The Fulfillment of Faith | Pastor Grant Ethridge | Liberty Live Church

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♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Good morning. Welcome to Liberty Live Church. We are so glad you decided to join us. Today's your first day at Liberty. We'd love to meet you. So text CONNECT to 40371, tap the seat back in front of you, or visit us at one of our Next Step centers after the service today. Good to meet you. Si hablas español, nos encantaría que nos acompañaras a nuestros servicios todos los domingos en nuestro campus de Hampton. Para más información, favor de mandar la palabra ESP al 40371. Te esperamos. Because of your generosity, lives are being changed right here in Hampton Roads and around the world. When you give, you partner with us to help change lives, communities, and the world for Jesus Christ. You can give through our website, tap the seat in front of you, or through an envelope at your campus today. Thank you for investing in all that God is doing

through the work here at Liberty. You know, God is moving in so many incredible ways here at Liberty, from kids to students to young adults to senior adults. There are so many ways for you to find community, discover your purpose, and grow deeper in your relationship with Jesus. So right now, let's look at some exciting things coming up. Don't miss what's happening all throughout the week. So follow us on social media and connect with your campus Facebook group. Thanks again for being here today where it's not just church, it's life. Don't miss what's happening all throughout the week. So follow us on social media and connect with your campus Facebook group. Thanks again for being here today where it's not just church, it's life. ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ It's been a summer of vacations, but we've been busy over here at the church going on mission trips and serving the community and the world. So an exciting time. And this, Jenny, is the last week of this series that has been a long journey by faith according to the book of Hebrews.

Yes, but y'all come back. We want to finish strong today, but next Sunday is going to be super exciting. Super special. We have a special guest speaker. I don't want to give it away. I don't want to give it away either, but you've got to tune online next Sunday. Tune in or come in person if you can be here in person. Our schedules are going to be a little bit different even at the campuses. We're not having local preaching by our campus pastors. And this brings up a great point. Follow us on social media at Liberty Live Church so you can stay in the loop of all things happening at the church. And it's an exciting thing, speaking of that, because 21 Days of Prayer is happening so soon. It's always so many of our people's favorite time of the year, and we're going at it in August. That's right. August 2nd through 22nd. So mark your calendars. You're going to want to be here weekday morning, 6 a.m., Saturday mornings at 9 a.m. We let you sleep in a little bit more, but we're also going to be online. So if you can't come in person to one of our physical campus locations, we're going to be right here online, folks. Yes, and I'm sure you'll hear so much if you're out of campus from the campus pastors on this as we get ready to dive in. But it's going to be an exciting season, but it's going to be an exciting day as we close out of our By Faith Series. Jenny, are you ready to worship? I'm so ready. Let's get to it, y'all. Come on. Where are those chains that once held me? I'm free, I'm free, I'm free, I'm free. My sin is gone, how can it be? I'm free, I'm free, I'm free, I'm free. And look at what the Lord has done. I'm never going back to the way I was. I'll sing, I'll dance, bless, I believe. I'm free, I'm free. Thank God I'm free. I've got a friend that never quits. No other love's as good as this.

And I don't care what anyone says. I'll never be ashamed to praise like this. Where are those chains that once held me? I'm free, I'm free, I'm free, I'm free. My sin is gone, how can it be? I'm free, I'm free. And look at what the Lord has done. I'm never going back to the way I was. I'll sing, I'll dance, bless, I believe. I'm free, I'm free. Thank God I'm free. You took the cross and you broke your body. You shed your blood, now the sinner can't see. My debt is paid and my record is clean. I couldn't do it, so you did it for me. You took the cross and you broke your body. You shed your blood, now the sinner can't see. My debt is paid and my record is clean. I couldn't do it, so you did it for me. You took the cross and you broke your body. You shed your blood, now the sinner can't see. My debt is paid and my record is clean. I couldn't do it, so you did it for me. I couldn't do it, so you did it for me. I couldn't do it, so you did it for me. Only God can do it. And only God can do it. Where are those chains I once held me? I'm free, I'm free. I'm free, I'm free.

My sin is gone, I can't escape. I'm free, I'm free. And looking what the Lord, looking what the Lord has done. I'm never going back. I'm free, I'm free. Thank God I'm free. You took the cross and you broke your body. You shed your blood and now there's sin in heaven. My debt is paid and my record is clean. I couldn't do it so you did it for me. You took the cross and you broke your body. You shed your blood and now there's sin in heaven. My debt is paid and my record is clean. I couldn't do it so you did it for me. I couldn't do it so you did it for me. I couldn't do it so you did it for me. And look at what the Lord has done. I'm never going back to the way I was. And look at what the Lord has done. I'm never going back to the way I was. And look at what the Lord has done. I'm never going back. I'm never going back, no. And look at what the Lord has done. I'm never going back to the way I was. Thank you, Lord. I'm never going back. I'm never going back. Praise Him above the heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Oh, praise Him, praise Him. Oh, praise Him. There's shadow and death and still I know that He has good plans. He has good plans for me. So I won't take heart in deserts and gardens. Cause He has good plans. He has good plans for me. If I know my Father, I know my Father has good plans. If I know my Father has good plans. He has good plans for me. The Lord is my Savior. So why should I doubt my victory? Why would I question Him? The Lord in His sight that comforts me. He quiets all wonders. He quiets the storm inside me. So what could be better? In walking with Him when I believe that He has good plans. He has good plans for me. So I won't take heart in deserts and gardens.

Cause He has good plans. Cause He has good plans for me. If I know my Father, I know my Father has good plans. He has good plans for me. ♪ So I won't take heart in deserts and gardens ♪ ♪ Yes, He has, the Lord's all I want ♪ ♪ Yes, He has, good will is for me ♪ ♪ I know my Father, I know my Father has good will ♪ Yes, it does, yes, it does. My Father has good will. He won't leave you. He won't forsake you. Yes, He has, yes, He has good will. Yes, He has, yes, He has good will. So close to the throne, we sing surely. Cause surely, the goodness and mercy will follow after me. Surely, the goodness and mercy will follow after me. So fear will not find me, cause I'll be dwelling in the house of God. Cause surely, the goodness and mercy will follow after me. So fear will not find me, cause I'll be dwelling in the house of God. Cause surely, the goodness and mercy will follow after me. So fear will not find me, cause I'll be dwelling in the house of God. Cause surely, the goodness and mercy will follow after me. So fear will not find me, cause I'll be dwelling in the house of God. Cause He has good will.

He has good will. Yes, my Father has good will for me. So I will take heart in this divine. Cause He has good will. Cause He has good will for me. I know my Father, I know my Father has good will. Yes, He does. Good will. Good will. I know my Father, I know my Father has good will. He has good will for me. He has good will. I know my Father, I know my Father has good will. Good bless you, we need you. Lord, we thank you. You see us, good bless you, God. We sing praise. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Oh, praise Him, praise Him. Praise Him. Yes, praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him. Yes, praise God from whom all blessings flow. Blessings flow. Every good gift is from Him. Every good gift is from Him. Just praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Oh, praise Him, oh, praise Him. Give Him praise this morning. Give Him praise this morning.

Oh, yes, you praise Him, praise Him. Come on, is anybody thankful for Jesus this morning? Come on, give Jesus the highest praise. We love you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Jesus said, if you, being earthly fathers, know how to give good gifts to your children, listen to this, how much more so will our Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask? So Jesus said, not how much more so will God give good gifts to you. That's not what Jesus said. Not how much more so will God bring blessing on your life. That's not what Jesus said. He said the only thing that matters, how much more so will He give the Holy Spirit to you? Spirit to those who ask. I wonder what the greatest need is in your life this morning. I wonder what the greatest need is that you have. We've got to get to the to the point in our lives that we understand when you have Him, you have everything. And the reason that Jesus could say with so much confidence, if you know how to give good gifts, how much more so will our Father give the Holy Spirit, is because Jesus knew that's what you and I would need. More than any outcome, more than any circumstance, more than any reality we could ever walk in, He knew if He gave us Himself, then we would have everything. And this morning I want you to know His Holy Spirit is here among us. And whatever you need, you can ask Him, you can run to Him, you can call on Him, and you can receive everything you need in Him. Are you thankful for the Lord this morning? I really believe you were meant to be here. And you weren't meant to be here just to enjoy an hour of church. You were meant to be here to experience all that God has for you. So I'm just so, I'm so jealous for you in your life that you

would not leave this place this morning without receiving what you need from the Lord. He has what you need. If it's your first time here, I want to say welcome home. You're meant to be here. And I really believe God led you here this morning. He called you here for a reason. And this is a big family here at Liberty, and we're so thankful that you're here with us. We can't wait for you to really find out who we are as a church and become part of the family. And this is one of the Sundays, we only do this every quarter or so, this is one of the Sundays when we get to tell you more about who we are. And so I would love for you to attend LifeTrack today. You can join us after this service, or you can join us after the second service. We have lunch provided, food provided, child care provided, and we'd love the opportunity to get to tell you more about who we are so that you can join us and become part of the family. No obligation. We'd love to just be able to see you at LifeTrack today. And I got to let you know, church family, we have people literally all over the world this morning for the sake of the gospel. I can't even tell you where all we're at, but we have four teams out this week right now taking the gospel to the ends of the earth. Your giving, your generosity makes that possible, and I'm already hearing report about what God is doing around the world through different people groups, and I can't wait to share with you the way God moves this week through our missions teams. And I want you to be praying for them. I want you to let them know, let heaven know what we want God to do around the world this week. Right now give somebody a high-five, a handshake. Tell them that you're glad to see them at church this morning. You can be seated all over this place. We're so excited that in just a few weeks we're gonna add another location to our church family, and I want you to see a little update about what God is preparing at Fairview Heights in Portsmouth. Turn your attention to the streets. Hello Liberty. It's Pastor Z Hall again at Liberty Live at Fairview Heights in Portsmouth, Virginia. Look at what God has done. Our construction is complete, and we're so looking forward to launching our campus on September the 13th. Please

tell all of your friends and everyone in the Portsmouth and surrounding areas that we are opening extremely soon. Looking forward to launching on September the 13th to see what God continues to do as we change lives, community, and the world for Jesus Christ. Well, good morning Liberty. Who's glad to be in church today? I want to welcome all the family in all of our locations and those of you who are joining online. Missionary families, military families, men and women in the Department of Corrections, what a joy to bring the Word of God to you. I know God's got a word for you today. Come on church family, every campus, put your hands together and welcome all the family. Everybody say next Sunday. Everybody say next Sunday. Next Sunday. We have the great honor of having world-renowned author, theologian, speaker, Dr. R.T. Kendall. He is 90 years young. He is still traveling the world preaching the gospel. You will remember the day that you heard him preach. I believe children will remember the day that they heard him preach right here at Liberty Life Church. And so, I want you to make sure whatever you do, don't miss next Sunday, because when you welcome a prophet, you get a prophet's reward. And I want you to know that it's going to be an incredible, incredible day next week. And that kicks us off into 21 days of prayer. So, next Sunday he'll preach, and then the following week we will start 21 days of prayer, August 2nd through the 22nd. It's a journey you don't want to miss. It's a great reset in August coming back from summer and spring break vacation, and getting ready for the fall, and getting ready for the harvest.

And so, we're looking forward to what God's going to do and prayers that he's going to answer in August 2nd to the 22nd. All right, here we go. LifeTracks today. And so, if you are at one of our campuses and you've said, I've always wanted to go to that class where you find out more about liberty, today's the day. And maybe this is your very first Sunday and you just want to know more, you feel the presence of God here, then we want you to go. And lunch is on us, childcare is provided, and we would love for you to go and see what God is doing and how you can be a part of it. No obligation, you just go find out for yourself. Some of you have been here for years, and years, and years. And you said, I know I need to go to LifeTrack. Well, if you haven't been, today is your day. Everybody say, no excuse. Well, today we're going to wrap up our series called By Faith. Take your Bibles, turn to Hebrews chapter 11. Hebrews chapter 11. We've been going on this journey looking at the men and women of faith in so many ways, it's been an Old Testament survey. And today, I want to wrap up this 15-week study, and I want you to see it in verses 39 and 40, these last two verses. All these were approved through their faith. But they did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us.

Let's pray. Lord, I pray the Holy Spirit, who is our teacher, would right now teach us what this means to us, for our generation and for our church. And I pray, Holy Spirit, that you'd fill me and let me preach out of the overflow and give the people ears to hear what the Spirit says. And when the invitation is given, I pray the Holy Spirit would draw people close to Jesus. In Jesus' name, amen. I've called this the fulfillment of faith. The fulfillment of faith. And you'll understand why as we look at these verses and walk through them together. When I read these two verses, three things just jumped out to me. First of all, pleasing faith. Write that down. Pleasing faith. Because he said in verse 39, all these were approved through their faith. We all want the approval of God. And if faith is the only way to please God, you need to know what faith is. So, go back to verse 1. Now, faith is the reality of what is hoped for. That word hope's not just, well, I wish something would happen. No, it's confidence. It's assurance.

It's the proof of what is not seen. For by this, our ancestors were, there's the word again, approved. And so, faith is the way to please God. You need to know what faith is. And I want you to understand, faith is not optional. It's essential. Here it is. Without faith, it's impossible to please him. Look at verse 6. This may be the most important verse in the entire chapter. Now, without faith, it is impossible. He didn't say it's difficult, it's hard. He said it's impossible to please God. So, God is requiring faith. You've got to apply that to every area of your life. That means work and vocation, apart from faith, doesn't please God. School and education, apart from faith, doesn't please God. Singing and worship, apart from faith, doesn't please God. Praying, apart from faith, doesn't please God. Reading your Bible, apart from faith, doesn't please God. Are y'all getting anything out of this? Your relationships with one another, apart from faith, does not please God. No, faith is what pleases God. So it's not that faith is one way to please God, it's the only way to please God. And so without faith, it's impossible to please Him. Faith's not private.

No, it affects every area of your life. Think about how you're exercising faith even right now. You got in a car and you had faith it was gonna get you to church today, amen. You crossed a bridge, you went through a tunnel, by faith that the people who engineered it and who constructed it, that it was gonna keep you safe. You're in a building in one of our rooms right now and you have faith in the architect and all the subs who did the work that the roof's not gonna fall in on you right now. Some of y'all are thinking, it's my first time to be in church, the roof's gonna fall in today. It's not, it's not. Hey, you're exercising faith even in the very chair that you're sitting in, that is gonna hold you up after eating all we've been eating all summer long, right? And so we exercise faith all the time. I told you, you know, the doctor prescribes medicine, you can't even pronounce it and the pharmacist feels it and you swallow it just by faith that it's gonna do what it's supposed to do. It's gonna help you and not hurt you. And I remind you every time you go to Busch Gardens and ride the roller coasters, just remember they were built by the lowest bidder, amen. Faith, faith. Now, he says we have hope, confidence, assurance See, faith gives you that confidence and assurance

when God is silent. Faith gives you that confidence and assurance when God tells you to wait. In fact, in Isaiah 40, it says those who, King James says wait, the newer translation say hope. Why? Because that's what you're doing. You're waiting in hope. You're waiting in faith. Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They'll soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary and they will walk and not faint. Our family's life versus Jeremiah 29, 11. I know the plans I have for you, saith the Lord. He's got good plans. Can I have a witness? Good plans, good and not evil. Plans to give you a future and a hope. Hope is what you're looking forward to. And as Christians, we know this world's not our home. We're just passing through. And so we look forward to the coming of Christ. Paul said it like this in Titus. It is the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. And so that's what we're looking forward to. Write this down. Focus on heaven while you're living on earth. Focus on heaven while you're living on earth.

Just like these Old Testament saints in Hebrews 11, they look forward to Christ. They died looking forward to Christ. We live looking back on what Christ did and looking forward to his return. 2 Corinthians 5, 7, it says we walk by faith and not by sight. Now we know God is real, not because you've seen him, but because you've seen what God can do. You know how he's worked in your life. You've seen him work in the lives of others. Spurgeon said a little faith will take your soul to heaven, but great faith will bring heaven to your soul. And so our number one goal ought to be in this life to please God. How do you please him? Through faith. And all of these, they didn't work their way into the approval of God, no, by faith. They believed God and it was accounted unto them as righteousness. Listen, if you please God, it doesn't matter who else you displease. And if you dis, listen, if you displease God, it doesn't matter how many people you please. No, pleasing God, pleasing faith, that's what he starts out talking about. But then he talks about promised faith. Now watch this. All these were approved through their faith,

that's pleasing faith, but they did not receive what was promised. Now he's gonna talk about promised faith. 16 men and women are mentioned in this chapter and others are referred to because when you read about their story, they shut the mouths of lions, they quenched the fire, women received back, they're dead. You know exactly who those stories are in the Old Testament. That's why I say it's a lot like an Old Testament survey. So others are referred to, 16 are mentioned by name. And then he goes into Hebrews 12 and he says, we are surrounded by that great cloud of witnesses, talking about those 16 and talking about the others who are referred to. Now I don't want you to get the idea that that great cloud of witnesses are up there in the grand stand of heaven looking down on us, observing us. There's nothing in the Bible that says that they're up there looking. looking down, worried about us. No, they're enjoying heaven, hello. They got out of this place, why would they be looking back, amen? No, it's not that they're observing us, watch this, we're observing them. It is their faith that encourages us all. They walk by faith and not by sight,

and they encourage us to do the same. Don't just play church, live by faith, walk by faith. He starts out with Abel, and he says that Abel, he pleased God because of the sacrifice that he brought. He brought God the first, and he brought God the best. Cain brought some vegetables, he gave God the leftovers, and said, I want you to hear me, God deserves the first and the best. He must be first, he cannot be second. That's what Abel tells us. In fact, we read in Romans 10, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. In every one of these examples, the men and women obeyed the word of God. They had faith to obey God. We read about Abel, and it says even after he died, Abel being dead still speaks. What does that mean? It means you're preaching your funeral right now by the way you live. It means that legacy, everybody say legacy, that your legacy's gonna carry on. I love that little jingle that says, if you do your giving while you're living, you'll be knowing where it's going, amen. That's legacy. Leave a legacy that points people to Jesus. We read not only about Abel and his sacrifice, but we read about Enoch. Enoch walked with God, and he was not for God took him.

It is a rapture of an individual. Before the flood came, and the Bible says that before God destroys the earth, he'll never do it again by flood, but it's coming in the last days. Peter said by fire, and he says that there's going to be a rapture, that God's people will be called up together to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. You read about Enoch. You read about Noah. Noah built an ark, and it had never rained. You talk about faith. Listen, you're tired of your job? Wake up. He spent 120 years on one job, building a boat. And I want you to know the Bible says Noah found grace. Everybody say grace. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. No, it wasn't his works, but that faith caused him to work. That faith enabled him. He received the grace of God, and therefore he wanted to serve God. Amazing grace. How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. That's Noah's story. That's your story. That's my story, and all those who know Christ. But I love in that story that it says

he covered the ark with pitch. And the word for pitch in the Bible and the word for atonement in the Bible is the very same word. It means covering. And just like the wrath and the floodwaters, not one drop could get to Noah or his family, he was safe in the ark. Watch me. The wrath to come, the judgment to come, will not get to us because we're safe in Jesus. That's the atonement. We've been covered by the blood of the Lamb. Here it is. The time you see a rainbow, it reminds you that the promises of God are true. We read next about Abraham and Sarah. They believed God. They set out for a place not knowing where they were going. Some days you feel that way, don't you? Like you don't have a clue where you're going. You feel like your life, you're just going in circles. An evangelist named Ron Dunn, who's in that great cloud of witnesses now, he used to say this. He'd say, you only learn to trust God by trusting God. It's kind of like swimming. You didn't learn to swim by reading a book. You had to jump in the water. It's like driving.

You don't learn to drive by reading a book. You gotta get behind the wheel. You gotta drive. And it's the same way. You only learn to trust God by trusting God. You only learn to pray by praying. You only learn to worship by worshiping. You only learn to give by giving. You only learn to share your faith by sharing your faith. You only learn to serve by serving. You only learn to trust God by trusting God. Then he would say, number two, you only trust God when you have to. As long as you make it on your own, you'll try. And then he'd say, number three, God will see to it that you have to. Oh, that's good. Every one of the heroes of faith here, they faced impossibilities. They could not do it on their own. Hebrews 11, 11. By faith, even Sarah herself, when she was unable to have children, received power to conceive offspring, even though she was past the age. Since she considered that the one who. who had promised was, everybody say it, faithful. I'm just telling you, they faced impossibilities, you faced impossibilities.

And the same God is able. His promises are still true today. Every one of these saints of God, they were tested, they were tried. Faith that can't be tested cannot be trusted. And just because God answers one prayer doesn't mean you're not gonna be tested again. Did you hear that? Even after they had that child, look at what happened. Hebrews 11, 17, by faith, Abraham, when he was tested, he offered up Isaac, he received the promises, and yet he was offering his one and only son, the one to whom it had been said, your offspring will be traced through Isaac. He considered God, now watch this, he considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead. God promised him that through that miracle child that they had when their bodies were as good as dead, that God's gonna, through that child, bless all the nations of the world. And then God tells him to take that child as a teenage boy up to Mount Moriah and sacrifice him, kill him. And it didn't make sense. And a lot of times you're following God and it just doesn't make sense. And so they're going up, the wood's on his back, the knife, and you remember what Isaac said? He said, I see the wood, I see the knife,

but where's the sacrifice? And his father said, God'll provide himself a sacrifice. And as they're going up the side of Mount Moriah, on this side of Mount Moriah, I believe there was an angel that God had prodding a ram. And as they're making it up, that ram's going up, and as they're getting to the top, that ram's getting closer to the top, and when they get up there, and Abraham is ready to bring that knife down and kill his son, believing that God can raise him from the dead. See, faith obeys God's word, even when it doesn't make sense. And when he got right up there, I want you to know, at just the right time, God had that ram right there, caught in a bush. Now, God made a ram's horns where they will not catch in a bush. They won't catch in a thicket. But I want you to know, God made a bush that would hold that ram, amen? And here it is, the whole story, all these stories point to Jesus. The wood on his back, Jesus carrying the cross. The thicket where the ram was, the thorns that they placed on Jesus's brow, all of it points to Jesus, and ultimately, God provided himself a sacrifice for us. You say, what does that have to do with me?

I'm glad you asked, because right there, here's what Abraham said. He said, the Lord, the Lord will provide. Jehovah-Jireh. I want you to understand today, whatever it is that you need, the Lord will provide. He's an on-time God. I'm saying to you today, that just like he went ahead of Abraham and Isaac and provided that ram just when it was needed, God's gonna provide what you need just when you need it. Do you receive it? Say amen. Amen. Well, look, we read on here in verse 29. By faith, Moses and the people crossed the Red Sea as though they went on dry land. Hey, two walls of water. By faith, they're crossing millions of people. The Egyptians thought, hey, they did it. We'll do it too, but they drowned. And the skeptics will say, well, it really wasn't the Red Sea. The reason they crossed is it was the Reed Sea, and it was only about two to four inches deep. Well, you big dummy. It's an even greater miracle if you're right, because God drowned all of Pharaoh's army and his horses in two or four inches of water. Hello?

And then we read here. Next, what? By faith, they conquered kingdoms and administered justice and obtained promises and shut the mouths of lions and quenched the raging of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength and weakness, became mighty in battle, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead, raised to life again. Oh, we just read about victory after victory after victory. The walls of Jericho came down. Listen, walls fall when you obey God's Word. The writer of Hebrews is saying to all of these Jewish believers who are tempted to go back, go back to Judaism, go back to the old way, go back to trusting in circumcision. It's not in my notes, but I'll just preach it right now. They thought the only way you could be part of the family of God is to be circumcised. I got good news for everybody who's gonna go to LifeTrack today and be a part of this family called Liberty. circumcision is not a requirement. Hallelujah. Oh, listen, they were tempted to go back and trust in all of those old ways of Judaism as if you could work your way to God. No, no. Here's what they're saying. The Old Testament saints, the New Testament saints, saints throughout church history, and saints sitting in the rooms right now in seven different locations and beyond and online who are hearing this message can give testimony. If they made it through, you can too. That's what the whole chapter of Hebrews 11 is about. They made it by faith and you can too. This is not a list of perfect people. It's a list of persistent

people. They would not quit. Don't quit. Everybody say, don't quit. Some saw great victories. Other people were tortured, not accepting release. Some that they might gain a better resurrection. Others experienced mockings, scourgings, as well as bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned. They were sawn in two. They died in the sword. They wandered about in sheepskin and goatskin, destitute, afflicted, and mistreated. The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and on mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. All these, all of them, those who saw the victory on this side, those who saw the victory on the other side, all these were approved through their, everybody say it, through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised. I'm saying to you, faith is not a feeling. These people were really tortured, persecuted. Jesus said, in this life, you're going to have tribulation. You're going to have trouble. I think about how many of them didn't receive their healing. Paul prayed three times that God would remove his thorn in the flesh, and God said, no. He said, but my grace is sufficient. Paul said, then I'm going to glory in my infirmity and my sickness. Listen, you want to experience the all-sufficient grace of God, number one, you have to have a thorn in the flesh. It means you're going to experience sickness. Number two, you have to have unanswered prayer. Have you ever prayed for something and God didn't answer it, or he hadn't answered it yet? Number three, you've got to say, I'm going to praise God, glory in my infirmities, whether God answers my prayer the way I want to or not. That's what they did, and you see it here in these examples, and you see it. Listen, we anoint with oil. We pray for healing. Sometimes God does it in this life, and sometimes he does it in death, and ultimate healing is in the presence of God. I've heard these faith healers say, do you have enough faith to be healed? Oh, I've got a harder question than that. Do you have enough faith to stay sick if God doesn't answer your prayer? Are you going to doubt God? Are you going to question God? Are you going to lose your faith? No, these people are saying what? We made it through, and you can too. Think about John the Baptist. Jesus said there wasn't a greater than John the Baptist, but he was beheaded for his faith. Think about Polycarp, the bishop in the early church, and Rome brought him in and said, you curse Christ and claim Caesar as Lord, and here's what he said. Eighty-six years I have served him. He's never done me wrong. How could I blaspheme my King and my Savior? And Polycarp was burned at the stake. And how many Christians lay out of church last

Sunday because it rained? Hello? You look at Christianity today. A hundred thousand people sporting events. They'll fill the stadium outdoors. They don't care if it rains. No, they're going to go put on a poncho. Look at the World Cup and how they gather and celebrate. And yet, Christians, well, it's raining today. Tammy and I talked about it. Last week, it was raining in Hampton Roads, and I'm telling you, the roads were empty. No traffic. You know why? It's raining. We can't go to the beach. We can't go to church. We just go sleep in. Hello? What kind of faith do we have? I am saying to you, these people were mocked. And you got your feelings hurt over what? These people were mocked and mistreated. And you say, somebody gave me a mean look. Somebody didn't invite me. Somebody excluded me. I feel mistreated. And you're going to doubt God? You're going to question God? Hey, I'm going to tell you again, the health and wealth gospel is not the gospel. The feel-good gospel is not the real gospel. And the next time you have a bad day, are you all listening to me say amen? The next time you have a bad day, the next time you think you've had a hard day, you think you've had a bad day. life the next time that you have a headache the next time you didn't get what you prayed for you go read Hebrews 11 and if they made it by faith you can keep the faith they didn't quit and you don't stop sure to quit stop moaning and groaning stop whining and start shining for Jesus it says right here all these were approved by their faith God's watching to see how we respond under pressure keep on believing keep on trusting keep on serving keep on living for God no matter what they died not receiving the promise our culture listen believe in this instant reward we won't instant everything immediate results but God works listen across decades and across generations and across centuries and some of the promises that God has made to you and some of the seeds that you have planted may not come to fruition may not come to fulfillment may not bloom in your lifetime oh but it's coming listen here it is for every one of God's promises is yes everybody say yes yes in him therefore through him we also say amen to the glory of God all the promises of God are true in Jesus and fulfilled in Jesus it brings me to my last point and that is perfect faith when are we gonna have perfect faith well look at this since God had provided

something better for us so that they don't like the Old Testament Saints would not be made perfect don't forget that word perfect without us let me try to bring it all together we're all part of one family Old Testament and New Testament Saints all of God's redemptive plan is about one united story we got one Savior we got one faith we got one hope we've got one eternal and heritage in heaven and so ultimately everybody say one he makes us one in him Old Testament Saints New Testament Saints and look their faith was looking beyond to another generation looking forward to us to us to us I'm saying to you this word better is used all throughout the book of Hebrews it's a key word he's the writer said Jesus is better than the angels he's better than Moses he's better than Aaron he's better than the Old Covenant he's better than the Old Testament sacrifices because he is the one sent for all sacrifice for sin Jesus is better and now today as believers we have privileges that these Old Testament Saints could only imagine could only long for we have the indwelling Holy Spirit we have the complete revelation we have the Word of God completed we have the finished work of Christ and the resurrection therefore we have a greater responsibility if they remain faithful with less light than us how much more we should remain faithful who have the full gospel and revelation of Jesus Christ and everybody said that word is perfect perfect the Greek word can be translated finished or it can be translated perfect and ultimately it points to glorification that's why he talked about it in Hebrews 12 and you know there weren't chapters and verses when the Bible was written it goes right into this great cloud of witnesses and what he's talking about there he said you got to run the race now a relay race is not won by one team member but you have a team of people who are running and they are passing the baton from one generation to the other that generation ran their lap it's time for us to run our lap and to finish faithful and we're gonna hand it off to another generation who are going to run their race in their lap and be found faithful see we're all connected our lives are linked to past generations who served God to present believers around the world and to a future generation still to come a relay

race is not won by one runner no the team somebody runs they hand off that baton and then they exit off but ultimately the race is not run one until the last one runs and crosses the finish line that's why it says here hey they would not be made perfect without us they're not complete until we finish that race and we're with them Abraham look for a city whose builder and maker is God not to be answered from the body now to be present with the Lord but they're not in their final state no the new heaven and the new earth is coming in the last days and a new Jerusalem we're going to be together in that city and so he is saying here ultimately that we're a part of something larger than ourselves he's saying here they ran their lap they exited off and Now it's time for us to run ours and whatever suffering they endured and whatever suffering you endure, remember Romans 8, 18, for I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy, not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. Hey, you read about these men and women of faith, they didn't have their name in who's who down here on earth, but their name is written in the Lamb's book of life in heaven. And by faith, we're going to join them. And I believe we're going to join them very soon. Let me ask you this, are you looking forward to what is to come? Here's what Paul said, no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived, God has prepared these things for those who love him. So I ask you, do you love him? If you love him, you're going to want to please him. And the only way to please him is by faith, by faith. What is faith? F-A-I-T-H. F stands for forgiveness, it's what we all need because we're all sinners. F-A, A stands for available, forgiveness is available in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He's the way, the truth, and the life. F-A-I, I stands for impossible.

It's impossible for you to get to heaven on your own. Our good works, morality, are as filthy rags before a holy God. So how do you get there? F-A-I-T. T stands for turn, it's what the word repent means in the Bible. You turn from trusting in yourself and you turn to God and put your trust in him. And if you'll do that, watch, F-A-I-T-H. A stands for heaven. Heaven will be your home and God will give you a little bit of heaven right here on this earth. Have you put your faith and trust in Jesus? Let me tell you, Hebrews 12 connects with this, and this is what we're going to be studying during the three Sundays of 21 days of prayer. It says, therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let's lay aside every hindrance. And then what we do through prayer and fasting when we go through these 21 days together, let's lay aside the sin that so easily ensnares us. See, prayer and fasting is the way that that happens. And let's run with endurance. That's the way we want to come out of 21 days of prayer, running with endurance. The race that lies before us, here it is, keeping our eyes on who? Come on, preach it. Who? Jesus. Because he's the pioneer. King James says the author and finisher. He's the pioneer and perfecter. And what did it say? They're not perfect without us. Ultimately, it's what Jesus has done in us and in them, and he does it through what?

Through faith. Have you put your faith in Jesus? Is he the author and finisher of your faith? You're putting faith in something. I ask you, have you put your faith in Jesus? And it's more than just believing that he lived, more than believing he's a historical figure, more than believing he was a real man. No, it's committing your life to him. Let me explain it to you like this. I heard a preacher say one time, a young man can look and say, there's an attractive young lady. She's beautiful. And not only is she beautiful on the outside, she has a beautiful heart, beautiful spirit. I could see myself spending the rest of my life with her, but he never asked her out. He never asked her to marry him. He remained single for the rest of his life. Let me just tell you, you can know about Jesus, you can know that he's a, he's good, he lived a good life, that there's nobody like him. But if you don't ask him into your life, if you don't ask him to be your Lord and Savior, if you don't say I do to Jesus, you don't have saving faith. Listen, I could have admired Tammy Massey and thought, oh, she's just awesome. But no, I had to do more than that. I had to ask her to be my wife, and we stood in an altar, and the preacher said something like this, do you take Tammy to be your wedded wife, to have, to hold from this day forward for better or worse, richer or poorer, sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, to death do you part? And I said these words, I do. And I want you to know, that's the kind of life commitment it takes for you to put your faith in Jesus. Bow with me for prayer.

Heads are bowed, eyes are closed. It's the most important time in the service. Would you write where you are? Just pray. I pray, God, I want to put my faith in you. Just say, Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of God, that you died on the cross, that you rose from the dead to pay for my sin. And I ask you to be my Lord and my Savior. I ask you to fill me with the Holy Spirit. I repent of my sin, and I wanna follow you the rest of my days. Thank you for hearing my prayer. Thank you for a home in heaven. And help me now to walk by faith every day that you give me, and to live for you and to serve you and accomplish the purpose for which you've put me here on this earth. Father, I pray for every person who prayed that prayer today. Lord, I pray that they'll wanna make it public. I pray they'll follow in baptism. I pray that they'll grow in their faith and they'll walk with people of faith, that they'll get connected through Lifetrack and through the church and get into a group. God, I'm praying right now that you would take these words today and encourage the brokenhearted,

encourage those who need hope today. I pray, longing for your return. Lord, we know there's something wrong in this world and it's sin, but I thank you that you are going to make every wrong right, and that, Lord, the best is yet to come for those who put their faith and trust in you. Hear the prayers of your people as they pour their heart out to you today, in Jesus' name, amen. Amen, I really believe right now there are those watching online right here in our rooms at our campuses, and there's something that just clicked for you in really defining your relationship with Jesus Christ, in making the decision to give your life fully to Him from this moment forward. And if you're in the room with us, you can take your phone out, tap the seat back in front of you. We would love the chance to be able to follow up with you, hear what God's speaking to you, help you take your next step with Him. You can also text YES to 40371, let us know that you made that decision. But I want everybody to stand all over this place. It's the most important moment in the service. It's the moment where we respond to what God's spoken to us. And I believe even as pastor was preaching, God spoke so clearly to many of you.

He was speaking to me. Where's your faith at this morning? What is your faith in? Do you trust Jesus despite the circumstances? Are you willing to stand on the promises of God no matter what the outcome in this life looks like? Are you willing to trust Him into eternity? The most important moment, as we take the word of God and we respond to it, I wanna invite our staff and our prayer team down front. I really believe the next step of faith for many of you might just be coming forward to receive prayer, to talk to somebody about what God's doing in your life. If you're trusting Jesus for the first time, we'd love the opportunity to be able to pray over you, to talk with you. And as always, this altar is gonna be open. Now I wanna invite believers who need to respond to Jesus just to come surrender to Him in this moment at the altar. I'm gonna pray, then we'll sing and respond together. Holy Spirit, we welcome you here. I ask now that you would take the word of God, the word that you've spoken, the reality of what we're wrestling through, and you would plant it deeply into our hearts and minds. As we respond to you, would you bring the fruit in our lives of putting our faith in Jesus alone? Jesus, would you have your will and your way right now? And would you be pleased, above all else,

would you be pleased as we respond to you? It's in your holy, precious name, the name of Jesus that we pray. Amen. Let's respond together. Come on. ♪ Were creation suddenly articulate ♪ ♪ With a thousand tongues lift one cry ♪ ♪ Then from north to south and east to west came Jesus ♪ ♪ We'd hear Christ be magnified ♪ ♪ Word the home of echo in His eminence ♪ ♪ His name would burst from sea and sky ♪ ♪ From rivers to the mountain tops ♪ ♪ We'd hear Christ be magnified ♪ ♪ Oh Christ be magnified ♪ ♪ Let His praise arise ♪ ♪ Christ be magnified in me ♪ ♪ Oh Christ be magnified from the altar rise ♪ ♪ Christ be magnified in me ♪ ♪ When every creature finds its immortality ♪ ♪ And every human heart is saying to Christ ♪ ♪ Oh then in one enraptured hymn of praise ♪ ♪ We'll sing Christ be magnified ♪ ♪ Oh lift your name high ♪ ♪ Sing it loud ♪ ♪ Christ be magnified ♪ ♪ Let His praise arise ♪ ♪ Christ be magnified in me ♪ ♪ Oh Christ be magnified from the altar rise ♪ ♪ Christ be magnified in me ♪

This is our declaration to you. Let's sing, I won't bow. I won't bow twice. I'll stand strong and worship you. And if it puts me in a fire, I'll rejoice that you're there too. I won't be formed by feelings. I'll hold fast to what is true. And if the cross brings transformation, I'll be crucified for you. I'll be crucified for you. Cause death is just a doorway into resurrection life. And if I join you in your suffering, I'll join you when you rise. When you return in glory with all the angels and the saints, my heart will still be singing. My soul will be, oh I won't bow. I won't bow twice. I'll stand strong and worship you. And if it puts me in a fire, I'll rejoice that you're there too. I won't be formed by feelings. I'll hold fast to what is true. And if the cross brings transformation, I'll be crucified for you. Cause death is just a doorway into resurrection life. And if I join you in your suffering,

I'll join you when you rise. When you return in glory with all the angels and the saints, my heart will still be singing. My soul will be, oh I won't bow. Christ be magnified. Let his praise arise. Christ be magnified. Oh magnified. Oh, Christ be magnified. For the altar of life. Christ be magnified. In the east again. Oh, Christ be magnified. Let his praise arise. Christ be magnified. Oh, Christ be magnified. In the altar of life. Christ be magnified. What an incredible day in church this morning we're so grateful you joined us and if you took a next step in your faith we'd love to hear about it so scan this QR code right here on the screen or text life to 40371 and fill out that connection card and if today was the first day that you accepted Christ we want to come alongside you in this new faith journey and congratulate you so write Bible in box one and we will send you a free Bible make sure you stay up to date with us all week long follow us on social media and join our online campus family Facebook group all my family we love you and we'll see you right back here next Sunday you You

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