First Baptist Church
Fairbanks, Alaska
805 Sixth Avenue
(907) 456-4923
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Fairbanks, Alaska 805 Sixth Avenue (907) 456-4923 |
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“Faith Hall of Fame “ (The Legacy) A Study of the Book of Hebrews (Part 12) Hebrews 11 Mark Howdeshell (July 13, 2008) Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Introduction Photographs....autobiographies…portraits…museums…tombstones… What do all of these have in common? They all denote something that has happened in the past. They tell the story of something in history. They pass along a legacy. What is a legacy, you may ask? A legacy is simply something handed down from a predecessor or a relative to a subsequent generation or even sometimes just something from the past. There are legacy computer systems and legacy automobiles. (Also sometimes known as “old” or “antique”.) There are also stories of family history and lessons learned from years gone by. Our legacy could be what we pass down to our children, and to their children, and to their children’s children. This morning, I want to explore your legacy. Is it what you really want it to be? Is it a legacy that God would be proud of? Is it a legacy dependent upon the faith built through the tests of God, tried by the temptations of Satan, and victorious by the blood of the cross? This morning I ask you, “What is your legacy?” The Meat of the Message Heb 11:20-22 20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future. 21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.
i. Each pronounced prophetic blessings that could not have been anticipated without God’s revelation 1. Isaac’s blessings came true though he blessed the “wrong” son! a. Isaac blessed Jacob instead of Esau b. Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of red stew c. Isaac was going to give him the blessing anyway d. Jacob and Rebekah tricked Isaac into giving the blessing to Jacob even though God had said the older would serve the younger e. Jacob-thinking man---Esau-hunting sportsman 2. Jacob passed his blessing down to Ephraim instead of Manasseh which was against tradition but by revelation a. Ephraim was younger b. Joseph wasn’t pleased c. Ephraim would become greater than Manasseh ii. They are commended because they had faith in the things revealed to them and they passed it along in their blessing iii. Their legacy didn’t begin at the time of these blessings…they had been living their legacy their entire lives
2 Peter 1:12-15 12 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.
i. Faith built on the foundation of Christ 1. Eph 6:4 tells fathers to bring up our children in the training and instruction of the Lord 2. Honor your mother 3. Discipline out of love 4. Set boundaries where not everything goes 5. Nurture the fruits of the Spirit ii. Firm grasp on individual relationships with Christ 1. Cannot enter Heaven through your parents faith! 2. Set the example of relying on Christ through good times and bad
i. 1 Corinthians 13 tells us that without love, we are NOTHING ii. Jesus is love!
i. Humbleness in every situation ii. It’s not about me…
The Bottom Line Our days are numbered. One of the primary goals in our lives should be to prepare for our last day. The legacy we leave is not just in our possessions, but in the quality of our lives. What preparations should we be making now? The greatest waste in all of our earth, which cannot be recycled or reclaimed, is our waste of the time that God has given us each day.”--- Billy Graham “When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.”--- Billy Graham When God takes us from this place, we will leave behind stuff and we will leave behind our legacy. The stuff doesn’t really matter a whole lot, our legacy will live on. We are saved through the legacy of the living Christ. We have the scriptures as the legacy of many writers. We have as a part of each of us, the legacy, (good or bad), from our parents. What do you want to leave when you go home? Invitation As you look at your legacy this morning…contemplate it. Is it what it should be? If not, the condition is reversible. It may take hard work and a little bit of time, but you can turn it around. This morning, consider what Jesus would have you do to forge your legacy built upon the solid rock of faith that is Jesus himself. |
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