The history of faith begins with two brothers, Hebrews 11:4, they both grew up in the same world outside of the garden of Eden, they both knew who God was, they both brought gifts to the Lord, but only one was accepted. This story teaches you that religious activity is not the same as faith, you can go to church, sing songs and give money, but if your heart does not have faith, it means nothing. Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil, it was a casual offering, but Abel brought the very best he had, he brought the fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. Abel did not give God his leftovers, he gave God his best, because he trusted that God was worth it.
Abel died young, his brother murdered him, but because of his faith, his voice still echoes thousands of years later, Able teaches you that God looks at the heart, not just the hands. The historical timeline of faith moves forward to a man named Enoch. Hebrews 11:5, Enoch is one of the most mysterious figures in the Bible, he lived in a time when the world was becoming incredibly evil. People were forgetting God, violence was spreading everywhere, but Enoch made a different choice, he decided to walk with God. This does not mean Enoch just prayed occasionally, it means he lived his life in constant conversation with his creator and then something supernatural happened, he skipped death entirely.
This story establishes a rule that every believer must memorize, it is the golden rule of a relationship with God, Hebrews 11:6. You cannot please God just by being a nice person, you cannot please him just by following laws, you must believe he is real and you must believe he is good. You must believe God is a rewarder, if you do not believe he wants to bless you when you seek him, you will eventually stop seeking him. Hebrews 11:7, as the generations passed, the darkness on earth grew thicker, it reached a point where God decided to wash the world clean and start over. God spoke to a man named Noah, he told Noah to build a massive ark, because rain was coming, but Noah was not a professional builder, he was just a man who heard God’s voice.
People ridiculed Noah for decades, possibly up to 120 years, he cut wood, he hammered, he gathered pitch to seal the wood, his neighbors must have laughed at him every single day, but Noah did not listen to the crowd, he listened to God. Noah cared more about God’s warning, than his neighbors opinions, his faith saved his family. This is a powerful lesson for every parent and every leader, your faith protects those under your care, because Noah believed his children survived the flood. When the rain finally started falling, the laughing stopped, the doors of the ark were shut by God himself, Noah’s faith was vindicated. Noah proved that it is better to look foolish to the world and be right with God, than to be popular with the world and wrong with God.
Abel died young, his brother murdered him, but because of his faith, his voice still echoes thousands of years later, Able teaches you that God looks at the heart, not just the hands. The historical timeline of faith moves forward to a man named Enoch. Hebrews 11:5, Enoch is one of the most mysterious figures in the Bible, he lived in a time when the world was becoming incredibly evil. People were forgetting God, violence was spreading everywhere, but Enoch made a different choice, he decided to walk with God. This does not mean Enoch just prayed occasionally, it means he lived his life in constant conversation with his creator and then something supernatural happened, he skipped death entirely.
This story establishes a rule that every believer must memorize, it is the golden rule of a relationship with God, Hebrews 11:6. You cannot please God just by being a nice person, you cannot please him just by following laws, you must believe he is real and you must believe he is good. You must believe God is a rewarder, if you do not believe he wants to bless you when you seek him, you will eventually stop seeking him. Hebrews 11:7, as the generations passed, the darkness on earth grew thicker, it reached a point where God decided to wash the world clean and start over. God spoke to a man named Noah, he told Noah to build a massive ark, because rain was coming, but Noah was not a professional builder, he was just a man who heard God’s voice.
People ridiculed Noah for decades, possibly up to 120 years, he cut wood, he hammered, he gathered pitch to seal the wood, his neighbors must have laughed at him every single day, but Noah did not listen to the crowd, he listened to God. Noah cared more about God’s warning, than his neighbors opinions, his faith saved his family. This is a powerful lesson for every parent and every leader, your faith protects those under your care, because Noah believed his children survived the flood. When the rain finally started falling, the laughing stopped, the doors of the ark were shut by God himself, Noah’s faith was vindicated. Noah proved that it is better to look foolish to the world and be right with God, than to be popular with the world and wrong with God.
