Heb 11:1 ¶ Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

1. Heb 11:1 ¶ Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. 4 ¶ By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 7By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the

2. saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. 8By 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. 9By 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; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11By 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. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

3. 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. 17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called," 19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

4. Gen 1: 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

5. The Faith of Abraham Ro 4:1 ¶ What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” • 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised. 16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.

6. 1.Abraham’s Unwavering Faith Ge 12:1 ¶ Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. By faith Abraham ventured all on God • 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

7. Ge 14:1 ¶ And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam…2 that they made war with Bera king of Sodom… By faith Abraham ventured all on God • 12 They also took Lot, Abram's brother's son who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed. 14 Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. 16 So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people.

8. Ge 17:15 ¶ And God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16 I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her; I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; By faith Abraham believed the impossible. Ro 4: 18 Abraham, who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, "So shall your descendants be.” 19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.

9. Ge 22:1 ¶ After these things God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I." 2 He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering By faith Abraham believed “in Isaac shall your seed be called” • upon one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." • 3 ¶ So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; He 11: 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called,”19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

10. 2. Abraham’s Faltering Faith Ge 12:10 ¶ Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land. 11 And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his By faith he entered the land of promise, by unbelief as soon as a famine arose he forsook it. By faith he went forth against Chedorlaomer, by unbelief he lied about his wife. wife, "Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance. 12 "Therefore it will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, 'This is his wife'; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. 13 "Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you." Ge 20:1 ¶ From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb…and he sojourned in Gerar. 2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.

11. By faith he believed God’s promise of a son, Ge 15:2 ¶ Abram said, "Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 "Look, You have given me no offspring… 4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir." by unbelief he fathered a child by Hagar. Ge 16:1 ¶ Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. 2 So Sarai said to Abram, "See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her." And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai. 3 … Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan. 4 ¶ So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived.

12. God deals patiently with His people! 3. God’s Loving Patience David was not slain by Saul, even though he did flee & begged asylum with Israel’s enemies; instead, he was afterwards exalted to the throne of Israel! Elijah took on Ahab & the 450 prophets of Baal, then ran from the wrath of Jezebel. Though his faith wavered, he continued as God’s prophet and was taken to heaven without seeing death. The Apostles were not disowned because they denied the Lord, no, after their restoration they had the privilege of being the first to preach the risen Christ to the world. So with Abraham. God did not abandon him when his faith faltered, He dealt lovingly and patiently with him, leading him step by step, disciplining him in the school of life’s experiences, until by His patient grace , Abraham, by faith, was able to offer up Isaac.

13. Conclusion What can you take home with you today? • The life of faith is not a life of mounting up with wings as eagles, but a life of walking and not fainting. Though we from time to time may falter, we need to be consistent, as with Abraham, in our pursuit of God.Knowing the He will not mistake the moment for the man.