Participants: Kelly Mowrer
Series Code: HWAL
Program Code: HWAL000427
00:16 Hello, and welcome back to His Words Are Life.
00:19 I'm Kelly Mowrer, and today we're going to be reading the 00:22 beautiful chapter in Hebrews about faith. 00:24 About the men and women of faith who've gone before us, 00:28 and left for us inspiration and encouragement, and example of 00:32 how we can serve God and be pleasing to Him. 00:35 But before we read, let's pray together. 00:37 Dear Jesus, thank You so much that You have promised to be 00:42 both the author and the finisher of our faith. 00:45 We know that without faith it's not going to be possible to be 00:49 pleasing to You, and that is what we long most to be. 00:52 You've told us that faith will come by hearing, and hearing 00:56 will come through Your word. 00:58 And so now we come to Your word and ask You to take Your 01:02 thoughts to us and plant them deep in our hearts so they will 01:06 bear fruit pleasing to Your sight. 01:09 May You be honored and glorified by the lives that we 01:12 lead for You. 01:14 Thank You so much for loving us. 01:15 We love You, too. 01:17 Amen. 01:18 Again, we're reading in Hebrews, chapter 11. 01:21 When we last left off we had just read the opening where it 01:26 says faith is the substance of things not seen, 01:28 and the evidence of things hoped for. 01:31 And now we'll begin in verse 4, and this is the 01:33 King James Version. 01:34 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than 01:41 Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, 01:45 God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead 01:51 yet speaketh. 01:53 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; 01:57 and was not found, because God had translated him: 02:01 for before his translation he had this testimony, 02:05 that he pleased God. 02:07 But without faith it is impossible to please him: 02:11 for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, 02:15 and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 02:20 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, 02:26 moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; 02:32 by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the 02:36 righteousness which is by faith. 02:39 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place 02:44 which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; 02:48 and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 02:52 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange 02:56 country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, 03:00 the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a 03:05 city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 03:09 Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive 03:15 seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, 03:19 because she judged him faithful who had promised. 03:23 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, 03:28 so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, 03:31 and as the sand which is by the seashore innumerable. 03:35 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, 03:40 but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, 03:45 and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and 03:49 pilgrims on the earth. 03:50 For they that say such things declare plainly that they 03:55 seek a country. 03:56 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from 03:59 whence they came out, they might have had opportunity 04:02 to have returned. 04:03 But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: 04:08 wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: 04:13 for he hath prepared for them a city. 04:16 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: 04:22 and he that had received the promises offered up his only 04:26 begotten son, of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy 04:31 seed be called: accounting that God was able to raise him up, 04:36 even from the dead; from whence also he received him 04:41 in a figure. 04:42 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 04:48 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of 04:53 Joseph; and worshiped, leaning upon the top of his staff. 04:58 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing 05:04 of the children of Israel; and gave commandment 05:06 concerning his bones. 05:08 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months 05:13 of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; 05:16 and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. 05:19 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be 05:24 called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to 05:28 suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the 05:31 pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ 05:37 greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had 05:41 respect unto the recompense of the reward. 05:44 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: 05:49 for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 05:54 Through faith he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of 05:58 blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. 06:03 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: 06:09 which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. 06:13 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were 06:17 compassed about seven days. 06:18 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them 06:23 that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. 06:27 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell 06:32 of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthah; 06:35 of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: who through 06:40 faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, 06:43 obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 06:47 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, 06:51 out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, 06:56 turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 07:00 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were 07:05 tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might 07:09 obtain a better resurrection: and others had trial of cruel 07:14 mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds 07:17 and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, 07:23 were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about 07:27 in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, 07:32 tormented; of whom the world was not worthy, they wandered 07:37 in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves 07:41 of the earth. 07:42 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, 07:47 received not the promise: God having provided some better 07:53 thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. 07:58 Continuing to read in Hebrews, chapter 12. 08:02 Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a 08:07 cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin 08:12 which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience 08:17 the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author 08:22 and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set 08:26 before him endured the cross, despising the shame, 08:30 and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 08:34 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners 08:38 against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 08:44 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 08:48 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh 08:53 unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the 08:58 chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked 09:01 of him: for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, 09:05 and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 09:08 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; 09:15 for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 09:18 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are 09:23 partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 09:27 Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, 09:31 and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in 09:36 subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 09:40 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own 09:44 pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers 09:49 of his holiness. 09:50 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, 09:55 but grievous: nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth 10:00 the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them 10:03 which are exercised thereby. 10:05 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble 10:11 knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which 10:15 is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather 10:19 be healed. 10:20 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man 10:24 shall see the Lord: looking diligently lest any man fail of 10:29 the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up 10:33 trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; lest there be any 10:39 fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of 10:43 meat sold his birthright. 10:45 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the 10:49 blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of 10:52 repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. 10:55 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, 10:58 and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, 11:01 and darkness, and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, 11:04 and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated 11:07 that the word should not be spoken to them any more: 11:10 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, 11:13 And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, 11:16 it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: 11:18 and so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly 11:23 fear and quake:) but ye are come unto mount Zion, 11:28 and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, 11:31 and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly 11:36 and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, 11:39 and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men 11:44 made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, 11:49 and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things 11:53 than that of Abel. 11:54 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. 11:58 For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, 12:03 much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that 12:07 speaketh from heaven: (whose voice then shook the earth: 12:11 but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake 12:15 not the earth only, but also heaven. 12:17 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those 12:21 things that are shaken, as of things that are made, 12:24 that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, 12:33 let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably 12:38 with reverence and godly fear: for our God is a consuming fire. 12:44 We're continuing to read in Hebrews, chapter 13, 12:47 and this is the King James Version. 12:49 Let brotherly love continue. 12:52 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some 12:57 have entertained angels unawares. 12:59 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; 13:03 and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also 13:07 in the body. 13:08 Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: 13:13 but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. 13:17 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content 13:21 with such things as ye have: for he hath said, 13:24 I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 13:27 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, 13:31 and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. 13:35 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken 13:39 unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, 13:42 considering the end of their conversation. 13:45 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, 13:50 and for ever. 13:52 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. 13:56 For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; 14:00 not with meats, which have not profited them that have been 14:04 occupied therein. 14:05 We have an alter, whereof they have no right to eat which serve 14:09 the tabernacle. 14:10 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the 14:14 sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned 14:17 without the camp. 14:18 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with 14:23 his own blood, suffered without the gate. 14:26 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, 14:30 bearing his reproach. 14:32 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. |
Revised 2014-12-17