Opening Text: “Without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

FAITH THAT OVERCOMES

Paul declared at the end of his life, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7,8.

Where is this crown to be given? “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Revelation 3:21.

If we want to be with Jesus, we must overcome. What is it that enables us to overcome? “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4.

If we want the reward, we must overcome. And if we want to overcome, we must do it through the agency of faith.

Not only this, but faith is the first rung in “Peter’s Ladder.”

1. 2 Peter 1:5—“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge,” etc.
1. "For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." Verse 8.
2. Therefore we must know what this first round is. For this reason, the apostle says, "Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth." Verse 12.

1. What does James say about this? "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." James 2:19. Even devils believe, so there must be more to it than just belief.
1. "When we speak of faith, there is a distinction that should be borne in mind. There is a kind of belief that is wholly distinct from faith. The existence and power of God, the truth of His Word, are facts that even Satan and his hosts cannot at heart deny. The Bible says that 'the devils also believe, and tremble'; but this is not faith." Steps to Christ, p. 63:2.
2. What is faith?

1. What was the experience of Abraham? Galatians 3:6-9. The Gospel was preached unto Abraham. He believed and it was accounted unto him for righteousness.
1. "The gospel was preached to Adam, Noah, Abraham, and Moses, and was to them good news; for their faith embraced a coming Saviour. A more clear and glorious light now shines upon the Christian world; for that which was faith to the patriarchs and prophets who lived before Christ, is assurance to us, as we see that Christ has come just in the manner that inspired men of old had foretold that he would come. It is just as essential that we have faith in a Redeemer who has come and died our sacrifice, as it was for the holy men of old to believe in a Redeemer to come, whom they represented by their typical sacrifices, but no more so." ST, 01-01-1887.
2. Those who are of faith are children of Abraham. Romans 4:16.
2. How did Abraham reveal his faith? Genesis 12:1-4. He not only believed, but trusted. He left his homeland. [Separation=necessity]
1. This required much faith--he had a large household. "Abraham's household comprised more than a thousand souls." Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 141:1.
2. Illustration of trusting as well as believing.
3. He believed the promise, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Genesis 15:1-6.
1. "Abraham's unquestioning obedience is one of the most striking evidences of faith to be found in all the Bible. To him, faith was 'the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.' Hebrews 11:1. Relying upon the divine promise, without the least outward assurance of its fulfillment, he abandoned home and kindred and native land, and went forth, he knew not whither, to follow where God should lead." Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 126:2.
1. "Where there is not only a belief in God's Word, but a submission of the will to Him; where the heart is yielded to Him, the affections fixed upon Him, there is faith--faith that works by love and purifies the soul. Through this faith the heart is renewed in the image of God. And the heart that in its unrenewed state is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be, now delights in its holy precepts, exclaiming with the psalmist, 'O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.' Ps. 119:97. And the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us, 'who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.' Rom. 8:1." Steps to Christ, p. 63:2
3. What happened when their faith was lacking? Genesis 16:1-3.
1. Sarah persuades Abram to try and help God out a little. "Sarah suggested a plan whereby she thought the promise of God could be fulfilled. She entreated Abraham to take Hagar as his wife. In this they both lacked faith, and a perfect trust in the power of God. By hearkening to the voice of Sarah, and taking Hagar as his wife, Abraham failed to endure the test of his faith in God's unlimited power, and brought upon himself, and upon Sarah, much unhappiness. The Lord intended to prove the firm faith and reliance of Abraham upon the promises he had made him." The Spirit of Prophecy Volume One, p. 95:2.
2. Ishmael born (verse 11).
1. Abraham had accepted without question the promise of a son, but he did not wait for God to fulfill His word in His own time and way. A delay was permitted, to test his faith in the power of God; but he failed to endure the trial. Thinking it impossible that a child should be given her in her old age, Sarah suggested, as a plan by which the divine purpose might be fulfilled, that one of her handmaidens should be taken by Abraham as a secondary wife. Polygamy had become so widespread that it had ceased to be regarded as a sin, but it was no less a violation of the law of God, and was fatal to the sacredness and peace of the family relation. Abraham's marriage with Hagar resulted in evil, not only to his own household, but to future generations." Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 145:1.
2. What should they have done? "If Abraham and Sarah had waited in confiding faith for the fulfillment of the promise that they should have a son, much unhappiness would have been avoided. They believed that it would be just as God had promised, but could not believe that Sarah, in her old age, would have a son." The Spirit of Prophecy Volume One, p. 95:2.
4. Abram 99 years old. Genesis 17:1. "Walk before me, be perfect"
1. Promise renewed (verses 15, 16).
2. What was Abraham's reaction? (verse 17). Abraham laughed at God!
1. What was his first thought? (verse 18). O that Ishmael might live before thee.
1. "When Abraham was nearly one hundred years old, the promise of a son was repeated to him, with the assurance that the future heir should be the child of Sarah. But Abraham did not yet understand the promise. His mind at once turned to Ishmael, clinging to the belief that through him God's gracious purposes were to be accomplished. In his affection for his son he exclaimed, 'O that Ishmael might live before Thee!' Again the promise was given, in words that could not be mistaken: 'Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish My covenant with him.' Yet God was not unmindful of the father's prayer. 'As for Ishmael,' He said, 'I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, . . . and I will make him a great nation.'" Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 146:1.
3. Promise repeated. Sara to have a son (verse 19).
5. What did God give as a symbol of His covenant? Genesis 17:10-14. Circumcision.
1. All household is circumcised. Genesis 17:23-27.
1. What did this represent? Romans 4:11.
1. Can we also have this righteousness? (verses 12, 13).
6. Promise again given. What was Sarah's reaction? Genesis 18:9-14. Sara laughs at God's promise.
1. However she must have regained her faith, because: Hebrews 11:11.
2. As did Abraham Romans 4:19, 20.
7. What did God do? Genesis 22:1. "In the obedience of faith, Abraham had forsaken his native country--had turned away from the graves of his fathers and the home of his kindred. He had wandered as a stranger in the land of his inheritance. He had waited long for the birth of the promised heir. At the command of God he had sent away his son Ishmael. And now, when the child so long desired was entering upon manhood, and the patriarch seemed able to discern the fruition of his hopes, a trial greater than all others was before him." Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 148:1.
1. "Because Abraham had shown a lack of faith in God's promises, Satan had accused him before the angels and before God of having failed to comply with the conditions of the covenant, and as unworthy of its blessings. God desired to prove the loyalty of His servant before all heaven, to demonstrate that nothing less than perfect obedience can be accepted, and to open more fully before them the plan of salvation." Patriarchs and Prophets, p 154:3
1. "The trial was far more severe than that which had been brought upon Adam. Compliance with the prohibition laid upon our first parents involved no suffering, but the command to Abraham demanded the most agonizing sacrifice." Patriarchs and Prophets, p 155:1.
8. What did he tell Abraham? Verse 2.
9. What did Abraham do? Genesis 22:3-12. By faith offered Isaac. Hebrews 11:17, 18, 19.
1. "He sees before him the mountain which God had told him He would signalize as the one upon which he was to sacrifice. He removes the wood from the shoulder of his servant and lays it upon Isaac, the one to be offered. He girds up his soul with firmness and agonizing sternness, ready for the work which God requires him to do. With a breaking heart and unnerved hand, he takes the fire, while Isaac inquires: Father, here is the fire and the wood; but where is the offering? But, oh, Abraham cannot tell him now! Father and son build the altar, and the terrible moment comes for Abraham to make known to Isaac that which has agonized his soul all that long journey, that Isaac himself is the victim. Isaac is not a lad; he is a full-grown young man. He could have refused to submit to his father's design had he chosen to do so. He does not accuse his father of insanity, nor does he even seek to change his purpose. He submits. He believes in the love of his father and that he would not make this terrible sacrifice of his only son if God had not bidden him do so. Isaac is bound by the trembling, loving hands of his pitying father because God has said it. The son submits to the sacrifice because he believes in the integrity of his father. But when everything is ready, when the faith of the father and the submission of the son are fully tested, the angel of God stays the uplifted hand of Abraham that is about to slay his son and tells him that it is enough. 'Now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from Me.'" Testimonies, vol. 3, p. 368:1.
1. Why did God require him to go through this? Deuteronomy 8:2. To prove him.
1. "Again the Lord saw fit to test the faith of Abraham by a most fearful trial. If he had endured the first test, and had patiently waited for the promise to be fulfilled in Sarah, and had not taken Hagar as his wife, he would not have been subjected to the closest test that was ever required of man." Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, p. 98:3.
2. "God has a right to every one of us, and it is not for anyone to question whether it is right, whether God should take this course or that course with us. Those who have perfect confidence in the Lord God of heaven will never question any of His dealings with His children. He has important experiences to give His children and He gives them this experience in His own way. Now Abraham verily believed and made the sacrifice to all intents and purposes in his heart. And that very faith was counted to him for righteousness. He thought and taught Isaac that God was able to raise him up from the dead and could see the end from the beginning. This is the very faith that we should have, every one of us, in the Lord God of heaven. We have the history of Abraham, and the ground the Lord brought him over, in order to give us strength and courage and faith. The Lord wants every one of us to believe that He is the very best friend we have. Abraham trusted God at every step and his faith was perfect." Manuscript Releases Volume Ten, p. 119:2.
2. How do we know that Abraham believed? "Abraham believed God. How do we know that he believed? His works testified to the character of his faith, and his faith was accounted to him for righteousness. We need the faith of Abraham in our day, to lighten the darkness that gathers around us, shutting out the sweet sunlight of God's love, and dwarfing spiritual growth. Our faith should be prolific of good works; for faith without works is dead." The Faith I Live By, p. 115:7.

1. How are we to have this faith?
2. Granted to all. "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." Romans 12:3
3. All men have not faith. 2 Thessalonians 3:2 "And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith."
1. How is this, when God has given it to all? (Romans 12:3)
2. "Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith." 1 Timothy 5:12
1. "Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck." 1 Timothy 1:19
4. So, how can we have faith, and increase it? Romans 10:17. Faith cometh by hearing the word.
1. Is it only by hearing the word? James 4:7. We must submit ourselves to it.
1. Hearing does not profit without faith. Hebrews 4:2 Not mixed with faith.
2. Can we have it just by talking about it? Illustration:
1. A man on a commercial flight found himself sitting next to a Boeing engineer. Soon they struck up a conversation about a jet Boeing had recently produced. The engineer was enthusiastic about the new aircraft. "Boeing has many years of experience with aircraft engines," he declared. He went on to explain, in great detail, the extensive testing the company had done before the jet was put into service. The passenger seemed impressed, and asked the obvious question. "Have you flown on it yet?" "Oh no," the engineer replied. "I'll wait until it's proved itself for a while." The man understood all about the principles of flight. He had faith in his company's new product. He was willing to testify to others that the aircraft was flightworthy. But his faith lacked conviction. Why? He wasn't willing to put his faith into action. How's your faith? Does it believe God's promises--and act on them? (Taken from Young Disciple, Vol. 4, No. 50).`
3. Must talk faith, live faith, act faith. James 2:26. Faith without works is dead.
1. "Now, brethren, you have educated yourselves so much in doubts and questionings that you have to educate your souls in the line of faith. You have to talk faith, you have to live faith, you have to act faith, that you may have an increase of faith." Faith and Works, p. 78:2.
4. Must not be presumptuous. "Faith claims God's promises, and brings forth fruit in obedience. Presumption also claims the promises, but uses them as Satan did, to excuse transgression. Faith would have led our first parents to trust the love of God, and to obey His commands. Presumption led them to transgress His law, believing that His great love would save them from the consequence of their sin. It is not faith that claims the favor of Heaven without complying with the conditions on which mercy is to be granted. Genuine faith has its foundation in the promises and provisions of the Scriptures." The Desire of Ages, p. 126:1
5. Precious promises --> divine nature. 2 Peter 1:4.
1. Must submit to it to make it my own.
2. By submitting, we become partakers of the divine nature.
1. "By Abraham's obedience we are taught that nothing is too precious for us to give to God." Testimonies, vol. 3, p. 368:2.
6. How righteous must we be? Matthew 5:20. Must exceed scribes and Pharisees.
1. What was their righteousness like? Mark 7:7-9, 13 (also Matthew 15:9). Did not obey. Taught their own law.
1. What authority did they have? Matthew 23:2. Sat in Moses' seat.
1. Did they obey? verse 3. They say and do not.
2. Is this our own righteousness? Philippians 3:9 Not our own righteous, but that which is by faith.
7. Our righteousness must exceed above only saying.
1. John 8:39.We must DO the WORKS of Abraham.
1. "In ourselves we are incapable of doing any good thing; but that which we cannot do, will be wrought by the power of God in every submissive and believing soul. It was through faith that the child of promise was given. It is through faith that spiritual life is begotten, and we are enabled to do the works of righteousness." The Desire of Ages, p. 98:3.

1. CONCLUSION
1. The same Gospel for us and Abraham. "'For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father' (Romans 8:15). The spirit of bondage is engendered by seeking to live in accordance with legal religion, through striving to fulfill the claims of the law in our own strength. There is hope for us only as we come under the Abrahamic covenant, which is the covenant of grace by faith in Christ Jesus. The gospel preached to Abraham, through which he had hope, was the same gospel that is preached to us today, through which we have hope. Abraham looked unto Jesus, who is also the Author and the Finisher of our faith. Youth's Instructor, September 22, 1892." Manuscript Releases Volume One, p. 121:2.
2. How do we live daily? Galatians 2:20 Crucified with Christ, He lives in us; living by faith.
1. What is Christ called? John 1:1. The Word.
1. [Proof: Revelation 19:11-16 Word = King of kings, Lord of lords. Revelation 17:4 Lamb = Lord of lords and King of kings. John 1:29 Lamb = Jesus].
2. Faith comes by hearing the Word. (Romans 10:17)
2. This is our victory. 1 John 5:1-4.
3. "Many are still tested as was Abraham. They do not hear the voice of God speaking directly from the heavens, but He calls them by the teachings of His word and the events of His providence. They may be required to abandon a career that promises wealth and honor, to leave congenial and profitable associations and separate from kindred, to enter upon what appears to be only a path of self-denial, hardship, and sacrifice. God has a work for them to do; but a life of ease and the influence of friends and kindred would hinder the development of the very traits essential for its accomplishment. He calls them away from human influences and aid, and leads them to feel the need of His help, and to depend upon Him alone, that He may reveal Himself to them. Who is ready at the call of Providence to renounce cherished plans and familiar associations? Who will accept new duties and enter untried fields, doing God's work with firm and willing heart, for Christ's sake counting his losses gain? He who will do this has the faith of Abraham, and will share with him that 'far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,' with which 'the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared.' 2 Corinthians 4:17; Romans 8:18." Patriarchs and Prophets, p 126:4.
4. "As Abraham and other holy men of old were a light in their generation, so must God's people be a light in the world. The beams of heaven's attractive loveliness are to shine forth from us, showing the only good and right way, and ever showing the superiority of God's law above every human enactment. Bible religion is not to be hidden away in the dark. It delights to be examined. Every additional ray of light that shines upon our pathway is, in God's plan, a fresh element of strength, an added power by which to draw the world to God." The Youth's Instructor, 03-04-97.
3. As we exercise Abraham's faith, the promise to Abraham will become our own.

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