Sermon Audio

Scripture: “By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God,” Hebrews 11:9-10.

Stream or download Bright and shining lights in the Bible #16

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We continue our study of the life of Abraham as it is recorded for us in Hebrews 11. Last time we we noted: ‘1. He obeyed God not knowing where he was going’ and ‘2. He believed that he would receive as an inheritance the place he was going to.’
That was wonderful faith on the part of Abraham YET it is exactly the same faith as that exercised by every Christian!
1. We too dwell in the land of promise! Abraham was a stranger in the ‘promised land’ as far as the people in the land were concerned BUT it was HIS land! So it is with us on this earth. We are strangers here YET, let us read these verses:
“What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth,” Psalm 25:12-13.
“For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace . . . . For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off,”  Psalm 37:9-11, 22.
“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth,” Matt 5:5.
Just who are the ‘meek’? Hear what the Saviour says!
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light,”  Matt 11:28-30.
Those who come to Christ, take up His yoke and learn of Him, they it is who will inherit the earth, even as God has promised.

Scripture: Hebrews 11:9-10 “By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”

Stream or download Bright and shining lights in the Bible #17

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1. Like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, we are presently pilgrims. To ‘sojourn’ means ‘to live as a stranger.’ He lived in a tent, not a permanent house! He didn’t even have a grave, “And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her. And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying, I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight,” Gen 23:4.
“And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child,” Acts 7:5.
2. However, Abraham was looking for a city. The word ‘looked’, V10, means ‘waiting in expectation’.
Note its permanence – ‘foundations’! Note its architect and builder – ‘God’! A great city built by God.
“For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come,” Hebs 13:14 (‘continuing’ = that which lasts);
See Revelation 21:2-8 – Eternal state.
3. We must never set our eyes on the things of this earth. But like Abraham, look for that which God has promised to us. Col 3:1-2; Rom 8:6; 1 John 2:15-17; Psalm 49:11-17.
4. When we consider the beauties and splendours of this earth, how glorious will be this city, our future eternal home! Nothing in time truly compares to it!