Hebrews 13:18-25

   I.  Pray for those who lead.

-pray = proseuchomai = pray; present active imperative

-Spurgeon "My people! Shall I ever lose your prayers? Will ye ever cease your supplication?...Will ye then ever cease to pray? I fear ye have not uttered so many prayers this morning as ye should have done; I fear there has not been so much earnest devotion as might have been poured forth. For my own part, I have not felt the wondrous power I sometimes experience."

-desiring = thelo = want, to will; idea of firm determination

-MacArthur "God is sovereign, but prayer makes things possible that otherwise would not be possible."

 

  II.  Praise our God of peace.

-Jer. 29:11

   a.  He raised the Great Shepherd from the dead.

-brought up = anagago = to lead up, bring up, raise up

-Is. 63:11-14

   b.  His covenant is eternal.

-Kent Hughes "Now reflect for a moment on the richness of our foundation from God: We have his peace/shalom. We have his unbreakable, immutable eternal promise. And, we have his risen Shepherd's care. We have his peace, his promise, his care."

 

 III.  Petition for the body.

   a.  To be equipped to do His will.

-equip = karatizo = equip, set right, make complete, mend

   b.  To be enabled through Christ to accomplish His will.

-O'Brien "Not only does God provide every grace to his people that will enable them to do his will. Through Jesus Christ he also accomplishes in us...what is pleasing to him. The will of God is clarified in relation to what pleases or is acceptable to him."

-John 15:5

   c.  To follow the word of God.

-bear = anechomai = endure, be patient with, give patient attention to

 

-Jesus is the radiance of God's glory and His exact representation.

-Jesus is superior to the angels.

-Jesus is superior to Moses.

-Jesus is superior to Joshua and His rest is superior to the rest Joshua offered.

-Jesus' priesthood is superior to the Levitical priesthood.

-Jesus' ministry is superior to the ministry of the Levitical priests.

-Jesus' sacrifice is superior to the Levitical sacrifices.

-Jesus' covenant is superior to the old covenant.

-Follow the example of those who lived and died in faith.

-Receive God's discipline in perseverance.

-Love one another and demonstrate that love through action.

-Offer sacrifice of praise and service as we look forward to the unshakable kingdom.

Hebrews 13:7-17 Part 3

I.  We have things to remember.

   a.  Remember the example of godly leaders.

   b.  Remember the immutability of Christ.

   c.  Maintain the purity of Christian doctrine.

 II.  We have a place to go.

   a.  Spiritual life is received only through the sacrifice of Christ.

   b.  Jesus was sacrificed outside the camp.

   c.  We must go to Him outside the camp.

 

  III.  We have sacrifices to make.

   a.  Sacrifice of praise.

-give thanks = homologeo = confess, declare, admit, say plainly

-continually = pantos = all, every, each; idea of always.

-I Thess. 5:18, Hos. 14:2

   b.  Sacrifice of good works.

-neglect = epilanthano = to forget, neglect, overlook

-doing good = eupoiias = good deed, doing good

-James 2:15-16

-sharing =koinonia = fellowship, sharing

-pleased = euaresteo = well pleasing, to be pleased with

-Phil. 4:18

 

 IV.  We have leaders to follow.

-obey = peitho = be obedient to, follow, pay attention to, have confidence in

-submit = hupeiko = to give into, yield to, submit to

   a.  Leaders guard the flock.

-keep watch = agrupneo = to be without sleep, be watchful

-II Tim. 4:2, 2:15

-handle = orthotomeo = to cut straight, accurately interpret.

   b.  Leaders are accountable for the flock.

-James 3:1

   c.  Submission to leaders brings joy to them.

-grief = stenazo = to groan.

   d.  Submission to leaders brings joy to the flock.

-unprofitable = alusiteles = of no advantage

-MacArthur "When we do not have a loving and obedient spirit, God is displeased, our leaders are grieved, and we lose our joy as well."

 

Hebrews 13:7-17 Part 2

I.  We have things to remember.

   a. Remember the example of godly leaders.

   b. Remember the immutability of Christ.

   c.  Maintain purity of Christian doctrine.

 

 II.  We have a place to go.

   a.  Spiritual life is received only through the sacrifice of Christ.

-Bruce "The Christian altar was the sacrifice of Christ, the benefits of which were eternally accessible to them...in this new and spiritual order into which they had been introduced by faith, Christ was perpetually available, 'the same yesterday, and today, yes, and forever.'"

-Guthrie "The participants of the new covenant draw spiritual sustenance and life from a source unavailable to those of the tabernacle, and that source is the sacrifice of Christ."

   b.  Jesus suffered outside the camp.

-Lev. 16:27

-sanctify = hagiazo = set apart as sacred, set apart for God, sacred, holy

   c.  We must go to Him outside the camp.

-Ex. 33:7

-reproach = oneidismos = shame, insult, abuse, disgrace, reproach

-Luke 9:23

      i.  This world is passing away.

-lasting = meno = remain, abide

     ii.  We are pursuing the lasting city to come.

-to come = mello = to be about to

-seeking = epizeteo = to search for, pursue, seek after, desire

 

Hebrews 13:7-17 Part 1

I.  We have things to remember.

   a.  Remember the example of godly leaders.

-those who lead = hegeomai = to lead; In Roman culutre used for political, state, military leaders. present active participle

-spoke = laleo = to proclaim, speak; aorist active indicative

-result of their conduct = ekbasis anastrophe

-ekbasis = going out, end

-anastrophe = way of one's life, manner of life

     i.  Carefully evaluate the faithfulness of their lives.

-consider = anatheoreo = to look back upon, to scan closely, contemplate

    ii.  Imitate their faith.

-imitate = mimeomai = to follow another's example, imitate

  b.  Remember the immutability of Christ.

-immutability = not capable or susceptible to change

-Ps. 102:27; Is. 48:12, Rev. 1:17

-F.F. Bruce “Yesterday Jesus ‘offered up entreaties and supplications, with loud cries and tears…'(Heb. 5:7); today he represents His people in the presence of God, a high priest who has a fellow-feeling with them in their weakness, because he ‘endured trial in all respects like’ themselves, ‘while remaining free from sin’’ (4:15); forever he lives, this same Jesus, ‘to intercede for them’ (7:25). His help, His grace, His power, His guidance are permanently at His people’s disposal; why then should they lose heart?”

  c.  Maintain purity of Christian doctrine.

-carried away = paraphero = to carry along, to flow away (like a river) lead astray, carry off, mislead

-varied = poikilos = diverse, varying, literally "many colored."

-strange = xenos = strange, foreign

-I Cor. 8:8

 

Hebrews 13:1-6 Part 2

I.  Value marriage as precious.

-honor = timios = precious, valuable, held in high honor

-I Pet. 1:19

-Koester "To urge that marriage be honored by all, tacitly recognizes the importance of social support for marriage, since fidelity in marriage is more difficult if marriage is not valued by the community."

   a.  Purity before marriage.

-forincators = pornos = sexually immoral

   b.  Fidelity within marriage.

-adulterers = moichos

-I Cor. 6:18

 

  II.  Be content with what you have.

-O'Brien "Both the sexually immoral and those greedy for money pursue a myopic self-gratification that takes them outside the bounds of God's provision."

-Hughes "It is difficult to have it (wealth) and not trust it. Material possessions tend to focus one's thoughts and interests on this world alone. It can enslave so that one becomes possessed by possessions, comforts, and recreations."

-Eccl. 5:10, Luke 16:11-14

Why is contentment important?

1) Contentment shows recognition for who provides for us.

2) Contentment displays trust in God's sovereignty.

3) Discontentment implies God has failed to provide.

4) Discontentment focuses attention away from Christ and onto what we don't have.

   a.  Develop a disposition that is free from the love of money.

-character = tropos = disposition, way or manner of life

-free from love of money = aphilarguros = not loving money, not greedy for money

-content = arkeo = to have enough, (passive) to be content

-what have = pariemi = to be present, to be at hand

-Matt. 6:19-21

How do we develop this disposition?

1) Realize God's goodness.

-Ps. 73:1, 28, 86:5

2) Realize God's omniscience.

-Luke 12:30

3) Consider what we deserve.

-Gen. 32:10, Rom. 3:10, 19

4) Recognize God's supremacy.

-I Sam. 2:7

5) Remember the true riches we already possess.

6) Enjoy what God has given.

-I Tim. 6:17

    b.  Trust God's promise to always be with us.

-Deut. 31:6, 8, Joshua 1:5

-desert = aniemi = to send up, to send back, to let go, to leave without support.

-forsake = egkataleipo = to leave someone in distress, to desert

-Matt. 27:46

       i.  The Lord is our help.

      ii.  Because the Lord is our help, we can renounce fear.

     iii.  Since we can renounce fear, man will not succeed against us.

-C. S. Lewis "He who has God and everything has no more than he who has God alone."

Hebrews 13:1-6

I.  Continue to love fellow believers.

-continue = meno = abide, remain, continue

-Why is it so important?

1) Loving one another honors God.

-Ps. 133:1-3

2) Loving one another is a witness to the world.

-John 13:35

3) Loving one another reveals our identity.

-I John 3:14-15, 23-24

4) Loving one another builds up the body.

-Eph. 4:1-3, 16

 

 II.  Show hospitality.

-I Pet. 4:9, Rom. 12:13

-neglect = epilanthano = forget, neglect, overlook

-hospitality = philoxenia = entertain strangers, hospitality

-Luke 14:12-14

-MacArthur "We minister because of need, not because of any consequences we are able to foresee."

-Matt. 25:40

 

 III.  Minister to the mistreated.

-remember = mimnesko = to call to mind, remember, keep in mind, be concerned about

-Phil. 4:14-16

-I Co. 12:26

-Aristodes said of Christians "If they hear that any one of their number is in prison or in distress for the sake of their Christ's name, they all render aid in his necessity, and if they can, they redeem him, to set him free."

Hebrews 12:25-29

   I.  Do not reject God's Word.

-refuse = paraiteomai = disregard, reject, refuse

    a.  There is certainty of judgment for those who reject God's Word.

-escape = ekpheugo = to flee from, to flee from successfully, to escape

-turn away from = apostrepho = to repudiate, to reject, to turn away from

    b.  There is certainty of an unshakable kingdom for those who receive God's Word.

-Ex. 19:18; Judges 5:4-5, Ps. 68:7-8, 77:18, 114:4

-Haggai 2:6, 21

-II Pet. 2:7, Rev. 21:1-2

 

  II.  Give thanks for the unshakable kingdom we receive.

-receive = paralambano = receive, take; present active participle

-service = latreuo = worship, service

-Rom. 12:1

1) It is by our serving/worship that we express gratitude or thanks.

2) Giving thanks is the basis and motivation for service/worship.

Hebrews 12:18-24

I.  The Law confronts us with judgment and fear.

-Eph. 2:3, Rom. 3:20

-Mt. Sinai represents:

   a.  The unapproachable holiness of God.

-darkness = gnopho

-gloom = zopho

-Ex. 19:18-19

-Ex. 20:21

   b.  The thunder voice which prohibited access.

-Ex. 20:19

-diastello = to command, to order; present active participle

-Ex. 19:12-13

-terrible = phoberos = fearful, terrifying

-sight = phantazomai = spectacle

 

  II.  The Gospel presents us with grace and joy.

-Mt. Zion represents:

   a.  The approachableness of God.

-have come = proseleluthate

   b.  The exuberant assembly of God's creatures.

-general assembly = paneguris = festive gathering

-enrolled = apographo = to write off, to enroll

   c.  The blood which speaks a better word to provide access.

-John Newton "Fading is the world's best pleasure, All its boasted pomp and show; Solid joys and lasting treasure, None but Zion's children know."

Hebrews 12:12-17

I.  Press on toward the goal.

   a.  Strengthen the weak.

-strengthen = anorthoo = to set up straight, to set straight, straighten again.

-Is. 35:3-8

   b.  Keep the path straight.

-paths = trochia = track of a wheel, track made by feet of a runner; 'runner's lane.'

 

 II.  Pursue what builds up.

-pursue = dioko = to hunt, follow after, pursue

   a.  Peace.

-Matt. 5:9, Eph. 4:3, Rom. 14:19, Rom. 12:18, I Cor. 6:7

-Kent Hughes "Conflict in the church brings glory to Satan and disgraces our God. Few things will grieve God more and impede the great race more than conflict in the Body of Christ."

b. Holiness. 
-sanctification = hagiasmos = holiness, consecration, sanctification 

 

III.  Care for one another.

-see to it = episkopeo = to watch over, to watch out for

   a.  To prevent coming short of God's grace

-come short = hustereo = to lack, to come short, to fail

   b.  To prevent allowing bitterness to take root.

-trouble = enochleo = cause trouble, annoy;

-Luke 6:18

-defiled = miaino = to stain, defile; idea of contamination

-Deut. 29:18 (Can you get either the ESV if you have it or NIV version of this)

   c.  To prevent the pattern of worldiness.

-Genesis 26:34-35 (ESV version if you have it)

-was rejected = apodokimazo = to reject, reject after examination

Hebrews 12:4-11 Part 2

1) Corrective

2) Preventative

3) Educational

 

  I.  Continue resisting in the struggle against sin.

 II.  Remember the exhortation of Scripture about God's discipline.

 

III.  Endure trials as an expression of God's discipline.

   a.  Because His discipline confirms the presence of a relationship.

partakers = metochos = one who shares in, partner, companion

   b.  Because respecting earthly fathers should lead to greater submission to God.

-respect = entrepo = respect, regard, fear, reverence.

-be subject = hupotasso = submit to, be subject to, be under the authority of another

 

 IV.  God disciplines us for our benefit.

-good = sumphero = to be better, to ones advantage, something done for some else's advantage; "for our advantage" "for what is best for us"

-How is it for our advantage?

   a.  For us to share in His holiness.

-share = metalambano = share in, receive

-holiness = hagiotes = idea of God's character and essential attribute of God.

-II Peter 1:4

-Thomas Schriener "Peter was not saying that human beings will actually become divine or that they will share in the divine nature in every respect. Believers will share in the divine nature in that they will be morally perfected; they will share in the moral excellence that belongs to God."

-Jonathan Edwards "The saints are beautiful and blessed by a communication of God's holiness and joy, as the moon and planets are bright by the sun's light. The saint hath spiritual joy and pleasure by a kind of effusion of God on the soul."

   b. For the fruit of peace and righteousness to be produced in us.

-trained = gumnazo = exercise, train; perfect tense

-F.F. Bruce "The person who accepts discipline at the hand of God as something designed by his heavenly Father for his good will cease to feel resentful and rebellious; he has 'calmed and quieted' his soul, which thus provides fertile soil for the cultivation of a righteous life, responsive to the will of God."

-Is. 42:1-3

Hebrews 12:4-11 Part 1

C.S. Lewis "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world."

-discipline = paideia = discipline, instructive discipline

1) Corrective

2) Preventative

-II Cor. 12:7-8

3) Educational

 

  I.  Continue resisting in the struggle against sin.

-resisted = antikathistemi = to stand in opposition against (as in on the battle line)

-striving against = antagonizomai = to struggle against

 

 II.  Remember the exhortation of Scripture about God's discipline.

-Ps. 18:33

   a.  Do not disregard His discipline.

-disregard = oligopeo = to think little of, think lightly, neglect

-MacArthur "It is usually because we take our problems too seriously that we take the Lord's discipline too lightly. Our focus is on the experience rather than on our heavenly Father and on what He wants to do for us through the experience."

   b.  Do not grow weary enduring His discipline.

-faint = ekluo = to release, grow weary or slack, give out

   c.  His discipline demonstrates His love.

   d.  His discipline demonstrates we are His children.

-scourges = mastigoo = to hit with a whip

-Prov. 23:13-14

-Theodore Laetsch "His plans concerning his people are always thoughts of good, of blessing. Even if he is obliged to use the rod, it is the rod not of wrath, but the Father's rod of chastisement for their temporal and eternal welfare. There is not a single item of evil in his plans for his people, neither in their motive, nor in their conception, nor in their revelation, nor in their consummation."

Hebrews 12:1-3 Part 2

How do we run the race of faith well?

I.  Take encouragement from the faithful saints who preceded us.

II. Eliminate hindrances.

  a.  Put aside things that distract.

  b.  Put as the sin that entangles.

 

III.  Fix our attention on Jesus.

-fixing = aphorao = look away from one thing and concentrate on another

-II Pet 1:3, I Pet. 4:11, Eph. 1:19-20

   a.  He is the author and perfecter of faith.

-author = archegos = pioneer, author, leader

-I Pet. 1:20

-Jude 4-5,

-I Cor. 10:1-4

-perfecter = teleiotes = one who brings to the goal, one who brings to completion

   b.  He endured the cross.

     i.  Disregarding the disgrace of the cross.

-despising = kataphroneo = to think down on something, treat with contempt, look down on, think nothing of

    ii.  For the joy set before Him.

-John 17:4-5

-sat down = kathizo = to take one's seat; perfect active indicative

 

  IV.  Consider how Jesus endured.

-consider = analogizomai = to reckon up, to count up, reason with careful deliberation

     a.  He willingly endured the hostility of sinners.

     b.  Let His endurance enable us to not lose heart.

-grow weary = kamno = become weary, become discouraged

-lose = ekluo = (passive) to give out, become weary or slack

-O'Brien "When believers, who are still running their race, fix their eyes on Jesus and rely on Him for support and help, they know that He is the perfecter of faith who is seated at God's right hand, having endured the cross and shame for them. His exemplary fidelity is underscored so as to encourage them to persevere in faithfulness."

Hebrews 12:1-3 Part 1

Run the race set before us.

-run = trecho = run, exert oneself, make an effort, speed on

-How do we run the race of faith well?

 

  I.  Take encouragement from the faithful saints who preceded us.

1. Examples.

2. Witnesses

-witness = martus = one who gives testimony, witness, martyr

-I Cor. 9:24

 

  II.  Eliminate hindrances.

-race = agon = struggle, contest, race

-endurance = hupomene = patient endurance

-set before us = prokeimai = to lie before

-lay aside = apotithemi = to lay aside from oneself, be done with, take off

    a.  Put aside things that distract.

-encumbrance = ogkos = bulk, mass, weight, impediment

    b.  Put aside sin that entangles.

-so easily entangles = euperistatos = causing entanglement;

-Eric Liddell "The secret of my success over the 400 meters is that I run the first 200 meters as fast as I can. Then, for the second 200 meters, with God's help, I can run faster."

Hebrews 11:32-40 Part 2

I.  Through faith we conquer in the struggles.

-Through faith God enabled them to:

   a.  Gain great victories.

   b.  Be delivered from death.

   c.  Become strong through weakness.

 

  II.  Through faith we continue through suffering.

-Matt. 10:22-31

-Through faith God enabled them to:

    a.  Persevere in persecution.

-tortured = tumpanizo = torture, strike, pound, beat

-release = apolutrosis = release by payment of a price, redemption

-mockings = empaigmos = mocking, heaping sarcastic derision upon

    b.  Persevere unto death.

-tempted = peirazo = to make proof of, test

-I Kings 19:10

-Luke 9:24-25

    c.  Persevere in deprivation.

-Phil. 4:10-12

-(picture of Cappadocia)

-Bruce "They were outlawed as people who were unfit for civilized society; the truth was that civilized society was unfit for them."

-Matt. 8:20

  

III.  Through faith we are convinced of our salvation.

-gained approval = martureo = bear witness, testify; (passive)

-Bruce "Faith in God carries with it no guarantee of comfort in this world; this was no doubt one of the lessons which our author wished his readers to learn. But it does carry with it greate reward in the only world that ultimately matters."

Hebrews 11:32-40 Part 1

I.  Through faith we conquer in the struggles.

-Rom. 8:37

-Judges 7:15

-Judges 5:1-2, 31

-Judges 11:26

 

-Through faith God enabled them to:

    a. Gain great victories.

-conquered = kategonizo = to struggle against, to overcome, subdue

    b.  Be delivered from death.

-Dan. 6:10, 22

-Dan. 3:16-18

-edge = stomata = mouth

-sword = machaira = short 18-24 inch sword for hand to hand combat

    c.  Become strong through weakness.

-O'Brien "The point is that they were not mighty in and of themselves; rather through faith they became mighty in battle. 'Conflict did not weaken them, but was the occasion on which they became strong - an important idea for the dispirited listeners.'"

-II Cor. 12-7-10, 4:7-10, Eph. 3:16

Hebrews 11:29-31

 

  I.  By faith we have courage to obey when our path is difficult.

-Ex. 14:10-12, 13-14,

-Ex. 14: 21:22

-when they attempted = he peiran labontes = when they attempted to take

-drowned = katapino = to swallow down, to engulf

-O'Brien "Our author, who is aware of the biblical account with its emphasis on God's awesome salvation, uses it to draw attention to the theme of faith. Israel's trust consisted of their willingness to go forward at God's word, and so they were saved. By contrast, the implication is that the Egyptians came to grief because they had no faith."

 

  II.  By faith we maintain the resolve to obey when our path seems illogical.

-Joshua 5:13-15

 

 III.  By faith we sacrifice all to obey seeing the high price of the path of disobedience.

-Joshua 2:9-11

-Gen. 15:16, Deut. 20:17

-Francis Schaeffer "When the children of Israel were about to leave Egypt, they were given the blood of the Passover lamb under which to be safe. When the people were about the enter the land, they were met by a different, but parallel sign - a red cord hanging from the window of a believer."

-Joshua 6:24-25

-Numb. 7:12, I Chronicles 2:10-11, Matt. 1:4-6

-Luke 9:23-26

Hebrews 11:23-28

I.  By faith we remain obedient in the face of the world's hostility.

-Ex. 2:1-4

-Acts 4:19-20, 5:29

   a.  Moses' parents trusted God for his future.

-Acts 7:20

-Calvin "There was some sort of mark of excellence to come, engraved on the boy, which gave promise of something out of the ordinary for him."

   b.  Moses' parents trusted God not fearing the king.

-Acts 5:29

 

 II.  By faith we know in whom we have our identity.

   a.  Moses repudiated the world's prestige.

-had grown up = megas genomenos = became great

-Ex. 2:11-13

-Acts 7:22-26

   b.  Moses refused the temporary pleasures of sin.

-Job 20:5

-James 1:15

-Bruce "Even if (as some have imagined) the crown of Egypt was within Moses' reach had he remained where he was, and his name had been perpetuated in history as the greatest and wisest of the rulers of the land, he would never have attained such a reputation as he did by making the great refusal. But when Moses made that refusal he did not foresee the reputation which he was going to establish for himself; he had nothing to look forward to but privation, danger, scorn, and suffering...To have remained at Pharaoh's court would have been lasting dishonor, and that dishonor would be a price to high to pay for material advantages which at best would be but short-lived."

   c.  Moses willingly received the reproach of Christ.

-considering = hegeomai =consider, regard, think; involves careful thought, not a quick decision

     i.  The reproach of Christ was greater than the riches of Egypt.

-reproach = oneidismos = reviling, disgrace, insult

-riches = ploutos =riches, treasure, wealth

-treasure = thesauros = treasure, store, treasure box, storeroom

-Phil. 3:7-8

    ii.  He was looking toward the eternal reward.

-looking to = apoblepo = to look away, (with preposition eis) to look toward; imperfect act. ind.

   

  III.  By faith we refuse to allow fear to deter us.

Ex. 14:1-4

-endured = kartereo = to be strong, to hold out, to persist in any undertaking

 

  IV.  By faith we trust confidently in God's provision.

-kept = poieo = to do, to make; perfect active indicative

-Ex. 12:23-27

Hebrews 11:17-22

I.  In faith we place God and His directives above all.

    a.  Abraham obeyed to sacrifice his only begotten son.

-only begotten = monogenes = only, only begotten, unique

-Gen. 22:1-3

-offered = prosphero = to offer, sacrifice, present; occurs twice

First occurrence is perfect active indicative

Second occurrence is imperfect active indicative

    b.  Abraham believed in God's ability to raise the dead.

-considered = logizomai = to calculate, count, reckon

-Gen. 22:4-8

-type = parabole = parable, figure, symbol

 

  II.  In faith we look beyond death assured of God's promises.

-Gen. 28:1-4

-Gen. 50:25-26

-make mention of = mnemomeuo = to remember, to keep in mind

-O'Brien "For the listeners of Hebrews there was a pertinent message. 'Joseph's confidence of being taken to the promised land after his death reinforces the hope that the believer's final rest will be in the place that God promised.'"

Hebrews 11:13-16

I.  Genuine faith finishes well.

-Adrian Rogers "A faith that fizzles before the finish was flaw from the first."

-II Tim. 4:6-8

   a.  The Patriarchs trusted in God's promises without receiving their fulfillment.

-Kent Hughes "Death is the final test of faith..living by faith right up to the last breath. The beauty of their dying was that they died in faith though never receiving the fullness of the universal blessing that had been promised."

   b.  The Patriarchs believed God's promises while only seeing them from afar.

-welcomed from a distance = aspazomai = greet from afar; idea of passengers on a ship greeting friends on shore

   c.  The Patriarchs confessed they were pilgrims in a foreign land.

-Gen. 23:4

-stranger = xenos = foreigner

-exiles = parepidemos = one who makes his home along side of, one from another country, pilgrim, one who stays for a while in a strange place

-I Pet. 1:17, 2:11; Phil. 3:20

   d.  The Patriarchs refused to consider returning to the land they left.

-thinking of = mnemoneuo = to remember, keep in mind

-Morris "All these men wholeheartedly accepted God's word. Had they been earthly minded, they could have gone back to Mesopotamia. But their hearts were set on their heavenly home and they did not go back."

 

 II.  Genuine faith longs for its true, better home.

-desire = oregomai = to stretch oneself out for, aspire, yearn for, strive for

   a.  God was not ashamed to be called their God.

-Mark 3:34, John 15:12-15

   b.  God has prepared an unshakable city for His people.

-has prepared = etoimazo = prepare, make ready.

-Rev. 21:2

-Bruce "The earthly Canaan and the earthly Jerusalem were but temporary object-lessons point to the saints' everlasting rest, the well-founded city of God. Those who put their trust in God receive a full reward, and that reward must belong not to this transient world-order but to the endure order which participates in the life of God."

Hebrews 11:8-12

I.  By faith we obey as we walk the unseen path before us.

-Ps. 119:105

-Josh. 24:2

-Acts 7:2-3, Gen. 11:31

-obeyed = hupoakouo = to listen to, to attend to

   a.  Abraham left not knowing where he was going.

   b.  Abraham lived as a foreigner in the land of promise.

-Acts 7:5

-alien = paroikeo = to dwell along side of, be a foreigner residing in a foreign country

   c.  Abraham looked forward to God's permanent inheritance.

-ekdexomai = to wait for expectantly, look forward to

-architect = technites = craftsman, designer

-builder = demiourgos = maker, builder, workman

 

 II.  By faith we know nothing is impossible for God.

-Matt. 19:26, Luke 1:37, Jer 32:17, 27

   a.  God enabled the aged couple to conceive.

-Rom. 4:19-20

 

-O'Brien "The implication for the listeners is patently clear: let them trust in the God who will certainly be faithful to his final promises to them.”

 

    b.  God brought a multitude out of one.