Sermon 02/29/04 am

Jim Huskey, Now Faith IS

Thus far, as we have gone through our look at the book of Hebrews, we

have noticed that the Hebrew began by saying, "God, who at sundry times

and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed

heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds." Heb 1:1,2. He

proceeded from their to show the superiority of Christ over the angels,

over Moses, over the Old Testament priesthood, his law superior to the

law given to Moses on Mt Sinai, built upon a better covenant, better

promises, better hope. Having gone through all that, the Hebrew author,

in chapter 10 beginning verse 38 said, "Now the just shall live by faith;

(quoting from Habakkuk 2:4) but if any man draw back, my soul shall have

no pleasure in him. (That's what many of the Jews who had been converted

to Christianity were doing. They were drawing back.) But we are not of

them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving

of the soul. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the

evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good

report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the

word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which

do appear. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice

than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God

testifying of his gifts; and by it he being dead yet speaketh. By

faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not

found, because God had translated him; for before his translation he

had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is

impossible to please Him; for he that cometh to God must believe that

He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

Heb. 10:38-11:6.

"Now faith is...." A lot of times we hear those who do not believe

talk about the blindness of faith. Well, they're the ones who are

blind, but that's another story. Faith is NOT blind. Faith is

supported; there is evidence; there is something that undergirds it and

holds it up. "Now faith is the substance...." That's an interesting

word. The word "substance" is a compound word. It comes from two

Latin words - "sub", meaning "under"; and "stare", meaning "to stand."

Now faith is that which holds, or undergirds, the things for which we

hope. All of us here today, I believe, have a hope in the resurrection

of the dead. We don't believe that we're like the dog, Rover, when he

dies, he's dead all over and that's all there is. We believe that man

will live on and that one of these days the graves will be opened and

the dead will arise, that this mortal will put on immortality. What

is the evidence that that can happen? Let's go first to the firstfruits

of them that slept. It doesn't mean He was the first one raised from

the dead; there were people raised from the dead in the Old Testament.

Jesus is called the firstfruits of them that slept. If you understand

the Old Testament, and you have to understand it in order to understand

the book of Hebrews, you'll understand the offering of the first

fruits. A lot of people have the concept that the offering of the

firstfruit was giving God his part first. No, that's not what it meant.

That wasn't the purpose of the offering. The purpose of the offering

was to be a token and a promise that the remainder of the crop would be

harvested and not wasted. Thus, Jesus became the firstfruits of them

that slept. What does that mean? That is God's promise, God's

assurance, that one day all that are in the graves will hear His voice

and come forth.

One of the most difficult concepts to get over to people in the first

century, and still today in many respects, was the resurrection. You

see, some of the Jews were really concerned about that, because after

Jesus' crucifixion they went to Pilate and reminded him, 'You know,

he's been talking about rising from the grave. Now we know what's

going to happen. His disciples are going to come and take the body

away, and we want to prevent that.' So they were told 'You have a

watch, see to it.' But I want you to notice something interesting

about that watch. You know, we think maybe just one or two guards were

there. I believe there were far more than that, and I'll give you the

reason for that. In Matthew 27:63 we begin. Now the Pharisees had

come to Pilate. "Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said,

while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command

therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his

disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people,

He is risen from the dead; so the last error shall be worse than the

first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch; go your way, make it as

sure as you can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing

the stone, and setting a watch." Matt. 27:63-66. Now look over in

chapter 28, beginning verse 10, after Jesus had been seen by some after

his resurrection, "Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid; go tell

my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

Now when they were going, behold, SOME of the watch came into the city,

and showed unto the chief priests all the things that were done." Now

to what does the word "some" refer? It means that wasn't all of them.

"Some" usually refers to more than one; so if "some" of the watch came,

that means "some" of it was still left at the tomb. "...and showed

unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they

were assembled withthe elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large

money unto the soldiers, (plural, so evidently we're not talking about

a one-man or two-man job.) Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night,

and stole him away while we slept." NOW WAIT A MINUTE !!!!!! WAIT A

MINUTE !!!! What happens to a military person on guard.....yea !!!!

And this wasn't just one person. This was a group of guards, a GROUP

of guards. Also, remember Jesus told some of them after his resurrection

'Put your fingers in the nail prints of my hands, put your hand in my

side.' Not only did he appear to those who were the apostles, but he

appeared to more than 500 people at one time. I Cor. 15:6. No, the

resurrection of Jesus is evidenced and it's confirmed evidence that

God raised him from the dead. Remember, it was professionals who

put him to death. For a long time there was a theory of the fact that

he didn't really die, he just swooned. Now the soldiers saw that he

was dead. When they pierced his side, here came out blood and water,

which means the blood had already begun to separate, which from what

I'm told, is evidence that death had already occurred. So, there's

evidence.

But let's just suppose for a moment. Let's look in John, chapter 11.

There was a man there named Lazarus who died. He was a friend of

Jesus. His sisters were Mary and Martha. Word came to Jesus regarding

Lazarus. He told his apostles, 'Our friend, Lazarus, sleepeth.' They

said 'Well, Lord, if he sleeps he'll do well.' A good night's sleep

would help a lot of folks. He finally told them plainly, 'Lazarus is

dead.' But Jesus went to the home, met with the sisters, asked them

where they had laid him. They told him "...Lord, by this time he

stinketh; for he hath been dead four days." That's a pretty plain way

of putting it, isn't it? Let an animal die and don't bury it. After

lying there for days and days, you'll know it whether you see it or

not. "...Lord, by this time he stinketh..." Jesus stepped to the tomb

of Lazarus, prayed to the Father and then said "Lazarus, come forth."

Have you ever wondered why he was so specific about Lazarus? Let me

tell you why. If he hadn't specified WHO, they would have been coming

out of the graves everywhere. Well, that's what's going to happen when

it all does come to a culmination !!!! The Lord himself will descend

from heaven with a shout and with the voice of the archangel and the

trump of God and the dead will be raised incorruptible. He specified

Lazarus. How do we know Lazarus really was dead and that this was not

just a hoax? One of the way we know is because of the reaction of the

Pharisees. "But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and

told them what things Jesus had done." Jno. 11:46. Prior to that,

verses 44,45 say, "And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot

with graveclothes; and his face was found about with a napkin. Jesus

saith unto him, Loose him, and let him go. Then many of the Jews which

came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus die, believed on him."

So this wasn't something that was done "in a corner". He'd been dead

long enough for his body to begin decaying. They saw what happened and

they believed. Others went to the Pharisees and told them what was done.

"Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said,

What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. If we let him thus

alone, all men will believe on him; and the Romans shall come and take

away both our place and nation." vs. 47,48. Now look over in chapter

12 of John. "Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany,

where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.

There they made him a supper; and Martha served; but Lazarus was one

of them that sat at the table with him. vs. 1,2. In verse 10 of this

same chapter we begin. "But the chief priests consulted that they

might put Lazarus also to death." That's pretty good evidence that he

was alive, isn't it? You can't put something to death that ALREADY

DEAD. There's evidence that there will be a resurrection. In Acts,

chapter 9, beginning with verse 36, "Now there was at Joppa a certain

disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas, this

woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. And it came

to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died; whom when they had

washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. And forasmuch as Lydda was

nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they

sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to

them. Then Peter arose and went with them. And when he was come, they

brought him into the upper chamber; and all the widows stood by him

weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while

she was with them. But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down and

prayer; and turning him to the body, said Tabitha, arise. And she

opened her eyes; and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her

his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and

widows, presented her alive. And it was know throughout all Joppa;

and many believed in the Lord." Acts 9:36-42.

Faith undergirds, it stands under, it supports that for which we hope.

It's not blind; it's not blind. It has something to hold it up. But

that isn't all the Hebrew author said. It is the "evidence of things

not seen." "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed

by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of

things which do appear." "...the evidence of things not seen." Well

let's begin right at the beginning. No man hath seen God. Is there

evidence? Oh, yes. The evidence is all around us. You see, some

people, however, don't want to be bothered with the truth. They would

rather abide in their ignorance. Psalms 19 begins, "The heavens declare

the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handywork. Day unto

day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowlege. There is

no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line

is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the

world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, which is as a

bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to

run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his

circuit unto the ends of it; and there is nothing hid from the heat

thereof." Psa. 19:1-6. Common sense just scares the daylights out

of some folks, I reckon. Drive down a road, and perhaps it's been

spring, summer, and back off the road somebody's been building a house;

but because of the foilage, you don't see it. Then fall comes and the

leaves fall and you look up there and suddenly you see the house. Now

what do we surmise? Did it just happen ????? Did it give birth to

itself overnight ???? NO !!!! We surmise that somebody built the

house. "For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all

things is God." Heb. 3:4. That's simple enough, isn't it ??? That's

plain enough, too.

The story is told of Sir Isaac Newton who had a friend. That friend

had made for him a model the likeness of the earth and the sun, the

moon, the planets they were aware of when he lived. It was made out

of wood and for that day and time, it was a rather elaborate piece of

work. It was designed where he could turn a crank and the various

bodies would move in harmony with each other around the sun. The

planets would spin on their axis as they moved around the sun. It was

a marvelous little thing. Sir Isaac had another friend who was an

atheist. He came by one day shortly after Sir Isaac had been given that

model, and the atheist asked, "Who made that?" Sir Isaac said "Nobody.

Nobody made it." The atheist said, "I want to know who made it." Sir

Isaac said, "Nobody." Finally the friend got irritated and said, "I

demand to know who made that." Sir Isaac said, "You poor diluted soul!

You know that this puny model had to have been made by someone, yet the

very thing which this model represents, you refuse to recognize that it

had a maker." The evidence is there. Have you ever stopped to think

how vast this universe is? Every time we develop a more powerful

telescope we realize the scope is far beyond what we ever imagined.

But have you ever thought about this? What makes it all stay in the

right relationship with everything else in it? Why doesn't the earth

get out of orbit and crash into the moon? You know, accidents happen.

If you don't believe it, get out on the highway. There are lanes

markes off, laws to tell people what to do and still somebody gets out

of place and collisions occur. Why is it that the earth always maintains

a certain distance from the sun? You see, if it got further away we'd

all freeze to death and life here would be destroyed. If it got

closer it would burn up. See, we can get something that's got

direction and all this and try to put it together and make it work

like it's supposed to work, and can't. But God has this whole thing

moving in perfect symmetry and perfect harmony, yet some fool comes

along and says "It didn't have a maker; it just happened." Someone

has said that the likelihood of an explosion occuring in a print shop

and Webster's Unabridged Dictionary being the result of that explosion

is more likely by far than this universe just happening by what's

now known as the "big bang" theory. The Psalmist points out the

evidence. All a person has to do is open his eyes to see. How do you

suppose all these space missions our folks have been on are planned?

How do they know when the "window" will be there? Well, they can

depend on the reliability of the movement of everything in relationship

to everything else, that's how. They must have that "window". They

must know when it's going to be there. Now, because that is so

reliable, they can plan the launches and the missions. Anything that

reliable you know one thing for certain; man didn't make it. Man

didn't do it; but God did !!! You know, there is so much evidence that

man had a master designer and that this world had a master designer.

Have you ever stopped to think about the body you have. I know some

of them start to fall apart after a while, but remember there are a

lot of things that contribute to that. One is age. When man was

cut off from the tree of life and when that water canopy that was at

one time over the earth was broken up, man's life was shortened real

quick by a lot of years after the flood, because the water canopy was

taken away. Abraham life 175 years, Noah over 900 years, Methuselah

lived 969 years. Immediately after the flood Noah was the last one to

live that length of time. Men began to die six and seven and eight

hundred years sooner than they had before the flood. A lot of scientists

are in agreement that the water canopy that was over the earth protected

the earth from a lot of rays from the sun that penetrate now and

cause men to die sooner. When we read about the creation, we read

about the waters above the earth and the water beneath the earth. But

consider this body. It's got a computer beyond anything man has been

able to create, even though we don't use it too often. But it's there.

It has a marvelous ability to regenerate itself it some ways. Ever

thought about how many skins you've warn out since you've been on the

earth? I believe what the scientists tell us about every seven or

eight years that layer of skin is replaced. Get out in the sun, get

burned, layers peel off to the next layer. That's when it gets to

hurting, but after a while, next thing we know, all that's healed over

and we have a new layer of skin. Burn that one off and here comes

another one. Try getting a car that will do that. Can't find

anything that will do that, except something God made. Then somebody

says, "We're going to take a blind leap of faith." Faith is not

blind. Faith has evidence to uphold it. Faith has evidence to sustain

it. Faith has something to undergird it. ".the just shall live by

faith." "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence

of things not seen." What a marvelous subject. We've just sort of

introduced it this morning. "..the just shall live by faith." In our

next lessons we'll be talking about what faith does, how it enables us

to live so we may have those blessings that have been promised.