Hebrews - Our Supreme Messiah #26, Pleasing God, By Faith! (Heb. 11:4-16)

Devotional

Day 1: Pleasing God by Living in Faith

God is most pleased with us when we walk in faith, trusting Him even when we cannot see the outcome. The examples of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Sarah show that faith is not just belief but action—living as if God’s promises are true and stepping forward even when the world calls it foolish. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen, and it is the only way to truly please God. [01:52]

Hebrews 11:1, 6 (ESV)
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. … And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are hesitating to act because you cannot see the outcome? How can you take a step of faith today, trusting that God is pleased when you do?

Day 2: Walking with God—Faith in Action

To walk with God means to live out your faith daily, not just talk about it. Enoch and Noah are examples of people who walked with God, and their faith became a testimony that impacted generations. Walking with God may look foolish to the world, but it is a powerful witness and brings generational blessings, breaking cycles of brokenness and establishing a legacy of faith. [08:27]

Genesis 5:24 (ESV)
Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.

Reflection: In what practical way can you “walk with God” today so that your faith becomes visible to those around you, especially your family or close friends?

Day 3: Trusting God’s Promises Beyond What We See

Abraham and Sarah’s story reminds us that God’s promises often go beyond what we can imagine or understand. Even when they laughed at the impossibility of God’s promise, they ultimately believed, and their faith was counted as righteousness. God’s promises may not always make sense in the moment, but trusting Him means looking forward to a greater reality—His heavenly city and eternal plan. [22:31]

Genesis 15:6 (ESV)
And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

Reflection: Is there a promise of God that feels out of reach or impossible for you right now? How can you choose to trust Him with it today, even if you don’t see how it could happen?

Day 4: Keeping a Heavenly Perspective in Difficult Times

The heroes of faith understood that this world is not their true home; they were seeking a better, heavenly country. When we keep our eyes on heaven, especially in difficult times, it shapes our decisions, gives us hope, and pleases God. Focusing on God’s eternal promises helps us not to turn back to old ways but to press forward, knowing that God is proud of those who desire His heavenly city. [41:24]

Hebrews 11:13-16 (ESV)
These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

Reflection: When you face discouragement or hardship, what is one way you can remind yourself that your true home and hope are in heaven, not in this world?

Day 5: Trusting God in Every Step—Big and Small

Faith is not just for the big moments; God calls us to trust Him in every aspect of our lives. Whether it’s a major life decision or a daily choice, letting confidence in God’s character, power, and faithfulness guide you is the foundation for a life that pleases Him. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, and acknowledge Him in all your ways—He will make your path straight. [42:55]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Reflection: What is one decision—big or small—where you need to give greater priority to trusting God today? What would it look like to acknowledge Him in that area right now?

Sermon Summary

In Hebrews 11, we see that God is most pleased when we walk by faith, not by seeking the approval of others or living for the applause of the world. The stories of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Sarah remind us that faith is not just a feeling or a set of beliefs, but a way of life—a daily walk that trusts God even when the path is unclear or the world calls us foolish. Abel’s offering was accepted because it was given in faith, not just ritual. Enoch’s life was so marked by walking with God that he never saw death, a testimony to the power of generational faith and the possibility of breaking cycles of brokenness. Noah’s obedience in building the ark, despite never having seen rain, shows us that faith often looks absurd to those around us, but it is the only way to righteousness and salvation.

Abraham and Sarah’s journey further illustrates that faith sometimes means stepping into the unknown, leaving comfort and certainty behind. Abraham left his homeland at 75, trusting a God he barely knew, and Sarah believed for a child long after hope seemed reasonable. Their faith was imperfect—they laughed, they doubted, they tried to take matters into their own hands—but what God remembers and commends is their faith, not their failures. This is a powerful reminder that our sins, once covered by faith in Christ, are not held against us; God sees us as righteous because of our trust in Him.

Faith, then, is not just believing that God exists, but living as if He is real and His promises are true. It is impossible to please God without faith, because faith acknowledges His reality, His sovereignty, and His goodness. Faith means living as strangers and exiles in this world, with our eyes fixed on the better country—heaven—that God has prepared for us. This heavenly mindset pleases God and gives us strength to endure hardship, resist the temptation to turn back, and step out in obedience even when the way is hard.

The call is clear: live by faith, not by sight. Trust God in the big and small things, knowing that He rewards those who seek Him. Let your life be a testimony that God is real, His promises are sure, and heaven is your true home.

Key Takeaways

1. Faith Pleases God, Not Human Approval Seeking the approval of others leads to emptiness and distraction, but God is most pleased when we walk by faith, trusting Him even when it seems foolish to the world. True fulfillment comes from living for God’s approval, not the applause of people. [01:52]
2. Generational Faith Breaks Cycles of Brokenness Enoch’s faith was passed down to his descendants, showing that one person’s walk with God can change the trajectory of a family. When we choose faith, we can break patterns of dysfunction and leave a legacy of righteousness for those who come after us. [08:27]
3. Faith Acts Even When the Outcome Is Unseen Noah built an ark before he had ever seen rain, and Abraham left his home not knowing where he was going. Faith means obeying God’s voice even when the outcome is uncertain, trusting that His promises are better than our understanding. [13:01]
4. God Remembers Our Faith, Not Our Failures Abraham and Sarah’s story is full of mistakes and doubts, yet what God commends is their faith. In Christ, our sins are covered and forgotten; what endures is our trust in Him. This gives us hope to keep walking, even when we stumble. [27:33]
5. Living with a Heavenly Mindset Sustains Us The heroes of faith saw themselves as strangers on earth, longing for a better country. Keeping our eyes on heaven gives us strength to endure trials, resist the pull of the world, and live lives that make God proud. [40:19]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:26] - Introduction and Setting the Stage
[01:00] - The Trap of Pleasing Others
[01:52] - Pleasing God by Faith
[03:14] - What Faith Is: Assurance and Conviction
[03:55] - Creation and God’s Sovereignty
[04:50] - Abel’s Faith and Righteousness
[07:12] - Enoch: Walking with God
[09:25] - Noah’s Radical Obedience
[13:01] - Faith in the Unseen: Noah’s Ark
[17:25] - Abraham and Sarah: Stepping into the Unknown
[23:06] - God Remembers Faith, Not Failure
[28:31] - The Necessity of Faith to Please God
[32:10] - God’s Reality and His Rewards
[35:31] - Living as if Heaven Is Real
[37:39] - Strangers and Exiles: A Heavenly Focus
[40:19] - God’s Pride in Our Heavenly Mindset
[42:28] - Trusting God in Every Step
[45:58] - The Invitation to Faith and Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Hebrews 11:1-16 (ESV) — > Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
>
> By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.
>
> By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
>
> By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
>
> By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
>
> By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.
>
> These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

Observation Questions

According to Hebrews 11, what made Abel’s offering more acceptable to God than Cain’s? ([05:12])
What does the passage say about Enoch’s relationship with God, and what was the result of his faith? ([07:12])
How did Noah demonstrate faith in a way that seemed foolish to those around him? ([13:01])
What did Abraham and Sarah do by faith, and how did their actions show trust in God’s promises? ([17:54])

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says, “God is most pleased with us when we walk in faith with him.” Why is faith so central to pleasing God, according to both Hebrews 11 and the sermon? ([01:52])
The pastor mentioned that Enoch’s faith had an impact on future generations. What does this suggest about the potential of one person’s faith to influence their family or community? ([08:27])
The sermon points out that Abraham and Sarah’s faith was imperfect—they doubted and made mistakes. Why do you think God chooses to remember and commend their faith rather than their failures? ([27:33])
The passage describes the heroes of faith as “strangers and exiles on the earth.” What does it mean to live with a “heavenly mindset,” and how might that affect daily life? ([40:19])

Application Questions

The sermon warns against living for the approval of others and encourages living for God’s approval instead. In what areas of your life do you find yourself seeking the applause of people? What would it look like to shift your focus to pleasing God in those areas? ([01:52])
Enoch’s faith broke a cycle of brokenness in his family line. Is there a pattern or cycle in your family or personal history that you hope to break by faith? What is one step you could take this week to start a new legacy? ([08:27])
Noah obeyed God even when it seemed absurd to everyone else. Has God ever asked you to do something that didn’t make sense to others? How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? ([13:01])
Abraham and Sarah’s story shows that God remembers our faith, not our failures. Are there past mistakes or doubts that you feel are holding you back from trusting God? How does knowing that God sees your faith, not your failures, change your perspective? ([27:33])
The sermon challenges us to live as “strangers and exiles,” keeping our eyes on heaven. What are some practical ways you can remind yourself this week that heaven is your true home? ([40:19])
The pastor shared about stepping out in faith even when the outcome was uncertain, like leaving a secure job to follow God’s call. Is there an area in your life right now where you sense God calling you to trust Him more deeply? What is one small step you could take in obedience? ([42:28])
The message says, “Faith means living as if God is real and His promises are true.” What is one promise of God that you want to hold onto and act on this week? ([35:31])

Sermon Clips

To find approval from others, but to find approval or to please God, that's something different. And we will learn today in our message that God is most pleased in us when we walk in faith with him. God is most pleased with us when we walk in faith with him. We will also learn a key perspective. In fact, we sang about it quite a bit today about how to finish well in this life. [00:01:45] (31 seconds) #FaithWalkWithGod

The New Covenant is not about the strict rules like the Old Covenant was. It is actually enacted. The New Covenant is enacted by faith in Jesus Christ, right? In who he is and what he's done. He spends all of chapter 11 here, 40 verses worth, to inspire us to live by faith, by telling us the stories of the saints before that had walked in those ways. [00:03:00] (28 seconds) #NewCovenantByFaith

You need to believe that God created everything, all of it, every atom, every molecule, every galaxy beyond of what we can see. God created it. In fact, he spoke it into existence. And if he did this, he is then and has the right to be over all things, having dominion over all things and control, of course, of all things. [00:04:13] (27 seconds) #GodCreatorOfAll

What a wonderful example of generational faith. And the truth is that generational brokenness is a real thing in life. We know this. We know the families. It might even be your family too. But when you come to faith in Christ, you are the one maybe to break that generational curse. Folks, this is a powerful thing to find faith in God and the righteousness he bestows upon us. [00:08:14] (34 seconds) #BreakGenerationalCurses

But what I want you to see here, that was in the New Testament, in this story about faith, that's what is remembered by them. That's what is communicated to us. And I hope for you to take this maybe as a reminder of the fact that God said that our sins are washed away, that they are covered completely. They are not thought of again. They are taken as far as the east is from the west. They are put in the depths of the sea. [00:27:35] (30 seconds) #ImpossibleToPleaseWithoutFaith

The author then makes the point that faith must be evident in our life, so much so that he says it is impossible, impossible, impossible to please God without having faith. Did you hear that? Did you get that? Impossible to please God without faith. An incredible statement. In fact, it's right there, isn't it? It's been hanging up for months. Faith in the one who gives us the promises. [00:30:12] (34 seconds) #AbideInFaith

We are strangers in this land. Our home is not this place. Our home is heaven. Amen? We're just a passing through. And we need to understand that we are aliens. We are aliens in a foreign land. That's what he's trying to tell them. That's what these believers, these righteous believers came to understand by the end of their life. [00:38:40] (24 seconds) #FaithCallsUs

Folks, when our mindset is not on this world but on the heaven that he has promised to us, it makes God proud. It pleases him for us to think heavenly and not worldly. Right? Here's the takeaway. Always keep your eyes on heaven especially in the most difficult times. God will not deny you. In fact, he will be proud of you when you do it. [00:41:02] (36 seconds) #FaithRestoresRelationship

All of those things go into consideration as you let God work in your life, not just in certain moments, but in every moment of your life. So what part of your life is God wanting you to give priority to Him? Where is God wanting you to trust Him? That's for you to pray about. That's for you to wrestle with. But it all starts with believing in our Creator, right? Believing that we actually know Him and that He actually loves us and He actually wants a relationship with us. [00:45:17] (41 seconds)

And what we know very clearly is that relationship, that relationship is separated. It's separated because sin had entered the world when Adam and Eve did not have faith. And from then, there's been a reconciling opportunity for us through Jesus Christ to believe in who He was, the Son of God, to believe in His death, which is the perfect sacrifice covering all sin if you believe in Him, if you trust in Him. [00:45:58] (34 seconds)

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