HEBREWS 12:1-7 - WALKING IN THE CLOUDS OF FAITH

INTRODUCTION:

When we speak of faith we are talking about something that is tangible or something you can hold on to.

Faith is  substantive or is actually real in existence. It is evidentiary, or has the nature of evidence. Faith is an axiom, meaning it is so self evident as first sight that no process of reasoning can make it any plainer.

So the writer in Hebrews 11:1 said, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Spurgeon said, "A little faith will bring your soul to heaven; a great faith will bring heaven to your soul."

God honors faith when we use it. Lucado said; When arks are built, lives are saved. When soldiers march, Jerichos tumble. When staffs are raised, seas still open. When a lunch is shared, thousands are fed.
And when a garment is touched -- by the hand of an anemic woman in Galilee -- Jesus stops.
He stops and responds."

In Luke 17:5 the disciples asked the Lord to increase their faith and in verse 6 Jesus responds by saying use your faith. In Rom 10:17 we are told faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Much time is spent in the Word of God teaching us about faith and many verses define it's origin, purpose, and mission in the life of a Christian but I want us to talk about the faith that has been handed down to us by our forefathers and how it is in our hands to live it, love it, and leave it for those who follow us on this journey called life.

I want us to look at five things today in the broad canvass of faith. Let us see if the faith we have can be left to the next generation as a beautiful cloud suspended by nothing other than the belief in Jesus Christ as Lord.

V1 - THE CLOUD OF FAITH - THE WITNESSES

What is a Cloud?  One definition Webster uses is, "a visible mass of vapor, especially one suspended in the sky." But the one I like that Webster used if this; "a great number of things close together or in motion."

A CLOUD OF FAITH TO LEAD THE WAY

Exo 13:21  And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

A CLOUD OF FAITH TO END THE DROUGHT

1 Ki 18:44  And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.

A CLOUD OF THE FAITHFUL

1 Th 4:16-17  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Rev 1:7-8  Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

            A - LET US LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT AND SIN - BESET US (COMPETES AGAINST US)

B - LET US RUN WITH PATIENCE RACE - BEFORE US (WAITING AND HOPING)

V2 - THE CHRIST OF FAITH - THE NEW BEGINNINGS

            A - AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH

            B - ENDURED THE CROSS

            C - SET DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD

V3-4 - THE CONTRADICTION OF FAITH - AGAINST SIN

            A - CONSIDER HIM THAT ENDURED

            B - LEST YOU BE WEARIED AND FAINT

            C - YOU HAVE NOT RESISTED UNTO BLOOD

V5-7 - THE CHILDREN OF FAITH - TAKE CORRECTION

            A - DON'T FORGET YOU ARE STILL GROWING

            B - DON'T' FORGET GOD CORRECTS THOSE HE LOVES

            C - DON'T FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REBUKED

V23-27 - THE COVENANT OF FAITH - LEADS TO BETTER THINGS

            A - FAITH GROWS IN BELIEVERS

            B - JESUS CUT THE COVENANT

            C - THE BLOOD IS STILL SPEAKING

            D - WHATEVER WILL SHAKE LET IT GO

CONCLUSION:

In the Gospel Banner it was written;" Doubt see the obstacles, faith sees the way! Doubt sees the darkest night, faith sees the day! Doubt dreads to take a step, faith soars on high! Doubt questions, "who believes?"

Faith answers I!"