**"Jesus, The Power and Wisdom of God"**

**1 Cor 1:22-25** - For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

**C. S. Lewis** - “A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else He would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”

**1. The Jews asked for signs (miracles) to prove that Jesus was the Messiah.

**John 2:18** - The Jews then said to Him, **"What sign do You show** us as your authority for doing these things?"

**John 6:2** - A large crowd followed Him, because they **saw the signs** which He was **performing on those who were sick.**

**John 6:14** - Therefore when the **people saw the sign** which He had performed, they said, **"This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."**

**John 6:26** - Jesus answered them and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because **you saw signs**, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.

**John 6:30** - So they said to Him, **"What then do You do for a sign,** so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform?

**Matt 5:38-44** - "You have heard that it was said, 'AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.' 39 "But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever **slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 "If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. 41 "Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 "Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.** 43 "You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.' 44 "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

**John 18:36** - Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm."

**2. Greeks seek wisdom (loved wisdom)**

**Acts 26:24** - While Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, **"Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad.**

**3. Jesus and the gospel is stumbling block and foolishness to the world. (1 Cor. 1:23)**

**1. Abraham’s faith was tested.**

1 Peter 1:6-7
6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested byfire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

**2. First --The test was to make sure Abraham trusted in the giver and not the gift.**

**Heb 11:17-18**
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his **only begotten son;** 18 it was he to whom it was said, **"IN ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE CALLED."**

**Gen 22:1-2**
Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 2 He said, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you."

John 5:39-40
39 "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; 40 and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life

Gen 22:3
So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey

Heb 11:19
He considered that **God is able** to raise people even from the dead,……

**3. Second--The test was to see what Abraham loved most.**

**Gen 22:1-2**
Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 2 He said, "Take now your son, your only son, **whom you love,** Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you."

**John 21:15-17**
15 So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, **"Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My lambs."** 16 He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" He said to Him, **"Yes, Lord; You know that I love You."** He said to him, "Shepherd My sheep." 17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; **You know that I love You.**" Jesus said to him, "Tend My sheep.

**1 Tim 1:5**
5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith

**1. Living by faith means to live as aliens and stranger during this life.**

Heb 11:8-9
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, **obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance;** and he went out, **not knowing where he was going.** 9 **By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise,** as in a foreign land, **dwelling in tents** with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise;

**1 Peter 2:11**
Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.

Gen 12:1-3
Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the **land* which I will show you; 2 And I will make you a **great nation**, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so **you shall be a blessing;** 3 And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed."

**Heb 11:11-16**
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 there was born even of one man, **and him as good as dead at that**, as many descendants AS THE STARS OF HEAVEN IN NUMBER, AND INNUMERABLE AS THE SAND WHICH IS BY THE SEASHORE.

13 **All these died in faith, without receiving the promises,** but **having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having** confessed that they were **strangers and exiles on the earth.**
14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are **seeking a country of their own.**
15 And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a **better country,** that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.

**Phil 3:20-21**
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

**Col 3:1-4**
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, **keep seeking the things above,** where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

The Leper Believed His Power

Matthew 8:1-4 (NASB95) - When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him. 2 And a leper came to Him and bowed down before Him, and said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” 3 Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

Introduction:

1. Psalm 77:1–15 (NASB95) - My voice rises to God, and I will cry aloud; My voice rises to God, and He will hear me. 2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; In the night my hand was stretched out without weariness; My soul refused to be comforted. 3 When I remember God, then I am disturbed; When I sigh, then my spirit grows faint. Selah. 4 You have held my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. 5 I have considered the days of old, The years of long ago. 6 I will remember my song in the night; I will meditate with my heart, And my spirit ponders: 7 Will the Lord reject forever? And will He never be favorable again? 8 Has His lovingkindness ceased forever? Has His promise come to an end forever? 9 Has God forgotten to be gracious, Or has He in anger withdrawn His compassion? Selah. 10 Then I said, “It is my grief, That the right hand of the Most High has changed.” 11 I shall remember the deeds of the Lord; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. 12 I will meditate on all Your work And muse on Your deeds. 13 Your way, O God, is holy; What god is great like our God? 14 You are the God who works wonders; You have made known Your strength among the peoples. 15 You have by Your power redeemed Your people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.

Main Points:

1. The Leper believed the power of Christ and risked great public shame.

**a. Matthew 8:2 - And a leper came to Him and bowed down before Him**

b. Luke 5:12 - BEHOLD, there was a man, covered in leprosy

2. The Leper believed in the power of Christ and **humbled himself to worship.**

**a. Matthew 8:2 “2 And a leper came to Him and bowed down before Him”**

b. “The Greek verb is *proskenein*, = prostrate oneself – “he bowed down.”

i. Mark 1:40 - “falling on his knees”

ii. Luke 5:12 - “he fell on his face”

3. The Leper believed the power of Christ and he asked for cleansing.

a. Matthew 8:1 - When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him. 2 And a leper came to Him and bowed down before Him, and said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”

**b. He placed himself at the mercy of the will of God.**

i. Isaiah 40:31 - Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.

ii. Psalm 123:2 - Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the Lord our God, Until He is gracious to us.

**4. We must believe the Lord is willing.**

a. Matthew 8:3 - Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

Conclusion :

Matt 8:4 - And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

Philippians 2:14-18
"Merry Thanksgiving"

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing;
15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,
16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.
17 But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.
18 You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.

Rom 1:21-23 (ungratefulness is the beginning of the downward trend)
21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

**1. Do all things without grumbling or disputing**

a. Grumbling or murmuring……

1 Peter 4:9 - Be hospitable to one another without complaint.

Prov 23:6-7
6 Do not eat the bread of a selfish man, Or desire his delicacies;
7 For as he thinks within himself, so he is. He says to you, "Eat and drink!" But his heart is not with you. 8 You will vomit up the morsel you have eaten, And waste your compliments.

b. Disputing is dialogismos—or dialoguing or questioning

Ps 1:1 - How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the **seat of scoffers!**

Isa 45:9 - "Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker — An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, 'What are you doing?' Or the thing you are making say, 'He has no hands'?

Sinclair Ferguson--"A complaining or arguing spirit is an expression of ingratitude to God's providence, and of lovelessness and pride towards others. It is a denial of grace; it is working against salvation rather than working salvation into every aspect of our lives"

**2. We are called not to grumble to be a light in the midst of darkness.**

“15 **so that you will prove yourselves** to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,”

Rom 1:21-23 (ungratefulness is the beginning of the downward trend)
21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their **foolish heart was darkened.** 22 Professing to be wise, **they became fools,** 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

Matt 5:14-16 - "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

2 Cor 4:15 - For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.

**3. Fight grumbling by holding fast the word of life.**

“16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.”

1 Cor 15:1-3 - Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, **in which also you stand**, 2 by which also you are saved, if you **hold fast the word which I preached to you,** unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

Phil 1:6 - For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Phil 1:12 - Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel

Phil 3:8 - More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,

**4. Learn to be thankful especially during difficult times.**

“17 But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. 18 You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.”

1 Thess 5:18 - in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Phil 4:11-13 - Not that I speak from want, for I **have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.** 12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Heb 11:7 - By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

**1. God warned the world to turn from their sins**

Gen 6:12 - “God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth. 13 Then God said to Noah, "The **end of all flesh has come before Me**; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth.

Amos 3:7 - Surely the Lord God does nothing Unless He reveals His secret counsel To His servants the prophets.

Heb 11:7 - By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen,

Isa 13:9 - Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, Cruel, with fury and burning anger, To make the land a desolation; And He will exterminate its sinners from it.

2 Peter 3:10 - But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

Rev 9:18-19 - A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which proceeded out of their mouths. 19 For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and with them they do harm.

Rom 1:18 - For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

Heb. 11:7b, “….by which he condemned the world.”

Gen 6:6 -The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.

Gen 6:6 (NIV) - The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.

Eph 4:30 - Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Gen 6:7 - The Lord said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them."

Rom 2:4-5 - Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,

Matt 24:37-39 - "For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. 38 "For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.

**2. God gave opportunities for people to repent for 120 years.**

Heb. 11:7b “in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household,…”

Gen 6:22 - Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did.

1 Peter 3:20-22 - who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. 21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you — not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience — through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

**3. By faith God made Noah an heir of righteousness**

Gen 6:8 - But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

Heb. 11:7b “Noah became an heir of righteousness according to faith”

Isa 10:21 - A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God.

Rom 11:5 - In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice.

Rom 9:27 - Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, "THOUGH THE NUMBER OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL BE LIKE THE SAND OF THE SEA, IT IS THE REMNANT THAT WILL BE SAVED;

Matt 7:13-14 - "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Heb 11:5-6 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

**1. By Faith Enoch pleased God by believing.**

A. Seven I am Statements of Jesus in gospel of John

i. “I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51)
ii. “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12)
iii. “I am the door of the sheep.” (John 10:7,9)
iv. “I am the good shepherd.” (John 10:11, 14)
v. “I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25)
vi. “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)
vii. “I am the true vine.” (John 15:1, 5)

**2. By Faith Enoch pleased God by seeking God.**

Gen 5:22,24 22 Then Enoch walked with God. 24 Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

Amos 3:3 Do two men walk together unless they have made an appointment?

Luke 9:23-24 And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 24 "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.

Jude 14-15 It was also about these men that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, 15 to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him."

**3. By faith Enoch pleased God and lived.**

i. Gen 5:5 - So all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years, and he died.
ii. Gen 5:8 - So all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years, and he died.
iii. Gen 5:11 - So all the days of Enosh were nine hundred and five years, and he died.
iv. Gen 5:14 - So all the days of Kenan were nine hundred and ten years, and he died.
v. Gen 5:17 - So all the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred and ninety-five years, and he died.
vi. Gen 5:20 - So all the days of Jared were nine hundred and sixty-two years, and he died.

Gen 6:5 - Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Heb 11:1-2 - Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 **For by it the men of old gained approval. **

Rom 3:28 - For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.

Rom 5:1 - Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

Deuteronomy 8:1-7 [NASB]
1 “All the commandments that I am commanding you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord swore to give to your forefathers. 
2 “You shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. 
3 “He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord. 
4“Your clothing did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years. 
5“Thus you are to know in your heart that the Lord your God was disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son. 
6“Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him. 
7“For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills;

**FOUR Biblical Truths About the Wilderness Wanderings**

**1. The Wilderness Wandering was on Purpose**

Deuteronomy 8:1 - All the commandments that I am commanding you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord swore to give to your forefathers.

Genesis 15:13-16 - God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants **will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years.** 14 “But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and **afterward they will come out with many possessions.** 15 “As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age. 16 “Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete.”

Genesis 15:16 - “Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete.”

Amos 2:10
It was I who brought you up from the land of Egypt,
And I led you in the wilderness forty years
That you might take possession of the land of the Amorite.

Exodus 7:16a - You shall say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you, saying, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness…

James 1:2 - Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials.”

**2. The Wilderness Wandering was for Testing**

Deuteronomy 8:2-3 - “You shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. 3 “He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.

Hosea 13:4-6 - Yet I have been the Lord your God Since the land of Egypt; And you were not to know any god except Me, For there is no savior besides Me. 5 I cared for you in the wilderness, In the land of drought. 6 As they had their pasture, they became satisfied, And being satisfied, their heart became proud; Therefore they forgot Me.

**3. The Wilderness Wandering was for Training**

Deuteronomy 8:4-5 - Your clothing did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years. 5 “Thus you are to know in your heart that the Lord your God was disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son.

Deuteronomy 29:5 - I have led you forty years in the wilderness; your clothes have not worn out on you, and **your sandal** has not worn out on your foot.

**4. The Wilderness Was Not and Will Never Be Home.**

Deuteronomy 8:6-7 - Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him. 7 For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills;

John 14:1-3 - “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

Matthew 4:1-4 - Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”

John 3:14-16 -
As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15 so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. 16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that **whoever believes** in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Hebrews 11:4 - By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.

**1. Abel offered a better sacrifice.**

Gen 4:4-5 - Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering 5 but for Cain and for his offering **He had no regard**. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell.

Gen 4:3 - So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground

Isa 29:13 - Then the Lord said, "Because this people draw near with their words And honor Me with their lip service, But they remove their hearts far from Me, And their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote,

Matt 15:8-9 - 'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. 9 'BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.'"

Gen 4:6-7 - Then the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 "If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it."

Jude 10-11 - But these men revile the things which they do not understand; and the things which they know by instinct, like unreasoning animals, by these things they are destroyed. 11 Woe to them! For they have gone the **way of Cain,** …….

**Frank Sinatra**
And now, the end is near
And so I face the final curtain
My friends, I'll say it clear
I'll state my case of which I'm certain
I've lived a life that's full
I traveled each and every highway
But more, much more than this
I did it my way

Prov 14:12-14
12 There is a way which seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.
13 Even in laughter the heart may be in pain,
And the end of joy may be grief.
14 The backslider in heart will have his fill of his own ways,
But a good man will be satisfied with his.

** 2. Abel’s sacrifice left a testimony and speaks to us even today.
12:24
24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel

Heb 9:13-14
13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

1 Peter 1:18-20
18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

Heb 11:3 - By faith **we** understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

Heb 11:33-38 - who **by faith** conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; 36 and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated 38 (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.

**1. Foundational faith begins with creation.**

R.C. Sproul,
“Until the Enlightenment, the most firmly established article of Christian faith in the secular world was that of creation. It had been established not only by revelation but also by reason, not only by religion but also by science.”

**2. Foundational faith believes God as creator.**

Gen 1:1 - In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

John 1:1-3 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

Ps 14:1 - The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God."

Romans 1:18-20 - For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

Romans 1:21-23 - For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

**3. Foundational faith believes God is sovereign.**

Col 1:16-17 - For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Eph 1:11 - also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will

Rom 8:28 - And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Acts 17:24-28 - "The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25 nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; 26 and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and exist,