(Hebrews 11:6)
"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

Imagine that you were locked out of your house. Wouldn’t it be foolish to go through your neighborhood and collect as many keys as possible to try each of them in your lock? Locks are designed to be opened with specific keys. So it is in our relationship to God. There is only one key that unlocks all the blessings God wants us to enjoy. It is the key of faith. Faith in all God has revealed concerning Himself, His plan and His provision for our salvation in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

This chapter is often referred to as the Faith’s Hall of Fame. It shows how faith is to characterize every aspect of life. The importance of faith cannot be over emphasized, for without it we cannot please God. Lets look at the examples of the early patriarchs regarding faith:

WORSHIP OF FAITH (4)
“By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain”

Cain and Abel were sons of Adam and Eve. Obviously they had been shown how they could offer acceptable sacrifice. Abel followed God’s instruction and offered an animal sacrifice, Cain had a better idea, he offered the fruits of his garden. Cain’s offering was rejected by God and Abel’s accepted. The excellent sacrifice of Abel was based on his willingness to obey God’s command. His faith made his sacrifice acceptable. The Bible teaches us how we are to worship. In (John 4:24) Jesus said, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” Jesus’ death and resurrection has instituted a new phase in worship as our one sacrifice that takes away sin. Christians, whose sins are under the blood of Jesus, are welcomed into the very throne room of God to worship and adore Him through His Spirit. Along with worship we also are to have a

WALK OF FAITH (5)
“By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.”

In Genesis 5:22 it says, “Enoch walked with God.” Enoch desired fellowship with God more than with the world. He walked with God and talked with God and found his pleasure in serving the God he loved. His manner of life so pleased God that He took Enoch to be with Him to His eternal dwelling place. Enoch is an example of how by faith we can have fellowship with God. Paul said, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Col 3:1,2). What is the focus of your life? Is it the same as Enoch? With worship and walk, there is the

WORK OF FAITH (7)
“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house;”

God gave Noah a tough assignment and it took him over a hundred years to complete it, but he never gave up. Noah built an ark, a boat approximately 435 feet long, 73 feet wide and 43 feet high. His consistency in building the ark resulted in the salvation of his family. He didn’t give up or give in to the difficulty and so becomes an example to us. Jesus said, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” (John 9:4). Certainly, we need to follow the example of Jesus and Noah by faithfully continuing in His service. God grant all of us His grace in accomplishing His work through us. Finally, along with worship, walk and work there is the

WAIT OF FAITH (8)
“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.”

Abraham was called by God to go to a strange land, a land which God would show to him. Abraham obeyed even though he didn’t know where God was leading. Perhaps God is leading you into an area of life that you’re not sure of the outcome. You can trust Him to bring you through. Paul understood this when he said, “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” (2 Tim 1:12). Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Here are the ways taught in Hebrews 11 to exercise faith in all areas of our life, in worship, in walk, work, and waiting on Him. A little girl was happily playing in her backyard. She couldn’t go down to the end of the block without getting lost. She was too young to make her own food. She didn’t know how to buy clothes or even when it was time to go back into the house. Was she worried? Absolutely not. She had parents who took care of all these things, and the little girl trusted her mom and dad. Are you trusting your Father in Heaven for all your needs? God bless.