In the journey of faith, believers are called to step outside their comfort zones, leaving behind the securities of this world to bear the challenges for Christ. This radical faith is characterized by a willingness to endure suffering and find satisfaction in God alone. It is not about seeking the approval of the world but about embracing the call to live a life that reflects the love and sacrifice of Christ. This kind of faith requires courage and a deep trust in God's promises, knowing that He will never leave us nor forsake us. [10:56]
Hebrews 13:13-14 (ESV): "Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come."
Reflection: What is one comfort or security you are holding onto that prevents you from fully stepping out in faith for Christ? How can you begin to let go of it today?
Day 2: Living by Faith in Future Grace
Living by faith involves trusting in the promises of God and relying on His future grace to sustain us through life's challenges. This faith is not passive but requires an active engagement with God's Word, allowing it to transform our hearts and minds. By meditating on His promises, we find the strength to face uncertainties with confidence and joy. This journey of faith is about looking beyond our current circumstances and trusting that God will provide for our needs and guide us through every trial. [18:24]
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV): "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
Reflection: What is one promise from God's Word that you can meditate on today to strengthen your faith in His future grace?
Day 3: The Fight for Joy and Satisfaction
Maintaining faith requires a daily fight to find joy and satisfaction in God. This involves prayer, meditation on Scripture, and a deep trust in God's promises. By actively seeking joy in God, believers can let go of the temporary comforts of this world and embrace the eternal promises of God. This fight for joy is not easy, but it is essential for living a life that is radically committed to Christ. It empowers believers to face life's challenges with hope and perseverance. [27:15]
Psalm 16:11 (ESV): "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to cultivate joy and satisfaction in God, even amidst challenges?
Day 4: God's Sovereignty in Our Trials
In every trial, believers are reminded of God's sovereignty and His promise to work all things for their good. This assurance allows them to face afflictions with hope, knowing that God is with them and will never forsake them. Understanding God's sovereignty provides comfort and strength, enabling believers to trust in His plan and purpose for their lives. It is a reminder that no trial is wasted and that God is always at work, even in the midst of suffering. [54:05]
Isaiah 43:2 (ESV): "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you."
Reflection: How can you remind yourself of God's sovereignty in a current trial you are facing, and what difference does it make in your perspective?
Day 5: Finishing Well with Eternal Perspective
The ultimate goal of the Christian journey is to finish well, with eyes fixed on the eternal city to come. By seeking satisfaction in God and His promises, believers are prepared to face death and enter into the fullness of His glory. This eternal perspective shapes how they live their lives, influencing their priorities and decisions. It is a call to live with purpose and intentionality, knowing that their true home is with God in eternity. [56:53]
Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV): "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."
Reflection: What is one way you can shift your focus from earthly concerns to an eternal perspective in your daily life?
Sermon Summary
In our time together, I want to express my gratitude for the opportunity to share and reflect on the profound journey of faith we are called to embark upon. As we delve into the book of Hebrews, we are reminded of the call to live a life of radical faith, one that is not confined to the comforts of our current circumstances but is willing to step outside the camp, bearing the challenges and abuses for the sake of Christ. This journey is not about seeking the approval of the world but about finding our ultimate satisfaction and joy in God, who promises to never leave us nor forsake us.
Hebrews 11 and 13 provide a powerful narrative of faith that conquers kingdoms and endures suffering. It is a faith that is not deterred by the trials of life but is strengthened by the promises of God. We are called to live by faith in future grace, trusting that God will provide for our needs and sustain us through every trial. This faith is not passive but requires an active fight to maintain our joy and satisfaction in God, even when faced with the uncertainties and challenges of life.
The practical steps to sustain this kind of faith involve immersing ourselves in the Word of God, meditating on His promises, and allowing them to transform our hearts and minds. It is through this daily fight for joy and satisfaction in God that we are able to let go of the temporary comforts of this world and embrace the eternal promises of God. As we do so, we become radical Christians, ready to finish well, regardless of the afflictions or challenges we may face.
Key Takeaways
1. Bk&t=656s'>[10:56] 2. Living by Faith in Future Grace: Our journey of faith is sustained by trusting in the promises of God. By meditating on His Word and allowing it to transform us, we find the strength to face life's challenges with confidence and joy.
3. The Fight for Joy and Satisfaction: Maintaining our faith requires a daily fight to find joy and satisfaction in God. This involves prayer, meditation on Scripture, and a deep trust in God's promises, which empower us to live radically for Him.
4. God's Sovereignty in Our Trials: In every trial, we are reminded that God is sovereign and works all things for our good. This assurance allows us to face afflictions with hope, knowing that God is with us and will never forsake us.
5. Finishing Well with Eternal Perspective: Our ultimate goal is to finish well, with our eyes fixed on the eternal city to come. By seeking satisfaction in God and His promises, we are prepared to face death and enter into the fullness of His glory. [10:56]
In Hebrews 11:32-40, what are some of the acts accomplished by faith that the passage highlights? How do these acts demonstrate radical faith? [03:52]
According to Hebrews 13:12-14, what does it mean to "go forth to him outside the camp"? How does this relate to the call to bear challenges for Christ? [08:30]
In Hebrews 13:5-6, what promise does God give that helps believers maintain contentment and avoid the love of money? How is this promise foundational to living by faith? [18:24]
How does the sermon describe the shift in Hebrews 11 from triumphs to sufferings, and what does this indicate about the nature of faith? [05:10]
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Interpretation Questions:
What does it mean to live by faith in "future grace," and how does this concept challenge the way believers typically view their current circumstances? [18:24]
How does the call to "go outside the camp" in Hebrews 13:13 challenge modern Christians' understanding of comfort and security? What might this look like in practical terms? [10:56]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of meditating on God's promises. How does this practice help believers fight for joy and satisfaction in God amidst trials? [27:15]
How does the assurance of God's sovereignty in trials, as discussed in the sermon, provide hope and strength to believers facing afflictions? [54:05]
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Application Questions:
Reflect on a time when you had to step outside your comfort zone for your faith. What challenges did you face, and how did you find satisfaction in God during that time? [10:56]
Identify a specific promise from Scripture that you can meditate on this week to help you fight anxiety or discontentment. How will you incorporate this into your daily routine? [18:24]
Consider an area of your life where you are seeking approval from the world rather than finding satisfaction in God. What steps can you take to shift your focus? [27:15]
How can you actively fight for joy and satisfaction in God when faced with uncertainties or challenges? Share a practical strategy you plan to implement. [27:15]
Think about a trial you are currently facing. How does the understanding of God's sovereignty in your situation change your perspective and response? [54:05]
What does "finishing well" mean to you in the context of your faith journey? How can you keep an eternal perspective in your daily life? [56:53]
How can you encourage others in your small group or community to live by radical faith and seek satisfaction in God alone? Share one way you plan to support someone this week. [10:56]
Sermon Clips
"By laying hold on the reward, by coming to God for all that he is for them and by being content in him rather than circumstance or money or health or family or job, that's faith. By that, they conquered kingdoms and forced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions." [00:04:05]
"Let us go forth to him outside the camp. Now that means outside this room with all these beautiful lights and this nice air conditioning and having had a nice breakfast and feeling the security that everything will go right today, nothing will break and you'll get where you need to be." [00:08:34]
"Let us go with him outside the camp of America, outside the Disneyland of the world, which is absolutely unrealistic in a world like ours. If you've only lived here, if you've only grown up in America, if you've had hot water, if you've had plumbing, if you've had 9-1-1, if you've had a doctor at your disposal, if you've had a car, you're wildly rich." [00:10:04]
"Now, if God would just make you believe that in the bottom of your heart, you'd be very radical people, dangerous people. I read somewhere that the pope said after Calvin's death, the power of that heretic lay in his utter indifference to money. Amen." [00:17:51]
"Keep your life free from the love of money and be content with what you have. Now, be amazed at that commandment because what that commandment is telling you to do is something you cannot do. Be content if you're discontent right now, that is, something is in your heart is just rising up with discontentment." [00:18:44]
"The states of the heart that are our biggest problems are outside our immediate control. If they were in our immediate control, none of you would be here. You'd all be on the mission field laying your lives down for Jesus with no struggle at all." [00:19:15]
"God has said, 'I will never fail you or forsake you.' So just stop right there. That's a quote from the Old Testament. So even the New Testament uses the Bible to undergird these radical commands of not being lovers but rather content, and the answer is a promise." [00:22:14]
"Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all, and the final delivery is to heaven, and we don't know which one of those. Now, what I'm illustrating here, it may sound like, oh, you are preaching the same message again." [00:36:57]
"God will so govern all things that we shall reap only good from what befalls us. He had a right to say it. So I suppose the last application of this simple structure of living by faith and future grace or using the Bible to fight for faith or stoking the engines of delight in and joy in satisfaction in God would be..." [00:55:20]
"Be satisfied with the city to come where there will be no more sun and no more moon, for the glory of the Lord will be our light, and the Lamb will be the lamp. Let's pray. Oh God, I pray that we as a people would learn how to fight the fight for joy and satisfaction in you." [00:57:10]
"I am so thankful, Lord, for the truth that you are glorifying yourself as God by satisfying my soul in God. Let that glorious truth land on your people here with life-changing power and send them into your mission for their lives and help us to finish well for the glory of the Lord." [00:58:06]
"By meditating on and praying over your precious promises in the Bible, which are unparalleled in their power to create radical Christians. I am so thankful, Lord, for the truth that you are glorifying yourself as God by satisfying my soul in God." [00:58:26]