In God We Trust
Hebrews 11-13

Dave Carlsen
July 23, 2006

INTRO: On any trip, you need to figure out what to take and what to leave behind.

Our spiritual journey is similar; Looking to a heavenly home; travel light. (what to hold, what to let go)

“In God We Trust”

“In God We Trust” may be a prayer of thanks.

It could be a statement, a truth that has defined a life for a long time.

In God We Trust may be a call to repentance for wandering.

Perhaps it is a request, a prayer of desire from an earnest seeker.

TURN: Heb. 11:1

LET GO…

Of your need to know.

How important is Faith?

Heb. 11:2This is what the ancients were commended for. This = Faith

Heb. 11:6And without faith it is impossible to please God,

Helps for letting go…

Grow in your understanding of God (to know God is to trust Him)

Journey with people who have faith [unmistakeable mark of God on their life]

Heb. 10:25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Learn to be content w/ questions

Willingly place yourself in uncomfortable situations that REQUIRE faith…it WILL stregthen or be proven false.

LET GO…

Of one size fits all/ formula.

Faith Has Many Shades/Dimensions

One of the riches of the Bible is that the stories that they help God’s people in different ways and at different times…

(3) Starting point is that there is a God; a creator God. We are image bearers of this God. He is the one who allows us to see the invisible. FAITH SHAPES OUR UNDERSTANDING.

(24-26) Moses- reminds us that our faith asks us to choose: pleasure now or later. Be accepted and loved in this life or the next?

(31) Rahab the prostitute – is a vivid picture of God’s daily mercies, her story calls us to make the right decision TODAY even after many falls.

“by Faith…” The vehicle God used to show Himself was FAITH

they all found approval (how? Not by their wisdom, boldness, availability, impeccable record from the past…although they may have those things present in their life…IT WAS BY FAITH)

***the hero was the same in all of these…thus our confidence grows in what we know God to be:

Powerful…yes BUT Good, Caring, Involved, paying attention!

LET GO…

Extra stuff and Sin.

Q: What is it that hinders me putting forth my BEST effort in the race?

[not just let go, but MUST hold on as well]

Hold On!

HOLD ON…

The God who can be trusted.

Heb. 11:6 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.

2 things required for worshippers…Belief AND Faith

God’s invitation? His proposal?

READ: Heb. 10:19-23

HOLD ON…

To the gift of faith you’ve been given.

*Possible to read all of these stories and feel defeated; discouraged.

Q: When was the last time you envied someone else’s apparent mountain moving faith?

-When was the last time you felt small or even guilty about your own struggling faith?

When was the last time that you thanked God for the measure of faith that has been given to you?

“In every saint there is always to be found something reprehensible. Nevertheless although faith may be imperfect and incomplete it does not cease to be approved by God.” Calvin

We are invited to draw near to God w/ a sincere heart in FULL assurance of faith…for HE who promised is faithful.

In GOD we trust.

To learn what is at the heart of God, to get to know Him better…look at; meditate on the Promises of God. (college series this past school year; grew our faith)

to love us
to forgive us
to save us
to give us the Holy Spirit
to offer us peace, joy, freedom, encouragement, and everlasting life
to provide, strengthen and comfort us
to hear us and answer when we cry out
he promises to be faithful to us forever!
He promises to return for us!

He is the one who started all of this.

Heb. 12:2-3

CONCLUSION?

Our conclusion as a group of students who looked at and digested the promises of God was simple. We want to be people who simply take God at His word.

Sounds simple, almost naïve. Even could say it sounds childish.

If there was ever an example for us to follow of ONE who ran the race laid out for HIM, we look to our Savior, our author, perfector. He completed his race with joy. He showed us the way to endure, to live BY FAITH