08/09/26: Worship Guide: Homesick for Heaven

1. I DON'T FIGHT ALONE

2. YOU ARE FAITHFUL

3. TRUST IN GOD

MESSAGE: BY FAITH - HOMESICK FOR HEAVEN

What is your faith leading you to do? And where is your faith leading you to go?

1. FAITH ANTICIPATES A BETTER HOME

8 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. Hebrews 11:8 (ESV)

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.   Hebrews 11:9 (ESV)

10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.  Hebrews 11:10 (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… they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.”   (vv. 13, 16)

Are you living like this world is the whole story, or are you living like a person who knows there’s more? 

2. FAITH FOCUSES ON WHAT MATTERS

“By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.”        Hebrews 11:24-26 (ESV)

27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.  Hebrews 11:27 (ESV)

What is your Egypt? And is your faith strong enough right now to walk out of it? 

3. FAITH BELIEVES THE IMPOSSIBLE IS STILL POSSIBLE

“By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.”         Hebrews 11:29 (ESV) 

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.               Hebrews 11:30-31 (ESV)

4. FAITH HOLDS ON WHEN THE SEA DOESN’T PART

“Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated — of whom the world was not worthy — wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.”                    Hebrews 11:35-38 (ESV)

Does that mean God failed? Does that mean their faith wasn’t strong enough?

39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised,  Hebrews 11:39 (ESV)

Faith that is only strong when circumstances go well isn’t actually faith in God — it’s faith in good circumstances. 

40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.   Hebrews 11:40 (ESV)

WHAT IS YOUR FAITH LEADING YOU TO DO?
 
 WHERE IS YOUR FAITH LEADING YOU TO GO?

MOVING FORWARD THIS WEEK

Read: Hebrews 11:5-40

Faith Exercise: 

“Diligently seek Him” stood out to me in this chapter this week.   I think back to Enoch and Abraham.  Enoch walked and talked with God; Abraham was a friend of God.  There was a level of intimacy, sharing, communication between them and God.   They were hearing God speak to them.  Let’s recall that the Bible says that “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God”.  Their faith increased because of their level of intimacy and time spent with God.   For they came to God. They believed that He is God and that he is the rewarder of them that diligently seek him.   This is faith and without it, it is impossible to please God.

Live:  

 I have misplaced my truck keys, my glasses, and my cell phone more than once. When that happened, especially when I was pressed for time, I would begin to panic and diligently, frantically, search for the missing item everywhere. I would retrace my steps, look high and low, and search in rooms I hadn't even entered, until my heart was racing. Finally, I would just stop. I would get quiet, get alone, pause, and cry out to the Holy Spirit, saying, “You know where everything is. Help me find it.” I had to stay quiet and calm, resisting the urge to leap back in action, leaving the situation with the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to lead me.

I can testify to this: one time, I left my cell phone on top of my car and drove off. I could not find it at all, even after driving up and down the road back and forth in the daylight. Eventually, I had to go on to my destination without it. I prayed and sought the Lord about it because it was a work phone. On the ride back home, in the dark, coming down the highway, I saw it. I felt like the Holy Spirit had given me Superman vision.   There in the middle of the road, lying there - shattered.    Well, as I drove off, I dared to ask the Holy Spirit if he would show me the case too, and I turned around, got out of the truck in the dark, and not far in the distance; there it was—the Holy Spirit had led me right back to it too.  

Just like searching for a missing personal item, let us seek the Lord diligently with our whole heart. Let us allow Him to increase our faith as we draw near to Him, seeking His face to know Him, talk with Him, sit quietly with Him, and lean in to listen to Him. Let’s come to a real place of intimacy with the Lord so that we may know Him just as Enoch, Abraham, and the other pillars of faith did. Like them, we will obtain a good report through faith (v.39).

Pray:  

Father, God, thank you for inviting us into a deeper relationship with You today to increase our faith. Lord, open our hearts to understand what it truly means to seek You with all our might, every part of our being. Break through our busy schedules, calm our racing minds, and draw us into a quiet place of true intimacy. Holy Spirit, clear away all distractions or anxiety so that we can clearly hear Your voice. Teach us to walk with You daily, to sit in Your presence, and to trust Your leading in every situation, big or small. We love You, and we desire to know You more. In Jesus' name, Amen.