FAITH OF ABELHebrews 11:1 & 4 (NIV) - Genesis 4:1-16 (NIV)
The 11th chapter of Hebrews is commonly known as "Faith's hall of Fame" We would do well to not just read Hebrews 11, but to study the lives of those mentioned. Hebrews 11 starts this way: "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.."
KJV - "...faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen...
We need to understand the New Testament meaning of the word "HOPE" It is not what we do when we "hope" or "wish" It is not wishful thinking. It is "hope" because it is not in our hand.. In the New Testament it is more of a confidence than a wishing. It is a hope that the Sun will come up tomorrow. It is hope because it is not tomorrow, yet. It is confidence because It is pretty certain that it will be a reality. We KNOW that the Sun will rise tomorrow! It is hope, however, because we do not yet see and feel the Sun shine from tomorrow.
The modern understanding of "hope" can be expressed: "I hope I get a million dollars tomorrow." That is wishful thinking! Why? - Because it is highly unlikely that I will get that amount of money tomorrow. I don't even buy a lottery ticket!
Faith, then, is the assurance that the thing we don't have yet will come. FAITH knows that God is the rewarder of those that diligently see HIM It must be HIM that we seek, not the "goodies" Paul writing to the Hebrews draws from their history to illustrate these truths.
Paul looks at ABEL. Do you know the story of Cain & Abel! The Holy Spirit tells us something about Abel.
He offered an excellent sacrifice to God
It is interesting and I think worth noting that the 1st man mentioned as a man of faith was Abel Abel was a man of worship. Worship is the highest function of human live. God said that man was "created for my glory" As we look into the lives of the Bible's great men, it is not their works or ability that makes them great. It is their relationship to God It was their worship Worship is far more important that our works and our abilities We can do no better than to truly worship. As ABEL worshiped he took a sacrifice to God
Do I need to tell you that our worship will often be sacrificial? Abel had the confidence (assurance) that his sacrifice would be acceptable Why? Because it was what the Lord had told him to do. The difference between Abel's sacrifice ana that of Cain was ATTITUDE.
Abel had the proper attitude.
Cain was proud and egotistical. As we look at worship, we need to understand that it was not the place that was important. It does not matter top God where we worship! There was no building or structure in which to worship. YOU DO NOT NEED A BUILDING TO WORSHIP. We need to be worshiping wherever you are. The gift in itself, is not the key ingredient. Remember, God's word tells us that God looks on the heart not the outside. God accepts the man, not the gift. God know our heart and our motivations. He accepts us and because He accepts us, He accepts our gifts. Abel's attitude was pure and wholesome. He wasn't perfect! When we come to God we must be honest!!
You may be able to fool the world by your actions. God will never be fooled by our deception. Remember Christ watching the widow give her "mite"? Christ said that she had given more than all the others with larger gifts. There is nothing wrong with the larger gift! The principle is that it is our heart - ATTITUDE It is not the volume of our spiritual business that impresses God It is the integrity of our spiritual business. Our natural tendency is to do a lot, give a lot. God's way is to obey and admit that we are sinners and wrong! We want to give away a fortune, God says CONFESS AND REPENT. God forgives the past we must life right today. God provided the cross for our salvation. We must admit that we need His sacrifice
Our confidence is not in our puny gifts, but in the work of Christ. Faith is knowing that He will save us. We put our confidence in the cross and the blood of Christ.
What is Abel's message to us? OUR WORSHIP IS BASED ON FAITH IN GOD AND HIS WORD. We worship God in our heart long before we bring Him our gifts. Our offerings must be according to God's word. Our worship is not with things or rituals. Our worship must be in Spirit and Truth.
Worship is accepting what God is saying to us. Faith worship goes past feelings! Faith goes beyond and obstacle to our worship Faith worships IN SPITE of what is around us!! Faith does not worship because of our atmosphere! Things around us may or may not provoke us to worship.
Abel's worship was a sacrifice
Our worship will also be sacrificial.
It will reach our to God regardless of what is going on around us. Let's accept Christ and worship Him.
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