thank you for your word.

1:57 We ask that the holy spirit would be our guide this morning and our teacher in Jesus blessed name, amen. I was speaking to a man trying to share the truth of the Bible with him and he was he was an an educated man, an engineer who had held a doctorate and we were discussing different aspects of the Bible and he was telling me why he didn't believe it. So, so I said to him, if you would give me a few minutes to explain to you why you can believe it, would you then maybe change your mind? He says, okay, go ahead and so, I I I began my my argument that you know, the argument of god and the argument of the Bible, why the Bible can be relied upon and the the argument of of transformed lives and and so forth And when we were all done, he was looking at me and he goes, well, you know, when when when when you have a a doctor, when you're educated and you know, you become kinda skeptical and you know, so so even though you have some convincing evidence, I don't know and I and I said, that's an appropriate answer because ultimately, it comes down to faith.

3:06 It comes down to faith. Regardless of the argument, it comes down to faith. You have to believe what what god says, alright? So, today, we're going to look at the what I call the demands of faith. God demands faith.

3:22 God demands faith. Alright? And so, many of you have had had times where you're maybe arguing with god or you know people who are arguing with god and they they come to the point where, okay, god, if you're real, I want you to appear to me and so we're we're asking for god to appear either in the form of an angel or in some way, show himself so I can say, okay, now I believe you. Unfortunately, god doesn't work that way. God works on the basis of faith.

3:49 That is not something visible but the invisible and so we're going look at the different aspects of faith. Notice in the description of faith in in verse one, now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Now, there's two immediate descriptions of faith and number one, it's this, that is that the it's an assurance. It's an assurance of the things hoped for. In other words, I I know I'm assured of where I'm going to go when I die because of what god said in his word and so I have an assurance that this is true.

4:28 So, what what what god is is trying to show us here in the scriptures is this, that you need to know and have assurance that what I say in the Bible is true. And so the reason I'm saying this too is is based on this fact. The the the surveys are saying now these days that fifty nine percent of the people who grow up hearing basic Bible teaching when they get into college, they deny their faith. They deny their faith and so, what the author is saying here is, faith is this. Number one, it's assurance and and so, let me ask you something.

5:07 Do you have assurance that your faith is real and that when you die, you're going to go to heaven. For example, second Timothy, don't don't go there. Just listen. Chapter one and verse two. Paul says, for this reason, I also suffer these things but I am not ashamed for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.

5:34 In other words, what what what Paul is saying is I know that I can entrust my my soul with god into the day that I die. So, what he's saying is this, that I know that when I die, I'm going to go to heaven. I have that assurance. I have that conviction. And so the the reason why people walk away is because there was never any assurance, any any confirmation that I know what I believe and I'm willing to put my life down for it and and I can entrust god with my soul.

6:11 This is not Russian relay. This is not taking a chance. This is that I I I know that there's a god that is real and that he saved me through Jesus Christ and and that I'm I'm convinced that he's going to guard me and then he's going to take me to heaven. Is that true of your life? Do you have that assurance that you know that that god is guarding your soul and is going to take it with with him to heaven when you die.

7:36 By faith, so here's the question, do you have real faith? Do you have conviction? Number three, verse three. By faith, we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of god so that what is seen was not made out of the things which are visible. In other words, here's what we believe in.

7:55 Here's where my conviction lies. Here's what the Bible assures and teaches that god who is invisible made the world that is visible. Do you believe that? Do you believe that? And so, we we strongly believe that here, we're absolutely convinced of the fact that the invisible god made everything material.

8:18 That god just spoke the word and all of the universe was created. Everything we see in the heavens and on earth, the seas, everything he made, the invisible god made everything material, everything visible. Is that your conviction? Now, now, I say that because a man was just this week was being interviewed in the Christian radio who grew up hearing the word of god and now that he's an adult, he said and he said it out publicly, I don't believe in the Bible. I believe that the the the Bible and the stories in Genesis are just fairy tales and and and I I am no way I'm convinced and I don't believe that god created out of nothing.

8:58 I think those are just stories in the Bible but there's no reality to him and he grew up listening to the word of god and so my word, my question to you is this, are you convinced according to verse three, that god out of nothing made everything. You see, because genuine true faith that's that has assurance and has conviction is convinced of this very truth. That god did that. I know you grew up here some of you but that doesn't mean you believe it. See, that's why people walk away.

9:31 They say after after high school because they never really believed it. They never embraced it. They never said, this is a truth that I believe and I hold to and I'm willing to die for that the invisible god created everything material. That's why we support answers in Genesis because that's their premise. Alright?

9:50 And so, I'm not asking, do you believe in god? I'm I'm asking you specifically, is this your conviction that the invisible god made the material world? Secondly, do you believe, look at chapter 10 and verse 37? For yet a very little while and he who is coming will come and will not delay. Here's the second thing.

10:15 Do you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins, was buried, and resurrected? He went back to heaven and he's gonna come back one day. So, you have to have that conviction. Yet, yes, Jesus was real. He did die in the cross and he died for my sins.

10:33 He was buried. He rose from the dead. He returned to heaven and I know he's coming back and that's what that verse is saying. Now, look, for yet, in a very little while, he who is coming, that is Jesus, will come and he will not delay. But notice verse 38, but my righteous one shall live by faith.

11:31 And god says, no, no, no. See, whoever does that, does not please me because what happens? There was no real faith. There was no conviction. And and so genuine faith then which is a faith that says it's assurance and it's conviction is convinced that the invisible god made everything material, number one.

11:53 Number two, is convinced that Jesus is gonna return and and and destroy all the unbelievers and rule the world. Is that your conviction? Do you believe that? You need to be convinced of this truth. There there's a there's a third thing that we need to be convinced of and that's the fact that salvation is by grace alone through faith.

12:18 In other words, you can't earn salvation. It's a gift of god. It's it's a gift of god and you by faith believe that he died for you on the cross. Do you do you believe this? And are you willing to die for it?

12:31 See, because if you're not willing to die for it, then you don't really have conviction because if you have conviction, you really to, you're willing to die for it because you know from the bottom of your heart that it's a reality that it's true. And and so so god demands faith from us and and and the faith is this, the invisible god made everything visible. That Jesus is indeed going to return to to rule the world and destroy his enemies. That Jesus is the savior of the world and we need to be saved by faith in him. Have you put your faith in that truth?

13:07 Are you convinced of it? And then notice also verse six chapter 11 verse six and without faith, it is impossible to please him, to please god. God demands faith. If you don't have faith, if you don't believe these three points, then then then you're not pleasing god. You're opposing god because god is always going to be a god that demands that you believe him by faith.

13:34 So, without faith, it is impossible to please him for you comes to god must believe that he is. So, it's pretty fundamental but he says, look, if you say you have faith and you're gonna come to me, you have to believe the truth that there is a real god that that created us and we're gonna be accountable to him. You have to believe that. With true deep conviction. Notice, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.

14:00 So, genuine faith then believes that the invisible created the visible, believes that Jesus is gonna return to rule the world, believes that salvation is by faith alone, and and believe that god is going to reward. In other words, because I have trusted Jesus as my savior and I'm living for him, he's going to reward me when he returns and and and he can reward me and bless me not only with a new body but reward me for for living for him. Do you believe that? See, this is a fundamental building blocks of faith. Faith has to be there and so, second Corinthians five seven, we walk by.

14:40 Faith. And not by? Sight. That's right. That's what the Bible says.

14:44 We walk by faith and not by sight and so, you can demand god to send fire from heaven to prove prove to you that he's real or you can demand that he send an angel or but but god's not going to go there with you. You're going to have to believe him by faith. That's how god functions and and that's how he works. Alright. Now, having said that, if you do have this faith, let's look at it a little bit more about faith.

15:21 So, we have the fundamental faith that saves us and that we build our convictions upon and that that is my assurance, my hope that in god that he's real and that he's gonna save me and take me with him to heaven. That's my assurance and my conviction is is the fact that he is real, that he did create, that he did save, that Jesus is returning and so first Timothy chapter one and verse five says this, but the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Now, turn over to the next book, second Timothy, the same chapter, second Timothy chapter one and verse five. Notice, for I am mindful of the sincere faith within you which was first dwelt in your grandmother first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and I'm sure that it is in you as well. So, what Paul is saying is this then, he's saying, okay, Paul, you're a man of of real faith, you have deep conviction, you know what you believe, and here's what I've noticed is I look at your life that you have sincere faith.

16:29 In other words, you're not fake. How do I know that? Because I look at your grandmother and I look at your mother who were your instructors because we know that his dad was not a Christian but your mom and your grandmother was such examples of real genuine faith that now it's true in you too. There was no falsehood in your home and you observed that as you were growing up and now, as you're living out your life, I can see that you're genuine and that you're real. Many times, people walk away from the faith because the reality is that they don't see any genuine, real faith at home.

17:05 And so one thing I I wanna be able to say and and I sat down, sat down with my older two and I said to them, your mom and I have lived out our faith as real and genuine as can be and you can honestly say to me that I that I wasn't fake, that it was real and so now, you have to embrace the faith on your own. But you know that from our part, there was no falsehood. And so now you live that faith out. And and so Paul is saying to Timothy as he's observing him, well, Timothy, when I look at your faith, I can see that your faith is sincere, it's real, and why? Because you saw that example at home through mom and grandma.

17:49 And so our our our job is never done because notice that grandma was mentioned, right? When they come over to grandma's house, if grandma has real faith, they're gonna see it too. Right? And so someone tell me, you might become a grandpa soon. Well, if I do, when they come over, I hope to be a genuine, real believer in front of their eyes.

18:10 That they can see a real faith that's there and not just lips but real. Alright, so let's go deeper. Let's go deeper. Let's look then at the trials of faith. First Thessalonians, which is right there nearby, just turn back a few books and you'll see first Thessalonians chapter three.

18:29 Paul had come into that local that city called Thessalonica and he preached the gospel, the people believed and once he believed, immediately the trials and afflictions started coming to that town and Paul was extremely concerned that that they were gonna be discouraged in their faith because soon as they trusted Jesus, nothing but problems came into their lives. Alright? And so, if you do trust the lord, here's what I can guarantee you, problems. I can guarantee you afflictions. I can guarantee you a life of suffering but I'm not gonna be over here and promise you something the Bible doesn't promise is a a life of luxury and prosperity and health.

19:15 That's not what the scriptures teach and I I want you to notice it unfolding here in these chapters. Therefore, first Thessalonians chapter three verse one, therefore, when we could endure no longer, that that that the people in Thessalonica were suffering trials. We thought it best to be left behind in Athens alone. The missionary team was in Athens but they wanted to go visit this church. We sent Timothy.

19:40 There's Timothy again, our brother and god's fellow worker in the gospel of Christ to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith. So that no man would be disturbed by these afflictions for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this. So, when you have faith in Jesus, you're destined for what? For blessing? What did they just say?

20:04 For what? What are we destined for? For affliction. For affliction. Go home with that.

20:10 Go with that. Guess what? I believed in Jesus. Now, what? My, now my life is destined for affliction.

20:15 Do you want to believe in Jesus? Verse four, for indeed, when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction and so it came to pass as you know. For this reason, when I could endure no longer, I also sent to find out about your faith. For fear that the tempter might tempt you and our labor should be in in vain. So, what he's saying was this, you are going through through terrible afflictions and so I I sent Timothy to go check on you because here's what I was thinking that the devil came and said, oh look, you trusted in Jesus so much for your life getting better.

20:54 Why do you need Jesus if everything is is nothing but trouble? Why don't you just deny him? Go back to where how you were before because it was going better for you. And that same argument still works. It still works.

21:09 And and and so Paul was really concerned that the devil was going to discourage their faith and so Timothy goes to visit them and look at the results. Look at the results. Verse six, but now that Timothy has come to us from you and has brought us good news of your faith and love and that you always think kindly of us longing to see us just as we also long to see you. For this reason, brethren, in all our distress and afflictions, we are comforted about you through your faith. For now, we really live if you stand firm in the lord and so what is Paul saying?

21:51 Timothy came back with a good report that you were not denying the faith, that you were willing to suffer for Christ because you had deep conviction that Jesus is the savior of the world, that he's gonna return and and they were not turning back on Jesus. And and as the one who had started that church, he was, what a comfort that was for me. To know that you're standing firm in the lord. Your faith is real. In other words, your faith is real.

22:33 So, this church was suffering all kinds of afflictions because of their faith, alright? Because of their faith, because of their testimony, and now, a little bit later, a second letter comes to them and look at look at how their faith is. Verse three, Second Thessalonians one three. We ought always to give thanks to god for you brethren as it's only fitting because of your faith. Notice, your faith is greatly enlarged.

23:00 So, in other words, your faith is growing stronger and stronger and the love of each one of you towards one another grows ever greater. Verse four, therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of god for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure and so we see then in second Thessalonians a little bit later that they were not only still firm in their faith but they were growing in their faith and they were standing firm and Paul's like, wow, what a testimony. Your faith was real and it shows in the way you're reacting to all the troubles that are coming into your life and look at verse 11. Look at verse 11. To this to this end also, we pray for you always that our god may count you worthy of your calling and fulfill every desire of for goodness and the work of faith with power and so Paul goes on to says, not only now have you shown that your faith is real and you're enduring that faith and you're growing in that faith but here's the next thing.

24:07 Now, god wants to use you in a powerful way. Through that faith of yours. So, your faith now is gonna start to work and god's gonna empower you so that you can serve him in a mighty way because god's work has to be done in a powerful way through the power of the holy spirit. Amen? Isn't that true?

24:30 Amen. Alright. Having said that, let's go to James now. We're going to put a different twist to this. Let's go to James now.

24:39 James, I'll give you a minute to find it. Now, because because of iPhones and all that kind of stuff, it's getting quieter and quieter in church. You used to hear everybody turning their pages and now they're doing this number. And yeah. Yeah.

24:53 I have one too, but but I can't read the little baby screen. I need a, you know, a big Bible. So anyway, James chapter two. Alright. Now, I want you to notice then that first of all, a couple of before we read, just to prepare you, alright?

25:11 We we the Bible teaches clearly that righteousness is by faith, by faith alone without works. That's taught in Romans. You can read that Romans chapter four. It's very clear. James is not talking about how to be saved by faith.

25:29 He he now he's talking about how you how you actually show that you really have faith, right? How you show you really have faith? And I want you to notice what he says in verse 14, James two and fourteen, for what use is it, my brethren? Notice, if a man says he has faith. Now, he's not saying that that you have faith.

25:51 He's giving an example. What if a man says he has faith? Right? So, he's trying to encourage the Christians who are real believers and he says, alright, I I wanna talk to you about faith now and let's just take a man who says he has faith. It doesn't mean he has it.

26:08 But he says he has faith but he has no works. Can that faith save him? In other words, what he's saying is, if you say you have faith, faith is is not only, oh yeah, I believe in god but but faith is is active and it has conviction and faith then begins to walk and live out that conviction and that it's holy and and that that it lives a certain way and and and it's obvious and and also it works and so what he's saying is somebody says they have faith but they don't do anything. That that's what he's saying. He doesn't have any work.

26:49 He doesn't live it out. You you couldn't know it unless you go and squeeze him in a corner. Do you have faith? Well, well, yeah. I I believe in god.

26:56 Oh, really? Why do I have to corner you and and ask you 50 questions to get it out of you? Something's not right. So, what he's saying is works is saying, the way you live your life, the the the the way you talk at work, the the way you are at home, the the the conviction that you have at school and with your friends. You know, can that kind of face save that person?

27:24 So then he gives an illustration that I think we can understand if a brother or sister without clothing verse 15 and in need of daily food and one of you says to them, go in peace, be warmed, and be filled and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so, faith, if it has no works, is dead being by itself. So, to this illustration, he shows a reality of faith. When we were in Mexico a couple of weeks ago, I I took some people from here and from Michigan and different places you know. One one brother comes up to me and he says the lord laid on my heart that I should give some some money to to that lady who has two kids and she has no income.

28:17 Should I do it? I said, brother, if the lord's telling you to do it, why do you come and ask me? You know, well, how much? Well, what did the lord tell you to give her? Go and do it.

28:26 And so, the lord laid on us many times when we saw people because they have real needs over there. It it it's not like here where people who have needs need to be in a diet. You know, it's like, wow. Because because we worked at a food pantry for many years in Michigan, and everybody that came in there was like, wow, you have needs? Wow.

28:47 That's... Okay. You understand what I'm saying? But we were at a place where we could see that the person has needs. Now, then the question comes up.

28:56 Alright, what if you're going under a bridge and you see somebody there? Should I give them money? And my my answer would be no. No. Go to McDonald's, buy them a burger, give them a burger.

29:06 But don't give money because you're basically giving money to buy cheap wine. Right? And and so, we we need to be discerning also but what it means is, if you know there's a need and you don't provide for that need in some kind of way, either giving them food or giving them money or giving them clothing or doing something to help them, then what kind of faith do you have? Because when we have genuine faith, god is in a people business. And because he's in a people business, our genuine faith has to do with people.

29:36 And so you see a person that has a need and the person who has real faith that's being used by god, that's working, will go and meet that need. It's what he's saying. And if you don't do that, what kind of faith do you have? Your faith is dead. It's not doing anything.

29:53 It's not active. It's not moving. If you're not serving or or or looking to be used by god, exercising that faith. That's why he says in verse 17, even so faith, if it has no works, it's dead. Being by itself.

30:07 So, you can't say you have faith and not be living it out in a practical manner is what he's saying. So then he goes from the practical manner into the head faith, alright? If you call head knowledge faith, look at it in verse 18, but someone may well say, you have faith and I have works. Show me your faith without your works and I will show you my faith by my works. So, in other words, the the way I'm going to prove to you that I have real faith is by the way, I'm living my life, the way I'm serving the lord in my local church, at work, at school, or wherever you may be, that's how I'm showing you my faith But you can't tell me you have faith because there's no backup, there's no proof of it.

31:10 Here's what he's saying. The the demons have good theology. Did you all know that? They have good doctrine. How do we know that?

31:18 You you can go for example to Luke chapter four. Luke chapter four, Jesus approaches a man that has a demon in him and the demon says, I know who you are, the holy one of god. Can you believe that? A demon saying this truth. The demons know that there's a trinity and there's god the father, god the son, god the holy spirit.

31:38 They have no doubt. Because they were in the very presence of god and then they they rebelled with Satan, many of them with the the ones that they were thrown out of heaven and so they know exactly what god's all about and they they can teach us doctrine. Yes, there's one god revealed in three persons. Sure, the demon will say, I know that. In fact, they probably know the Bible better than we do.

32:03 And and it also goes on to say and they shutter and tremble because when the demons and and the gospel would would Jesus would approach them, they're like, are you going to judge us right now? Are you going to send us to the eternal punishment? Because we know that right now, they have freedom to roam and do their thing but the day is going to come when they're going to be judged forever, right? In the lake of fire. And so the demons know this.

32:26 That's why when they would see Jesus, they would shutter and and you know, please don't send us away right now. So, Jesus said, okay, go to the pigs. And so so they had tremendous doctrine and yet they're going right to hell. They understand truth and they even shudder because they know they're gonna be judged but they're not saved. It doesn't do many good to know.

32:50 And a lot of people know, they know about Jesus. They they they know about the cross. They know about god. They don't deny that basic fundamental truth but they have never come to a personal faith in Jesus Christ where you bow the knee to him and say, lord, save me. So, it's not just head knowledge, it's a personal relationship with the living god through Jesus Christ.

33:14 And that's what James is is approaching here. Look, you you know, you you believe there's one god? Great. Great. I'm glad you understand that fundamental truth but when have you repented from your sins and put your faith in Jesus for the salvation of your soul?

33:30 And so the demons know all this truth about god and and they believe because they know it's true and they shudder because they know they're gonna be judged. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? In other words, that kind of faith that just had knowledge is no good. It's not going to save your soul from hell. That's what he's saying.

33:58 So so so James is really challenging the the reality of your faith. And then he goes on and gives to give two examples. The example of Abraham and the example of Rahab the harlot. Now, I'm gonna be quick here. Verse 21, was not Abraham our father justified by works?

34:21 When he offered up Isaac, his son, and the altar? You see that faith was working with his works and as you, as a result of the works, faith was perfected and the scriptures were fulfilled which say, and Abraham believed god and it was reckoned to him as righteousness and he was called a friend of god. Alright. So, in other words, the the Bible teaches clearly in Genesis chapter 15 and also you can look at in Romans that in Genesis 15 when god says, through you, I'm gonna bless the whole world and through you is coming the Messiah that Abraham believed that truth. Well, how do we know he believed that truth?

35:02 Because as you look at his life, it was a life of faith and and the Bible explains it over and over again. Now, he had his moments of stumbling and doubts and all but overall, he was a man of tremendous faith But the crowning moment of his life was when God says, alright, Abraham, let me see if you really believe in me. Give me your son, Isaac. What does the Bible say? Abraham believed God that if this is the son you promised that through him comes the savior, then you're going to resurrect him.

35:32 Keep reading Hebrews. You'll see it in chapter. He believed that, alright, I'm going to go and I'm to give him to you because I believe you. You said that through him is coming a savior, then you're gonna resurrect him if I kill him. So, I'm gonna do it because I believe you.

35:46 My faith is real. My conviction is deep and and I and I'm gonna I'm gonna do it and so, sure enough, he went to do it and right when he when he was about to cleanse the knife, you know what happened, right? God says, okay. Wow. That's real faith.

36:00 That's real faith. And so Abraham but but then he goes and gives another example. Alright, let's go to the second example I'm going kind of faster because of time. I know that. And you can see then verse 25.

36:16 Now, in the same way was not Rahab, the harlot also justified by works. When she received the messengers and sent them out by another way. Alright, now. He goes from from a man who who was who was you know, man married and and and you know, had children. Well, later and but he was an example and he was a man of faith to a woman who who was a sinful woman, a prostitute.

36:42 Now, let's take this woman, he says. This woman was living a a sinful life away from god but suddenly, one day, she believed in god. How do we know she believed in god? Because the spies that represented the Israelites god were in the city and they were in trouble and she hid them. And she risked her life.

37:04 She was willing to die for the fact that the god that they represented was the true god and and she believed in him and so, she hid them knowing that if they caught her, she would be killed. She was showing true faith and so once they they left, the soldiers, the spies came out. She says, I believe in your god and when you come back, remember me. So so in other words, she showed by her action, by her willing to risk her life, and hide the spies that she really believed in god. That's what the Bible is saying.

37:42 And and so we can't just say we have faith. There has to come a moment when you show your faith through your testimony, to the way you live your life, to some action. Sooner or later, you're going to have to share with your workmate the the the gospel. Sooner or later. It's not gonna just somehow reverberate throughout your body and waffle over into their head.

38:04 You have to share your faith. Sooner or later, you have to tell someone, I have believed in Jesus. This is where my faith stands. This is what I'm convicted of. This is what I'm willing to die for.

38:17 This is why I do what I do. So the Bible says, that's why this woman was willing to risk her life. That's why Abraham was willing to give up the boy because she believed in god and it's obvious in their life, in the way, in what they did and so god has tremendous things for us to do for him but it's all done in faith. It's all done in faith. So why do I deny myself?

38:45 Certain pleasures. Why do I live the way I do? Why do I think the way I do? Because God's word governs my thinking, and I believe the word of god to be inspired. Oh, by the way, faith also includes that.

39:02 This is the inspired inerrant. Yes, I did say Inerrant, inspired by God, word of God, that what it says in doctrine, in ethics, in history, in anything it teaches to be truth. Yes, I'm willing to die for it. And so our faith then is this is our authority. My faith is in in in the fact that this is god's word.

39:29 This is what god has left for me to build my life upon and I build my faith on what he has revealed to me in his word because without his word, revelation, there is no faith. So, I I I believe that to be true. Do you believe that? Because they're going to tell you what they told my son when he was in the university. Those of you who are fundamental bible believers, they said we're gonna come after you.

39:55 And we're gonna make you deny the bible and deny your faith. And they'll somehow hang in there. But man, they shook him like a rag. So what do you believe? Do you have real genuine faith?

40:10 And and and if you do, then your life is a reflection of that reality. And if you don't, sooner or later, the reality of your faucet is gonna show up. And so I would like to conclude with with this tremendous statement by the apostle Paul. In second Timothy chapter four and verse seven. Well, let's let's read verse six and seven.

40:58 I have finished the course. I have kept the faith. Amen. So he was ready to die for his faith, for his faith. You know, Paul saw a lot of people deny the faith.

41:27 Assurance and conviction of what? That the invisible created the invisible. That Jesus Christ died, was buried, rose again, ascended to heaven is gonna come back and rule the world. Do you have that conviction? If you do and that the Bible is the revealed, inspired word of god inerrant, do you believe those truths?

41:53 If you do, then our lives, the way we live in our lives out every day, everywhere we go, should be reflecting that truth and and what you say and what you do. And so, have you come to know the lord as your savior? Do you have that kind of faith? Remember, the demons know and they shake and shutter, right? At that truth but they're not saved.

42:21 But you can be saved if you put your faith in Jesus. Because god will save you no other way. That's it. He he says, it's by faith. Without faith, you can't please god.

42:32 You have to believe that he is and you have to come to him by faith and so by faith, I take you at your word, god, that I'm a lost sinner and that I need to be saved and that Jesus died on the cross for my sins, paid everything, and rose again. And so Jesus, by faith, I want you to save me. I take you as my savior. And if that's true, then you're going to start to live that life out in a powerful way and be willing to die for that truth. That's the kind of faith that god demands.

43:03 If you wanna know more about the savior or about how to be saved, I would love to talk to you after the meeting. Let's pray. Father, thank you for your word. Thank you for your word and and thank you for the fact that you you operate and work on the basis of faith. It will not change.

43:21 It will not change. You demand faith. You want us to believe you and to be saved and to live for you. Help us, oh God, to be real, to be genuine, and to show this faith by the way we live. And I pray this for my own sake first.

43:41 In Jesus' name, amen.