Hebrews 11:11 (NKJV): By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.
Genesis 18:10-11 (NKJV): And He said, “I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son.”(Sarah was listening in the tent door behind him.) Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.
Although Abraham and Sarah are named in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews Chapter 11, they faced many challenges when they responded to God’s call on their lives. God showed us their strengths and weaknesses. There are many lessons we can learn from them.
It is recorded in several passages in the Bible that Sarah had passed childbearing age. Therefore, it would be foolish for Sarah to think she could conceive if God had not promised her. If God had not promised, it would be foolish and presumptuous to believe something, especially without supporting facts, figures, and data. Just like it would have been unwise and presumptuous for Peter to attempt to defy the law of gravity by walking on water if the Lord had not said, “Come” after Peter had wisely asked, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” (Matthew 14:28-29, NKJV). Similarly, Moses said to God, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.” (Exodus 33:15, NKJV). Yet, many Christians have done things without any promise from God.
Sarai was barren until God gave them the promise. Whenever God has promised us something, even though we do not deny the facts, data, and figures, we must not be affected by the natural. What is important is that God has promised! That’s faith—faith in God’s promise. What gave substance to Sarah’s faith and the ability to draw strength to conceive is what God had promised! The promise was, “Sarah your wife shall have a son” (Genesis 18:10). They had a word from God that Abraham would be a father of many nations and that she would bear a child! All things are possible for those who believe after God has given the promise. What gave substance to Sarah’s faith was the promise given to her.
Both Abraham and Sarah were fully convinced that what God had promised, He was able to perform. They didn’t waver or doubt God’s ability to bring to pass what He had promised even though they had aged and were past childbearing age. Therefore, we can conclude that, if God has promised us something, we can stand in faith in His promise and be unaffected by facts and figures even though we don’t deny them. If God has spoken, it is settled, and a done deal!
Sermon Series: The Walk of Faith
撒拉的信心之旅
希伯来书1 1 :1 1：因着信，连撒拉自己，虽然过了生育的岁数，还能怀孕，因她以为那应许她的是可信的。
创世记18:10-11：三人中有一位说。到明年这时候，我必要回到你这里。你的妻子撒拉必生一个儿子。撒拉在那人后边的帐篷门口也听见了这话。亚伯拉罕和撒拉年纪老迈，撒拉的月经已经断绝。
虽然亚伯拉罕和撒拉的名字出现在希伯来书第十一章的信心名人堂中，但当他们回应上帝对他们的生命召唤时，却是面临了许多挑战。上帝向我们展示了他们的长处和软弱。我们可以从他们身上学到很多功课。
圣经中多处记载，撒拉已过了生育年龄。如果不经上帝许诺撒拉就认为自己还能怀孕，那么她就是愚蠢的。如果在没有上帝的应许的前提下就相信某件事，那将是愚蠢和自以为是的，尤其是在没有事实、数字和数据作支持的情况下。正如彼得，若非主说“来”，便试图违背重力在水上行走，未免显得不明智且自大。（马太福音14:28-29）同样，摩西对上帝说：“你若不亲自和我同去，就不要把我们从这里领上去。”（出埃及记33:15）然而，许多基督徒却在没有任何上帝应许的情况下行事。
撒莱原本是不育的，直到上帝赐下了应许。当上帝向我们许下诺言时，即使我们不否认事实、数据和数字，也不应被自然所影响。重要的是，上帝已经许下了诺言！这就是信心——对上帝应许的信心。给予撒莱的信心以实底并汲取力量去怀孕的能力是上帝的应许！这个应许是：“你的妻子撒莱必生一个儿子”（创世记18:10)。他们从上帝那里得到了一句话，那就是亚伯拉罕将成为多国之父，而她将生下一个孩子！对于那些在上帝赐下应许之后就信了的人来说，凡事都是可能的。给撒莱的信心以实底的是她所得到的应许。
亚伯拉罕和撒拉都深信，上帝所应许的，祂能够实现。即使年老且已过了生育年龄，他们也没有动摇或怀疑上帝实现祂应许的能力。因此，我们可以得出结论：如果上帝向我们许诺了什么，我们就可以凭信心站在祂的应许中，至于那些事实和数据，尽管我们并不否认它们，却是无动于衷。上帝若一言既出，那么就是搞定了的，是木已成舟了。
讲章系列：信心之路
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