Hebrews 11:17-19

Abraham is known as the friend of God.  He is the only hero of faith mentioned twice in this chapter.  He was a man that not only lied but also committed adultery to help God’s plan.  I am glad God is not like me.  We can look at the life of Abraham and realize that God is a friend of sinners.

When we first looked at Abraham we saw he had a submissive faith because he was called to go and he was submissive to the will and call of God.  This message will focus on Abraham and his sure faith.  I know what your thinking, “Faith is sure.”  If our eyes are on the Lord shouldn’t our faith be sure?  Yes, because a sure faith is about hope.  I am not speaking the hope the world speaks of often.  This kind of hope is a Biblical hope.  Remember back to our first lesson when we were defining faith.  Faith has substance and it has evidence.  The substance of our faith is Jesus.  The evidence of our faith is the Bible.  A Biblical hope is rooted in the Word of God.

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.  Ps. 42:5  Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.  Ps. 42:11  We are encouraged here to hope in the Lord.  We don’t just hope in what He can do, we also Hope in who He is.  Even when his son was on the altar Abraham still had a sure faith because he had a Biblical hope.  Hope is need in times of turmoil and trials because without it we would give up.

We don’t just trust God when times are good.  Faith is not just intended when we are comfortable.  Faith is suppose to be a way of life for a believer.  Circumstances change, the Lord does not.  For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.  Mal. 3:6  If Jesus is the substance of our faith then He cannot be a God who changes.  His unchanging nature brings us security.  Our circumstances may be out of control, but He is not.  We are thinking about a sure faith.  Our faith is sure because our Lord is sure.