Sermon on Hebrews 11:1-6: "What is Faith? Faith Possesses Christ"

In a world full of blind people the one eyed man rules the rest. Satan,
the god of this world, with the help of his minions promotes many lies
to keep humanity ignorant, weak, divided, and alienated from God. The
one thing the enemy especially does not want any of you doing is reading
or hearing the Good News. That is why Satan has infested most churches
with his servants. Their job is to muzzle the word of God, while
providing you with a religious experience (a spiritual 'HIGH').

''My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.'' Hosea 4:6

The public reading of Scripture is an ancient tradition which was passed
onto the first Christians by the Apostles. Our brothers who lived
during the first four centuries of the Church's existence devoted far
more time to reading the word of God aloud during their meetings than we
do today.

Few people study the Scriptures as much as they should. It is therefor
the duty of every church leaders to read the books of the Bible, from
the Book of Genesis through the Book of Revelation, in the hearing of
church members, their children, and unsaved visitors, while also
continuing to preach, and to teach,- and to encourage people to read and
to study the Bible on their own.

I recommend that at least thirty minutes of regular weekend church
services be devoted to reading the Bible aloud; reading through the New
Testament at least once a year, and reading through the Old Testament
about once every six to eight years.

The books of Enoch, Jasher, and Jubilees should also be studied. They
give us a deeper understanding of the Book of Genesis and of the
pre-diluvium world. The Christians of the First Century were familiar
with them, and prophets, kings, apostles, and our Lord Jesus quoted
them. The Ethiopian Church preserved these books, and they were found
among the Dead Sea Scrolls in the Caves of Qumran after 1948 (the year
of Israel's rebirth). I do not believe that these are coincidences.

The Apostle Paul instructed Timothy to read his letters aloud during
church services.
"Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to
exhortation and teaching." 1st Timothy 4:13 NASB

The Apostle John assumed that the Books of Revelation would be read in the churches.
"Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear,..” Revelation 1:3 ESV

God commanded the Prophet Jeremiah to read aloud His word in Solomon's Temple.
“..in the hearing of all the people in the Lord's house you shall read the words of the LORD" Jeremiah 36:6 ESV -

The Apostle Paul wrote in 1st Thessalonians 5:27,
"I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all
the brothers." Does Paul’s apostolic command apply only to the First
Century church leaders at Thessalonica? Of coarse not! The Holy Spirit
compels all church leaders to do the same, until Christ's second coming.

The Holy Spirit works through the Scriptures to convict people of their
sin, of their guilt, of their need to repent, and of the certainty of
judgment. That is why 'offensive' passages, mostly having to do with
sexual immorality, adultery, and divorce are avoided by today's church
leaders. "All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for
fear their sins will be exposed." John 3:20

"Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” John 8:47 ESV

"..they cannot listen; behold, the word of the Lord is to them an object of scorn; they take no pleasure in it." Jeremiah 6:10 ESV

"Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. A spirit of
prostitution is in their heart; they do not acknowledge the LORD." Hosea 5:4

The Scriptures are more than reference books for lengthy sermons and
sparsely attended midweek and pre-service Bible studies. They are the
very words of God passed onto us by His holy prophets and apostles, and
through them our spiritual birth in Christ Jesus is facilitated.
Churchgoers need and deserve to hear more of them.

JESUS ASKS CHURCH LEADERS "do you love me more than these (your careers
and your financial security)?"... well then, “Feed my lambs.” "Blessed
is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes."
Matthew 24:46-

JESUS TOLD SATAN, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE,
BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD."
Matthew 4:4 NASB

"Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might
sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the
word,.." Ephesians 5:25-27ESV

"when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God at the place which
He will choose, you shall read this law in front of all Israel in their
hearing." Deuteronomy 31:11 NASB

"To know God is to love Him, to love Him is to trust Him, to trust Him
is to obey Him, to obey Him is to be blessed by Him." -Anonymous

"Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and
receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your
souls." James 1:21 NKJV

"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.." Romans 10:17 NKJV

(Jesus) "stood up to read." Luke 4:16 KJV

We Christians are divided into many hostile factions and our lifestyles
and divorce rates are not much better than those of unbelievers. These
sad facts dishonor Jesus and discredit us in the sight of the unsaved.
Our divisions prove that most of today's church leaders, because of the
fear of offending the sinful nature of their financial benefactors, are
failing to expose their listeners to many essential details of the
Gospel of Salvation.

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Hosea 4:6

“For the leaders of this people cause them to err, And those who are led
by them are destroyed.” Isaiah 9:16 NKJV

"But if they (religious leaders) had stood in my council, they would
have proclaimed my words to my people and would have turned them from
their evil ways and from their evil deeds." Jeremiah 23:22 ESV

“They have turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who
refused to hear my words. They have gone after other gods to serve
them." Jeremiah 11:10 ESV

"If we want the Word of God to have authority in our life, there is only
one way - obey it. If we want the Holy Spirit to have authority in our
life, there is only one way - Obey Him. If we always obey impulses of
fear or doubt or resentment, what will have authority over our minds?
Fear, and doubt and resentment ." -Tom Marshall

It is time for the churches to devote themselves to the public reading
of Scripture. The current unbiblical (ungodly) custom of motivational
messages loosely linked to a few carefully selected verses would be
vigorously denounced by the Apostles and by the early Church. At least
half an hour of every church services should be devoted to reading the
Bible aloud. Many of you think that this is excessive, but understand
that our brothers and sisters from the First through the Fourth
Centuries devoted even more time to the public reading of Scripture than
what I have proposed.

The invention of the printing press and the abundance of Bibles do not
alter or nullify God's command that the Holy Scriptures be read aloud in
the churches. The Wonderful Holy Spirit is present in a powerful way to
help, to heal, and to guide the children of God whenever they are
gathered together to hear His words. Why restrain Him? -

~Examine what witnesses of church services from the First through the
Fourth Centuries had to say about the public reading of the Holy
Scriptures.

~Tertullian, in the 2nd century said, "We meet together in order to read
the sacred texts." He continues, "With the holy words we feed our
faith, we arouse our hope, we confirm our confidence." "The church
unites the Law and the Prophets in one volume with the writings of
evangelists and apostles, from which she drinks in her faith."

~ Justin the Martyr, in the 150's said that at church services, “The
memoirs of the Apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as
long as time permits.”

~ Clement of Alexandria (c. 182-202) talks of Christians in their
worship, “always giving thanks in all things to God through righteous
hearing and divine reading.”

~ Theodore of Antioch in the late 4th century said, “All of us, having
come to faith in Christ the Lord from the nations, received the
Scriptures from them and now enjoy them, reading them aloud in the
churches.."

Consider using the Internet and local newspapers to start home based
Bible reading and study fellowships. Many 1st Century churches met in
homes.

"Greet also the church in their house." Romans 16:5

"Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you
hearty greetings in the Lord." 1st Corinthians 16:19

Whether you gather in a grand cathedral or in a humble dining room, God
will bless you as you grow and mature together through faith, lending
your ears and your hearts to His word; and as He has promised, our Lord
Jesus will be there with you!

You religious leaders who reject the public reading of Scripture, or who
do not embrace it with enthusiam will not make it to Heaven. The Lake
of Fire is a nasty place. Is what Satan has offered you here on Earth
worth an eternity of unimaginable torment? Think about it.

Lord, increase my faith, increase our faith, Amen.

I love the word of God. I really enjoy Mr. Smith sermons. It bears fruit which means He is bonded to the vine of God by faith.
God bless you and all your ministry.