The Sermon Faith, Sure & Certain by David McGee
May 25, 2014
Faith, Sure & Certain (34:50)
Referenced Scriptures: Hebrews 11:1-16
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Hebrews 11:1-16
1) Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.
2) For by this, the elders obtained testimony.
3) By faith, we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible.
4) By faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks.
5) By faith, Enoch was translated, so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God translated him. For he has had testimony given to him that before his translation he had been well pleasing to God.
6) Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.
7) By faith, Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his house, through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
8) By faith, Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went.
9) By faith, he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.
10) For he looked for the city which has the foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11) By faith, even Sarah herself received power to conceive, and she bore a child when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised.
12) Therefore they were fathered by one, and him as good as dead, as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore.
13) These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14) For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking after a country of their own.
15) If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return.
16) But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
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Men and children can be dismissed for children's church where rating in Hebrews Chapter 11 Hebrews Chapter 11, beginning at verse one through verse six eight now as I was digging on Memorial Day and the celebration that we have been an honor all those who have died and serve their country in military and those who have died in the line of fire line of duty. I thought of Hebrews Chapter 11 in the sense of how that these individuals have given their life in their line of service to God and have lived their life by faith, so Hebrews Chapter 11, verse one now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see this is what the ancients were commended for by faith we understand that the universe was formed at God 's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. So for those who are now as we watch the history Channel and all those things about creation in our molecules and dirt got stuck together and formed bodies, and no God says that it came together that which was created was created from that which did not exist, didn't exist his word brought it into being. That's enough first four by faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man. When God spoke well of his offerings and by faith, he still speaks even though he is dead by faith Enoch was taken from this life so that he did not experience death could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one of one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him by faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen in holy fear. He built an ark to save his family by his faith. He condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. By faith Abraham, when called, and also place. He would later receive as an inheritance, obeyed and went even though he did not know where he was going by faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him on the same promise for he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God by faith Abraham, even though he was past age, and Sarah herself) was enabled to become the father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise, and so from this one man, and he as a as God as good as dead, came descendents as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. All these people were still living by faith when they die they did not receive the thing promised. They only saw them and walk in them from a distance and admired, excuse me, and they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things so that they are looking for a country of their own if they had been thinking of the country they had laughed, they would have had the opportunity to return. Instead they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Memorial Day is ever a day of remembrance and I thought Rodriguez, some may not understand or remember know what Memorial Day how it came about this. I wanted to talk about this for a minute, Memorial Day, originally called the moral than what was originally called decoration Day. You know I was a member going to the cemetery and how for our family and we would always go on decoration Day, and we were there yesterday. My brother called and we went up to put flowers on my mom and dad 's grave, but my dad would go to the same cemetery with a horse and wagon, and that when he was a child and put flowers on the graves there at this prosperity cemetery. So anyway, always when we would go we call it decoration Day. So from all from the early traditions of decorating graves with flowers, wreaths and flags. Memorial Day is a day of remembrance of those who have died in service of our country. It was first widely observed on May thirtieth eighteen sixty eight to commemorate the sacrifice of Civil War soldiers, by proclamation of General John a Logan being of the grand Army of the Republic, an organization formed former union is me an organization of former Union sailors and soldiers during their first national celebration from jet from union general and sitting Ohio Congressman James Garfield made a speech at Arlington Cemetery, after which five thousand participants help to decorate the graves of more than twenty thousand union and Confederate soldiers who were buried there. This event was inspired by local observances of the day that it taken place in several towns throughout America in the three years after the Civil War in eighteen seventy three. New York was the first state to designate Memorial Day is a legal holiday. By the late eighteen hundreds more men 's more, many more cities and communities observed mortal day in several states. I declared it a legal holiday. After World War I, it became an occasion for honoring those who died in all the American boards and then more widely established as a national holiday throughout the United States. Memorial Day is a celebration at Arlington national Cemetery. Each year with a ceremony in which the small American flag is placed on each grade traditionally, the president or vice president lays a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldiers about five thousand people attend the assist the ceremony annually. So when you think of Memorial Day or decoration Day is a day off, honoring our soldiers and Windows live place the ultimate sacrifice of their life for their country. So when I was thinking of this, I was thinking of Hebrews Chapter 11 in all that we have those who have ultimately sacrifice their life, their their lives, not necessarily in death biting going forth and living out their faith so they have sacrificed their life by hearing God 's voice, hearing God 's command and re- and responding to it. So in this Hebrews chapter eleven. We have an outstanding list of individuals who demonstrated their faith by growing and responding to what God had given them regarding called in Hebrews chapter eleven verse one two words describe faith. There are two words to describe faith. Faith is sure and certain faith is sure and certain. So if you want a title for the message today faith sure and certain figure. Remember, everybody say sure in outrageous go to be done on a non- time. Sure enough, not that sure how yet sure and certain of its sure sure and certain sure and certain is off with the definition of faith, and so sure is a certain that this is the beginning place of faith, the VA point of faith is believing in God 's character and it's very important that we know the character whom we are believing it, and the character of God is portrayed to us in in the life of Jesus Christ in his in his life. His teachings, his death is very on his resurrection, his ascension, we find that the character of God. So, meaning that he is who he says he is sure this is an understanding of God is who he says he is. God is sure is a sure thing is that Preakness this week, but was that this week. Last week, last week was the Preakness, but don't know horse racing, but the Preakness was last week in a sure thing was one of the horses and today in the Indianapolis five hundred, and you have less tomorrow something they are more Indianapolis five hundred, and there's another race in NASCAR race. But there's another one at that same time going on so if you want him back on a sure thing. Don't bet on it. So I sure thing is, it is certain and God is certain faith has the certainty or speed me as a sure thing. Faith is a sure thing. Because God is who he says he is sure. Second is certain, and this is the end in the beginning point of faith is sure God is who he says he is an insert and the ending point is, he will do what he says he will do so. The character of God will accomplish what he says he will do and this is what faith is. We believe that God will fulfill his promises, even though we don't see these promises materialize. We know we have a sure and certain key in our life that God 's character is who he says he is and he will do what he will send what he says he will do verse two the talks about how much there is that their faith was sure and certain and what is it happy in verse two it says this is what the ancients were commended for. They were commended for their surety got his recess is an certain thing he will do what he says he will do so, God called first three thoughts about God calling the universe into existence by nothing. There was nothing there, and he spoke and he came into existence universe was formed at God 's command. His word rock for the universe. It was not seeing, and that is what it is so right. I put it the phase I might remember this, but doesn't kind. We have some really funny beliefs, funny, not in his info. Hope you like how did you come up with that one. While this morning. I'll always have a story from from breakfast till two or three of them, and the I I I remember bloggers this individual that I heard him say this morning. I laughed like hell and and I thought it was turned around and said to laughter and him tell you laughter. Now, how can you laugh like that when there is no laughter. How did you come up with an idea that all had. It's like there's no surety and that in this post, certainty, and that there is no joy in how there is no joy in half, and the idea is that we we we say many things that there are not conducted to true people say lots of things and they are not certainties, and they are not true. Okay, so when you know when people when I when I hear when people are around the argument of possible stop and they would say things that I know it's like swearing in things not take the name of Jesus and bring the dessert. I know, like I do you know it's nice that you can try it out like I'm upright will you shut up thank you but you go on you know it is technically given any breach while you know I'm to start into spiritual work to hear words like that will guess which of many here and I'll just let that go to be saying around you, but the ideas that we bring the righteousness. We have a surety, and we have a certainty about who we believe and what he will do we are sure we are certain and that is the foundation for everything that thinks place with the list of characters here in verse and chapter eleven, so his word has awesome power. If the when people take the name of God, and attach it to wrong things the character of God, and attach it to wrong things when people have lies missed this truce with no mistruths that they then they have assumed the something that is evil or is wrong and attached God to cleanliness is next to godliness, although not in the book is not in their but people say these things as if they were true and that if you take a bath nearly just like God hello, it's sure insurgency is the character of God is such that he loves you more than he could ever know the and that he loves all of us the same. Even the guy on death row who death row who hates God. God loves him. Her because it's impossible for his character, not the love where the ones who put up the barriers. Thank you no one that don't believe that no young adult to start. Do not start on guys are assigned to him and God is the same love for now to Austin. He wants us to open our hearts. It is a character of God -ish. It is, is such that what he says is sure and certain. So, the following list is an outstanding group of individuals who were so convinced about God, the character of God that they acted on the word of God presented to them by faith. They knew the character and they knew the word, and they acted on, and there was nothing Abraham, but was nothing there is no writings, there was no historical evidence for God, but there was a voice that he hurt and anything here for years. Again. Valve okay Abraham, Abram. This is that allow you to be descendents, many children. Many nations. Yes no you can back again. Tell me anymore, but the character of God was such that he could believe so. They live by faith in God 's word and the word was spoken to them. They lived in faith believing that God would accomplish what he said to them, we read the promises of God. God speaks those promises to our lives to the needs we have what need you have no sometimes we say God doesn't provide for us what what what are you what you praying for wide and pray about it. I just can't wish that would happen with when does God want you to do so, you say that I ran while and then verse five was talking about Enoch first and was so confident so sure and certain of his relationship with God. He conversed with God. He was right with God. It was so completely in fraud with God. The summary of his life again if there were tombstone and there were a saying on the tombstone, but there is no tombstone is now walking the what would've been written about his life is written about his life, he was commended. He was highly praised as one who pleased God. Enoch, if we were thinking out there was a man who is who highly pleases God. He has a man that highly pleases God, so much so that he would go for walks with God. Enoch was, like he was. It was it was what the Garden of Eden was supposed to be when God came down walk with Adam and even cooled the day in the garden of Eden, that's what we were created for. We were created to have a little walk with God nice value talking to God they do not know you not to not recognize you because you talk to God, does he listen under the understand was he say well his word is written, and he speaks this written word promises and and that still small voice. The power of the spirit speak to us. So Enoch was sure and certain of his relationship with God. God is to see who he says he is. And God will do what he says he will do and he knew we don't have any big miracles listed about a knock we don't have him raising the dad and walking through the Wales parting the sea in feeding five thousand and healing the lame when I have anything of that written about Enoch always have written about Enoch is God is a sure thing. Everything in my life is surrounding God, and it's a sure thing. The matter of the difficulties letter the problems. The matter how bad it gets, the character of God is such I can trust him with everything and what he says to me and my spirits. He will do by asking a question plan, but asking questions can you write a list of your friends, make a list of your friends top four. Four. Three. Talk to best friend narrowed down to just one as I was thinking popular noticed, but the ideas as you lose your best friend in this case God is number one, and in each of our cases can we image of our lives. God is my best friend. God is my best friend and she does at the end of not done yet but again, God is not ashamed to be called their God. They are not my friends, what, what we would say that about subject in all, I know them, but they are just acquaintances there. Not my friends. Why does we are ashamed to say they're our best friend while they paraphrase the life of Jesus is saying to us through the Word of God is saying to us, he is not ashamed to call you his friend. And in this relationship. This friendship that Enoch has with God. He is God. It is his best friends, and one day in Iraq who has been so straightforward when you live in so no encompassing of his life with Don God with his life. It was almost impossible for it not to see anything in his life who wasn't God, and that what he had was a gift from God, and in the blessings he had in his life are from God, his friendship that he had was with God and God was his friend, and one day God today, not us. Take a walk is a short but Enoch, let's take a walk, you know, you show me your world and what I've done for you. Come with me, I'll show you mine. This type of friendship that he had the thickest role, and that's exactly what happened. Enoch had so trusted job of his life that one day he does walk straight on into heaven. Imagine going for a walk with God. You do it every day. You have no I mow grass being daughter driving sometimes I miss, but he just got the God knife taken a ride by night, taking a walk, got an IR network got an IR school got a nineties( is with me everywhere I go. My best friend and he doesn't think anything bad about me. He doesn't have one negative thought about. He always is presenting truth in love and how that I can continue to grow and to develop and become better and we don't want to talk with Sergeant in the land. Noah now there's a guy is nuts. He builds a lark. Why anarchy felt about whether the water, although it got too many price and they can even tell it to where he wanted to go hello all, the boat where there is no water. And there's been no rain why he is sure on the character of God, the God he is who he says he is and he is certain that God will do what he says he will do now, and it's going to rain. Build more okay with it. Start the holiday years as a take to build super ship. I mean, how many years does it take to build one of those huge ocean liners and how many thousands of people are involved in the process got three guys in his two sons. They are on an endless task of building and building and building. I think this takes years to do wasn't built by aliens. That's what that is how you watch the history Channel, whatever aliens built the ark is built the ark so on. Then, Connecticut, Monticello, New York on floats in the vacant lot. It's a straight Republican and I went than is a when we are certain of something we will act upon it. It is a sure thing are sure things happen in thirty seconds or less is a sure thing. What didn't happen yet, while the Muslim enemy happens not a sure thing. So Noah was sure and certain of the character of God is who he says he is. He's the creator of this place and he wants me to build what was new: first line of verse eight by faith Abraham by faith, by a sure and certain Abraham, being sure and certain left his home to go to a place and I'll tell you when you get there. It was sure that God is doing. He says he has and he was certain that God will do what he says he will do you mean I'm going to find the land. It's for my descendents of having kids yet but you're going to have is that you going to have a child and your descendents are going to be as great as the sands of the sea seashore. It's hard frost to trust God when when when when certain things are supposed to happen in the we don't we don't see them must not going to happen and but to leave and called in love or know where you're going. Sounds like some of our friends have helped, but where you're going. I don't know why you're going to get there. I don't know, but I'm sure I'll find out why Abraham was sure and certain of God 's call God 's word. God 's promised and God 's provision and he was on his way and God changed his name to Abraham, to Abraham. Why didn't even have a child sure and certain. The lesson of sure and certain is a lesson of the key to all of our life that we have faith in God, the character of God is such use love to use provision use strength is friendship. Use help he can bring something out of nothing and have regular and we are sure and certain that he is word when he speaks into wildlife will accomplish exactly what he said he would do whatever it takes ten seconds or a hundred years. He can do it will do it near Sergeant God desires independence. God desires trust, and he desires that we have faith in him, not, not faith in our ability to make him happy. God does not put an honest that we have the ability to make it happen, but that God will give us his divine provision giving honor to those who by faith were sure that God is who he says is an certain that God will do what he says he will do verse thirteen is the clincher, K all these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised. They only saw them and welcomed them from a distance they is so sure and certain we can see it, but in this case, they could say it, but in their lifetime. It wouldn't happen while that's the and whenever we have our life verse fifteen. If they were looking for a land that they could see they could have returned to where they came from. But God doesn't want us going back to where we came from. God has a purpose for our life ahead of us sure and certain God has a life for us this time is a place for us. There is a time is a place on our faith is a way of seeing of the four times and God alone is going backwards in what was going on where to our life. Her sixteenth instead they were looking for a better country. I have only one. Therefore God is not ashamed to call to be called their God, God is not ashamed whenever we say that God has a plan and purpose of his word and his character are sure that he's not you know what God says you know your like your people say good things people say which said on that. Thank you, thank you for the compliment. God is saying a bus, then my child a proud parent. They are my son, because they know my character and they know my word, so we will take courage from these heroes of faith who lived and died without seeing their promises, yet they continue to believe they were sure God is who he says he is and they are certain he will do what he says he will do in the list goes on to Isaac and Jacob and Joseph and Moses. The plagues in Egypt and people being set free and going through the Red Sea, there's Rahab it; there is Gideon and Barrick and Sampson and Jeff David all were commended for their faith, our life sure and certain of God 's and certain that he will do what he says he will do an A&R life God has a promise who have a glimmer of hope of what's out there puts that in our heart. He bursts he birth it in half but we shall become what we can do. We're not there yet, but he will take us there step by step purpose by purpose situation by situation setbacks are just opportunities for advances and our advances of opportunities for God 's blessing in God 's setbacks are opportunities for his blessing and his power to become more real and just as real in our life as it was in Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and Joseph same God same word spoken to your life. I have faith. I am sure and I am. I am sure God is who he says he is, and I'm certain he will do what he says he will do. That's faith, so as to sell what we held a countless faith and our faith is sure that our faith is certain that God has really says he is and he will do what he says he will do and that glimmer of hope that that thing that's bursting your mind that God will do for you that God will accomplish in your life that he will make you will perform. He will do an honest and that we see it out there that's exactly that's exactly Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, that's us dream. Allow God to be the inspirer of your dream and then allow God this character 's promise to make it happen. He didn't even want you to do it. He wants you to allow him to work throws you to do it. And then, so we have faith father, thank you for the faith that you give us God. It is a gift from you. You get to all of us literally Lord faith and wisdom you give it to us. So Lord, we ask for more faith. We asked for greater certainty, a greater understanding and greater surety more than what you are. We ask your blessing and your guidance for us in our lives and all who believe that saying then I just kind of scream at the top of your lungs andMen and children can be dismissed for children's church where rating in Hebrews Chapter 11 Hebrews Chapter 11, beginning at verse one through verse six eight now as I was digging on Memorial Day and the celebration that we have been an honor all those who have died and serve their country in military and those who have died in the line of fire line of duty. I thought of Hebrews Chapter 11 in the sense of how that these individuals have given their life in their line of service to God and have lived their life by faith, so Hebrews Chapter 11, verse one now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see this is what the ancients were commended for by faith we understand that the universe was formed at God 's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. So for those who are now as we watch the history Channel and all those things about creation in our molecules and dirt got stuck together and formed bodies, and no God says that it came together that which was created was created from that which did not exist, didn't exist his word brought it into being. That's enough first four by faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man. When God spoke well of his offerings and by faith, he still speaks even though he is dead by faith Enoch was taken from this life so that he did not experience death could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one of one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him by faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen in holy fear. He built an ark to save his family by his faith. He condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. By faith Abraham, when called, and also place. He would later receive as an inheritance, obeyed and went even though he did not know where he was going by faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him on the same promise for he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God by faith Abraham, even though he was past age, and Sarah herself) was enabled to become the father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise, and so from this one man, and he as a as God as good as dead, came descendents as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. All these people were still living by faith when they die they did not receive the thing promised. They only saw them and walk in them from a distance and admired, excuse me, and they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things so that they are looking for a country of their own if they had been thinking of the country they had laughed, they would have had the opportunity to return. Instead they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Memorial Day is ever a day of remembrance and I thought Rodriguez, some may not understand or remember know what Memorial Day how it came about this. I wanted to talk about this for a minute, Memorial Day, originally called the moral than what was originally called decoration Day. You know I was a member going to the cemetery and how for our family and we would always go on decoration Day, and we were there yesterday. My brother called and we went up to put flowers on my mom and dad 's grave, but my dad would go to the same cemetery with a horse and wagon, and that when he was a child and put flowers on the graves there at this prosperity cemetery. So anyway, always when we would go we call it decoration Day. So from all from the early traditions of decorating graves with flowers, wreaths and flags. Memorial Day is a day of remembrance of those who have died in service of our country. It was first widely observed on May thirtieth eighteen sixty eight to commemorate the sacrifice of Civil War soldiers, by proclamation of General John a Logan being of the grand Army of the Republic, an organization formed former union is me an organization of former Union sailors and soldiers during their first national celebration from jet from union general and sitting Ohio Congressman James Garfield made a speech at Arlington Cemetery, after which five thousand participants help to decorate the graves of more than twenty thousand union and Confederate soldiers who were buried there. This event was inspired by local observances of the day that it taken place in several towns throughout America in the three years after the Civil War in eighteen seventy three. New York was the first state to designate Memorial Day is a legal holiday. By the late eighteen hundreds more men 's more, many more cities and communities observed mortal day in several states. I declared it a legal holiday. After World War I, it became an occasion for honoring those who died in all the American boards and then more widely established as a national holiday throughout the United States. Memorial Day is a celebration at Arlington national Cemetery. Each year with a ceremony in which the small American flag is placed on each grade traditionally, the president or vice president lays a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldiers about five thousand people attend the assist the ceremony annually. So when you think of Memorial Day or decoration Day is a day off, honoring our soldiers and Windows live place the ultimate sacrifice of their life for their country. So when I was thinking of this, I was thinking of Hebrews Chapter 11 in all that we have those who have ultimately sacrifice their life, their their lives, not necessarily in death biting going forth and living out their faith so they have sacrificed their life by hearing God 's voice, hearing God 's command and re- and responding to it. So in this Hebrews chapter eleven. We have an outstanding list of individuals who demonstrated their faith by growing and responding to what God had given them regarding called in Hebrews chapter eleven verse one two words describe faith. There are two words to describe faith. Faith is sure and certain faith is sure and certain. So if you want a title for the message today faith sure and certain figure. Remember, everybody say sure in outrageous go to be done on a non- time. Sure enough, not that sure how yet sure and certain of its sure sure and certain sure and certain is off with the definition of faith, and so sure is a certain that this is the beginning place of faith, the VA point of faith is believing in God 's character and it's very important that we know the character whom we are believing it, and the character of God is portrayed to us in in the life of Jesus Christ in his in his life. His teachings, his death is very on his resurrection, his ascension, we find that the character of God. So, meaning that he is who he says he is sure this is an understanding of God is who he says he is. God is sure is a sure thing is that Preakness this week, but was that this week. Last week, last week was the Preakness, but don't know horse racing, but the Preakness was last week in a sure thing was one of the horses and today in the Indianapolis five hundred, and you have less tomorrow something they are more Indianapolis five hundred, and there's another race in NASCAR race. But there's another one at that same time going on so if you want him back on a sure thing. Don't bet on it. So I sure thing is, it is certain and God is certain faith has the certainty or speed me as a sure thing. Faith is a sure thing. Because God is who he says he is sure. Second is certain, and this is the end in the beginning point of faith is sure God is who he says he is an insert and the ending point is, he will do what he says he will do so. The character of God will accomplish what he says he will do and this is what faith is. We believe that God will fulfill his promises, even though we don't see these promises materialize. We know we have a sure and certain key in our life that God 's character is who he says he is and he will do what he will send what he says he will do verse two the talks about how much there is that their faith was sure and certain and what is it happy in verse two it says this is what the ancients were commended for. They were commended for their surety got his recess is an certain thing he will do what he says he will do so, God called first three thoughts about God calling the universe into existence by nothing. There was nothing there, and he spoke and he came into existence universe was formed at God 's command. His word rock for the universe. It was not seeing, and that is what it is so right. I put it the phase I might remember this, but doesn't kind. We have some really funny beliefs, funny, not in his info. Hope you like how did you come up with that one. While this morning. I'll always have a story from from breakfast till two or three of them, and the I I I remember bloggers this individual that I heard him say this morning. I laughed like hell and and I thought it was turned around and said to laughter and him tell you laughter. Now, how can you laugh like that when there is no laughter. How did you come up with an idea that all had. It's like there's no surety and that in this post, certainty, and that there is no joy in how there is no joy in half, and the idea is that we we we say many things that there are not conducted to true people say lots of things and they are not certainties, and they are not true. Okay, so when you know when people when I when I hear when people are around the argument of possible stop and they would say things that I know it's like swearing in things not take the name of Jesus and bring the dessert. I know, like I do you know it's nice that you can try it out like I'm upright will you shut up thank you but you go on you know it is technically given any breach while you know I'm to start into spiritual work to hear words like that will guess which of many here and I'll just let that go to be saying around you, but the ideas that we bring the righteousness. We have a surety, and we have a certainty about who we believe and what he will do we are sure we are certain and that is the foundation for everything that thinks place with the list of characters here in verse and chapter eleven, so his word has awesome power. If the when people take the name of God, and attach it to wrong things the character of God, and attach it to wrong things when people have lies missed this truce with no mistruths that they then they have assumed the something that is evil or is wrong and attached God to cleanliness is next to godliness, although not in the book is not in their but people say these things as if they were true and that if you take a bath nearly just like God hello, it's sure insurgency is the character of God is such that he loves you more than he could ever know the and that he loves all of us the same. Even the guy on death row who death row who hates God. God loves him. Her because it's impossible for his character, not the love where the ones who put up the barriers. Thank you no one that don't believe that no young adult to start. Do not start on guys are assigned to him and God is the same love for now to Austin. He wants us to open our hearts. It is a character of God -ish. It is, is such that what he says is sure and certain. So, the following list is an outstanding group of individuals who were so convinced about God, the character of God that they acted on the word of God presented to them by faith. They knew the character and they knew the word, and they acted on, and there was nothing Abraham, but was nothing there is no writings, there was no historical evidence for God, but there was a voice that he hurt and anything here for years. Again. Valve okay Abraham, Abram. This is that allow you to be descendents, many children. Many nations. Yes no you can back again. Tell me anymore, but the character of God was such that he could believe so. They live by faith in God 's word and the word was spoken to them. They lived in faith believing that God would accomplish what he said to them, we read the promises of God. God speaks those promises to our lives to the needs we have what need you have no sometimes we say God doesn't provide for us what what what are you what you praying for wide and pray about it. I just can't wish that would happen with when does God want you to do so, you say that I ran while and then verse five was talking about Enoch first and was so confident so sure and certain of his relationship with God. He conversed with God. He was right with God. It was so completely in fraud with God. The summary of his life again if there were tombstone and there were a saying on the tombstone, but there is no tombstone is now walking the what would've been written about his life is written about his life, he was commended. He was highly praised as one who pleased God. Enoch, if we were thinking out there was a man who is who highly pleases God. He has a man that highly pleases God, so much so that he would go for walks with God. Enoch was, like he was. It was it was what the Garden of Eden was supposed to be when God came down walk with Adam and even cooled the day in the garden of Eden, that's what we were created for. We were created to have a little walk with God nice value talking to God they do not know you not to not recognize you because you talk to God, does he listen under the understand was he say well his word is written, and he speaks this written word promises and and that still small voice. The power of the spirit speak to us. So Enoch was sure and certain of his relationship with God. God is to see who he says he is. And God will do what he says he will do and he knew we don't have any big miracles listed about a knock we don't have him raising the dad and walking through the Wales parting the sea in feeding five thousand and healing the lame when I have anything of that written about Enoch always have written about Enoch is God is a sure thing. Everything in my life is surrounding God, and it's a sure thing. The matter of the difficulties letter the problems. The matter how bad it gets, the character of God is such I can trust him with everything and what he says to me and my spirits. He will do by asking a question plan, but asking questions can you write a list of your friends, make a list of your friends top four. Four. Three. Talk to best friend narrowed down to just one as I was thinking popular noticed, but the ideas as you lose your best friend in this case God is number one, and in each of our cases can we image of our lives. God is my best friend. God is my best friend and she does at the end of not done yet but again, God is not ashamed to be called their God. They are not my friends, what, what we would say that about subject in all, I know them, but they are just acquaintances there. Not my friends. Why does we are ashamed to say they're our best friend while they paraphrase the life of Jesus is saying to us through the Word of God is saying to us, he is not ashamed to call you his friend. And in this relationship. This friendship that Enoch has with God. He is God. It is his best friends, and one day in Iraq who has been so straightforward when you live in so no encompassing of his life with Don God with his life. It was almost impossible for it not to see anything in his life who wasn't God, and that what he had was a gift from God, and in the blessings he had in his life are from God, his friendship that he had was with God and God was his friend, and one day God today, not us. Take a walk is a short but Enoch, let's take a walk, you know, you show me your world and what I've done for you. Come with me, I'll show you mine. This type of friendship that he had the thickest role, and that's exactly what happened. Enoch had so trusted job of his life that one day he does walk straight on into heaven. Imagine going for a walk with God. You do it every day. You have no I mow grass being daughter driving sometimes I miss, but he just got the God knife taken a ride by night, taking a walk, got an IR network got an IR school got a nineties( is with me everywhere I go. My best friend and he doesn't think anything bad about me. He doesn't have one negative thought about. He always is presenting truth in love and how that I can continue to grow and to develop and become better and we don't want to talk with Sergeant in the land. Noah now there's a guy is nuts. He builds a lark. Why anarchy felt about whether the water, although it got too many price and they can even tell it to where he wanted to go hello all, the boat where there is no water. And there's been no rain why he is sure on the character of God, the God he is who he says he is and he is certain that God will do what he says he will do now, and it's going to rain. Build more okay with it. Start the holiday years as a take to build super ship. I mean, how many years does it take to build one of those huge ocean liners and how many thousands of people are involved in the process got three guys in his two sons. They are on an endless task of building and building and building. I think this takes years to do wasn't built by aliens. That's what that is how you watch the history Channel, whatever aliens built the ark is built the ark so on. Then, Connecticut, Monticello, New York on floats in the vacant lot. It's a straight Republican and I went than is a when we are certain of something we will act upon it. It is a sure thing are sure things happen in thirty seconds or less is a sure thing. What didn't happen yet, while the Muslim enemy happens not a sure thing. So Noah was sure and certain of the character of God is who he says he is. He's the creator of this place and he wants me to build what was new: first line of verse eight by faith Abraham by faith, by a sure and certain Abraham, being sure and certain left his home to go to a place and I'll tell you when you get there. It was sure that God is doing. He says he has and he was certain that God will do what he says he will do you mean I'm going to find the land. It's for my descendents of having kids yet but you're going to have is that you going to have a child and your descendents are going to be as great as the sands of the sea seashore. It's hard frost to trust God when when when when certain things are supposed to happen in the we don't we don't see them must not going to happen and but to leave and called in love or know where you're going. Sounds like some of our friends have helped, but where you're going. I don't know why you're going to get there. I don't know, but I'm sure I'll find out why Abraham was sure and certain of God 's call God 's word. God 's promised and God 's provision and he was on his way and God changed his name to Abraham, to Abraham. Why didn't even have a child sure and certain. The lesson of sure and certain is a lesson of the key to all of our life that we have faith in God, the character of God is such use love to use provision use strength is friendship. Use help he can bring something out of nothing and have regular and we are sure and certain that he is word when he speaks into wildlife will accomplish exactly what he said he would do whatever it takes ten seconds or a hundred years. He can do it will do it near Sergeant God desires independence. God desires trust, and he desires that we have faith in him, not, not faith in our ability to make him happy. God does not put an honest that we have the ability to make it happen, but that God will give us his divine provision giving honor to those who by faith were sure that God is who he says is an certain that God will do what he says he will do verse thirteen is the clincher, K all these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised. They only saw them and welcomed them from a distance they is so sure and certain we can see it, but in this case, they could say it, but in their lifetime. It wouldn't happen while that's the and whenever we have our life verse fifteen. If they were looking for a land that they could see they could have returned to where they came from. But God doesn't want us going back to where we came from. God has a purpose for our life ahead of us sure and certain God has a life for us this time is a place for us. There is a time is a place on our faith is a way of seeing of the four times and God alone is going backwards in what was going on where to our life. Her sixteenth instead they were looking for a better country. I have only one. Therefore God is not ashamed to call to be called their God, God is not ashamed whenever we say that God has a plan and purpose of his word and his character are sure that he's not you know what God says you know your like your people say good things people say which said on that. Thank you, thank you for the compliment. God is saying a bus, then my child a proud parent. They are my son, because they know my character and they know my word, so we will take courage from these heroes of faith who lived and died without seeing their promises, yet they continue to believe they were sure God is who he says he is and they are certain he will do what he says he will do in the list goes on to Isaac and Jacob and Joseph and Moses. The plagues in Egypt and people being set free and going through the Red Sea, there's Rahab it; there is Gideon and Barrick and Sampson and Jeff David all were commended for their faith, our life sure and certain of God 's and certain that he will do what he says he will do an A&R life God has a promise who have a glimmer of hope of what's out there puts that in our heart. He bursts he birth it in half but we shall become what we can do. We're not there yet, but he will take us there step by step purpose by purpose situation by situation setbacks are just opportunities for advances and our advances of opportunities for God 's blessing in God 's setbacks are opportunities for his blessing and his power to become more real and just as real in our life as it was in Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and Joseph same God same word spoken to your life. I have faith. I am sure and I am. I am sure God is who he says he is, and I'm certain he will do what he says he will do. That's faith, so as to sell what we held a countless faith and our faith is sure that our faith is certain that God has really says he is and he will do what he says he will do and that glimmer of hope that that thing that's bursting your mind that God will do for you that God will accomplish in your life that he will make you will perform. He will do an honest and that we see it out there that's exactly that's exactly Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, that's us dream. Allow God to be the inspirer of your dream and then allow God this character 's promise to make it happen. He didn't even want you to do it. He wants you to allow him to work throws you to do it. And then, so we have faith father, thank you for the faith that you give us God. It is a gift from you. You get to all of us literally Lord faith and wisdom you give it to us. So Lord, we ask for more faith. We asked for greater certainty, a greater understanding and greater surety more than what you are. We ask your blessing and your guidance for us in our lives and all who believe that saying then I just kind of scream at the top of your lungs and