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Lesson 2

Memory verse: “So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by The Word of God.” Romans 10:17

     This lesson on faith, we will look at the faith chapter; Hebrews 11. When we look at the story of creation in Genesis 1, it tells us how God made everything in six days. We read the wonderful account of how he just spoke and it was done.

1. How do we accept the creation story? Hebrews 11:3 (first part) gives us the answer. “Through ___________ we understand that the ____________ were ____________ by the _____________ of God…” it is ever harder to understand that they were not made from something you see, but made from things not seen. Hebrews 11:3 (last part) “… so that ____________ which are ____________ were not made of __________ which do ____________.” The things we look at around us, and see in nature; was made from things not seen. This takes faith in God to accept the story of creation and how God made the entire universe.

2. The story of Able and how he brought his offering to God is found in Genesis 4:2-4. You may want to read it. He was told to bring a lamb, and offer it on the alter. This offering pointed forward to the time when The Lamb of God (Jesus), would be slain for the sins of the world. “Without the shedding of blood there could be no remission of sin; and they were to show their faith in the blood of Christ as the promised atonement by offering the firstlings of the flock in sacrifice. Besides this, the first fruits of the earth were to be presented before The Lord as a thank offering.” Desire of Ages, Page 71 The fruit was not for a sin offering. “The two brothers erected their alters alike, and each brought an offering. Able presented a sacrifice from the flock, in accordance with The Lord’s directions. "And The Lord had Respect unto Abel and to His Offering." Fire flashed from Heaven and consumed the sacrifice. But Cain, disregarding the Lord’s direct and explicit command, presented only an offering of fruit. There was no token from heaven to show that it was accepted.” Patriarchs and Prophets, Page 71 Hebrews 11:4 “By __________ __________ offered unto God a __________ _____________ ___________ than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.” Abel, obeyed God without question, he moved by Faith.

3. Enoch was taken to heaven without seeing death, because of his what? __ __ __ __ h In Genesis 5:21 - 24 we read about how Enoch walked with God three hundred years with God and God took him. Hebrews 11:5 “By faith ___________ was ___________ that he should no see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that ________ ___________ __________.” We also see that Enoch was obedient to God, for what he did pleased God. He was taken to heaven because of his Faith.

4. Can we please God, if we do not have faith in The Word of God, but doubt his word? Hebrews 11:6 “But __________ _________ it is ___________ to please _________; for he that ___________ to God _________ ___________ that he is, and that he is a ___________ of them that __________ __________ ___________.”

5. Do we have faith only in what all see? Hebrews 11:1 “Now __________ is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things __________ _____________.” We have faith that Jesus is gone to prepare a place in heaven for us. We have a hope in things not seen, but we believe it because Jesus said so. John 14:1 - 3 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” Without faith it is impossible to please God. To those that believe, he will reward, with a home in heaven, when Jesus will return for his own. Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is ___________ to _____________ him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

6. Had Noah ever seen a flood before, God ask him to build an ark? No! But he moved by ____________ and built an ark. Hebrews 11:7 “By __________ __________, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, _______________ an ________ to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the ____________ which is by ______________.” He didn’t wait until the flood came, to see what it would be like and then built an ark. It would have been too late. He moved by Faith on what God told him and he and his family were saved. Read the story of the flood in genesis 7.

7. Abraham was called of God to go to another country. He obeyed and moved out in f_________. In Genesis 12:1 - 9 we see that God, called Abram out of his country (11:31) which was the land of Ur, To go to the land of Canaan. Abram obeyed God. In Genesis 17:5 we see that God changed Abram name to Abraham, which means “Father of many Nations.” Hebrews 11:8 - 9 “By ____________ Abraham, when he was ___________ _______ ________ _______ into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By __________ he ___________ in the ________ of ____________, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:” The land of Canaan was promised to Abraham and his descendants.

8. Abraham, was called to go to the promise land, and he acted on ____________h. But he also had his sights on another city, which is the promise land called heaven. Hebrews 11:10 “For he looked for a _________ which hath ___________, whose ___________ and _________ is ____________.” We read about this city in Revelation chapter 21. Through faith and obedience we can start making plans to go to that city, which was promised to Abraham and all the F - A - I - T - H - F - U - L.

9. What made it possible for Sarai to conceive at the age of ninety years old? Hebrews 11:11 “Through ________ also _________ herself received ___________ to _____________ seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.” God changed her name to Sarah which means “Mother of Nations”. Genesis 17:15, 16 “And God said unto Abraham, as for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a Mother of Nations; Kings of people shall be of her.” Her faith in the promise of God gave her strength to conceive.

10. God’s promise to Abraham and Sarah was that their seed would be many as the stars of the heavens. Read in Genesis 26:4. All that die in The Lord has a promise of a better country and a better city. We like Abraham look for what? Hebrews 11:16. “But now they desire a __________ ___________, that is, an _____________: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath _____________ for them a ___________.” We like Abraham are strangers and pilgrims on this earth. Read Hebrews 11:12 - 16. What kind of city did Abraham look for? Hebrews 11:10 “For he looked for a _______ which hath foundations, whose ___________ and __________ is __________.” He, like us, look for a city built of God.

11. God gave Abraham a promise son, at the age of 100. Hebrews 11:17 “By ___________ _____________, when he was tried, ____________ up __________; and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,” Read the story in Genesis 22:1 - 13. Abraham didn’t understand why God would ask him to offer his son for a burnt offering. But he did as God instructed, and went on faith. At the last moment, God provided an offering. God wanted to show him just how hard it would be for him to send his son to this earth to be offered as a sacrifice for sin. What does God ask us to give up for him? Not much compared to what, God has given, so we can be saved.

12. The whole story of Moses and The Children of Israel, leaving Egypt and spending 40 years to get to the promised land, was a journey of faith. Read Hebrews 11:23 - 31. Hebrews 11:29 “By faith they _________ __________ the ________ _________ as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.” Verse 30 “By ________ the ________ of __________ _________ __________, after they were compassed about seven days.” These and many more things happened to the children of Israel on their journey to Canaan. They would doubt God’s leading at times. But when things got bad they would turn back to God in Faith. That is why it took 40 years to get to Canaan. Let us read and study our Bible, which will help us develop greater faith. We don’t want to backslide like Israel did, but have our faith stayed on Jesus. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:5-8 These words are full of instruction, and strike the keynote of victory. The apostle presents before the believers the ladder of Christian progress, every step of which represents advancement in the knowledge of God, and in the climbing of which there is to be no standstill. Faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity are the rounds of the ladder. We are saved by climbing round after round, mounting step after step, to the height of Christ's ideal for us. Thus He is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. God has called His people to glory and virtue, and these will be manifest in the lives of all who are truly connected with Him. Having become partakers of the heavenly gift, they are to go unto perfection, being "kept by the power of God through faith." 1 Peter 1:5. It is the glory of God to give His virtue to His children. He desires to see men and women reaching the highest standard; and when by faith they lay hold of the power of Christ, when they plead His unfailing promises, and claim them as their own, when with an importunity that will not be denied they seek for the power of the Holy Spirit, they will be made complete in Him. Having received the faith of the gospel, the next work of the believer is to add to his character virtue, and thus cleanse the heart and prepare the mind for the reception of the knowledge of God. This knowledge is the foundation of all true education and of all true service. It is the only real safeguard against temptation; and it is this alone that can make one like God in character. Acts of the Apostles, Page 530