EXTRAORDINARY FAITH: FAITH EVEN WHEN IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE

Last week, we talked about the importance of living with faith. We found the Hebrews 11 describes faith as the “foundation” of our lives. It is vital in our desire to follow Christ. Today, let’s discuss how faith impacts in a practical way through specific moments in life.

1. Trusting no matter the circumstances

Hebrews 11:5 (CSB) By faith Enoch was taken away, and so he did not experience death. He was not to be found because God took him away. For before he was taken away, he was approved as one who pleased God.

• Enoch walked in faith regardless of his daily situation
• Enoch was clearly a man who loved and served God
• Enoch is mentioned in five verses in four books of the Bible (Genesis 5, Luke 3, Hebrews 11 and Jude)
• Key thought is that Enoch “walked with God” in the good days and the bad

Genesis 5:24 (CSB) Enoch walked with God; then he was not there because God took him.

2. Trusting when it makes no sense

Hebrews 11:7 (CSB) By faith Noah, after he was warned about what was not yet seen and motivated by godly fear, built an ark to deliver his family. By faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

• Noah was told by God to build an ark, so at 500 years old, he did so and he took him about 100 years to complete it
• God told him in Gen. 6 He was going to destroy the world
• Noah didn’t question God, He simply obeyed. Why? Noah trusted God no matter what.
• Key thought is there are times God tells you to do what doesn’t make sense and others make criticize you, do it anyway

3. Trusting when you’re stepping into the unknown

Hebrews 11:8 (CSB) By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and set out for a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out, even though he did not know where he was going.

• Abraham had traveled from Ur to Haran and in Gen. 12, God told him to go to Canaan
• These were not short journeys. About 500 miles from Ur to Haran and another 400+ from Haran to Canaan
• Yet Abraham did exactly as God told him, without questioning
• Key thought is that God at times will call you to go where you may not have planned, and maybe where you don’t desire, go anyway

4. Trusting when you feel there’s no hope

Hebrews 11:11-12 (CSB) By faith even Sarah herself, when she was unable to have children, received power to conceive offspring, even though she was past the age, since she considered that the one who had promised was faithful.12Therefore, from one man—in fact, from one as good as dead—came offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and as innumerable as the grains of sand along the seashore.

• As God promised before, God gave Abraham and Sarah a child
• This was clearly an impossible feat in their eyes. They were too old, it was too late, it couldn’t be done; yet God delivered.
• Key thought is never stop seeking God’s deliverance even when it seems to be too late, because nothing is too hard for Him

Genesis 17:15–19 (CSB) God said to Abraham, “As for your wife Sarai, do not call her Sarai, for Sarah will be her name. 16I will bless her; indeed, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will produce nations; kings of peoples will come from her.” 17Abraham fell facedown. Then he laughed and said to himself, “Can a child be born to a hundred-year-old man? Can Sarah, a ninety-year-old woman, give birth?” 18So Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael were acceptable to you!” 19But God said, “No. Your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac. I will confirm my covenant with him as a permanent covenant for his future offspring.

Genesis 18:9–15 (CSB) “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “There, in the tent,” he answered. 10TheLord said, “I will certainly come back to you in about a year’s time, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent behind him. 11Abraham and Sarah were old and getting on in years. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. 12So she laughed to herself: “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I have delight?” 13But the Lord asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Can I really have a baby when I’m old?’ 14Is anything impossible for the Lord? At the appointed time I will come back to you, and in about a year she will have a son.” 15Sarah denied it. “I did not laugh,” she said, because she was afraid. But he replied, “No, you did laugh.”

Key Thoughts:

1. Always trust God on the mountain tops and in the valleys
2. Always trust God even when everyone around you tells you not to
3. Always trust God’s calling and obey immediately
4. Always trust God’s ability to do the impossible