24/09/2024
FREEDOM THROUGH FAITH THAT PLEASES GOD
Hebrews 11:4-6
First Preached : 03/12/2012
Preacher : Pastor W.F Kumuyi
We are living at such a time and place when faith in God is so needful for a purposeful life. We will always need God and we need Him now more than ever, speaking in human language. All around us, we see and hear of adversity and disaster, “no peace, great vexations upon all the inhabitants of the countries,” “men’s hearts failing them for fear.” And yet, there is no end in sight. This is not the time to play religion; this is the time to seek the true and living God with unwavering faith in Jesus, His only begotten Son. “And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).
God demands faith, real faith, pure faith, implicit faith expressed in corresponding confession, conviction and consecration if we are to please Him. Though we are living in perilous times, it is not peculiar to our community or this era and age. Others have lived triumphantly through similar experiences as ours. They were victorious by faith; we too can be overcomers and more than conquerors, by faith.
1. TRUST AND TRANSFORMATION BY FAITH
Hebrews 11:4; Genesis 4:3-5; Leviticus 17:11; Hebrews 9:22; Romans 3:23-26; 5:8-11;
1 Peter 1:14-20; Hebrews 10:19-23; 11:28.
“By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain.” Cain offered a sacrifice too but his sacrifice was not acceptable to God. Cain was religious but he “was of that wicked one.” He sacrificed but “his own works were evil.” Though religious, he hated his brother and had no eternal life abiding in him (1 John 3:12-15). He lived and died under condemnation, not willing to repent and turn from the religion of works. In his man-centred religion, he could not attain to freedom from sin, guilt and eternal damnation.
“By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts.” Abel’s sacrifice was by faith, looking back to what God did in providing a substitute for Adam and Eve and looking forward to the coming of the promised Seed who will be our Sin-bearer (Genesis 3:15, 21). His faith was in the acceptable Lamb “slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8). Man-made religion attempts to worship God with inventions of “men’s hands”, “man’s device” and “tradition” (Acts 17:25, 29; Mark 7:6-13). Religion without faith in God’s acceptable Lamb is vain and displeasing to God. Whatsoever is not of faith is sin. Abel’s faith was counted unto him for righteousness. He was transformed and set free – free from guilt and condemnation, free from the power and curse of sin, free from eternal wrath and judgment.
2. TRANSITION AND TRANSLATION BY FAITH
Hebrews 11:5; Genesis 5:22-24; Psalms 119:1-3; 15:1-5; Isaiah 33:15-17; 1 John 1:7; 2:6; 3:1-3;
2 Kings 2:3, 5, 11; 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Colossians 1:13.
“By faith” “Enoch walked with God” and “he pleased God”. “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” God revealed Himself to Enoch and he agreed with God by faith. God’s revelation came to him that, “Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him” (Jude 14,15). Knowing the judgment of God, he turned from his own ways, asked and believed God for mercy, became committed to God and His way, at age 65. He received grace and divine enablement to walk with God. “And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years” (Genesis 5:22). Consistently, he remained “undefiled and walked in the law of the LORD”. He walked “in the truth” “in the light”, “in love”, “in the Spirit”, “uprightly”, “righteously”, “humbly” and “honestly” (Psalm 119:1; 3 John 3; 1 John 1:7; Ephesians 5:2; Galatians 5:16, 25; Psalm 84:11; Isaiah 33:15; Micah 6:8; Romans 13:13). Living each day at a time, it was possible for him to “walk with God ” because he walked “by faith” (2 Corinthians 5:7).
“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’s translation is a prophetic illustration of the Rapture of the true Church. All true believers who have put their faith in Christ, living and walking consistently with God in righteousness and holiness of life will be translated, raptured, caught up to heaven, forever to be with the Lord.
3. THE THRUST AND TRIUMPH OF FAITH
Hebrews 11:6; Deuteronomy 32:20; Psalm 78:22-24,41; Romans 14:23; 1:16,17; 5:1,2;
Galatians 2:20; Hebrews 6:10-12; 10:38,39; 12:1,2.
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him.” Can you be pleased and happy with anyone who never trusts you, who always doubts your words, always questioning your sincerity and integrity? Will you be pleased with ‘a good man’, ‘an innocent woman’ who is always asking if you meant what you said and if you said exactly what you meant? How pleased will you be with someone who professes to love and honour you but never trusts your words? How can God be pleased with anyone, any ‘good man’, any ‘innocent woman’, who does not trust Him, who does not have faith in His Word and in His provision of salvation?
“For he that cometh to God must believe that He is.” He who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He is infinite, eternal, self-existent; the Creator of all other beings and things, on whom all others depend and by whose power and providence all others exist, live and are supplied with the means of continued existence and life. “And that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” He who has genuine faith in God must believe that He is not indifferent to the needs of His creatures, that He cares for their eternal and temporal welfare, that He will fulfil His promises, that He will grant salvation if sought in His appointed way and bestow blessings according to His infallible Word.
* * * * * * *
Congregational Song:
GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE
1. Have you started for glory and Heaven?
Have you left this old world far behind?
In your heart is the Comforter dwelling?
Can you say, “Praise the Lord, He is mine”?
Have the ones that once walked on the highway
Gone back, and you seem all alone?
Keep your eyes on the prize, for the home in the skies;
God is still on the throne.
God is still on the throne,
And He will remember His own;
Tho’ trials may press us and burdens distress us,
He never will leave us alone;
God is still on the throne,
He never forsaketh His own;
His promise is true, He will not forget you,
God is still on the throne.
2. Burdened soul, is your heart growing weary
With the toil and the heat of the day?
Does it seem that your path is more thorny
As you journey along on life’s way?
Go away and in secret before Him
Tell your grief to the Saviour alone;
He will lighten your care, for He still answers prayer;
God is still on the throne.
3. You may live in a tent or a cottage,
Unnoticed by those who pass by;
But a mansion for you He is building
In that beautiful city on high;
It will outshine the wealth and the splendor
Of the richest on earth we have known;
He’s the Architect true, and He’s building for you;
God is still on the throne.
4. He is coming again, is the promise
To disciples when He went away;
In like manner as He has gone from you,
You will see Him returning some day;
Does His tarrying cause you to wonder,
Does it seem He’s forgotten His own?
His promise is true, He is coming for you;
God is still on the throne.
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