How Faith Works
Hebrews 11:11–16
1. Power of Faith
Hebrews 11:11 NRSV
“By faith he (Abraham), received power of procreation, even though he was too old—and Sarah herself was barren—because he considered him faithful who had promised.
Hebrews 11:4 NLT
It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old.
Hebrews 11:10-12
For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith, with Sarah’s involvement, he received power of procreation, even though he was too old, because he considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, “as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.”
Genesis 18:1-2 NIV
The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
Genesis 18:9-15 NIV
“Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “There, in the tent,” he said. Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?” Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.” But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”
- Your faith can powerfully impact the people around you and for generations to come.
Hebrews 11:11 NRSV
“By faith he (Abraham), received power of procreation, even though he was too old—and Sarah herself was barren—because he considered him faithful who had promised.
- Your faith brings God’s supernatural power into your situation.
Hebrews 11:11 NRSV
“By faith he (Abraham), received power of procreation, even though he was too old
Mark 9:23 ESV
And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”
Trade much in the promises. The promises are great supports to faith. Faith lives in a promise, as the fish lives in the water. The promises are both comforting and quickening… The promises of God…keep us from sinking when we come to the waters of affliction. O! trade much in the promises; there is no condition that you can be in, but you have a promise.
- Thomas Watson - the Puritan August 17th, 1662
2. The Promise Keeper of Faith
Romans 4:18-19 NLT
Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.
- Abram: Exalted Father
- Abraham: Father of Many Nations
Romans 4:20-22 ESV
No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.”
- Worship: focusing our love, honor, attention, and recognition on God through our words and actions.
3. The Perspective of Faith
- Perspective: showing the right relationship between visual objects.
Hebrews 11:13-14 NLT
All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own.
If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explaination is that I was made for another world
- C.S. Lewis
Hebrews 11:15-16a NLT
If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland.
