FAITH: THE HEARTBEAT OF AUTHENTIC CHRISTIAN LIVING
The Blessed Effects of Faith
Memory Verse: Heb 11:4(NKJV) “By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.”
TEXT: GENESIS 4:3-10
Genesis 4:3–10 (NIV)
3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”
“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
10 The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.
INTRODUCTION:
NKJV | Heb 6:11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
NKJV | Heb 10:32 But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: 33 partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; 34 for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 37 “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” 39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
The Message | Heb 11:1 The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see.
Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)
11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:3 (NKJV)
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Hebrews 11:7–8 (NKJV)
7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
Hebrews 11:11 (NKJV)
11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.
Hebrews 11:13 (NKJV)
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Hebrews 11:19–22 (NKJV)
19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.
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.
Hebrews 11:27 (NKJV)
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.
Hebrews 11:39 (NKJV)
39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise,
Cf. Romans 8:24–25 (NKJV)
24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
Hebrews 11:3 (NKJV) 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
The name, Abel, means “A breath; vanity; vapor; (roots = [1] vanity; transitoriness; breath; i.e., breath of the mouth; fading away; [2] mourning; from root to mourn, to lament). Withering; fading away. A meadow.”[1]
Matthew 23:35 (NIV)
35 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
Genesis 4:4 (NIV)
4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering,
Hebrews 11:4 (NIV)
4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
Luke 11:51 (NIV)
51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all.
1 John 3:12 (NIV)
12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.
Hebrews 12:24 (LEB) 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks better than Abel’s does.
1 John 1:7 (GW) 7 But if we live in the light in the same way that God is in the light, we have a relationship with each other. And the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from every sin.
1. His Attitude about Giving. Heb 11:4a
Heb 11:4(NKJV) “By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.”
Greek word: pistis faith
what can be believed, a state of certainty with regard to belief , trust, believe to a complete trust trustworthiness, the state of complete dependability, Christian faith, belief in the Gospel , doctrine, the content of what is to be believed, promise, pledge to be faithful.--DBL Greek
1 John 3:12 (NIV)
12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.
“Cain wasn’t rejected because of his offering, but his offering was rejected because of Cain: his heart wasn’t right with God.” --Warren Wiersbe
Genesis 4:4 (NIV)
4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering,
2 Corinthians 9:6–7 (LEB)
6 Now the point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one should give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or from compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Epigram On Faith
• Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible, and receives the impossible.
• Faith is to accept the impossible, do without the indispensable, and bear the intolerable.
• Faith is idle when circumstances are right, only when they are adverse is one’s faith in God exercised. Faith, like muscle, grows strong and supple with exercise.
• Don’t be afraid to take a big step if one is indicated. You can’t cross a chasm in two small jumps.
—David Lloyd George
• A little faith will bring your soul to heaven; a great faith will bring heaven to your soul.
—Spurgeon
• Faith is not believing that God can, but that God will!
• Faith is to believe what we do not see; and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe. [2]
2. His Acceptable Offering. Hebrews 11:4b
Heb 11:4(NKJV) “By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.”
Hebrews 11:4 (NIV) 4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
Obtained a Witness (Nkjv, “obtained a good report”) is the GREEK word martyreo which is also translated testifying in the other part of the same sentence in this verse. The word μαρτυρέω martyreō means testify, witness, give testimony, speak well of, commend, speak respect, vouch for. DBL Greek
The word “martyr” originally meant simply witness, but as the early witnesses sealed with their own blood their testimony to the faith, the first meaning was readily merged into the second. [3]
Genesis 4:4 (NCV) 4 Abel brought the best parts from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift,
2 Corinthians 8:5 (NKJV) 5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.
Matthew 15:8 (NIV) 8 “ ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
Galatians 6:7 (NKJV) 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
3. His Special Advantages
Heb 11:4(NKJV) “By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.”
Hebrews 11:4 (NIV) 4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
Hebrews 11:4 (The Message) 4 By an act of faith, Abel brought a better sacrifice to God than Cain. It was what he believed, not what he brought, that made the difference. That’s what God noticed and approved as righteous. After all these centuries, that belief continues to catch our notice.
CONCLUSION:
Do you believe in Jesus? John 3:16
