FAITH THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING – DYLAN JAHNIG
Scriptures:
Hebrews 11:1-10
Isaiah 43:18-19
John 10:10
Points:
1. Faith in the Blood
2. Faith to Walk with God
3. Faith to Build the Ark
4. Faith to Go Where He Leads
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” Hebrews 11:1-3 NIV
Hebrews 11 mentions four men who were commended for their faith. Here, we see four things – or ways of faith – by which we’ll build and walk into the future.
1. Faith in the Blood
“By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.” Hebrews 11:4 NIV
Abel brought the offering of blood over the harvest of fruit that his brother Cain did. This is a picture and reminder of what Jesus brought being greater than anything else.
‘The finished work of Jesus is greater than the ‘work in progress’ of us.‘
What He did on the cross is greater than what’s going on in us. His sacrifice is greater than ours. Everything we bring is just a small contribution compared to what He’s already brought to us.
As we build, as we look back and say, “What has built our church?” the foremost thing has been faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ – an uncompromising desire to preach Jesus and nothing else.
2. Faith to Walk with God
“By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:5-6 NIV
We as a church have faith in the walk – to walk with Jesus when the world goes one way, we can go another. We can walk with Him through the valleys. It’s not about the walk that works for you, but the walk that stays with Him.
We are not meant to be a people that establish our homes in the valleys. God’s people, the Israelites, never set up camp in the valleys – they just walked through. But they walked through. You and I were born to live on the high ground, but we must be willing to walk through the valleys.
3. Faith to Build the Ark
“By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.” Hebrews 11:7 NIV
We’ve got to have faith to build an ark when the people around us don’t understand why.
For Linc Church, that has looked like some crazy seasons of generosity – in the most unlikely times we’ve given the most -with the sense that God wanted to build something that had nothing to do with the world’s economy and everything to do with heaven’s.
It’s going to take faith to build the ark in the next 16 years of Church. It’s going to take faith to stand with your family and to believe in the dreams that God’s given you, even when others are against you.
It’s going to take faith to build the ark.
4. Faith to Go Where He Leads
“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” Hebrews 11:8-10 NIV
It’s going to take faith to obey. Abraham went not knowing where he was going. Obedience looks like trusting God when it doesn’t make sense. The way of Jesus was the way of obedience to the Father.
As we look back and ask ourselves what built this church and what 16 years looked like – it looked like faith in the blood of Jesus (His name is everything). It looked like faith in the walk. It looked like faith in the build. And it looked like faith to obey.
We thank you God for 16 years, but we stand with a bold conviction that the future will be greater than our past. That the days and the stories to come will be far greater than we’ve ever imagined. That as we sing, as we pray, as we serve, as we sow, as we step into the story of God, that we will – like Abraham – walk into desert places that turn into destinies for generations.
Discussion Questions
1. Faith in the Blood:
– How does Abel’s faith in the blood inspire your understanding of redemption and freedom in Jesus?
– How can we apply the concept of having faith in the redemptive power of Christ’s blood in our daily lives?
2. Faith to Walk with God:
– What does it mean to you to “walk with God” in today’s context?
– Share a personal experience where walking with God took you through a valley. How did this experience strengthen your faith?
– How can we encourage each other to remain faithful during difficult times and not set up camp in the valleys?
3. Faith to Build the Ark:
– Discuss Noah’s obedience in building the ark (Hebrews 11:7). How does this story inspire you to act in faith despite external doubts or pressures?
– What “arks” might God be calling us to build in our personal lives or as a church community?
– How can we support one another in acts of radical generosity and faith, especially when it doesn’t make sense to the world?
4. Faith to Go Where He Leads:
– Reflect on Hebrews 11:8-10 and Abraham’s journey. How can we cultivate a heart of obedience to go where God leads, even when the destination is unclear?
– Share a time when you felt God leading you in a direction that required significant faith. What was the outcome?
– How can our church embody the faith of Abraham in pursuing the visions and promises God has for us?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of faith that transforms our lives and draws us closer to You. Help us to have faith in the blood of Jesus, recognizing that His sacrifice is greater than any of our works. Grant us the courage to walk with You through every season, trusting Your guidance through the valleys and the peaks. Give us the strength and resolve to build the “arks” You call us to, even when it defies worldly understanding. Lead us with Your wisdom, just as You led Abraham, and help us to follow with obedient hearts. We pray that our church continues to grow in faith, unity, and purpose, glorifying Your name in all we do. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
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THE LINC COLLECTIVE 
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