Providence Baptist Church, Manassas, VA

TITLE: LOOKING UNTO JESUS TEXT: Hebrews 12:1-2, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. INTRODUCTION: this passage is just a continuation of Hebrews 11 Looking unto Jesus -- Where the Christian life all begins – looking unto Jesus: The Greek verb aphorôntes, which implies that we must “look away (from other things) unto Jesus”-- “the concentration of the wandering gaze into a single direction.” As the wounded Israelites looked to the brazen serpent. Our crucified Lord was prefigured by the lifting up of this; our guilt by the stings of the fiery serpents; and our faith by their looking up to the miraculous remedy Looking unto Jesus is an exclusive gaze; an exclusive focus; an exclusive trajectory; and exclusive purpose. Looking unto Jesus alone by looking away for all other things. the author and finisher of our faith -- to the Beginner and Perfecter of the faith, The faith here is your personal faith. Jesus is the one who has begun or awakened the believer in the Christian faith and will carry us through to the end – to glorification – to perfection. The word Author is translated in other places "Captain (of salvation)," Heb 2:10; "Prince (of life)," Ac 3:15. Jesus goes before us as the Originator of our faith, and the Leader whose matchless example we are to follow always. What Jesus starts in your life He will finish. Your salvation is Christ-centered. It is Christ that saves through faith not faith in Christ that saves. Christ does the saving and the keeping. who for the joy that was set before him -- who for the (heavenly) joy lying ready for Him, the obtaining of which should be the reward of His sufferings. That is, who in view of all the honor which he would have at the right hand of God, and the happiness which he would experience from the consciousness that he had redeemed a world, was willing to bear the sorrows connected with the atonement. endured the cross – endured: Endured patiently the dishonor, humiliation and pain connected with the suffering of death on the cross. despising the shame – despising shame. Christ despised the shame of the cross. To regard with contempt or scorn. To dislike intensely; loathe. To look down upon with disfavor or contempt; to contemn; to scorn; to disdain; to have a contemptuous dislike of. The shame that one might think would overcome the Son of God as the sin-bearer was regarded by the Lord with contempt and scorn. He held the shame of the cross with contempt and disdain. What we might call the shame of being crucified, being forsaken by the Father, and bearing the sin of mankind Christ loathed and regarded with contempt and scorn. Shame was despised because the will of the Father was being done and the great plan of redemption was being culminated. Shame could not rule the day on such a momentous, holy, occasion. Shame was rather, despised. and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God – exalted: Exalted to the highest place of dignity and honor in the universe; Mark 16:19 note; Ephesians 1:20-22 notes. The sentiment here is, "Imitate the example of the great Author of our religion. He, in view of the honor and joy before him, endured the most severe sufferings to which the human frame can be subjected, and the form of death which is regarded as the most shameful. So amidst all the severe trials to which you are exposed on account of religion, patiently endure all - for the glorious rewards, the happiness and the triumph of heaven, are before you."

TITLE: LAYING ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT TEXT: Hebrews 12:1-2, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. INTRODUCTION: this passage is just a continuation of Hebrews 11 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about -- There is allusion here, doubtless, to the ancient games. A great multitude of spectators usually occupied the circular seats in the amphitheater, from which they could easily behold the combatants. In like manner, the apostle represents Christians as encompassed with the multitude of worthies to whom he had referred in the previous chapter. It cannot be fairly inferred from this that he means to say that all those ancient worthies were actually looking at the conduct of Christians, and saw their conflicts. It is a figurative representation, such as is common, and means that we ought to act as if they were in sight, and cheered us on. How far the spirits of the just who are departed from this world are permitted to behold what is done on earth - if at all - is not revealed in the Scriptures. With so great a cloud of witnesses -- The phrase, "a cloud of witnesses," means many witnesses, or a number so great that they seem to be a cloud. Not individual water droplets but a cloud. You’re not the first, nor shall you be the last. You’re just part of a cloud of witnesses. Are you feeling sorry for yourself? The world has dealt you a bad hand? Join the ranks of the redeemed cloud. let us lay aside every weight -- The word rendered "weight" - ὄγκον ogkon - means what is crooked or hooked, and thence anything that is attached or suspended by a hook that is, by its whole weight, and hence means weight; It does not occur elsewhere in the New Testament. “Whatever keeps me from the Bible is my enemy however harmless it may appear to be.” A.W. Tozer. Covered by hooks carrying heavy loads. Every weight. This is a matter of discernment – monasteries to nothing is really a weight. What makes it a weight is whether it interferes with your obedience to God’s Word. Boat illustration – place to witness; out on Sunday morning when you should be in church. and the sin which doth so easily beset us -- The word which is here rendered "easily beset" - εὐπερίστατον euperistaton - "euperistaton" - does not occur elsewhere in the New Testament. It properly means, "standing well around, loitering;" and hence, denotes what is near, or at hand, or readily occurring. So Chrysostom explains it – Within the immediate context, the greatest sin would be faithlessness or unbelief It will then mean that we are to lay aside every encumbrance, particularly or especially - "the sins to which we are most exposed." Such sins are appropriately called "easily besetting sins." They are those to which we are particularly liable. They are such sins as the following: (1) Those to which we are particularly exposed by our natural temperament, or disposition. In some this is pride, anger, avarice, envy, sloth, gluttony, lust, ambition, sensuality. (2) those in which we freely indulged before we became Christians. They will be likely to return with power, and we are far more likely from the laws of association, to fall into them than into any other. (3) sins to which we are exposed by our profession, by our relations to others, or by our situation in life. They whose condition will entitle them to associate with what are regarded as the more elevated classes of society, are in special danger of indulging in the methods of living, and of amusement that are common among them (4) sins to which we are exposed from some special weakness in our character. On some points we may be in no danger. and let us run with patience the race that is set before us -- The word rendered "patience" rather means in this place, perseverance. We are to run the race without allowing ourselves to be hindered by any obstructions, and without giving out or fainting in the way. Encouraged by the example of the multitudes who have run the same race before us, and who are now looking out upon us from heaven, where they dwell, we are to persevere as they did to the end.

TITLE: OF WHOM THE WORLD IS NOT WORTHY TEXT: HEBREWS 11:35B-40 INTRODUCTION: Verses 35b-40 tell of those who by faith trusted in the unfilled promises of God but did not experience physical deliverance from oppression during their lifetimes. Up until these verses, all though faith met severe obstacles, and experienced victory over them. Today we are being pressed into agreement with vile and evil practices. Gross immorality was done publicly and if you did not engage in or endorse immorality you were made to conform. Coerced and forced to engage in the practice or suffer for your steadfastness not to conform. 1. others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: Stretched like the top of a drum and then scourged. Not accepting deliverance when it was offered them; that is, on condition that they would renounce their opinions, or do what was required of them. This is the very nature of the spirit of martyrdom. See the account of the aged Eleazar (2 Maccabees 6:30), martyred because he would not pollute himself with swine’s flesh and the “flesh taken from the sacrifice commanded by the king.” 2. And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, being exposed and made a laughing-stock by reproaches, sarcasms, and nick-names, to aggravate their afflictions; and these inflicted on them by words and external signs, trials which, to an ingenuous spirit, bears harder than external torments, and which they more deeply sense and resent; yet faith makes them to receive all humbly, and carrieth them above them, 3. yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: as Hanani (2 Ch 16:10, “Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.” imprisoned by Asa. Micaiah, the son of Imlah, by Ahab (1Ki 22:26, 27, “And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son; And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.” 4. They were stoned -- as Zechariah, son of Jehoiada 2 Ch 24:20-22; Mt 23:35. 5. they were sawn asunder-- An ancient tradition, mentioned both by Jewish and by early Christian writers, relates that Isaiah was thus put to death by order of Manasseh. 6. were tempted -- the writer is speaking of the promises and allurements by which the persecutors sought to overcome the constancy of God’s servants. They were tempted in every possible way, by friends and foes, by human and satanic agents, by caresses and afflictions, by words and deeds, to forsake God, but in vain, through the power of faith. 7. were slain with the sword: As in the case of the eighty-five priests slain by Doeg 1 Samuel 22:18-19, “And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod. And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.” 8. they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; Rather, they went about, as outcasts; compelled to live the life of wanderers and exiles. Driven away from their homes, and compelled to clothe themselves in this rude and uncomfortable manner. 9. being destitute, afflicted, tormented; The word "tormented" here means tortured. The apostle expresses here in general what in the previous verses he had specified in detail. (Of whom the world was not worthy:) The world was so wicked that it had no claim that such holy men should live in it. These poor, despised, and persecuted people, living as outcasts and wanderers, were of a character far elevated above the world. This is a most beautiful expression. It is at once a statement of their eminent holiness, and of the wickedness of the rest of mankind. 10. they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. Palestine, from its hilly character, abounds in fissures and caves, affording shelter to the persecuted, as the fifty hid by Obadiah (1Ki 18:4, 13) and Elijah (1Ki 19:8, 13); and Mattathias and his sons (1 Maccabees 2:28, 29); and Judas Maccabeus (2 Maccabees 5:27). 39And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

TITLE: THE VICTORIES OF THE FAITHFUL TEXT: HEBREW 11:33-40 INTRODUCTION: This is OT history. OT history cannot be discussed without making faith in God the central focus of the narrative. God used men to accomplish great feats in time. Verses 33-35a present of summary of ten things accomplished by trusting in the unfilled promises of God. These exploits were done by men who trusted God against the evil forces of this world and accomplished great things. Trusting God is where heroes are made, not trusting in anything else. God and you are a majority. 33Who through faith 1. subdued kingdoms – a. especially to David, 2 Samuel 8:11-13.”. Which also king David did dedicate unto the Lord, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued; Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah. And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men. b. Thus, Joshua subdued the nations of Canaan; Gideon the Midianites; Jephtha the Ammonites; David the Philistines, Amalekites, Jebusites, Edomites, etc. 2. wrought righteousness -- Carried the laws of justice into execution, particularly on guilty nations. They executed the great purposes of God in punishing the wicked, and in cutting off his foes. 3. obtained promises, -- that is, they obtained as a result of their faith, promises of blessings on their posterity in future times. 4. stopped the mouths of lions – a. As Samson, Judges 14:6, “And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.”; b. David, 1 Samuel 17:34, “And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:” c. and particularly Daniel; Daniel 6:7, “All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.” d. . To be able to subdue and render harmless the king of the forest - the animal most dreaded in early times - was regarded as an eminent achievement. 34 5. Quenched the violence of fire -- Quenched the violence of fire - As Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did; Daniel 3:15-26. 6. escaped the edge of the sword – a. `As Elijah did when he fled from Ahab, 1 Kings 19:3, “And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there”; as b. Elijah did when he was delivered from the king of Syria, 2 Kings 6:16, “And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” c. and as David did when he fled from Saul. 7. out of weakness were made strong -- Enabled to perform exploits beyond their natural strength, or raised up from a state of physical infirmity, and invigorated for conflict. a. Such a case as that of Samson may be referred to, Judges 15:15, “And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith”; Judges 16:26-30. b. or as that of Hezekiah, 2 Kings 20:4-6, And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying, Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord. And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake. who was restored from dangerous sickness by the immediate interposition of God; 8. waxed valiant in fight -- Became valiant. Like Joshua. Barak, David, etc. The books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings supply instances of this in abundance. 9. turned to flight the armies of the aliens -- The foreigners - as the invading Philistines, Ammonites, Moabites, Assyrians, etc. 35a 10. Women received their dead raised to life again – a. As in the case of the woman of Zarephath, whose child was restored to life by Elijah, 1 Kings 17:19-24; b. and of the son of the Shunamite woman whose child was restored to life by Elisha; 2 Kings 4:18-37.

TITLE: THE RECORD OF FAITH TEXT: Hebrews: 11:32, “And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:” INTRODUCTION: Paul lists six additional OT figures by name, three of which are noted in Scripture more for their negative attributes than their trust in God – Barak would not go without Debra; Samson was a womanizer; And Japhthae is noted for his rash vow – this passage who tend to confirm that he did not sacrifice his daughter. God measures faithfulness differently than we do. 4 of the 6 are taken from the book of Judges; a rollercoaster ride in Israel’s history. The book of Judges the history of Israel’s fall into idolatry, oppression by an invading army, the sending of a judge, victory over the enemy, and peace in the land as long as the judge lead the nation. This is followed by a fall into idolatry, oppression, etc. The cycle repeats itself. Judges concludes that everyone did that which was right in their own eyes – a lawless time in Israel’s history; a time of terrible oppression and warfare. 4 of the 6 men listed in this passage served God during this rebellious, lawless time in Israel’s history. Please note, that in each case, the principal reason for the judge is to destroy Israel’s enemies. This is one reason that Samson is included – he defeated Israel’s greatest foe, the Philistines. Lessons to learn: 1. The Bible does not contain the whole of a man or woman’s life; only what God wants us to know; 2. Man’s judgment is harsher and more imbalanced than God’s judgment; 3. God recognizes living by faith if the faith is not lived 24/7 because no one can do it. Gideon: Judges 6-7— Who with a small band of men cut off so many thousands of the Midianites; Lapping or kneeling – keeping their eyes on the horizon. Barak: Judges 4 — Who, through faith in the prophecy of Deborah, freed Israel from the oppression of Jabin, and routed Sisera his general. Jael and the tent stake Samson: Judges 14-16. — Who, through faith in the power of God, slew so many thousands of the Philistines with the jaw-bone of an ass, and performed many other astonishing achievements. Tore the gates of Gaza and carried them away. Killed more Philistines in his death than in his life. Japhthae: Judges 11— Who, through believing God’s promise to Abraham, that his posterity should possess the land of Canaan, (see Jdg 11:24,) and through obeying the divine impulse, which moved him to fight against the Ammonites, obtained a great victory over these enemies of God’s people. Probably did not sacrifice his daughter – I will sacrifice the next thing that walks in the door, really? David also — Whose faith was manifested, as in his many other heroic acts, so especially in his combat with Goliath. David’s history and Samuel’s in the First and Second Books of Samuel, and the First of Chronicles; the excellent exploits of whose faith are, as their names, enumerated promiscuously; Samuel — Who, though a prophet and a judge, yet led on the armies of the Lord on a remarkable occasion, to an illustrious victory: By the prophets he especially intended Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, &c., including likewise the believers who lived in their days. Lessons to learn: 1. The Bible does not contain the whole of a man or woman’s life; only what God wants us to know; 2. Man’s judgment is harsher and more imbalanced than God’s judgment; 3. God recognizes living by faith if the faith is not lived 24/7 because no one can do it.

TITLE: SEEING THE INVISIBLE TEXT: Hebrews 11:26-27 INTRODUCTION: This passage describes the Christ-centeredness of the thinking of the OT saints. 1. The Riches of Reproach: “Esteeming the reproach of Christ great riches than the treasures of Egypt” A. What is the “reproach of Christ?” -- Christians at that time would naturally describe all sufferings on account of the Christian faith as endured in the cause of Christ; and Paul, therefore, may have used this phrase to denote sufferings in the cause of religion -- the apostle uses the expression as a sort of technical phrase, well understood in his time, to denote sufferings endured in the cause of religion. Moses put greater value on identifying with suffering for the cause of Christ than he did on all the money in Egypt. B. See Acts 5:41 – of Peter and the other Apostles, “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.” They were honored to be party to the suffering that their Lord and Master suffered. 1 Peter 4:13-14, “But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” C. What a contrast Paul lays out in this passage – the ultimate materialistic dream life – palaces, gigantic yachts, every worldly possession, and power all considered of little value compared to the riches of suffering for the cause of Christ. Moses is Moses because you can imagine that only a few would give up such a life. D. How rich was the treasures of Egypt? One historian wrote of this time, “The history of the 18th Dynasty (1550—1295 BC) serves as an allegory of unrestrained ambition and greed for all times. A combination of factors brought into being a line of kings who presided over what became temporarily the wealthiest and most powerful nation in the region.” 2. The Recompense of Reward: “For he had respect unto the recompense of reward.” A. What is “had respect” – Literally – Moses looked away from the treasures of Egypt to the recompense of reward – to the reception of the reward – what has real value. B. “the recompense of reward?” – payment of the reward; this undoubtedly refers to heaven. He no longer looked at Egypt as possessing any value and looked to those things of eternal value – the reward of heaven. C. See Psalm 73:17-24 – What life is all about. 3. A Courageous Forsaking: “By Faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king” A. What does it mean to say, “he forsook Egypt?” Moses wasn’t going back. Others had not forsaken Egypt. Egypt was Plan B, the fallback plan, a possibility if things got bad, but not for Moses. He had one course, one path, one direction, one purpose – to free and lead the people of God to the Promised Land. There was no going back. The folks Paul was writing to were considering going back; things were tough for first century Christians; maybe it’s time to reconsider this Christianity thing. B. What was the king in his anger going to do to Moses? 4. For he endured A. What is this endurance? In the presence of Pharaoh (or in the weariness of exile) he was strong and patient, as seeing the invisible King and Leader of His people. B. Why is endurance important? No giving up; not forsaking your calling. He persevered, amidst all the trials and difficulties connected with his leading forth the people from bondage. This is the kind of men and women God needs to get the job done. Many have given up a Standard Sacred Text; many have given up the great hymns of the faith; many have given up the importance of sound doctrine and fervent preaching; many have given up period. The pressures of life have been too much so they have given up for the sake of their own comforts. Moses never gave up. And why didn’t he give up? He was living in the presence of God. 5. As seeing him who is invisible – "As if" he saw God. He had no more doubt that God had called him to this work, and that he would sustain him, than if he saw him with his physical eyes. 6. This is a most accurate account of the nature of faith; compare notes on Hebrews 11:1.The substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen. A. Not simply that God is beyond the scope of our vision – like we can’t see into heaven. No God is intrinsically invisible – he cannot be seen. 1 Tim. 6:16, “Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.” B. With “the eye of faith” Moses lived his life. As if God was physically beside him.

TITLE: FAITH AND CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE TEXT: HEBREWS 11:23 INTRODUCTION: By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. Jocebed (Moses’ mom, Ex. 6:20): resourceful, Ex. 2:2-3; decisive, loving and courageous, Ex. 2:9. What kind of world was Moses born into. The rulers in Egypt were no committed to keeping them slaves, they were willing to follow Israel into the midst of the Red Sea and be drowned by the hand of God and His servant Moses. Exodus 1:8-21 1. The conditions in Egypt were not what Paul was writing about in Hebrews 13:3-4, “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 2. What was happening in Egypt to Israel was the worse kind of tyranny – slavery, torture, murder. I have heard more about the wrong of the midwives lie than the good of preserving the life of the newborn baby. When obeying God conflicts with obeying the civil government, we follow the apostolic example in Acts 5:26-32 and obey God rather than man. Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. 27And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, 28Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 29Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. Civil disobedience was as much an act of faith as building the ark, living in tents, bearing a miracle son, willingness to sacrifice that son. A mother’s love to save her beautiful baby boy is listed as one of the great acts of faith because it put her family in danger with the civil authorities. Rahab hiding the spies in Jericho; those who let Paul down over the wall in a basket in Damascus to avoid detection and arrest; Michael who deceived the soldiers with a statue saying it was David giving David time to escape. I don’t think the modern church wants this kind of message preached. It is the kind of faith, or trusting in the unfulfilled promises of God, that directly interacts of institutions that can destroy our lives. Up until this point in Hebrews 11 all the tension of trusting God has been personal or within a family. With Jochabed and Moses we see a transition of family issues to confronting powers that if caught exercising this faith, could result in persecution. The American Revolution Was Fueled by Preaching By Elizabeth Youmans • July 3, 2017 The years 1740 to 1790 marked an age of “mighty men of God!”—an era of remarkable patriot-preachers who, by their faithful preaching and their righteous lifestyle, laid the foundation for the American Revolution and the founding of the new Republic. “To the Puritan pulpit we owe the force that won our independence.”[4] England’s King George III referred to the Revolution as the “Parson’s Rebellion.” George Bancroft, 19th century statesman and historian wrote, “the Revolution of 1776, so far as it was affected by religion, was a Presbyterian measure. It was the natural John Witherspoon was instrumental in the American Revolutionoutgrowth of the principles which the Presbyterianism of the Old World planted in her sons in the New World—the English Puritans, the Scottish Covenanters, the French Huguenots, the Dutch Calvinists, and the Presbyterians of Ulster [Ireland]. … The American Revolution was but the application of the principles of the Reformation to civil government.” https://darrowmillerandfriends.com/2017/07/03/preaching-fueled-american-revolution/ 25 June 2023 -- PVK

TITLE: THE PARABLE OF ISAAC’S RESURRECTION TEXT: HEBREWS 11:19 THEME: AMAZING FAITH 17. By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18. Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19. Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. 1. Isaac was in no danger. 2. Luke 17:2, “It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.” 3. Child mutilation/sexualization/drag shows/sexual perversion is called pride – this attack upon children is demonic – from the pit of hell. 4. Luke 17: 2 says that it would be better for those who would offend a child should be drowned before they did such things – better to be drowned than suffer for what is coming to them for their offense – hell awaits them. 5. Isaac was in no danger – the test was for his dad, Abraham. “Accounting that God was able” -- ογισαμενος, reasoning, or concluding, after weighing all circumstances; that, notwithstanding the apparent contradiction in the divine revelations; God was able to raise him up. Accounting is what we are to do with Scripture as we heed the teaching of the Holy Scripture. We are to reason and conclude, after weighing all the circumstances, based on what God has said. This is the foundation of biblical faith. Faith is not a willy nilly hoping but based on the unrealized promises of God as they apply to each circumstance of life. Note: Just because God is able does not mean God will show His power. None of those saints, of whom the world was not worthy” at the end of the chapter had been promised that their only son was the son of promise, a precise promise made only to Abraham regarding his only son Isaac. No direct promise has been made to either you are me the way God promised Abraham. The promises in the Bible are made to all believers not individual saints. We can count on the coming realities of these promises for us all, but the personal decisions we make, to be effective, must be grounding in our Spirit-guided reasoning, weighing, and concluding as we apply the Scripture to our lives. “Even from the dead” – Abraham trusted in the omnipotence of God, by virtue of which he was able, even in the actual sacrifice of Isaac, to realize the promises given to him. Though, so far as we can learn, there never had been one single instance of a resurrection from the dead in the world. There was no prior precedent for Abraham’s faith. The first recorded reference to resurrection is in the con text of trusting that God has the power over death. “From whence also he received him in a figure” – “Figure” refers to a parable or a story that sets an example. The parable is one of resurrection from the dead and Isaac being lifted off the altar is the lesson. Bleek: “as accordingly he received him from thence in a figure or resemblance; so that Isaac was indeed not really delivered out of death, but yet his deliverance was a kind of restoration from the dead, since Abraham already regarded him as the prey of death.” Barnes: “The obvious interpretation is that he then received him by his being raised up from the altar as if from the dead. He was to Abraham dead. He had given him up. He had prepared to offer him as a sacrifice. He lay there before him as one who was dead From that altar he was raised up by direct divine interposition, as if he was raised from the grave, and this was to Abraham a "figure" or a representation of the resurrection. Because of Abraham’s commitment to believe and follow God’s word, Abraham left Mt. Moriah with the sense that Isaac had been raised from the dead. And in Isaac, we see a type of Jesus Christ. One who would bodily rise from the dead, having fulfilled the Father’s will. 11 June 2023

Central thought: The point, therefore, of this passage is that Abraham, at the command of God, was willing to do the unthinkable, believing that God, in keeping his promise, would raise Isaac from the dead. The remedy for the unthinkable was belief in the miracle of Isaac’s resurrection. God miraculously gave Abraham and Sarah a son. Isaac was the son of promise. The covenant made with Abraham would be transferred to Isaac and his descendants. Isaac was God’s choice no matter what was asked of Abraham. In Abraham’s mind, not even the death of Isaac could change the promise of God. Therefore, Abraham believed God would raise the sole son of promise from the dead. The results of an unthinkable action, for Abraham, were therefore only temporary because of what God had promised. This is why, Abraham’s example stands as perhaps the most exceptional and powerful demonstrations of faith in God recorded in Scripture. The text reads: 17. By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, “Tried” -- The meaning here is, that Abraham was placed in circumstances which showed what was the real strength of his confidence in God. “Offered up Isaac” -- That is, he showed that he was ready and willing to make the sacrifice, and would have done it if he had not been restrained by the voice of the angel; Genesis 22:1-19. So far as the intention of Abraham was concerned, the deed was done, for he had made every preparation for the offering, and was actually about to take the life of his son. Note that Isaac is Abraham’s “only begotten son.” No respect is granted to Ishmael, since he was not of equal birth, and stood outside of all relation to the divine promises. 18. Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Gen. 21:12, “But God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called.” Romans 9:7, “Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.” Note that the fulfillment of God’s promises depended on the one Abraham was about to offer as a sacrifice. If Abraham had been surrounded with children, or if no special promise of a numerous posterity had been made to him, this act would not have been so remarkable. It would in any case have been a strong act of faith; it "was especially" strong in his ease from the circumstances that he had an only son, and that the fulfillment of the promise depended on his life. 19. Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. “Accounting” -- ογισαμενος, reasoning, or concluding, after weighing all circumstances; that, notwithstanding the apparent contradiction in the divine revelations; God was able to raise him up. Accounting is what we are to do with Scripture as we heed the teaching of the Holy Scripture. We are to reason and conclude, after weighing all the circumstances, based on what God has said. This is the foundation of biblical faith. Faith is not a willy nilly hoping but based on the unrealized promises of God as they apply to each circumstance of life. “Even from the dead” -- Though, so far as we can learn, there never had been one single instance of a resurrection from the dead in the world. There was no prior precedent for Abraham’s faith. The first recorded reference to resurrection is in the con text of trusting that God has the power over death. “From whence also he received him in a figure” – “Figure” refers to a parable or a story that sets an example. The parable is one of resurrection from the dead. Barnes: “The obvious interpretation is that he then received him by his being raised up from the altar as if from the dead. He was to Abraham dead. He had given him up. He had prepared to offer him as a sacrifice. He lay there before him as one who was dead From that altar he was raised up by direct divine interposition, as if he was raised from the grave, and this was to Abraham a "figure" or a representation of the resurrection. Because of Abraham’s commitment to believe and follow God’s word, Abraham left Mt. Moriah with the sense that Isaac had been raised from the dead. And in Isaac, we see a type of Jesus Christ. One who would bodily rise from the dead, having fulfilled the Father’s will. 4 June 2023 -- PVK