Listen Again: A Worthy Life

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Pastor Russ Andrews will walk us through Scripture to answer these questions join us on finding purpose of local tribal ministry glorifying God by helping men find their purpose for living. For more information and to connect with Russ Andrews and finding purpose could visit us online@findingpurpose.net connect with us on Facebook. Now let's listen to Russ Andrews as he teaches us how to be a Christian without being religious tonight with Lori look at Hebrews chapter 11 and have a title to much message a worthy life.

So what determines whether a life lived has been a worthy life or a wasted life somewhere say he who dies with the most toys wins.

Others might say he was the greatest philanthropist lifts the most worthy life. Still others might say hey you live the most upright life and live by the Golden rule is the one who has lived the most worthy life. So what you say or perhaps as Christians we should look to the Bible to see our God measures a worthy life. So what would God say what Paul writes in Colossians chapter 1 verse 10 and we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way, so let me just go here and set the record straight, a worthy life according to God simply simply a life that man or woman lives that's pleasing to him how to live a life is pleasing to God, which I would want to examine Hebrews chapter 11, which is known as the hall of faith.

In this chapter we will meet the people who live their lives with one purpose and that purpose was to please God, as I will show you man five distinguishing marks of a worthy life that is a life that is truly pleasing to God. Don't you want to please God with your life under the longer I live the older I get, the more I want to finish strong in his eye. When you finish strong. So I'm giving these five marks is the first mark a worthy life is marked by a confident faith. Look at verses one through six. He was chocolate milk you to follow along with me okay now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see this is what the ancients were commended for by faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible by faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did by faith. He was commended as a righteous man. When God spoke well of his offerings and by faith he still speaks. Even though he's there because where I could talk about him right now. Verse five by faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death. He cannot be found, because God is taken away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who please God without faith it is impossible to please God, is anyone who comes to him must believe that he exist and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. So the first step toward living a life that is pleasing to God. Is this ready is profound.

You must have faith in him. In fact, you have a confident faith. So what is it mean to have a confident faith. Look at verse one again. Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see said this was the distinguishing mark of the sites that were written about here in chapter 11 that they possessed a confident faith, one that was sure and certain, so of what with a certain five things there were certain that God exist.

They were certain that God made something out of nothing. If I can make everything out of nothing. There were certainly God created the universe by spoken word that is impossible to please God without faith and that God rewards those who earnestly seek him. The first hurdle, that your faith has to cross is that God exist across this world. All you have to do is look at creation look up at the stars tonight and believe in the one who put them there. This is known as universal revelation, the evidence of God and creation that is available to every person who was ever live. That's what's called universal revelation is God has revealed himself universally to everyone who's ever lived. Psalm 19 verse 24 says the heavens declare the glory of God. The skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech night after night they display knowledge there is no speech or language where their voice whose force creation force is not hurt really God's forcing creation.

Their voice goes out into all the earth their wars to the ends of the world was the psalmist saying to us, he's declaring that anyone anywhere at any time to look at the creation around them and know that there is a God in heaven. Moreover, people can look into their own conscience. From the moment a person is born he has a conscience that is telling him or her what is right and what is wrong. There is a moral law within each one of us in every culture who put it there where this will allow this moral compass come from it come from the moral lawgiver God. This is known by the way, is the moral law argument.

If there's a moral low within the conscience of every living soul, then there must be a divine moral law giver. By the way, this is the one with one of the wisest CS Lewis became a believer mechanic backed into it by thinking through thanks. Guess what, there's a divine moral lawgiver was his name. God the only way a person can deny the evidence of creation, the evidence within his conscience is to suppress these truths.

Paul taught writes about this in Romans chapter 1 verses 18 through 20 where he says the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God is made a point to them. For since the creation of the world. The that God's invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from what is been made so that men without what without excuse. Fact Ecclesiastes talks about the sake of it, that God put the idea of eternity within each one of us.

I think what Solomon is talking about in Ecclesiastes is that we all know that there's more to this life than what we say we know what we had this idea that things go last forever is in our DNA.

Once you move past general revelation you come to what is known as particular or special revelation.

He found when you so you got general or universal realm. Revelation and Helga moved to particular or special revelation. Think of this is the second hurdle that you have to jump over to arrive at true biblical faith.

So what is special revelation, but according to Dr. John Hammett special revelation is the revelation of God of information God desire to communicate given to particular individuals at particular times throughout history. Therefore, by definition is not universal is not available to everyone only to certain people at particular times. He goes on to say the purpose of special revelation is relational God giving information about himself in order that a relationship of personal knowledge, intimacy and trust established the two best examples of special of seizing a particular revelation or special revelation are Jesus when he wall the earth and reveal God to us in person he was doing at a particular time to particular people and the other is what the Bible you see only a few people were privy to the limited time of Christ and not everyone on the planet has access to the Bible. But guess what we do. We are privileged to live in a country we can study the Bible openly without fear of arrest we have complete access to the Bible we have access to sound preachers explaining it. So we truly have what no excuse now. I'm sure some you think you will have about those who did not live at the time of Christ or those who don't have access to a Bible and they've never heard the gospel about the native in the jungle. What about him, you get that question all the time with his Rob life.

If the native in the jungle believes in the universal revelation is God revealed to him and creation of awards. If the if the Indian in the jungle looks up at creation goes you know this a God in heaven, and he believes that you think got to leave him in that condition was he going to patient resumes at either what he's doing with Muslims right now in person read visions and dreams by Tom Dall if you want to see that he ate no Jesus appearing to them in dreams to hundreds of thousands if not millions of Muslims you heard on the news recently that real Nice, or he, since what a missionary God cares more about the man the jungle. The new ID and ultimately it's God's choice to reveal himself to ever he wants to.

And however he wants to all your dues were about hoodie you so back to you and me as a man begins to open up God's Word, the Bible and read it is faith developed so is this man begins to understand as he reads the Bible and hopefully believe that in the beginning God created heavens and the earth, so you know what he begins to believe you as you reach Genesis that God actually spoke and creation came into existence. God actually made something out of nothing. This is what the Bible says men and this is what I have believed since I read it when I was 10 years old. I just don't take credit for this is a blah believe that our flight is a gift from God. But when I read it I believed it, and is this man continues to make.

This is describing you is this man continues to study God's word.

He comes to realize that the only way to please God is to trust him completely to take God's word are still counted how many times word faith is used it in. He was let anybody count that up. How many a bunch 25 times in my bottle and here's the bottom line God can see into your heart and he knows when he sees a genuine faith. What are Jesus, even a look at the thief on the cross wanted believed genuine faith. What is God seemly looks in your heart. There are many millions of people who live in Jesus Christ's is the son of God does that save you know you got a trust in him, you got to look in the mirror and say I'm a sinner who needs a savior in Jesus is the only way all of these people. Hebrews 11 trust in God to deliver on his promises. And Ella was a took God at his word is your faith grows, you become more and more aware that without faith it is impossible to please God when your faith reaches the poor. What is sure and certain.

You also begin to realize that you know the publicist tells me that he's got an inheritance from the Whiting family, a place, a city of home and this is what gives you hope when you go through dark days is more number two no less than a worthy life is marked by a holy fear of God. Look at verse seven by faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen in holy fear built an ark to save his family by this faith, he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness that comes about what faith was it mean to have a holy fear of God with the new American Standard version translates is worth a holy fear is reverence.

It really means to have a devoted concern the things of God. Listen Noah so respected God and lived his life in such holy, all of him that he dropped everything he was doing to obey them. God commanded him to build an ark in a dry desert hundreds of miles from the nearest body of water. Furthermore, apparently at this point Jay had never rained the earth was water from the ground up, noting no rain was he had no experience in shipbuilding and it took him how many years, 120 years during which he preached the coming judgment of God and having people believe them.

Zero Proverbs 17 says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of what knowledge or wisdom this fear the Lord refers to a loving reverence for God that includes submission to his Lordship and submission to his commands in his word.

So what is a worthy life is a life that is marked by confident faith in God and a holy fear of God to disrupt your faith more number three and for the life is marked by an obedient heart here wants to look at verses eight through 12, and they will skip down to look at. 17 through 19 verse eight by faith Abraham were called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went even though he did not know where he was going by faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob who were heirs with him of the same promise, for he was looking for to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Can you imagine with the city look like by faith Abraham, even though he was past age and Sarah herself was barren was able to become a father because he considered him faithful who made the promise is so from this one man and he is good as dad came descendents as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore for 17 by faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son.

Even though God is said to him is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned after the party, mean statement what God what he will you'll me to kill my son thought it was through him, but the Abraham reason in verse 19 that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking. Abraham did receive Isaac back from the from death. So what is it mean to have a big heart it means to listen to and to submit to God the war.

Trust is closely associated with the with the word obedience when we trust God that sets us free to obey him because one of that our lives are in his hands and we don't have to worry about the future because he is saying he holds the future in his hands. He knows your future. So what you do go to bed and I start worrying now trust him. By the way, I got bed last night and worried so this will have to preach to myself first.

Okay, one of the faithful men in this chapter's Enoch not the Bible doesn't say a lot about and what it does say about Enoch is telling. In Genesis chapter 5 verse 24 is says Enoch walked with God that we should have in our tombstone. Enoch, what with God. Then he was no more. Why Scott took him away. Enoch never experienced death. Apparently his life was so pleasing to God. They got just audible home to his real home heaven. That is what it means to live a life that is pleasing to God.

He he walked with him you want with human obedience as you trust them with every aspect of your life are.

Look at verse five by faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death.

He cannot be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God to let me ask you a question in what area of your life right now is God asking you to trust him. Perhaps that is ask you trust them for the very first time that you've never put your faith in him do it. Perhaps because as you trust them with your dating life or your marriage or your finances or your career. We health you won't have God direct in your life every day and when you mess up. He strikes the path out. Proverbs 3, five and six is trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and hear what makes your paths.

What straight. He said to strike mine out a bunch but I'm trying to not given to that of a task trust Muslim faith Jay more more number four and wore their life is marked by and towards heaven. Look at verses 10 and 13 through 16 for he, Abraham was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. In verse 13 it says all these people were still living by faith when they died they did not receive the things promised, that's why you don't list of these prosperity preachers gas is in a definitive full of lies. Following Jesus is difficult and often it's is it it is always costly, but the role rewards will be so great.

What is it mean to have an eye towards heaven. It means to have a heavenly mindset. It means that you look at everything through the lens of Scripture you just look at the world in your decisions and you just look for the Bible know what you're looking at everything from whose perspective. God's is remember he holds what the future the Bible makes it clear that we are aliens and strangers here. This earth is not our home edition figure that out aren't you glad therefore we should have an odd towards our homeland, while the same time we should have and all those around us who need a Savior and what should we be doing, we did invite them to our home, which is where Colossians 3 verses two and three says, set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died in your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Second, quickens 14 says so we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

The men and women listed in Hebrews were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore, God was not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them against what if you're in Christ. He prepared a city for you and me, and I believe one day men now know this will all get together up there and have a special men study meeting in Google talk about when we were down there in that sanctuary. This click right. Lastly, Mark number five.

Awarded life is marked by death that he would look at verses 24 and 326 and then 31 through 40 so far with me. By faith Moses when he had grown up refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter.

I love this sissy chose to be mistreated along with the people of God because he was a Hebrew rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time he regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ is of greater value than the treasures of Egypt because he was looking ahead to what his reward is skip down to verse 31 by faith. You look at whose you see, God saves you back and look at the lot of Christ to God.

People like Ray have and then what like us by faith, the prostitute Rahab because she welcomed the stars was not killed with those who were disobedient and what more shall I say I do not time to tell her to tell about Gideon Burke, Derek Sampson Jephthah David same of the prophets who through faith, conquered kingdoms, administer justice and gain was promised who shut the mouths of lions, which the theory of the flames and escaped the edge of the sword whose weakness was turned to spring new became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.

Women received about your day at raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released so that they might gain a better resurrection someplace jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. There were stone there was salt into they were put to death by the sword, so the prosperity gospel. Some some of us not in their they went about in sheepskins and go scans destitute, persecuted and mistreated.

The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith. Yet none of them receive what you been promised. Why, because God had planned something better for so that only together with us with every night. Perfect. So what is it mean when I say that a worthy life is marked by death.

Let me give Jesus's words, he explains it better than me in John chapter 12 Jesus says, I tell you the truth unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed care that thing about that even your from agriculture yet put that seed in the ground rifle to multiply. But if it does, it produces many seats. The man who loves his life will lose it. While the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life in Jesus as whoever serves me must follow me. That's what makes it a Christian you a follower of Christ and where I am, my servant also will be my father will honor the one who serves me. So to follow God beyond we must die to self and that is a very difficult thing to do.

You can order would go on sale. We must be willing to lose our lives, what Jesus meant by this would've followed Jesus requires self-denial complete dedication and willing obedience and gas. I'm not a perfect example of this by eating a measure okay when the Lord asked something of you there will always be a cost. The choice to obey him will cross something of you such as your time, your money, your reputation for many people around the world. It will cost them their lives. However, it is in following Jesus man that we discover a new way of life filled with joy and peace and contentment is what the world is looking for so to lose your life is actually how you find it, how you got a self you surrender your entire life to God. All of it everything you checkbook you health, your family, everything you say the same thing that Jesus said when he was in the garden of Gethsemane, said father not my will but your will be done. He did want to go to the cross in his flesh when an opportunity arises to serve God and somewhat use every site here, my Lord, send me use me, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies were amazed. He remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds, the man who loves his life will lose it. While the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life (and the father blessed. Thank you for the laughter those five-man thank you Lord that they died but they were instantly transported up to paradise enjoined this hall of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11. Their names could be right in there with all these other sites. Lord operated right here in the site were tonight that you will motivate and inspire one man to man many men to die to become that seed that goes into the ground willing to be one to give it all up so that many seats will sprout in many will be in heaven one day because of these men who willing to die to self Jesus. We love you we need you. We thank you for everything you've done for us all your blessings. Lord, the fact that your love is that you die for us and that one that you coming back for us to take us to be what you are Lord.

We love you.

We ask you to God to expand your kingdom here in Raleigh creditor bring more and more men here to hear the truth of these male got invite friends to come in here this truth that many might be led to you Lord that one day we can celebrate in heaven is one big man's study have almost quarter have a more Jesus name I pray, being a Christian is not about being religious but about having a dynamic alive relationship with Jesus Christ you been listening to finding purpose with pastor Russ Sanders local triangle ministry glorifying God by helping men and their purpose for living discover more about finding your purpose in life by checking out the resources finding purpose.net will connect to finding purpose on Facebook pastor Russ would also like to extend a special invitation for you to join him in over 300 other local tribal men to study God's word together every Tuesday night at 7 PM in downtown Raleigh. Find out more finding purpose.net. This is the Truth Network