Exemplifying Faith

 

Hebrews 11:1-40

We are saved and justified by faith alone and it has nothing to do with our good works. However, our justification by faith does not exist by itself, and it would surely bear fruits.

 ^“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (v 6)

“He must believe that God exists” has to do with believing the fact that God does exist. God is the object or goal that we seek, and thus makes our seeking meaningful. The statement that says, “rewards those who earnestly seek Him,” means that the action of seeking shall yield fruit, a reward given by our faithful and gracious God.

When Jesus was ministering on earth, He came to Capernaum one day and four men carried with them a paralytic man. “Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on.” He was laid in front of Jesus.

This was their action by faith, and they trusted that Jesus was able and willing to heal that paralyzed man. They believed that Jesus shall reward those who sought after Him. As a result, Jesus “saw” their faith, and He exercised His authority to pardon sin, and he healed the paralytic man (Mark 2:1-12).

Faith is “visible” because of its expression as well as its observable fruit. This is faith with action. It is a perfect and effectual faith.

The heroes in God’s Hall of faith found in Hebrews 11 shows vividly the relationship between faith and action (or deed), and fruits of faith. Faith and action do not go against each other, but they flow in the same direction. Or we could even say that action is an extension of our faith. Faith is the head and action, the feet.

Let’s look specifically at the Bible about the expressions of faith, and what actions or fruits are produced by faith. 

Faith is expressed in worship. Abraham believed in God. He built altar and made sacrifices to worship God. And God was pleased with him. True worship is the fruit of our faith.

Faith is expressed in long-term everyday life. Enoch believed in God. He was not merely sound in his doctrines, but he “walked with God for three hundred years” in response to his faith (Genesis 5:22). Enoch’s life was different from all the people of his days. God was pleased with Enoch, and he had a different ending as he was taken away by God without seeing death. Those who have faith and walk with God shall surely lead a holy and godly lifestyle and be blessed by God.

Faith is expressed in work：Noah believed in God, and he feared God and followed God’s instructions by preparing the ark. His work is testifying God and proclaiming the salvation of God, regardless of how the world would react or respond. In the end, the world rejected their salvation by refusing to enter the ark and they were destroyed. Only Noah’s family of eight was saved.

Faith is expressed in responding to God’s calling. Abraham obeyed God’s call and went out to the land which would be his possession. Though he was uncertain of where he would go, he went by faith.

Faith is expressed in trusting God’s promises. Sarah believed in God’s words. Though both Abraham and she were at their old age and their bodies were as good as dead, they trusted in God’s promises. From her body that was as though dead she gave birth to his son, Isaac, and hence, many descendants were produced.

Faith is expressed in giving. Even though Abraham had Isaac as his only beloved son and Isaac was God’s promised son, he obeyed God and went to offer Isaac as a burnt sacrifice when God instructed him so. It was because he believed that since God was able to “call into being things that were not,” and caused the dried wood to bear fruit, so that a lively and strong son was born through an old-aged woman who had passed the age of child-bearing, and He was “the God who gives life to the dead” (Romans 4:17), that willingly he offered Isaac, and as a result, he received back his son who was spared from death, and became the “father of all nations”.

This is the principle of “Jehovah Jireh”, that we offer God everything we have, and in return, we shall experience God’s provision that goes beyond our expectation. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ reveals this principle (John 11:24). True giving to God also works on this principle: There is a lost and found and we receive more than we have given.

Faith expressed in blessing the descendants. Isaac was gentle and at peace with others. He lived in a tent and wandered around without a permanent residence. He did not have his own land too, but by faith he prayed for Esau and Jacob and gave them their blessings. He was like a wealthy king. Jacob became a refugee in Egypt, but he was able to bless his descendants. All these were the expressions of their faith.

Faith goes beyond this life. Joseph was surrounded by the Egyptians, and he enjoyed the richness of Egypt. Nevertheless, he knew Egypt was not his inheritance. He was aware that his descendants would come out from Egypt, and hence, he looked forward to be buried in the land of Canaan.

Faith makes right choices. The faith of Moses caused him to make a radical decision: He was the adopted son of the daughter of Pharaoh, and he might be the heir who would succeed Pharaoh as the king. Yet willingly he chose to leave the palace and identify himself with the slaves, the Israelites. He was willing to suffer with God’s people and lead them out of Egypt into the Promised Land.  What he had done was very similar to what Jesus did. Jesus was the Prince of the Heavenly Court but he left heaven and incarnated on earth so as to die for us and deliver us from death in sin. 

Faith is obeying God’s command and co-laboring with Him. The Israelites entered the Land of Canaan under the leadership of Joshua. They did not employ their army but submitted to God’s commands by marching around the city for seven days in the fortified city of Jericho. Their action was really weird, but as they trusted God and followed His words, the city walls crumbled and fell.

Faith is submitting to God’s destiny. Rahab lived in the city of doom, but she believed in God’s power and received the Israelite spies peacefully. At the end, not only her whole household was saved, but her name was listed in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

Faith enables us to be strong and courageous. The last listed are Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, David and Samuel. They shared the common characteristics, i.e., they could look up to God and see God’s existence and face their problems courageously in their adversities. They connected with God and were willing to risk their lives and suffer all pains. They demonstrated an extraordinary boldness and courage, and this was their effect of trusting God.

All these men of faith had their actions that corresponded to their faith. They left behind their footprints of faith, so that we could traced their footsteps.

Conclusion

Many people misunderstood that the book of James talks about deeds only, whereas its true purpose is to talk about exemplifying faith with actions or deeds. James 2:18-22, But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God, Good! Even the demons believe that —and shudder. You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.

What is taught here tells us that faith and action is inseparable, and they cannot go against each other. It is impossible to have faith without action, but faith must be expressed through action. Our testimony is only completed with the combination of faith and action.

Let’s seek for God’s mercy in this Advent as we look forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus, that God will fill us with the Holy Spirit and revive us and make us full of faith. By then, we could wait upon the coming of the Lord and behold His salvation to come upon all peoples. We also shall go out with full faith to receive the Lord, and to follow Him by loving Him and people and by serving Him and others.

Let’s write a book about the faith of the church and be someone among the cloud of witnesses in order to bring glory to God’s name, that all men shall come and believe in the Lord Jesus and follow Him too. May glory be to Jesus, the Savior, our author and finisher of faith. Amen!

Be Strong, Take Heart, and Wait for the LORD

 Psalm 27:1-14

Live A Life of Worship

Psalm 27:1-6, “The LORD is my light and my salvation—who shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. One thing I ask from the Lord, this is what I seek:  that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in this dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.”

The psalmist never complained to God or fell away from Him though he lived under an environment that was filled with troubles and life-threatening disturbances. Instead, he uttered his greatest desire to be able to dwell securely in the house of the Lord and worship Him. This is something that touches me deeply.

However, for the psalmist to consistently worship in God’s temple, to offer a pleasing sacrifice to God, and to behold God’s glory in His court, was never something to be taken for granted.

Let’s examine how to live a life of worship which is indeed a promising, satisfying and blessed life.

The Bible records a vision that really saddens our hearts. Prophet Ezekiel saw in his vision that the Temple of Jerusalem was filled with idols, and the glory of God was departing from the Temple itself.

First, His glory went up from above the cherubim over the ark, moved to the threshold of the Temple (Ezekiel 9:3) and stopped there. Then, it moved to the east gate of the temple (Ezekiel 10:19）and rest on it. Eventually, the glory of God departed from Jerusalem (Ezekiel 11:23).

The people of God worshipped idols in His Temple. Hence, God had to leave, and He no longer dwelled in Jerusalem. The people of God lost the presence of God because of their sins.

Nevertheless, God was gracious and merciful, and He desired to renew His people. In a later vision, Ezekiel saw the glory of God entering the new Temple. (Ezekiel 43:4） They offered sacrifices to God, and God said, “I will accept you.” (Ezekiel 43:27）

This beautiful picture of men being reconciled to God is not merely the pivotal moment in the book of Ezekiel, but it serves as the pivotal point in human’s life too. The birth of Jesus Christ presents this beautiful picture perfectly before us.

Man is separated from God, and he has lost God’s presence in his life because of his sin, and he does not know how to worship and fear God. The Bible says, men have fallen short of God’s glory.

Yet the birth of the Lord Jesus has brought us salvation, cleansed us completely from all sins and renewed our lives so that we could know God and come before Him in worship. Therefore, we should give thanks to the Lord Jesus whenever we come to worship God and appreciate Him for saving us by giving up His life and by shedding His blood for us.

Thus, it is only rightful to say, the Gospel of salvation of Christ is always the center of our worship! We ought to make Christ as the center of our life.

As we desire for God’s mercy and acceptance when we come before Him and worship in His temple, the most pleasing act to God is that we do His will.

The Old Testament scripture records in great details how the people of God should carry out the ritual of sacrifice offerings and worship. In the time when Jesus was born, Joseph and Mary offered the child Jesus to the Lord by following the instructions given in the law (Luke 2:22-24). We can see that worship and sacrifice offerings were done in accordance with God’s instructions.

Today, we do not bring cows, sheep or pigeons to church and offer them as sacrifices to Him, but the Bible has informed us that God demands us to offer our body as a living sacrifice.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” (Romans 12:1）

By offering our body as a living sacrifice, it means that we live in accordance with the will of God throughout our lifetimes as a way of serving Him. The Lord Jesus is our example, for He said, “I have come to do your will, my God.” （Hebrews 10:7）

Besides, we are also to make our prayer and praises as the sacrifice.

Every Sunday as we sing and praise God in unison in the house of God, we are also offering the sacrifice that pleases Him. “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” (Hebrews 13:15）

For this reason, we remind the congregation constantly that we ought to join the online worship during the pandemic times. We must continue to connect with God and with others. In this way we could continue a life of worship together with other brothers and sisters.

Other than offering our praises to God, the Bible also reminds us that, “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” (Hebrews 13:16). That is offering our wealth with faith and love.

God is pleased with us also when we offer our money and possession. The Lord Jesus once praised the poor widow who offered her two little coins and Mary who offered Jesus an alabaster jar of perfume. Both of them had offered their gifts out of their faith and love for the Lord, and they received God’s acceptance and praises.

Paul, the apostle, also said that the monies offered by the church of Philippi to support his mission work was a pleasing sacrifice to God. “I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.” (Philippians 4:18)

The more faith we have in God, the more we dare to give our monies to be used in the Kingdom of God. We believe that God shall be pleased with our offerings, and He would surely bless us greatly.

By the way, we will be grateful if we truly appreciate Christ’s sacrificial love, that He has given up Himself to save us. Consequently, we will be willing to offer our wealth to be used in the Kingdom of God. A Christian who keeps on saying “thank God” but unwilling to give generously does not really appreciate the grace freely given by Christ through His salvation.

We are in fact sinners who once were drowning and heading towards destruction, yet Christ has saved us. We are merely sinners who are blessed with the free grace of forgiveness from. We can’t contribute anything to have received Christ’s salvation. May Christ’s sacrificial love once again inspires us to love others and to help them and forgive their sins.

We must examine our own hearts and observe if our focus is fixed on God when we come to worship in the temple of God and offer our monies and ourselves to serve Him. Who indeed is the one that we offer our sacrifices to?

The vision of Ezekiel tells us a very sad fact, that the Temple of Jerusalem was filled with idols. It reflects that although the people of God were worshipping in the Temple, yet they actually worshipped themselves instead of worshipping God. Idols are man-made to satisfy human egos themselves.

We should always keep watch over our hearts and remind ourselves that there is only One Person that we could worship, and that is none other than the Lord who has created us and redeemed us. We must follow the instructions of the Lord and the teachings found in the Bible, over and above our own will.

Not only does God enable us to receive the grace and blessings of worshipping God in the Temple, but also the greatest contentment and joy for those who wait and look upon Him in the Temple.

Simeon was a pious man and he believed that God would surely grant His salvation as He promised. Therefore, He was waiting for the coming of the Savior throughout His lifetime. As a result, He really met Jesus, the Savior, in the Temple of God. His heart was filled with exceeding joy, and he embraced baby Jesus in his arms and praised God and said, “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation.” (Luke 2:29-30）

These words show that Simeon could then pass on to eternity because his desire was fulfilled! This inner satisfaction and joy were revealed vividly. The faithful Lord has given His salvation in accordance with His promise and those who look up to Him shall receive the greatest contentment in their lives.

David experienced many wonderful things in his life. He had with him all fame, power, wealth, etc. Yet this was his desire, “and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:6)

Today, may our hearts be fully satisfied, calm and rest in peace when we come before God and look upon Him by faith, just as the psalmist encourages us in verses 13-14, “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

Conclusion

God has already given us the best, Jesus, His One and Only Son. Jesus is also known as “Emmanuel”, and it means, “God with us.” (Matthew 1:23)

Hopefully every one of us shall be reconciled to God through the salvation of Christ Jesus, and that we are able to worship in His court and offer the sacrifices that please His heart. And, may we all be strong, take heart and wait for the LORD in his court. We will surely enjoy the greatest contentment in our lives.

May we also love others and forgive others with the love of Christ, and help those who are around us, so that people might see Christ in our midst, and put their trust in Him and worship Him together with us.