HEBREWS ELEVEN (part two)

We are studying the eleventh chapter of Hebrews and this week we are starting in verse four.
As we read these verses we have to keep in the forefront of our minds that this chapter is talking about
believing and not the faith of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 11:4 (KJV)
4 By faith (believing) Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained
witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
There is a lot to discuss in this one verse so let’s get started. By believing- who or what did Abel believe?
God of course! But, didn’t both Cain and Abel bring sacrifice unto God? Then why was Abel’s “more
excellent” than Cain’s?
Some people say it was because Abel’s sacrifice was an animal while Cain’s vegetables or grains. That’s
not the case. Look at Genesis 4:3-5.
Genesis 4:3-5 (KJV)
3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the
LORD.
4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect
unto Abel and to his offering:
5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance
fell.
Do you see what it says in verse four? Abel brought of the firstlings. Abel brought the best, he brought of
the firstlings, the fat juicy ones. Cain didn’t. He just brought some of what he had. Nothing said about
the first of the harvest or the best of the harvest. Cain didn’t bring anything special.
This is the fight that every person struggles with. The question isn’t “do I give and what do I give?” It is a
question that goes deep to the center of a person’s heart. That question is simple. “Who is God?” To
you, in your life, WHO IS GOD? Is He God almighty? Are you going to lean on Him for deliverance and
sufficiency? Is He the God that created the Heavens and the Earth the covenant God of Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob? Or is He a fictitious deity that, when you give, it is a waist, a waist in time and money.
God says in Malachi “prove me now here with.” God wants us to prove Him by tithing and abundantly
sharing for the movement of God’s Word. And, it says that there will not be room enough to receive
God’s blessings on your life.
Malachi 3:10 (KJV)
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now
herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a
blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.Abel BELIEVED God! He put God first because he gave of his firstlings. If you are giving God anything,
but, the firstlings your heart is not right with God. Let me ask you something. If you are going to see the
President of the United States or the Queen of England would you bring a gift that you had laying
around or would you make it the best gift you could afford? Would you buy it at Walmart or would you
go to Macy’s? This is not only the choice of two men, but, the clarion call for each and every one of us.
Are we going to give God our best or something less.
Hebrews 11:5 (KJV)
5 By faith (believing) 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.
Many people take this verse to say that God liked Enoch so much that Enoch didn’t die because God
took him to Heaven. This simply is not true! If this were the case then God would have to have broken
almost every law He set in place. First of all, the only people going to Heaven are the Christians!
Everybody else, that is going to be rewarded for their stand here on Earth is promised Paradise on Earth.
Since, Christ hadn’t come, yet, then Enoch couldn’t be a Christian and couldn’t go to Heaven.
Also, in verse thirteen is says that Enoch died.
Hebrews 11:13 (KJV)
13 These all died in faith (believing), not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and
were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on
the earth.
“These all” includes Enoch! So, let’s read verse five again.
Hebrews 11:5 (KJV)
5 By faith (believing) 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.
Another word for “translated” is transported or carried over. Enoch pleased God and because of that God
transported him from one place to another so that Enoch never saw anyone die.
Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)
6 But without faith (believing) 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.
If you want to please God you have to BELIEVE that He is. You know, most people stop right there.
They’ll say “Oh, yeah, I believe there is a God.” Does that please God? Not if my Bible is right! You have
to believe that He is AND, and, and, and believe that He is a rewarder, not a punisher, not a hellfire and
brimstone God, but, one who rewards those that diligently seek Him.
By the way, the way that you seek God is to study His Word and apply that which is addressed to you.
Hebrews 11:7 (KJV)
7 By faith (believing) Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an
ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the
righteousness which is by faith (believing).Noah is an interesting man! He was five hundred years old when God told him to build the Ark. It took
Noah and his sons one hundred years to build the Ark. The focus and determination that man had was
incredible! Not only that, but the stand he had to take for God and against all the people was
phenomenal.
Genesis 6:5 (KJV)
5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of
the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Genesis 6:11-12 (KJV)
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon
the earth.
Noah walked with and for God. To see the violence and debauchery of that time must have hurt Noah
deep in his heart. In II Peter God calls Noah a preacher of righteousness. For close to six hundred years,
Noah preached God and the things of God to the people. Time and time again, Noah preached, not just
taught, but, PREACHED to the people! I can hear him now “come back to God! God is a good God, God is
a loving God.” Noah did this for nearly six hundred years. You know how many people changed their
ways? NO ONE! Six hundred years and no one changed their evil violent ways. Noah is an excellent
example of standing firm on the things of God. It doesn’t matter if people believe what you say
regarding God, Jesus Christ and salvation. What matters is your walk with God and that you speak.
When you speak God’s Word, the Bible says, that it doesn’t go out void (to no profit.) you may not see
the benefit right then, but, it is there.