Sermon Tone Analysis

Just under 2% of the population of the United States have served or are serving in the military.

2 percent….

that’s it… just 2% of over 330 million people.

Those 2 percenters take an oath to follow the lawful orders of those appointed over them.

Our military members learn how to follow orders at basic training.

There they are taught to obey orders willingly and immediately without fail.

They are taught to trust those in positions of leadership above them.

They are to blindly trust the lawful orders given to them.

The leaders of those individuals expect immediate acknowledgement and carrying out of the orders through to full completion.

If a sailor, soldier, Airman or Marine fails to follow lawful orders without question…people can get hurt or at worse….

die.

If an infantry officer gives an order to a platoon to take a hill and those in the platoon question or second guess the order – delaying execution of the orders – military members are wounded and die.

When military members are wounded or die, it damages or reduces the effectiveness of the fighting unit… and more military members are wounded or die as a result.

The military’s ability to wage war is lost when soldiers, sailors, Airmen, and Marines fail to obey and carry out their orders.

Our military members must trust in and have faith in their leaders.

Faith that their leaders know what’s best and will do was is right by them – and provide for them what is needed.

The trust and faith in the leader is displayed through or marked by obedience of the follower.

And Basic training is the place where obedience of our military members is tested.

Sermon: Marked by Obedience

Like our military leaders, parents expect their children to obey when being asked to do something.

Parents want their children to listen to them when they say “don’t jump that 6 foot wall with your skateboard….

you’ll get hurt” or “stop playing with that knife… you’ll cut yourself” or “STOP …… wait for the cars to pass and it’s all clear before you go and get the ball….

you’ll not be the “winner” if you and that car collide!” or “make sure you read your Bible, pray, and talk to Jesus before going to bed – He loves you!” Parents want their kids to listen and obey when asked to clean their rooms, help wash dishes, mow the yard, put their clothes in the hamper, brush their teeth, and a whole host of other things.

Parents don’t ask for obedience in these cases because they have free labor ….

No! ….

Although it is nice sometimes….

but No! ….

Parents are testing their kids for life outside the home, so they can be Jesus-loving, Jesus-following, others-loving, self-sufficient, caring, and productive members of society.

Amen! That’s want parents want!

And the home is the testing ground.

The trust and faith in the parent is displayed through or marked by obedience of the child.

Jim Smith

So…. over this series we call “Living by Faith” – A series based on Hebrews Chapter 11, a chapter commonly referred to as the Hall of Faith….

with members of the Hall being Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Abel, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Joshua, and others from the Old Testament – and we’ve learned also from the Apostle Paul in 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 verse 7 “for we walk by faith, not by sight” - and from Romans chapter 1 verse 17 “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” - And also, from Galatians chapter 2 verse 20 “I have been crucified with Christ.

It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.

And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

8/26/18

During that first sermon, we read from Hebrews chapter 11 verse 1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

And we defined faith as “a confidence in God and in His promises.”

This means when we’re confident we have faith.

And when we’re not confident in God and His promises, it means we lack faith, or our faith is weak.

The second sermon in the series was about Noah and this notion that living by faith means we believe even before we see God’s promises.

From Hebrews Chapter 11 verse 7 “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.”

Just under 2% of the population of the United States have served or are serving in the military.

2 percent….

that’s it… just 2% of over 330 million people.

Those 2 percenters take an oath to follow the lawful orders of those appointed over them.

Our military members learn how to follow orders at basic training.

There they are taught to obey orders willingly and immediately without fail.

They are taught to trust those in positions of leadership above them.

They are to blindly trust the lawful orders given to them.

The leaders of those individuals expect immediate acknowledgement and carrying out of the orders through to full completion.

If a sailor, soldier, Airman or Marine fails to follow lawful orders without question…people can get hurt or at worse….

die.

If an infantry officer gives an order to a platoon to take a hill and those in the platoon question or second guess the order – delaying execution of the orders – military members are wounded and die.

When military members are wounded or die, it damages or reduces the effectiveness of the fighting unit… and more military members are wounded or die as a result.

The military’s ability to wage war is lost when soldiers, sailors, Airmen, and Marines fail to obey and carry out their orders.

Our military members must trust in and have faith in their leaders.

Faith that their leaders know what’s best and will do was is right by them – and provide for them what is needed.

The trust and faith in the leader is displayed through or marked by obedience of the follower.

And Basic training is the place where obedience of our military members is tested.

Like our military leaders, parents expect their children to obey when being asked to do something.

Parents want their children to listen to them when they say “don’t jump that 6 foot wall with your skateboard….. you’ll get hurt” or “stop playing with that knife… you’ll cut yourself” or “STOP …… wait for the cars to pass and it’s all clear before you go and get the ball….

you’ll not be the “winner” if you and that car collide!” or “make sure you read your Bible, pray, and talk to Jesus before going to bed – He loves you!” Parents want their kids to listen and obey when asked to clean their rooms, help wash dishes, mow the yard, put their clothes in the hamper, brush their teeth, and a whole host of other things.

Parents don’t ask for obedience in these cases because they have free labor ….

No! ….

Although it is nice sometimes….. but No! ….

Parents are testing their kids for life outside the home so they can be Jesus-loving, Jesus-following, others-loving, self-sufficient, caring, and productive members of society.

Amen! That’s want parents want!

And the home is the testing ground.

The trust and faith in the parent is displayed through or marked by obedience of the child.

The third sermon in the series was about Sarah and the concept of Impossible Hope - I hope even when it looks impossible.

From Hebrews chapter 11 verse 11 we read “By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.”

When things looked impossible, Sarah remained faithful because God is faithful – His promises are right and true.

He always delivers on His promises.

Amen!

Today were going to discover that “Living by faith means we obey even if or even when we don’t understand.”

We’ll do this through Hebrews chapter 11 verses 17 to 19 and Genesis chapter 22 verses 1 to 19.

Let’s go ahead and jump right in – please turn in your Bibles, phone apps, or other devices to Hebrews chapter 11 verses 17 to 19 - or just follow along on the screen

So….. over this series we call “Living by Faith” – A series based on Hebrews Chapter 11, a chapter commonly referred to as the Hall of Faith….

with members of the Hall being Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Abel, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Joshua, and others from the Old Testament – and we’ve learned also from the Apostle Paul in 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 verse 7 “for we walk by faith, not by sight” - and from Romans chapter 1 verse 17 “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” - And also from Galatians chapter 2 verse 20 “I have been crucified with Christ.

It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.

And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.”

19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

During that first sermon, we read from Hebrews chapter 11 verse 1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

And we defined faith as “a confidence in God and in His promises.”

This means when we’re confident we have faith.

And when we’re not confident in God and His promises, it means we lack faith or our faith is weak.

Upon reading these verses, there are a few things I want you to keep in mind and make note of…….

The second sermon in the series was about Noah and this notion that living by faith means we believe even before we see God’s promises.

From Hebrews Chapter 11 verse 7 “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family.

By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.”

The third sermon in the series was about Abraham and Sarah and the concept of Impossible Hope - I hope even when it looks impossible.

From Hebrews chapter 11 verse 11 we read “By faith Abraham, even though he was past age-- and Sarah herself was barren -- was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise.”

When things looked impossible, Abraham and Sarah remained faithful because God is faithful – His promises are right and true.

He always delivers on His promises.

Amen!

Number 1: Abraham did something through faith….

Remember our faith definition….