Learning From The Great Men Of Faith

Learning From The Great Men Of Faith

02E.1  Who are some of the men of God in the old days who were famous for their faith? Enoch -  It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying-"suddenly he disappeared because God took him."* But before he was taken up, he was approved as pleasing to God. (Hebrews 11:5, NLT) Noah - It was through his faith that Noah, when he had been warned by God of something that had never been seen before, took care to build an ark to save his family. His faith was a judgment on the world, and he was able to claim the uprightness which comes from faith. (Hebrews 11:7, NJB)   Abraham - It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. (Hebrews 11:8, NLT)   While God was testing him, Abraham still trusted in God and his promises, and so he offered up his son Isaac, and was ready to slay him on the altar of sacrifice; Yes, to slay even Isaac, through whom God had promised to give Abraham a whole nation of descendants! (Hebrews 11:17-18, LB) Moses -  It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be treated as the grandson of the king, but chose to share ill-treatment with God's people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. (Hebrews 11:24, LB) 02E.2  With their unwavering faith in God, what did these great men hoped for in the future that made them do the things they are famous for? Abraham - Abraham did this because he was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God. Hebrews 11:10 NLT Moses - He thought that it was better to suffer for the promised Christ than to own all the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking forward to the great reward that God would give him. (Hebrews 11:26, LB) These great men of faith have one vision and hope: They all look forward to the great reward that God would give them. The opportunity to live in the Heavenly City, a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God. 02E.3  What is the mind-set of these great men who have faith in God? 13. These men of faith I have mentioned died without ever receiving all that God had promised them; but they saw it all awaiting them on ahead and were glad, for they agreed that this earth was not their real home but that they were just strangers visiting down here. 14. And quite obviously when they talked like that, they were looking forward to their real home in heaven. 15. If they had wanted to, they could have gone back to the good things of this world. 16. But they didn't want to. They were living for heaven. And now God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has made a heavenly city for them. (Hebrews 11:13-16, LB) These men of faith are of the same mind-set and conviction: ·         That they will receive what God had promised them and they saw it awaiting for them on ahead and were glad or welcomed them. ·         That they all think and agreed that this earth was not their real home but that they were just strangers visiting down here. ·         That they were living for heaven and they all look forward to their real home in heaven, for God has made a heavenly city for them. 02E.4   What are these men of faith waiting for? What are they expecting to happen? In Philippians 3:21, this is revealed to us: For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.  (NKJV)  They are eagerly waiting for the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform their Lowly Body so that it may conform to His Glorious Body.  The kind of body that is fit to dwell for eternity in heaven.