How to be Confident of the Future Now-Outline

FAITH: THE HEARTBEAT OF AUTHENTIC CHRISTIAN LIVING

How to be Confident of the Future Now

(Heb 11:1 NIV)  Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

TEXT:

Hebrews 11:20–22 (NKJV)

²⁰ By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

²¹ By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

²² By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.

INTRODUCTION:

Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1 (NLT) Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.

Psalm 31:15 (NLT)

¹⁵ My future is in your hands.

Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly.

 “For our cause is in the very hands of him who can say: 'No one shall pluck it out of my hands.' I would not have it in our hands, and it would not be desirable that it were so. I have had many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have been able to place in God's, I still possess."—Martin Luther

 “ALL IN HIS HAND. Oh! yes, beloved reader, thank God that your times, your interests, your salvation, are all out of your hands, and out of the hands of all creatures, supremely and safely in his.”—Octavius Winslow

Proverbs 16:9 (NLT)

⁹ We can make our plans,

but the Lord determines our steps.

Proverbs 16:33 (NLT)

³³ We may throw the dice,*

but the Lord determines how they fall.

1.   By expressing our faith within the framework of Divine sovereignty. Hebrews 11:20

Hebrews 11:20 (NIV) ²⁰ By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.

Isaac #1 (i’-za-ak) = Laughing; laughter; he laughs; laughing one; (root = to laugh; to sport). EDBN

Genesis 27:28–29 (NKJV)

Genesis 27:33 (NKJV)

2.   By looking beyond the moment and anticipates the best for the coming morrow now.

Hebrews 11:21 (NIV) ²¹ By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

Jacob (ja’-cub) = He will supplant; he that supplants; he that follows after; a heeler; one who trips up; takes hold by the land; supplanter; a detainer.--EDBN

Genesis 48:21 (NRSV)

3.   By demonstrating our awareness of the sovereignty of God through worship.

Hebrews 11:21 (NIV) ²¹ By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

Genesis 47:29–31 (NIV)

4.   By having a Confident regard for God’s purposes for your life.

Hebrews 11:22 (NIV)  ²² By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.

Joseph (jo’-zef) = May God add; he shall add; increasing; (root = to add). EDBN

Genesis 50:24–25 (HCSB)

²⁴ Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will certainly come to your aid and bring you up from this land to the land He promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” ²⁵ So Joseph made the sons of Israel take an oath: “When God comes to your aid, you are to carry my bones up from here.”

Exodus 13:19 (NKJV) ¹⁹ And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had placed the children of Israel under solemn oath, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here with you.”

Joshua 24:32 (NKJV)

Conclusion:

Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV) ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.