The Substance of Faith Hebrews 12:6-20

The Power of Faith A faith-based life is a victorious life NOT: A religious life

The Power of Faith A faith-based life is a victorious lifeBelieving in someone/something: worth fighting for worth enduring for worth the sacrifice

The Power of Faith Biblical faith means a victorious life Hope (11:1-6) Impact (11:6-30) Winning (12:1-4) Substance (12:5-17)

The Power of Faith Biblical faith means a victorious life Hope (11:1-6) Impact (11:6-30) Winning (12:1-4) Substance (12:5-17) “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for” Hebrews 11:1 (BBE) “A good man’s got to know his limitations”

The Need for Substance  The muscle & fiber to endure discipline. “It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? Heb. 12:7

The Need for Substance  The muscle & fiber to endure discipline.  To grow beyond “the American Way”  “My Rights Rule!” From:

The Need for Substance  The muscle & fiber to endure discipline.  To grow beyond “the American Way”  “My Rights Rule!”  The Ethics of Instant Pleasure

The Need for Substance  The muscle & fiber to endure discipline.  To grow beyond “the American Way”  But everyone knows growth requires discipline.  Nobody likes to talk about it…

The Need for Substance  The muscle & fiber to endure discipline.  To grow beyond “the American Way”  But everyone knows growth requires discipline.  Nobody likes to talk about it… Why don’t they show you this?

The Need for Substance  The muscle & fiber to endure discipline.  To grow beyond “the American Way”  But everyone knows growth requires discipline. And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? Hebrews 12:5

The Need for Substance  The muscle & fiber to endure discipline.  To grow beyond “the American Way”  But everyone knows growth requires discipline.  Discipline is a vital aspect of mature love. And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? Hebrews 12:5 He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” Hebrews 12:5-6

The Need for Substance  The muscle & fiber to endure discipline.  To grow beyond “the American Way”  But everyone knows growth requires discipline.  Discipline is a vital aspect of mature love.  To promote you. Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? Hebrews 12:7 (NIV)

The Need for Substance  The muscle & fiber to endure discipline.  To grow beyond “the American Way”  But everyone knows growth requires discipline.  Discipline is a vital aspect of mature love.  To promote you. If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Hebrews 12:8 (NIV)

The Need for Substance  The muscle & fiber to endure discipline.  To grow beyond “the American Way”  But everyone knows growth requires discipline.  Discipline is a vital aspect of mature love.  To promote you. We have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! (12:9)

The Need for Substance  The muscle & fiber to endure discipline.  To grow beyond “the American Way”  But everyone knows growth requires discipline.  Discipline is a vital aspect of mature love.  To promote you. Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good (12:10)

The Need for Substance  The muscle & fiber to endure discipline.  To grow beyond “the American Way”  But everyone knows growth requires discipline.  Discipline is a vital aspect of mature love.  It produces mature character.  The strength of God’s character.  The ability to build loving relationships, like God. …that we may share in his holiness. Heb. 12:9-10

The Need for Substance  The muscle & fiber to endure discipline.  To grow beyond “the American Way”  But everyone knows growth requires discipline.  Discipline is a vital aspect of mature love.  It produces mature character.  It yields a harvest of satisfaction. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. Hebrews 12:11 (NLT)

The Need for Substance  The muscle & fiber to endure discipline.  To grow beyond “the American Way”  But everyone knows growth requires discipline.  Discipline is a vital aspect of mature love.  It produces mature character.  It yields a harvest of satisfaction.

Faith in God builds substance Substance Means Strength ‘his character’ Wisdom ‘right living’ Satisfied mind ‘peace’ Ability to Build ‘yield harvest’ “…that we may share in his holiness…yields a peaceful harvest of right living”

Faith in God builds substance Substance Means ‘Maturity’

Faith in God builds substance Maturity Strength Wisdom Satisfied mind Ability to Build Immaturity WeaknessFoolishRestless / unhappyDestroys

Faith in God builds substance Weakness Immature Godly Discipline Your Faith substance Mature

Your Faith: Two Reactions So don't sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! 12:12 (MSG) Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it! 12:13 Sit Race!

Your Faith: Means either… See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; Bitterness (v15) So don't sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! 12:12 …for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. Romans 2:1 (NASB)

Your Faith: Means either… So don't sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! 12:12 Bitterness (v15) that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. Apathy (v16)

Your Faith: Means either… So don't sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! 12:12 Bitterness (v15) that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. Apathy (v16) Resigned Religion SitsStewsDecays Biblical Faith HopeImpactWin

Your Faith: Means either… Clear the path for long-distance runners…And run for it! Hebrews 12:13 (MSG) Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14 Means Practicing love Spiritual Growth

Your Faith: Two Outcomes Contagious Love & Peace Infectious Bitterness & Regret Make sure no one gets left out of God's generosity. (12:15)

The Power of Faith in God A faith-based life is a victorious lifeBelieving in someone/something: worth fighting for worth enduring for worth the sacrifice

Stedman – Features of Godly Discipline  It always could be worse  It’s always God’s love  He’s always right, never wrong  It’s always an opportunity for victory  Necessary pain, which will make sense.  A conspiracy? No doubt.  It always requires a demonstration of faith.  Christians who live victoriously are inexplicable.  Else “lame…out of joint”  Strengthen “what remains…”  It can always damage irreversibly  No Root of bitterness  Always wrong, no matter what  Highly contagious.  Flippancy, like Esau  Repentance became impossible.  It requires our deep concern  For the suffering of others  It requires “an assembly”  Not being driven by fear  Not law-driven, self-effort, clenched teeth, asceticism, fear  “Zion” – Grace  A new government, new mangement  Angels: ministering spirits sent forth to help us when we need it.  “Assembly” is the church, “names written in heaven”, those we share with  “Universal Judge” – we all stand before Him.  Old Testament Saints, who already lived by faith, now waiting for us.  Jesus, the Mediator indwelling and available.  With all this on our side, there’s no need for failure.  Have you taken advantage of your resources?  There’s no reason to fail! This is the entire argument.  It requires attention  Be grateful for the Kingdom we’ve been given  Reverence and Awe: a great fire.  “Perilous times will come…” and things go in cycles.  God is shaking the heavens & earth: something going on right now, the universal shakeup.  The false securities are being tested now.  “Security in numbers” – agreements become untrustworthy  The failure of our organizations: big government only dominates.  Violence & indifference, even in our “civilized” society

 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4 (NASB)

Expanding the Threshold of our Faith  Why “expand” …?  God has a purpose: to continue JC’s work. Decision to trust Inner revelation Tested Faith Counting for JC