Sarah’s Faith

Epistle to the Hebrews - Part 26 • Hebrews 11:11-12 • May 9, 2021 • English Service 10:00 AM

 

Sermon Introduction

The author explained that Christ is God. He sits at the highest authority in heaven and on earth. Christ fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament. He is the perfect high priest forever; and, Christ is the perfect sacrifice. Thus, the Jewish believers should never throw away their confidence in Christ. Instead, they should endure social discrimination and persecution. Their faith should not shrink back. Otherwise, God would not be pleased. And without faith, it is impossible to please God (11:6). Now faith is the reality of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (11:1). The author explained that the OT heroes gained God’s approval by faith. Many of them performed amazing feats through faith. Noah built an Ark that saved his family. The author would then discuss Sarah’s faith. She trusted in God’s word. By faith, the impossible became possible.

Dr. Ed Pilapil Jr.
 Senior Pastor

 
 
 

Hebrews 11:11-12 NASB

11 By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore even from one man, and one who was as good as dead at that, there were born descendants who were just as the stars of heaven in number, and as the innumerable grains of sand along the seashore.

Notes

The author explained that Christ is God. He sits at the highest authority in heaven and on earth. Christ fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament. He is the perfect high priest forever; and, Christ is the perfect sacrifice. Thus, the Jewish believers should never throw away their confidence in Christ. Instead, they should endure social discrimination and persecution. Their faith should not shrink back. Otherwise, God would not be pleased. And without faith, it is impossible to please God (11:6). Now faith is the reality of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (11:1). The author explained that the OT heroes gained God’s approval by faith. Many of them performed amazing feats through faith. Noah built an Ark that saved his family. The author would then discuss Sarah’s faith. She trusted in God’s word. By faith, the impossible became possible.

  1. By faith Sarah, advanced in years and barren, received the ability to bear a child. She knew that God would fulfill His promise. Against all human hope, she believed in God and His word (11:11).

  2. By faith, Sarah’s husband, who was as good as dead in the area of contributing his seed for a child, received the ability to do so. The author clearly stated that this happened by faith (11:12).

  3. By faith, Sarah’s offspring, Isaac, then her grandchild Jacob, became a numerous nation like the stars of the sky and like the sand of the seashore. God fulfilled His promise after many years (11:12).

Application

  1. By faith, let us receive God’s gifts that enable us to serve Him. We must view the abilities that we possess as coming from God. Furthermore, we shall use our abilities for His glory.

  2. By faith, we are confident that God will fulfill all His promises in Christ. Moreover, we anchor our hope on God’s power, not human limitations. We believe in the gospel, God’s power to salvation.

  3. By faith, we will persist in believing even if our eyes cannot see the fulfillment. God’s timetable is different from ours. But we are sure that through Christ, we shall be with the Father forever.

Discussion / Reflection

  1. What was God’s promise to Sarah?

  2. How did God fulfill His promise?

  3. What lesson/s of faith may we learn from Sarah’s story?