Hebrews 11:8-10 (NKJV) By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Faith and obedience can be challenging for Christians because they are contrary to what we want. However, walking in faith and obedience brings tremendous blessings. The Bible says obedience is better than sacrifice. God is looking for people who are obedient to His call and have faith that what He promised will come to pass. If we know God and have faith in Him, we can do great exploits because whatever God calls us to do is always beyond our abilities.
Faith is established on God’s calling and the Word that He has spoken to us personally. God gave Abraham an assignment when He spoke to him personally, asking him to leave his family and relatives, and a place of familiarity and comfort. By obeying without knowing where he was going, Abraham demonstrated his faith in God. When God calls us to do something, and the timing seems inconvenient and we find ourselves unwilling to leave our comfort zone, we will need faith to act too!
Another principle of faith is that we should not move unless the Word of God shows us the way. Unfortunately, many of us make decisions without seeking the Lord, and when we encounter difficulties and cry out to Him, we lack the faith and confidence that He will deliver us because there is no substance from the Word to anchor our faith on.
Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
The Word of God and clear calling is what gave Abraham the assurance and substance to his faith despite not knowing where he was going. Therefore, if we don’t have a Word from God, there is no anchor for us to hook our faith when it starts to waver.
whose builder and maker is God. Like Abraham, all of us are pilgrims and sojourners on this earth. We are to wait in expectation to reside in this city where God has prepared a mansion for us—our eternal home. While we are on this earth, there is a general call over our lives and a specific calling during the different seasons of our lives. Just like Abraham, we can live for the Lord by obeying our calling in faith.
Sermon Series: Faith Is Anchored in God’s Word
信心和顺服
希伯来书11:8-10 亚伯拉罕因着信，蒙召的时候，就遵命出去，往将来要得为业的地方去，出去的时候，还不知往哪里去。他因着信，就在所应许之地作客，好像在异地居住帐棚，与那同蒙一个应许的以撒、雅各一样。因为他等候那座有根基的城，就是 神所经营、所建造的。
信心和顺服对基督徒来说是一个挑战，因为它们与我们想要的相反。 然而，凭着信心和顺服行事将带来极大的祝福。 圣经说，听命胜于献祭。 神正在寻找那些顺服祂的呼召并相信祂应许会应验的人。 如果我们认识神并对祂有信心，我们就能刚强行事，因为神呼召我们去做的事总是超出我们的能力范围。
信心是建立在神的呼召和祂亲自对我们所说的话之上。 当神亲自对亚伯拉罕说话时，神给了他一个任务，要他离开他的父家、亲戚，和熟悉且舒适的地方。 亚伯拉罕在还不知往哪里去的情况下就遵命出去，显明了他对神的信心。 当神呼召我们去做一件事，即使时机看似不合适，也觉得我们也不愿意离开自己的舒适区时，我们也需要凭信心去行动！
信心的另一个原则是，我们不应该擅自行动，除非神的话语指引我们当行的路。 不幸的是，我们许多人在做决定时并没有寻求主，当我们遇到困难时才呼求祂，我们缺乏祂会拯救我们的信心和确信是因为没有神话语的实底来锚定我们的信心。
希伯来书11:1 信就是所望之事的实底，是未见之事的确据。
神的话语和明确的呼召是让亚伯拉罕的信心有确信和实底的因素，即使当时自己还不知道要往哪里去。因此，如果没有从神而来的话语，我们就没有能稳固我们信心的锚。
亚伯拉罕是一位前往神所赐于他的应许之地的朝圣者，但他也相信会有一座有根基的城，就是神所经营和所建造的。 像亚伯拉罕一样，我们所有人都是世上的客旅和寄居者。 我们要满怀期待地等待居住在这座城市，神在那里为我们预备了住处——就会是我们永恒的家。 当我们生活在这个世上时，我们的生命中有一个普遍的呼召，而在我们生命的不同季节也会有一个特定的呼召。 就像亚伯拉罕一样，我们可以凭信心顺服呼召来为主而活。
讲章系列：信心植根于神的话语中
Image Source: pixabay.com