Abel: Worship in Faith
Series: The Great CloudDanny Sims <dannysimsSPAMFILTER@altamesa.org>
Sunday June 08 2008
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Abel: Worship in FaithDownload:
ser060808.mp3 (Size: 7.96 MB)Hebrews 11:1-6 1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. 3 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.
4 By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead 5 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. 6 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...
Why the favor of God?
God looks with favor at Abel because it is a blood sacrifice whereas Cain's was a grain sacrifice.
God looks with favor at Abel because his sacrifice comes from a heart that belongs to God whereas Cain's sacrifice comes from something entirely different: Evil? Ritual?
Faith is shaped by the presence of God not the rituals of man!
So what is Abel saying to us?
1. "No matter what you do, you can't fool God"
2. "When you take your relationship with God seriously not everyone's gonna be happy!"
- Take the scriptures seriously (Who is God? Who does God want me to be?)
- Take our sacrifice seriously
- Take time with faithful people seriously
3. "Living in the presence of God is still the essence of faith"
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