Words of Life|Pastor Balan Swaminathan|HIPM

Faith Hall of Fame | Conclusion

We learned quite a lot about faith, I want to ask you today, what is that God is asking you to do today?

- Is He asking you to take step of faith to live for Him?
- Is He asking you to let go few things for the sake of God, the gospel
- Is He asking you to take certain risks in His kingdom?
- Is He asking you to give up something in you life?
- Is He asking you to lay aside the weight that you are carrying today?
- Is He asking you to leave the sin that you are entangled with today?

I want you to respond to the voice of God.

Faith Hall of Fame | Gideon

The writer of Hebrews says, Through faith Gideon subdued kingdom, became valiant in battle and turned to flight the armies of aliens.  There is a challenge in front of us that we need to battle through.  We need faith.

- It may be a battle of establishing our future.
- Battle of bringing up our children
- Battle of fighting against the disease and sickness
- Battle of overcoming the financial struggle
- Battle of establishing the ministry
- Battle of conquering the city for God
- Battle of delivering people from the bondage

Faith Hall of Fame | Rahab

Rehab's faith resulted in a total transformation in her life. 

A new God - As a result of her faith, this Canaanite woman  entered into the Jewish faith.  It is similar to her future great granddaughter-in-law, Ruth the Moabitess would say to Naomi: "thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God" (Ruth 1:16). A new God and a new revelation.

A new husband - A woman with no husband married to a man named Salmon, Matthew 1:5-6. 

A new generation - She had been a heathen, a non-believer, but found favor with God because of her faith, which was shown by her works. Rahab's faith resulted in blessing for the world.  She became one of the ancestors of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Faith Hall of Fame | Walls of Jericho

Hebrews 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.

God wants you to pull these walls down by faith today. 

- Wall No1: Walls of Jericho built within us - This wall is built by us, not seen by others
- Wall no 2: Walls of Jericho built around us - This wall is built by us, but seen by others
- Wall no 3: Walls of Jericho built by others

God wants us to take a step of faith to make a shout of praise so that these walls will fall trembling down. 

If we do that, God wants to build walls around us.  At times God build walls around us to get something done in our lives. 

Faith Hall of Fame | Red Sea

This sermon explores the faith of the children of Israel as they crossed the Red Sea.

Hebrews 11:29  ²⁹ By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.

Exodus 14:10-29 By faith children of Israel passed through the Red Sea

God wants us to forget our past, build up our faith and move forward. 

Faith Hall of Fame | Moses

We see five achievements of Moses by the faith He had on God.

- By faith Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter
- By faith Moses chose to suffer affliction with the people of God than enjoying the passing pleasures of sin
- By faith Moses thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward.
- By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible
- By faith Moses commanded people of Israel to keep Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts that the angel of death would not kill the firstborn

Matthew 11:30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Faith Hall of Fame | Moses' Parents

Some of the key characteristics of Moses' parents especially his mother Jockebed that led them to such a great faith in God:

-  A knowledge about the time in which she was living
- An awareness of the consequences of disobeying King's command
- Willing to risk their lives for God's plan to be fulfilled
- Expecting to get favor from the enemy
- Willing to let go what belongs to God

Faith Hall of Fame | Joseph

Hebrews 11:22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.

- Joseph had a certain future hope, being a man of faith
- Joseph believed that the children of Israel will depart from Egypt.
- His belief was that his bones will be buried along with his father's.

What does this mean today to us?

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Faith Hall of Fame | Jacob

Hebrews 11:21 ²¹ By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

Jacob's faith could foresee the things that are yet to happen on the land.

Faith Hall of Fame | Isaac

What is Isaac's faith?

- Isaac's faith in God that leads to obedience to his father.
- His prayer life, that he could ask God for a blessing that was missing in his life.
- His faith in sowing the seed, even in season and in out of season.
- His faith in digging the wells of Abraham that are covered by mud

Such a faith in God made Isaac to bless his children even at the old age.

Today, God wants us to be a blessing to others.