COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH
SERMON NOTES SUNDAY 8 MARCH 2026 – MR JASON CRUISE
READING: HEBREWS CHAPTER 11 VERSES 5 – 10, 17 to 19
"By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death and was not found because God had translated him. For before his translation, he had this testimony that he pleased God. But 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. By faith, Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house, by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed, and he went out, not knowing whether he went. 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.”
Verse 17. “By faith Abraham when he was tried offered up
Isaac, that he that received the promises offered up his only begotten son. of
him of whom it was said that in Isaac shall thy seed be called accounting that
God was able to raise him up even from the dead from whence also he received
him in a figure.”
The epistle to the Hebrews is a great treasury of
encouragement, edification, and exhortation for the believer. J. Charlton
Stein, who once wrote a commentary on the book of Hebrews, said that the
apostle could be summed up with two words. ‘Christ the supreme.’ As we read
through the pages of scripture, we are reminded here of the supremacy of
Christ. In Hebrews chapter 1 and the verse number three, we read there, “when
he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on
high.” Whenever we come to chapter 10, we read there, "And every priest
standeth daily ministering and offering often times the same sacrifices which
can never take away sins. But this man after he had offered himself once he sat
down on the right hand of God. The Lord Jesus came to be that once and for all,
a forever a sacrifice. But we're thankful today that you and I have put our
faith and our trust in a risen exalted Lord. We're thankful today the cross is
bare, the tomb is empty, and that there is a throne in heaven that is occupied
by the all victorious Christ of God. Across the pages of the epistle to the
Hebrews, we could write ‘Christ supreme.’ These chapters declare the supremacy
of the Lord Jesus. He is sat down today at the father's own right hand. You'll
remember how there in the tabernacle there was no chair. There was no seat on
which the serving priests could sit. They were always going about the work. But
you and I today have one who is our great high priest who has sat down. He sat
down because the work of salvation has been completed by him upon the cross
where he offered that once and for all forever sacrifice for sin. Christ
supreme. But whenever we come into chapter 11, it changes slightly because in
Hebrews chapter 11, we read here about the faithful of ages past. This is often
referred to as God's roll call of faith. It's sometimes referred to as God's
hall of faith. And here we read about 14 men and two women that are named along
with other women and prophets who are unnamed. Look with me just there down at
verse 32 of Hebrews 11 “And what shall I more say? For the time would fail me
to tell of Gideon and of Barak and of Samson and of Jephthae, of David also and
Samuel and of the prophets, who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought
righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the
violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword. out of weakness were made
strong, watched valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Women received their dead raised to life, and others were tortured, not
accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. And others
had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea moreover, of bonds and
imprisonment. They were stoned, they were saw asunder. Were tempted, were slain
with the sword. They wandered about in sheep skins and goat skins. Being
destitute, afflicted, tormented, of whom the world was not worthy. They
wandered in deserts and in mountains and in dens and caves of the earth.” Here
we have read about men and women of a great calibre. And I wonder, dear friends,
how are you and I standing for God in the day and age in which we live?
These were men and women that stood strong for God in their day and generation. I put the question to myself and to you this morning. How are you and I standing strong for God in our day?
I want us to think this morning about just three men that we
have read about here this morning. We have read about Enoch. We have read about
Noah. And we have read about Abraham. This morning we could say about Enoch. We
could say Enoch walked with God. Concerning Noah, we could say Noah
worked for God. And concerning Abraham, we can say Abraham
worshiped God. Turn to Genesis chapter 5. Genesis chapter 5 verse 23 and 24. “And
all the days of Enoch were 365 years and Enoch walked with God and he was not
for God took him.” This man Enoch was the seventh from Adam. In verse five, we
read that he lived for 930 years and then at the end of verse five, it says,
"And he died." When we read about Seth in verse 8, we're told how he
lived for 912 years and then it says, "And he died." We read about
Enos there in verse number 11. He lived for 95 years. And then it says at the
end of verse 11, “and he died.” Concerning Canaan, it tells us there in verse
14, how he lived for 910 years and he died. We think about Mahalaleel there in
verse 17 and it tells us there that he lived for 895 years and he died. Concerning
Jared, it tells us there at verse 20 that he lived for 962 years and he died.
But whenever we come to the seventh man, Enoch, we find that death had no power
over Enoch. The number seven in scripture is the number of perfection. And as I
think upon that, that would make me think about the perfect man, the Lord Jesus
because just as death had no power over Enoch and the Lord took him straight to
heaven and the number seven being the number of perfection, I think about
Christ and how death had no power over him. The apostle Paul tells us there in
1 Corinthians chapter 15 how that Christ died for our sins according to the
scriptures and that he was buried and that he rose the third day according to
the scriptures. We put our faith and our
trust in the perfect man, the Lord Jesus, the one who rose victorious over sin
and over death and over hell.
Just three simple thoughts about this man Enoch. First of all, we read there in Genesis 5 verse 24, it says, "And Enoch walked with God." What a statement to be written over the life of this man. Spiritually speaking, how are you walking this morning? How are you walking daily? Are you walking daily by the Savior's side? This man Enoch knew the Lord intimately. This man trusted in the God of heaven. He knew God closely. Do you and I live a life where we know God closely and intimately? Does the preacher and does the hearer today seek to cultivate that life of prayer? Do we set aside daily a time wherever we can come and commune with the Lord? Do we set time aside daily where we can come and read and study his precious word? The neglect of personal and private prayer and Bible study is the first stepping stone on the pathway of the backslider. Make sure day and daily to set time aside to talk with God and to read his precious word that you and I would be built up in our most holy faith. Make sure that you have that quiet time. If you and I are ever to do anything for the Lord, we need to spend time with the Lord. Whether it was Elijah at the brook before he stood at Mount Carmel, whether it was Joseph in the prison before he went to the palace, or whether it was David in the cave before he sat upon the throne, they were all brought to that place where they had put their trust and relied solely upon the power and the provision that God and God alone provides. Remember those words of David. Psalm 18 and the verse number two. "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my strength in whom I will trust, my buckler and the horn of my salvation and my high." These are the words of a man who has a close relationship with God. Here is a man who sought to know God intimately. That's the type of man that the psalmist David was. That's the type of man that Enoch was. I hope that that's the type of man and woman that you and I would attain to be.
Then secondly, concerning Enoch, what was the result of this relationship that he had with the Lord? Hebrews chapter 11 verse 5 "For before his translation, he had this testimony that he pleased God." What a testimony. Could that be written over your life today? That you live a life that pleases God. Whenever the Sunday suit is on the hanger and the working clothes are on, when you and I are far from the gaze of the pastor, the preacher, the church elder, when we're far from Christian brothers and sisters, whenever we're far from the fellowship, the assembly of believers that we meet with on a Sunday, could it be said of you and that he had this testimony that he pleased God. Do those we come into contact with day and daily throughout the week, maybe in the workplace or over the garden fence, those of our neighbours and friends – do they see in us a person who is a witness and a testimony for the Lord?
Then lastly concerning Enoch, we read there in Genesis 5 verse
24 "And Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him." Because
of the relationship that Enoch had with the Lord, today he's in heaven. There
was that time whenever he left earth and he went to be with the Lord. and he's
going to be with them for all of eternity. That's just the same for you and I.
Whether the Lord may come or call, we can look forward to that day whenever we
will forever eternally be with the Lord. Remember the words of the Lord Jesus in
John chapter 14 "Let not your heart be troubled. Ye believe in God,
believe also in me. In my father's house are many mansions. If it were not so,
I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare
a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I
am, there you may be also." The Lord has never failed nor broken a
promise. Our Saviour has a place for you and for I in heaven. And one day we
will be with him. What great words of comfort and assurance. Enoch is in heaven
today with the Lord because of the relationship that he had with him. And one
day because of our relationship with the Lord, we too will be in heaven with
him. Enoch walked with God.
But then let us think about his great-grandson Noah. Noah
worked for God. It says there in Hebrews chapter 11 verse 7. “By faith Noah
being warned of God of things not seen as yet moved with fear prepared an ark
to the saving of his house by the which he condemned the world and became the
heir of righteousness which is by faith.” Noah lived in a day and a generation
of much evil and depravity. Yet Noah sought to live a life that honoured and
glorified the Lord. He lived in a time whenever “the wickedness of man was
great in the earth
and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Sounds familiar, doesn't it? It sounds just like the day and generation in which you and I live. And yet in Genesis chapter 6 verse 9 concerning Noah, “Noah was a just man and perfect in his generation. And Noah walked with God.” In the day and generation in which Noah lived, all around him were living in rebellion towards the Lord. And yet here is a man and the word of God tells us that he was a just man and perfect in his generation. Here's a man and whenever the Lord comes along and he asks him to build the ark, this man is obedient. Look with me there at Genesis 6 verse 14 “This is the word of the Lord to Noah, make thee an ark of gopherwood, rooms shalt thou make in the ark and shall pitch it within and without pitch.” Then look down at verse 22 “Thus did Noah according to all that God commanded him. So did he." Here we see now the Lord has come to Noah and he has commanded him to build the ark and Noah is obedient. We don't read here that Noah ever questions the Lord. We don't read that he ever doubts the Lord. But Noah worked and laboured faithfully for the Lord. Noah was faithful and Noah carried out what God requested. Peter tells us there in 2 Peter chapter 2 that Noah was a preacher of righteousness. And as Noah stood daily building the ark, some would tell us maybe as much as 120 years perhaps. And as he built the ark, you can just imagine the mocking, the sarcasm, the scoffing, the insults, the ridicule. Yet Noah remained faithful in the work that God had called him to do. You can imagine there the ark as it stood upon the dry land. What a statement. What a testament to the judgment that was to come. And Noah was faithful. And he preached to the people about the coming flood. He's a man that never saw one convert but yet, he was faithful to what God had called him to do. Whenever the time came to enter into the ark, it was only Noah, his wife, his three sons, and their wives. Noah was faithful. And what God had asked him to do, he finished the work. He saw the ark completed. And all the ridicule, all the mocking, all the scoffing had no effect upon him. Think about the day and generation in which you and I live. There are Christians today and we come under much attack here in our own land but more so around the world. And yet they stand strong. Can I encourage you to stand strong. And if the Lord has called you to do something for him, whether it be here in the fellowship or maybe somewhere else you're involved in some form of outreach, can I encourage you to be like Noah and continue to be faithful in the work and in the labour that the Lord has called you to do in this day and generation. CT Studd once said those well-known words, "Only one life will soon be passed. Only what's done for Christ will last.” How are you and I working for the Lord? Enoch walked with God. Noah worked for God.
Finally in Hebrews 11, we read there about Abraham. Abraham worshipped God. We read four times that he built altars. I am sure that he built many more altars but four of them are recorded for us in scripture. We read there in Genesis 12 verse 6 how he built an altar at Sichem. Genesis 12 verse 8 he built an altar at Bethel. Genesis 13 verse 18 he built an altar at Hebron. We read there in Genesis 22 verse 13 he built an altar there at a Moriah. This showed a lifestyle of worship and dependence upon God. And what a witness to those that lived around about him, those altars would have been. Whenever those idol worshippers and pagan people came near to where Abraham lived and they would have seen the altar, they would have known that here lives a man who worships the God of heaven. We live in a day and generation when sad to say there are some people and whenever they make their way to church on a Sunday morning, they would almost put their Bible in a shopping bag in case someone would see it. That wasn't the type of man that Abraham was. Abraham was not scared to let those that lived around about him know that he had come to put his faith and his trust in the God of heaven. Don't be scared to carry your Bible. Don't be scared to be seen to be making your way to the house of God on a Sunday morning. What a witness this true worshipper of God, Abraham, was. What a witness you can be in this day and generation in which we live. The first time that we read of worship in our Bible is in connection with Abraham. I have no doubt at all, of course, that Adam, Abel, Enoch, Noah all worshipped God. But the first time that we read of worship in our Bible is, of course, in connection with Abraham. It's there in Genesis chapter 22. The Lord tells Abraham to get into the land of Moriah and there to offer Isaac up as a burnt offering. If that was you or I, we would maybe have waited a few days, maybe hoping that God somehow would change his mind. But not so with Abraham. Because in the very next verse we read these words. “And Abraham rose up early in the morning.” Here was a man and whenever the Lord instructed him to do something, he didn't wait and hope that it would change. I wonder if that was you or I? I think we might not have even got out of bed the next day. and maybe not the day after and maybe not the day after that. But here's a man was going to follow through with what the Lord requested. And whenever we come there to verse 5 of Genesis 22, we read “And Abraham said unto his young men, "Abide ye here with the ass, and I and the lad will go yonder and worship." Despite the circumstances that had now come in upon his life, here was a man that was a true worshipper of the Lord. The altar, the place of sacrifice and worship. What a witness. What a testament to the faith and worship of Abraham to all those that lived around about him. Those that had put their faith and trust in idols and in their false gods, whenever they would have came past the altars of Abraham, they would have known that here is a man who is a true worshipper of the God of heaven. Genesis 12 verse one "Now the Lord had said unto Abram, get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house unto a land that I will show thee." Abraham left behind those that he knew and he left behind lands in order to follow the Lord. He put God first. Do we put God first. What was the result of the relationship that Abraham had with the Lord? James chapter 2 verse 23 tells us that he was the friend of God. He is that friend that sticketh closer than our brother and one who will never leave us nor forsake us. Abraham was nomadic. That means he was a tent dweller. In Hebrews chapter 11 we read how “he looked for a city which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God.” He dwelt in tents. He was a pilgrim here on earth. And I would press it upon you today - don't drive the tent pegs in too deep. In this world we are only passing through. Our citizenship is in heaven. Yes, I know that we have to work, pay our bills, etc. But don't get too comfortable. We're only here for a short while. We too will soon be with the Lord.
These three men that we have considered here this morning
set for us a godly example to follow. Enoch, Noah, Abraham. Enoch walked with
God. Noah worked for God. Abraham worshipped God. May you and I in our lives
emulate all three. May we be like Enoch, that man who had that close and
intimate relationship with the Lord. May we be men and women of prayer and men
and women with the desire to study the word of God. May we be like Noah, that
man who was obedient and faithful in his labour and work for God. Even while
those around about him laughed and sneered and mocked and derided, still Noah
was faithful in the work that he was called to do. May we be like the patriarch
Abraham, that man who was known for building altars, the place of sacrifice and
worship. May we be known as men and women who are true worshippers of the Lord.
May you and I be like those men and women that we read of in Hebrews chapter
11, God's hall of faith.
