Hebrews 11:7-8 (NKJV) By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. 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.
All people are God’s workmanship, uniquely made with specific gifts and talents. Abraham, Noah, King David, Esther, Naomi, Daniel, and Joseph in the Old Testament each had their calling and role at different times in history. Likewise, we have different callings, roles, gifts, talents, and life experiences to fulfil God’s purpose on earth.
No callings and roles that God gave them were easy, and each of them needed to respond to God’s calling by faith, even if it seemed silly to others. For example, Noah built an ark far away from the sea; Abraham didn’t know where he was going, yet he responded in faith and obedience to leave the land of Ur. Both Abraham and Noah achieved something for God despite not fully comprehending why God wanted them to build an ark or go to an unknown place. That is achievement faith.
All that God needed was faith and obedience. Both Noah and Abraham had specific callings and instructions from God. Building a ship in the middle of a vast land mass wasn’t just a good idea or an ego trip for Noah to prove a point to others, but a specific instruction from God with the details given to him for the ark. Similarly, Abraham was told to leave without knowing where he was going, but he knew God would bless him and make him great. Both had specific callings but weren’t given a complete picture of how they would happen. They acted by faith in starting to build the Ark and leaving the land of Ur. Noah and Abraham were able to take God at His Word because they knew it was a word of unrivalled authority, immense power, and complete reliability.
Both Abraham and Noah knew God and walked with God. God’s instruction gave substance to their faith even though they didn’t understand how it could ever come to pass. As far as they were concerned, it was sufficient that God had given them the instructions. The word and the calling were the anchors of their faith.
Likewise, we need to take God’s Word of the covenant, which is the Bible, as His assurance to us. It will help us to anchor our faith and give substance to it once God has instructed us. Faith is taking God’s instruction, leading, and calling without seeing anything ahead of us; it means a Word from God will settle and anchor our trust in Him.
Sermon Series: Growing Your Faith in God （Part 2）
成就的信心
希伯来书11:7-8 诺挪亚因着信，既蒙神指示他未见的事，动了敬畏的心，预备了一只方舟，使他全家得救；因此就定了那世代的罪，自己也承受了那从信而来的义。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。
我们每个人都是神的杰作，被独特地创造，并拥有特别的恩赐与才能。在旧约中，亚伯拉罕、诺亚、大卫王、以斯帖、拿俄米、但以理和约瑟在历史的不同阶段都承担了独特的呼召和角色。同样，神赋予我们每个人不同的呼召、角色、恩赐、才能和人生经历，以成就祂在地上的旨意。
神所赐的呼召和角色从来都不容易，每一个人都需要凭信心回应祂的呼召，即使看似荒谬或不被他人理解。例如，诺亚在远离海洋的地方建造方舟；亚伯拉罕在不知道要去哪里的情况下凭信心离开吾珥地。尽管他们无法完全明白神的计划为何如此，却凭信心和顺服完成了祂的旨意。这正是“成就的信心”。
神所需要的只是信心与顺服。诺亚和亚伯拉罕都从神领受了明确的呼召和指示。诺亚建造方舟并不是出于个人的好主意或为了向他人证明自己的能力，而是根据神详细的指示完成的任务。同样，亚伯拉罕虽然不知道前方的旅程如何，但他相信神的应许，相信祂会赐福并成就祂的计划。他们都未被告知如何具体实现这些计划，却凭信心迈出了第一步：诺亚开始建造方舟，亚伯拉罕离开了他的家乡。他们之所以能够如此信靠神的话语，是因为他们知道神的话语具有无可比拟的权威、无限的能力和绝对的可靠性。
诺亚和亚伯拉罕都深知神，并与神同行。神的指示为他们的信心提供了实质，尽管他们未能理解这些指示将如何实现。对他们来说，只要神发出了命令，这就足够了。神的话语和祂的呼召成为他们信心的锚点。
同样，我们也应当以神圣约之言——圣经——作为祂赐予我们的保证。当神向我们发出指引时，祂的话语会帮助我们坚定信心，为信心提供实质。信心就是在看不见前路时，仍然接受并顺服神的指示、引导和呼召。这意味着，神的一句话语足以稳固我们对祂的信靠，并成为我们信心的锚点。
讲章系列：在神里面让信心生发成长 （第二部份）
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