Read and listen to messages
preached from the pulpit of First Baptist Church

Read and listen to messages
preached from the pulpit of
First Baptist Church

Read and listen to messages
preached from the pulpit of
First Baptist Church

Noah | Building in a Broken World | Hebrews 11:7

We live in a world that often feels upside down. Truth is questioned, righteousness is mocked, and sin is celebrated openly. It is easy to assume that living faithfully for God requires ideal conditions, a strong culture, or widespread spiritual revival. Yet Scripture reminds us that faith has never depended on favorable surroundings. Faith shines brightest when the world grows darkest.

Hebrews 11 introduces us to Noah, not as a perfect man, but as a man who walked by faith. Before there was an ark, before there was a flood, there was a man who believed what God said and ordered his life around it. Hebrews 11:7 says, “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.” Noah’s story teaches us how to live faithfully in a broken world.

1. The Corruption That Surrounded Noah

To understand Noah’s faith, we must first understand the world in which he lived. Genesis 6:5 gives God’s own assessment of humanity at that time:
“And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”

This was not a culture that merely drifted from God. It was a society saturated in violence, perversion, and rebellion. Sin was normal. God was ignored. Yet in the middle of that darkness, the Bible gives a powerful contrast: “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD” (Genesis 6:8). One man stood out, not because he was flawless, but because his heart was directed toward God.

The danger for believers is not simply that culture grows darker. The greater danger is that we slowly adjust to that darkness. Noah did not excuse himself by saying everyone else was doing it. He did not blend in to avoid attention. He chose to live differently, and that difference began with a heart that was loyal to God.

2. The Character That Distinguished Noah

Scripture tells us that Noah was a just man and that he walked with God. That phrase is simple but powerful. Noah did not merely talk about God or acknowledge God occasionally. He walked with God day by day.

God is still looking for men and women who are completely His. Not just on Sunday, but on Monday, Tuesday, and every day of the week. Faith is not an event. It is a walk. Just as physical health requires daily steps, spiritual strength requires daily fellowship with God through His Word and prayer.

Noah lived righteously in a fractured culture. He did not wait for society to improve before he obeyed God. He simply walked with God where he was. That same call rests on us today. We cannot blame our environment, our upbringing, or the people around us. God is still seeking individuals who will walk with Him.

3. The Conviction That Revealed Noah’s Faith

Hebrews 11:7 shows us that Noah’s faith was not merely internal. It produced action. God warned him of things not yet seen, and Noah moved with reverence and obedience. His faith was revealed in three clear ways.

Faith heeds God’s unseen warnings.
Noah had never seen rain like the flood God described. There was no visible evidence, only God’s Word. Yet that was enough. The Word of God still gives us unseen warnings today about sin, bitterness, pride, and the love of money. Faith does not wait for visible consequences. Faith believes God’s warnings and acts on them.

Faith obeys despite unpopular surroundings.
Noah built an ark in a dry world. We can only imagine the mockery and laughter he endured. Yet he kept building. Faith often calls us to stand alone, to forgive when others hold grudges, to prioritize worship over convenience, and to follow God when it is not popular. Faith chooses obedience even when the world does not understand.

Faith does all God says.
Genesis 6:22 gives a remarkable testimony: “Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.” Partial obedience would have cost Noah everything. An ark built halfway would not have saved his family. In the same way, we cannot choose which parts of God’s Word to follow. True faith responds with full obedience, trusting that God’s commands are always right.

Noah built an ark in a dry world because he believed God. Every board he cut, every nail he drove, every step of preparation declared the same truth: I believe God. Long before the storm came, Noah had already settled in his heart that God’s Word was enough.

Reflection Question

Is there an area of your life where you are adjusting to the culture instead of walking by faith? What step of obedience is God calling you to take today, even if it feels difficult or unpopular?

Read Story

Pastor JD Howell

4 min read

Noah | Building in a Broken World | Hebrews 11:7

Noah | Building in a Broken World | Hebrews 11:7

We live in a world that often feels upside down. Truth is questioned, righteousness is mocked, and sin is celebrated openly. It is easy to assume that living faithfully for God requires ideal conditions, a strong culture, or widespread spiritual revival. Yet Scripture reminds us that faith has never depended on favorable surroundings. Faith shines brightest when the world grows darkest.

Hebrews 11 introduces us to Noah, not as a perfect man, but as a man who walked by faith. Before there was an ark, before there was a flood, there was a man who believed what God said and ordered his life around it. Hebrews 11:7 says, “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.” Noah’s story teaches us how to live faithfully in a broken world.

1. The Corruption That Surrounded Noah

To understand Noah’s faith, we must first understand the world in which he lived. Genesis 6:5 gives God’s own assessment of humanity at that time:
“And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”

This was not a culture that merely drifted from God. It was a society saturated in violence, perversion, and rebellion. Sin was normal. God was ignored. Yet in the middle of that darkness, the Bible gives a powerful contrast: “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD” (Genesis 6:8). One man stood out, not because he was flawless, but because his heart was directed toward God.

The danger for believers is not simply that culture grows darker. The greater danger is that we slowly adjust to that darkness. Noah did not excuse himself by saying everyone else was doing it. He did not blend in to avoid attention. He chose to live differently, and that difference began with a heart that was loyal to God.

2. The Character That Distinguished Noah

Scripture tells us that Noah was a just man and that he walked with God. That phrase is simple but powerful. Noah did not merely talk about God or acknowledge God occasionally. He walked with God day by day.

God is still looking for men and women who are completely His. Not just on Sunday, but on Monday, Tuesday, and every day of the week. Faith is not an event. It is a walk. Just as physical health requires daily steps, spiritual strength requires daily fellowship with God through His Word and prayer.

Noah lived righteously in a fractured culture. He did not wait for society to improve before he obeyed God. He simply walked with God where he was. That same call rests on us today. We cannot blame our environment, our upbringing, or the people around us. God is still seeking individuals who will walk with Him.

3. The Conviction That Revealed Noah’s Faith

Hebrews 11:7 shows us that Noah’s faith was not merely internal. It produced action. God warned him of things not yet seen, and Noah moved with reverence and obedience. His faith was revealed in three clear ways.

Faith heeds God’s unseen warnings.
Noah had never seen rain like the flood God described. There was no visible evidence, only God’s Word. Yet that was enough. The Word of God still gives us unseen warnings today about sin, bitterness, pride, and the love of money. Faith does not wait for visible consequences. Faith believes God’s warnings and acts on them.

Faith obeys despite unpopular surroundings.
Noah built an ark in a dry world. We can only imagine the mockery and laughter he endured. Yet he kept building. Faith often calls us to stand alone, to forgive when others hold grudges, to prioritize worship over convenience, and to follow God when it is not popular. Faith chooses obedience even when the world does not understand.

Faith does all God says.
Genesis 6:22 gives a remarkable testimony: “Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.” Partial obedience would have cost Noah everything. An ark built halfway would not have saved his family. In the same way, we cannot choose which parts of God’s Word to follow. True faith responds with full obedience, trusting that God’s commands are always right.

Noah built an ark in a dry world because he believed God. Every board he cut, every nail he drove, every step of preparation declared the same truth: I believe God. Long before the storm came, Noah had already settled in his heart that God’s Word was enough.

Reflection Question

Is there an area of your life where you are adjusting to the culture instead of walking by faith? What step of obedience is God calling you to take today, even if it feels difficult or unpopular?

Read Story

Pastor JD Howell

4 min read

Sermon Series

God Is Not the Problem - We Are | Isaiah 59

There are times in the Christian life when God can feel distant. We pray, and it seems like heaven is silent. We look for answers, but the situation does not change. In those moments, it is easy to begin questioning God. Has He stopped listening? Has He lost His power? Has He withdrawn His hand from helping us? But Isaiah 59 confronts that thinking head-on and reveals a truth that is both sobering and necessary. God is not the problem.

The Bible says, “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear” (Isaiah 59:1). The issue is not with God’s ability or His willingness. The issue lies much closer to home. Verse 2 makes it plain: “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” When there is distance between us and God, it is not because He has moved. It is because something has come between us and Him. And that something is sin. 

1. The Great Separator

Isaiah begins by exposing the real problem. Sin is the great separator. It is not a small issue or a minor inconvenience. It is a dividing force that breaks fellowship with God and disrupts every relationship it touches. The prophet lists specific sins such as violence, lying, corrupt speech, injustice, and sinful thoughts. These are not isolated actions but evidence of a heart that has turned away from God.

It is easy to look at this list and think of extreme cases, but Jesus made it clear that sin runs deeper than outward actions. Hatred in the heart, deceit in the lips, and pride in the spirit all contribute to this separation. Sin is not just what we do. It is who we are apart from God. And every time sin is present, it creates distance. It separates husbands and wives, parents and children, church members from one another, and most importantly, it separates us from God.

The danger is that we often blame God when the separation is actually caused by our own sin. Like the children of Israel, we may ask why God seems silent while ignoring the sin that has disrupted our fellowship with Him. But the truth remains. Sin always separates, and it always brings destruction.

2. The Greater Confession

While the problem is serious, Isaiah does not leave us without hope. In verse 12, the tone of the passage changes. Instead of blaming God, the people begin to confess: “For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us… and as for our iniquities, we know them.” This is the turning point. True confession begins when we stop pointing outward and start looking inward.

Confession is not a vague acknowledgment that we are imperfect. It is a clear agreement with God about our sin. It is saying what God says about it. It is recognizing that our sin is against Him, that it condemns us, and we cannot fix it ourselves. Sin is not something we can outrun or hide from. It follows us, testifies against us, and remains until it is dealt with in God’s way.

The Bible gives us that way in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Confession must be followed by forsaking. We cannot hold on to sin and expect restoration at the same time. God is not looking for excuses, comparisons, or partial efforts. He is looking for genuine repentance. When we come honestly before Him, acknowledging our sin and turning from it, He responds with mercy and cleansing.

3. The Greatest God

The beauty of Isaiah 59 is that it does not end with separation or even confession. It ends with salvation. When God sees the problem and hears the confession, He steps in with a solution that only He can provide. Verse 16 tells us that there was no man to intercede, so God Himself brought salvation.

This points directly to Jesus Christ, the Redeemer spoken of in verse 20. The same God who is high above us reaches down to restore us. We could never bridge the gap caused by sin, but God did through His Son. The chapter begins with separation, but it ends with redemption.

And this truth is reinforced in Romans 8, where we are reminded that nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Sin can break fellowship, but it cannot cancel God’s love. When we come to Him in repentance, His grace restores what sin has damaged. What once seemed like an overwhelming problem becomes a temporary one in the hands of a powerful God.

God is not the problem. He is the solution. He is the One who saves, cleanses, restores, and sustains. When we humble ourselves before Him, confess our sin, and turn back to Him, He responds with grace that is greater than all our sin.

Reflection Question

Is there anything in your life right now that has come between you and God? Will you stop looking outward and honestly ask Him to reveal what needs to be confessed and forsaken today?

May 1, 2026

4 min read

Author: Pastor JD Howell

Faith-Filled Characters Sermon Series

Future Faith | Hebrews 11:22

When we think about faith, we often picture the big moments. We think about the victories, the breakthroughs, the times when God clearly shows up and changes everything in an instant. But Hebrews 11 reminds us that real, biblical faith is not just seen in the highlights of life. It is revealed in the quiet confidence that God will keep His promises, even when we may never see the outcome with our own eyes.

Hebrews 11:22 says, “By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.” Out of all the events in Joseph’s life, God chooses to highlight this moment. Not the dreams, not the rise to power, not the preservation of Egypt, but his final words. Why? Because those words reveal a faith that looked beyond the present and rested fully in the promises of God. Joseph believed that God would do exactly what He said He would do.

When you step back and consider Joseph’s life, you begin to understand just how powerful that kind of faith really is. 

1. A Declaration of Faith in God’s Promises

At the end of his life, Joseph made a clear and confident declaration. He said that God would surely visit His people and bring them out of Egypt into the promised land. This was not wishful thinking. This was not a hopeful guess. This was faith anchored in the Word of God. Joseph believed what God had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and he rested his confidence in that truth.

The Bible says in Genesis 50:24, “And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” Joseph was surrounded by Egypt, living in a land that was not his home, yet his focus was not on his surroundings. His focus was on God’s promise. True faith does not anchor itself in what is seen, but in what God has said.

That kind of faith speaks with certainty. When God makes a promise, you can believe it. When He says He will never leave you nor forsake you, that is not a possibility, it is a guarantee. Joseph teaches us that real faith confidently declares that the God who promises is the God who delivers.

2. A Journey That Developed His Faith

Joseph’s faith did not appear overnight. It was forged through a lifetime of trials, disappointments, and hardships. From the very beginning, his life followed a pattern. He was elevated, then knocked down. Elevated again, then knocked down again. 

He was elevated with favor but met with hatred. His father loved him, but his brothers despised him. He was elevated with a vision from God, but met with rejection when he shared it. He was given responsibility and opportunity, yet he was betrayed and sold into slavery. Later, he was elevated in Potiphar’s house, only to be falsely accused and thrown into prison. Even in prison, he was elevated again, only to be forgotten by those he helped.

At every stage of his life, Joseph had a choice. He could become bitter, or he could trust God. Humanly speaking, he had every reason to walk away. He could have said that God was unfair or that life was not worth it. But Joseph chose faith. He believed that God was still working, even when nothing made sense.

Genesis 50:20 reveals his perspective: “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good.” Joseph saw beyond the pain. He saw the hand of God behind the scenes. His experiences did not weaken his faith. They strengthened it. That is what God desires for us. Not a faith that quits when life gets hard, but a faith that grows through the hardship.

3. A Personal Identification with God’s Plan

Joseph’s request about his bones may seem unusual at first glance. He told the children of Israel that when God brought them out of Egypt, they were to carry his bones with them. This was more than a strange request. It was a powerful statement of faith.

Joseph was declaring that Egypt was not his home. He was identifying himself with the promises of God, not the comforts of his present life. Even though he lived and prospered in Egypt, he knew that God had something greater ahead. He believed so strongly in that promise that he wanted his final resting place to be in the land God had promised.

This is what faith does. It changes how we view this world. If you are a child of God, this world is not your home. You are just passing through. What you do here matters, but your ultimate destination is with the Lord. Joseph’s life reminds us to live with eternity in view and to align ourselves with God’s plan rather than temporary surroundings.

4. A Faith That Endures to the End

The greatest lesson from Joseph’s life is this: true faith does not quit. It endures. It presses on. It trusts God through every valley and every trial. 

Joseph’s final words were not about his suffering. They were not about the injustices he endured. They were about God’s faithfulness. He believed that the same God who was with him in the pit, in the prison, and in the palace would also be faithful to the next generation.

And God proved him right. Hundreds of years later, when the children of Israel left Egypt, Exodus 13:19 tells us, “And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him.” God kept His promise, just as Joseph believed He would.

This is the kind of faith God is calling us to have. A faith that keeps going when prayers seem unanswered. A faith that continues serving when no one notices. A faith that keeps giving, witnessing, and trusting even when life feels difficult. The delay is not God’s denial. The silence is not His absence. He is still working.

Reflection Question

Do you have a faith that continues to trust God even when life is hard, or have you allowed your circumstances to weaken your confidence in Him?

Apr 26, 2026

5 min read

Author: Pastor JD Howell

Sermon Series

The Mission for Missions | Acts 1 & Matthew 28 | Missions Conference 2026

When we think about faith, we often think about believing in God for something big. We think about trusting Him for provision, for healing, or for direction. But Scripture shows us that faith goes deeper than that. Faith is not just believing in God when everything makes sense. Faith is trusting God when nothing makes sense. Faith is not built on what we can see, but on what God has already said.

Hebrews 11 reminds us that faith is what pleases God. It is not our performance, our background, or our abilities. It is our willingness to trust Him. The Bible says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is not a blind leap. It is confidence in the unseen realities of God. We did not see Him create the world, yet we believe He did. We do not always understand His ways, yet we trust that they are right.

As we come to Hebrews 11:20–21, we find two short verses that might seem easy to pass over. But inside these verses is a powerful truth about faith that we cannot afford to miss. 

“By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff” (Hebrews 11:20–21).

These verses point us back to Genesis and show us that true faith is trusting God’s plan, even when we do not understand it.

1. Faith Must Be Personal, Not Borrowed

When we look at the lives mentioned in Hebrews 11, we see generations of faith. Abraham had faith. Isaac had faith. Jacob had faith. Joseph had faith. But each one had to make that decision personally.

Faith cannot be inherited. You cannot live off your parents’ faith. You cannot rely on someone else’s relationship with God. There comes a moment when every person must choose to trust God for themselves. The faith of others can guide you, but it cannot carry you.

This is especially important when we think about missions. The command in Acts 1:8 and Matthew 28 is not given to a select few. It is given to every believer. God calls each of us to have a personal faith that responds in obedience. A borrowed faith will never move you to action, but a personal faith will.

2. Faith Is Not Dependent on Perfection

As we study Isaac and Jacob, we quickly realize they were not perfect men. Isaac showed spiritual passivity. He lacked discernment at times and even allowed personal desires to influence his decisions. Jacob was known as a deceiver. He manipulated situations and made choices that were far from godly.

Yet God still used them.

This reminds us that God is not looking for perfect people. He is looking for people who will trust Him. The presence of flaws does not disqualify us from living by faith. If that were the case, none of us would qualify.

In our own lives, we often hesitate to step out in faith because we feel unworthy or unprepared. But faith is not about our ability. It is about God’s ability. When we trust Him, He works through us in spite of our weaknesses.

3. Faith Accepts God’s Plan Over Our Own

In both accounts referenced in Hebrews 11, something unusual happens. In Isaac’s blessing and in Jacob’s blessing, the younger son receives what would normally belong to the older. This was not tradition. This was not expected. This went against everything they would have naturally chosen.

And yet, this was God’s plan.

Isaac had to accept that Jacob would receive the blessing. Jacob had to accept that Ephraim would be blessed above Manasseh. In both cases, God’s way did not match human reasoning. But faith required them to accept what God was doing.

Proverbs 3:5–6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Faith does not argue with God. Faith does not try to reshape His will. Faith submits. It says, “God, even if I do not understand, I trust You.”

4. Faith Trusts God Even When It Makes No Sense

At the heart of these verses is one simple but powerful truth. Faith is trusting God when you do not understand.

There are moments in life when everything inside of you will say that something is wrong. Your feelings will be loud. Your reasoning will push back. Your instincts will tell you to take control. But God’s Word will point you in a different direction.

In those moments, faith is choosing to trust God over your feelings.

Just like a pilot must trust his instruments when his senses are misleading him, we must trust God’s Word when our hearts and minds are confused. What we feel may seem real, but it is not always right. God’s truth is always right.

There will be times when obeying God feels risky. Times when following Him seems like it will cost too much. Times when you cannot see how things will work out. But faith says, “I will trust Him anyway.”

This is where missions begin. The call of Christ in Matthew 28 to go into all the world does not always make sense from a human perspective. It requires sacrifice. It requires surrender. It requires stepping into the unknown. But faith responds with obedience.

Faith that pleases God is not complicated, but it is costly. It means laying down our understanding and trusting His. It means following Him when the path is unclear. It means believing that His plan is better, even when it looks different than ours.

So the question is not whether you have faith. Everyone has faith in something. The question is where your faith is placed.

Reflection Question:

Are you trusting God’s plan, or are you resisting it because you do not understand it?

Apr 19, 2026

5 min read

Author: Pastor JD Howell

Sermon Series

God Is Not the Problem - We Are | Isaiah 59

There are times in the Christian life when God can feel distant. We pray, and it seems like heaven is silent. We look for answers, but the situation does not change. In those moments, it is easy to begin questioning God. Has He stopped listening? Has He lost His power? Has He withdrawn His hand from helping us? But Isaiah 59 confronts that thinking head-on and reveals a truth that is both sobering and necessary. God is not the problem.

The Bible says, “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear” (Isaiah 59:1). The issue is not with God’s ability or His willingness. The issue lies much closer to home. Verse 2 makes it plain: “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” When there is distance between us and God, it is not because He has moved. It is because something has come between us and Him. And that something is sin. 

1. The Great Separator

Isaiah begins by exposing the real problem. Sin is the great separator. It is not a small issue or a minor inconvenience. It is a dividing force that breaks fellowship with God and disrupts every relationship it touches. The prophet lists specific sins such as violence, lying, corrupt speech, injustice, and sinful thoughts. These are not isolated actions but evidence of a heart that has turned away from God.

It is easy to look at this list and think of extreme cases, but Jesus made it clear that sin runs deeper than outward actions. Hatred in the heart, deceit in the lips, and pride in the spirit all contribute to this separation. Sin is not just what we do. It is who we are apart from God. And every time sin is present, it creates distance. It separates husbands and wives, parents and children, church members from one another, and most importantly, it separates us from God.

The danger is that we often blame God when the separation is actually caused by our own sin. Like the children of Israel, we may ask why God seems silent while ignoring the sin that has disrupted our fellowship with Him. But the truth remains. Sin always separates, and it always brings destruction.

2. The Greater Confession

While the problem is serious, Isaiah does not leave us without hope. In verse 12, the tone of the passage changes. Instead of blaming God, the people begin to confess: “For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us… and as for our iniquities, we know them.” This is the turning point. True confession begins when we stop pointing outward and start looking inward.

Confession is not a vague acknowledgment that we are imperfect. It is a clear agreement with God about our sin. It is saying what God says about it. It is recognizing that our sin is against Him, that it condemns us, and we cannot fix it ourselves. Sin is not something we can outrun or hide from. It follows us, testifies against us, and remains until it is dealt with in God’s way.

The Bible gives us that way in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Confession must be followed by forsaking. We cannot hold on to sin and expect restoration at the same time. God is not looking for excuses, comparisons, or partial efforts. He is looking for genuine repentance. When we come honestly before Him, acknowledging our sin and turning from it, He responds with mercy and cleansing.

3. The Greatest God

The beauty of Isaiah 59 is that it does not end with separation or even confession. It ends with salvation. When God sees the problem and hears the confession, He steps in with a solution that only He can provide. Verse 16 tells us that there was no man to intercede, so God Himself brought salvation.

This points directly to Jesus Christ, the Redeemer spoken of in verse 20. The same God who is high above us reaches down to restore us. We could never bridge the gap caused by sin, but God did through His Son. The chapter begins with separation, but it ends with redemption.

And this truth is reinforced in Romans 8, where we are reminded that nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Sin can break fellowship, but it cannot cancel God’s love. When we come to Him in repentance, His grace restores what sin has damaged. What once seemed like an overwhelming problem becomes a temporary one in the hands of a powerful God.

God is not the problem. He is the solution. He is the One who saves, cleanses, restores, and sustains. When we humble ourselves before Him, confess our sin, and turn back to Him, He responds with grace that is greater than all our sin.

Reflection Question

Is there anything in your life right now that has come between you and God? Will you stop looking outward and honestly ask Him to reveal what needs to be confessed and forsaken today?

Faith-Filled Characters Sermon Series

Future Faith | Hebrews 11:22

When we think about faith, we often picture the big moments. We think about the victories, the breakthroughs, the times when God clearly shows up and changes everything in an instant. But Hebrews 11 reminds us that real, biblical faith is not just seen in the highlights of life. It is revealed in the quiet confidence that God will keep His promises, even when we may never see the outcome with our own eyes.

Hebrews 11:22 says, “By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.” Out of all the events in Joseph’s life, God chooses to highlight this moment. Not the dreams, not the rise to power, not the preservation of Egypt, but his final words. Why? Because those words reveal a faith that looked beyond the present and rested fully in the promises of God. Joseph believed that God would do exactly what He said He would do.

When you step back and consider Joseph’s life, you begin to understand just how powerful that kind of faith really is. 

1. A Declaration of Faith in God’s Promises

At the end of his life, Joseph made a clear and confident declaration. He said that God would surely visit His people and bring them out of Egypt into the promised land. This was not wishful thinking. This was not a hopeful guess. This was faith anchored in the Word of God. Joseph believed what God had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and he rested his confidence in that truth.

The Bible says in Genesis 50:24, “And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” Joseph was surrounded by Egypt, living in a land that was not his home, yet his focus was not on his surroundings. His focus was on God’s promise. True faith does not anchor itself in what is seen, but in what God has said.

That kind of faith speaks with certainty. When God makes a promise, you can believe it. When He says He will never leave you nor forsake you, that is not a possibility, it is a guarantee. Joseph teaches us that real faith confidently declares that the God who promises is the God who delivers.

2. A Journey That Developed His Faith

Joseph’s faith did not appear overnight. It was forged through a lifetime of trials, disappointments, and hardships. From the very beginning, his life followed a pattern. He was elevated, then knocked down. Elevated again, then knocked down again. 

He was elevated with favor but met with hatred. His father loved him, but his brothers despised him. He was elevated with a vision from God, but met with rejection when he shared it. He was given responsibility and opportunity, yet he was betrayed and sold into slavery. Later, he was elevated in Potiphar’s house, only to be falsely accused and thrown into prison. Even in prison, he was elevated again, only to be forgotten by those he helped.

At every stage of his life, Joseph had a choice. He could become bitter, or he could trust God. Humanly speaking, he had every reason to walk away. He could have said that God was unfair or that life was not worth it. But Joseph chose faith. He believed that God was still working, even when nothing made sense.

Genesis 50:20 reveals his perspective: “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good.” Joseph saw beyond the pain. He saw the hand of God behind the scenes. His experiences did not weaken his faith. They strengthened it. That is what God desires for us. Not a faith that quits when life gets hard, but a faith that grows through the hardship.

3. A Personal Identification with God’s Plan

Joseph’s request about his bones may seem unusual at first glance. He told the children of Israel that when God brought them out of Egypt, they were to carry his bones with them. This was more than a strange request. It was a powerful statement of faith.

Joseph was declaring that Egypt was not his home. He was identifying himself with the promises of God, not the comforts of his present life. Even though he lived and prospered in Egypt, he knew that God had something greater ahead. He believed so strongly in that promise that he wanted his final resting place to be in the land God had promised.

This is what faith does. It changes how we view this world. If you are a child of God, this world is not your home. You are just passing through. What you do here matters, but your ultimate destination is with the Lord. Joseph’s life reminds us to live with eternity in view and to align ourselves with God’s plan rather than temporary surroundings.

4. A Faith That Endures to the End

The greatest lesson from Joseph’s life is this: true faith does not quit. It endures. It presses on. It trusts God through every valley and every trial. 

Joseph’s final words were not about his suffering. They were not about the injustices he endured. They were about God’s faithfulness. He believed that the same God who was with him in the pit, in the prison, and in the palace would also be faithful to the next generation.

And God proved him right. Hundreds of years later, when the children of Israel left Egypt, Exodus 13:19 tells us, “And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him.” God kept His promise, just as Joseph believed He would.

This is the kind of faith God is calling us to have. A faith that keeps going when prayers seem unanswered. A faith that continues serving when no one notices. A faith that keeps giving, witnessing, and trusting even when life feels difficult. The delay is not God’s denial. The silence is not His absence. He is still working.

Reflection Question

Do you have a faith that continues to trust God even when life is hard, or have you allowed your circumstances to weaken your confidence in Him?

Sermon Series

The Mission for Missions | Acts 1 & Matthew 28 | Missions Conference 2026

When we think about faith, we often think about believing in God for something big. We think about trusting Him for provision, for healing, or for direction. But Scripture shows us that faith goes deeper than that. Faith is not just believing in God when everything makes sense. Faith is trusting God when nothing makes sense. Faith is not built on what we can see, but on what God has already said.

Hebrews 11 reminds us that faith is what pleases God. It is not our performance, our background, or our abilities. It is our willingness to trust Him. The Bible says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is not a blind leap. It is confidence in the unseen realities of God. We did not see Him create the world, yet we believe He did. We do not always understand His ways, yet we trust that they are right.

As we come to Hebrews 11:20–21, we find two short verses that might seem easy to pass over. But inside these verses is a powerful truth about faith that we cannot afford to miss. 

“By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff” (Hebrews 11:20–21).

These verses point us back to Genesis and show us that true faith is trusting God’s plan, even when we do not understand it.

1. Faith Must Be Personal, Not Borrowed

When we look at the lives mentioned in Hebrews 11, we see generations of faith. Abraham had faith. Isaac had faith. Jacob had faith. Joseph had faith. But each one had to make that decision personally.

Faith cannot be inherited. You cannot live off your parents’ faith. You cannot rely on someone else’s relationship with God. There comes a moment when every person must choose to trust God for themselves. The faith of others can guide you, but it cannot carry you.

This is especially important when we think about missions. The command in Acts 1:8 and Matthew 28 is not given to a select few. It is given to every believer. God calls each of us to have a personal faith that responds in obedience. A borrowed faith will never move you to action, but a personal faith will.

2. Faith Is Not Dependent on Perfection

As we study Isaac and Jacob, we quickly realize they were not perfect men. Isaac showed spiritual passivity. He lacked discernment at times and even allowed personal desires to influence his decisions. Jacob was known as a deceiver. He manipulated situations and made choices that were far from godly.

Yet God still used them.

This reminds us that God is not looking for perfect people. He is looking for people who will trust Him. The presence of flaws does not disqualify us from living by faith. If that were the case, none of us would qualify.

In our own lives, we often hesitate to step out in faith because we feel unworthy or unprepared. But faith is not about our ability. It is about God’s ability. When we trust Him, He works through us in spite of our weaknesses.

3. Faith Accepts God’s Plan Over Our Own

In both accounts referenced in Hebrews 11, something unusual happens. In Isaac’s blessing and in Jacob’s blessing, the younger son receives what would normally belong to the older. This was not tradition. This was not expected. This went against everything they would have naturally chosen.

And yet, this was God’s plan.

Isaac had to accept that Jacob would receive the blessing. Jacob had to accept that Ephraim would be blessed above Manasseh. In both cases, God’s way did not match human reasoning. But faith required them to accept what God was doing.

Proverbs 3:5–6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Faith does not argue with God. Faith does not try to reshape His will. Faith submits. It says, “God, even if I do not understand, I trust You.”

4. Faith Trusts God Even When It Makes No Sense

At the heart of these verses is one simple but powerful truth. Faith is trusting God when you do not understand.

There are moments in life when everything inside of you will say that something is wrong. Your feelings will be loud. Your reasoning will push back. Your instincts will tell you to take control. But God’s Word will point you in a different direction.

In those moments, faith is choosing to trust God over your feelings.

Just like a pilot must trust his instruments when his senses are misleading him, we must trust God’s Word when our hearts and minds are confused. What we feel may seem real, but it is not always right. God’s truth is always right.

There will be times when obeying God feels risky. Times when following Him seems like it will cost too much. Times when you cannot see how things will work out. But faith says, “I will trust Him anyway.”

This is where missions begin. The call of Christ in Matthew 28 to go into all the world does not always make sense from a human perspective. It requires sacrifice. It requires surrender. It requires stepping into the unknown. But faith responds with obedience.

Faith that pleases God is not complicated, but it is costly. It means laying down our understanding and trusting His. It means following Him when the path is unclear. It means believing that His plan is better, even when it looks different than ours.

So the question is not whether you have faith. Everyone has faith in something. The question is where your faith is placed.

Reflection Question:

Are you trusting God’s plan, or are you resisting it because you do not understand it?

Faith-Filled Characters Sermon Series

Trusting When We Don't Understand | Hebrews 11:20-21

When we come to Hebrews 11:20-21, we find two verses that at first seem small compared to the rest of Hebrews 11. The chapter is filled with powerful stories of faith, men and women who obeyed God in dramatic ways. Then we arrive at Isaac blessing Jacob and Esau, and Jacob blessing the sons of Joseph, and it almost feels easy to pass over. Yet God does not waste words. If He placed these two verses in this great chapter of faith, there is something here that we must not miss.

Faith is not only seen in the big moments of action. It is often revealed in the quiet moments of surrender. These two accounts take us back to the book of Genesis, where God’s plan did not always make sense to those involved. Fathers were blessing sons in ways that seemed backward. Expectations were overturned. Traditions were crossed. And yet, in each case, God was at work, accomplishing His sovereign will. The lesson is clear. True faith is trusting God even when we do not understand what He is doing.

The Bible says, “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come” and “By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph” (Hebrews 11:20-21). These blessings were not based on what seemed right to man. They were rooted in what God had already determined. Faith, then, is not about figuring everything out. Faith is about trusting the God who already has.

1. The Reality of Personal Faith

One of the first truths we see in these verses is that faith must be personal. Abraham had faith. Isaac had faith. Jacob had faith. Joseph had faith. Each generation had to trust God for themselves.

You cannot live off the faith of someone else. A parent’s faith may guide you, but it cannot save you. A pastor’s faith may instruct you, but it cannot carry you. God calls each of us to trust Him personally. These generations remind us that faith must be passed down, but it must also be received individually.

This is practical for us today. You may have grown up around truth. You may have been taught the Word of God. But there comes a point where you must decide for yourself to trust Him. Faith that pleases God is not inherited. It is exercised.

2. The Imperfection of God’s People

When we look back at Isaac and Jacob in Genesis, we do not find perfect men. Isaac struggled with spiritual passivity. He showed favoritism. He allowed his appetites to influence his decisions. Jacob was known as a deceiver. He manipulated situations and took advantage of others.

Yet God still used them.

This is a great encouragement. God is not looking for perfect people. He is looking for people who will walk by faith. The presence of flaws does not disqualify you from being used by God. What matters is whether you are willing to trust Him.

Too often, we excuse ourselves by saying we are not good enough. The truth is, none of us are. But faith is not about our perfection. It is about our dependence on Him.

3. The Confusion of God’s Plan

In both Genesis 27 and Genesis 48, we see something that does not make sense at first glance. The younger son receives the blessing instead of the older. Isaac blesses Jacob. Jacob blesses Ephraim over Manasseh. In both cases, expectations are reversed.

From a human standpoint, it looks wrong. It feels out of order. It even creates tension and confusion in the moment.

Yet God had already declared His plan. In Genesis 25:23, He said, “the elder shall serve the younger.” What looked like disorder was actually divine order. What seemed like a mistake was the fulfillment of God’s promise.

There will be times in your life when God’s plan does not make sense. You will look at your circumstances and wonder why things are happening the way they are. You may even feel like something has gone wrong.

But God is never confused. He is never surprised. He is never out of control. What we cannot see, He has already planned.

4. The Response of Faith

The key truth in these verses is not just what happened, but how these men responded. Isaac gave the blessing. Jacob gave the blessing. They accepted what God was doing, even when it did not follow human reasoning.

Faith is accepting God’s sovereign plan rather than resisting it.

The Bible says in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” That is the heart of this message. Faith means trusting God beyond what you can see or explain.

There are moments in life when everything in you wants to resist. Your thoughts, your emotions, and your fears all push you in another direction. But faith says, “God, I will trust You anyway.”

This is where faith becomes real. It is easy to trust God when everything makes sense. It is much harder when your plans are crossed, when your expectations are overturned, when your understanding falls short. Yet that is exactly where God calls us to trust Him.

If we are honest, many of us struggle here. We want clarity. We want answers. We want God to explain every step before we take it. But God does not work that way. He calls us to follow Him, not to fully understand Him.

When we resist His plan, we live in frustration. When we trust His plan, we find peace. Faith does not remove the unknown. It anchors us in the One who knows.

Reflection Question

Are you trusting God’s plan in your life, even when you do not understand it, or are you resisting what He is trying to do?

Sermon Series

God Is Not the Problem - We Are | Isaiah 59

There are times in the Christian life when God can feel distant. We pray, and it seems like heaven is silent. We look for answers, but the situation does not change. In those moments, it is easy to begin questioning God. Has He stopped listening? Has He lost His power? Has He withdrawn His hand from helping us? But Isaiah 59 confronts that thinking head-on and reveals a truth that is both sobering and necessary. God is not the problem.

The Bible says, “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear” (Isaiah 59:1). The issue is not with God’s ability or His willingness. The issue lies much closer to home. Verse 2 makes it plain: “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” When there is distance between us and God, it is not because He has moved. It is because something has come between us and Him. And that something is sin. 

1. The Great Separator

Isaiah begins by exposing the real problem. Sin is the great separator. It is not a small issue or a minor inconvenience. It is a dividing force that breaks fellowship with God and disrupts every relationship it touches. The prophet lists specific sins such as violence, lying, corrupt speech, injustice, and sinful thoughts. These are not isolated actions but evidence of a heart that has turned away from God.

It is easy to look at this list and think of extreme cases, but Jesus made it clear that sin runs deeper than outward actions. Hatred in the heart, deceit in the lips, and pride in the spirit all contribute to this separation. Sin is not just what we do. It is who we are apart from God. And every time sin is present, it creates distance. It separates husbands and wives, parents and children, church members from one another, and most importantly, it separates us from God.

The danger is that we often blame God when the separation is actually caused by our own sin. Like the children of Israel, we may ask why God seems silent while ignoring the sin that has disrupted our fellowship with Him. But the truth remains. Sin always separates, and it always brings destruction.

2. The Greater Confession

While the problem is serious, Isaiah does not leave us without hope. In verse 12, the tone of the passage changes. Instead of blaming God, the people begin to confess: “For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us… and as for our iniquities, we know them.” This is the turning point. True confession begins when we stop pointing outward and start looking inward.

Confession is not a vague acknowledgment that we are imperfect. It is a clear agreement with God about our sin. It is saying what God says about it. It is recognizing that our sin is against Him, that it condemns us, and we cannot fix it ourselves. Sin is not something we can outrun or hide from. It follows us, testifies against us, and remains until it is dealt with in God’s way.

The Bible gives us that way in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Confession must be followed by forsaking. We cannot hold on to sin and expect restoration at the same time. God is not looking for excuses, comparisons, or partial efforts. He is looking for genuine repentance. When we come honestly before Him, acknowledging our sin and turning from it, He responds with mercy and cleansing.

3. The Greatest God

The beauty of Isaiah 59 is that it does not end with separation or even confession. It ends with salvation. When God sees the problem and hears the confession, He steps in with a solution that only He can provide. Verse 16 tells us that there was no man to intercede, so God Himself brought salvation.

This points directly to Jesus Christ, the Redeemer spoken of in verse 20. The same God who is high above us reaches down to restore us. We could never bridge the gap caused by sin, but God did through His Son. The chapter begins with separation, but it ends with redemption.

And this truth is reinforced in Romans 8, where we are reminded that nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Sin can break fellowship, but it cannot cancel God’s love. When we come to Him in repentance, His grace restores what sin has damaged. What once seemed like an overwhelming problem becomes a temporary one in the hands of a powerful God.

God is not the problem. He is the solution. He is the One who saves, cleanses, restores, and sustains. When we humble ourselves before Him, confess our sin, and turn back to Him, He responds with grace that is greater than all our sin.

Reflection Question

Is there anything in your life right now that has come between you and God? Will you stop looking outward and honestly ask Him to reveal what needs to be confessed and forsaken today?

Faith-Filled Characters Sermon Series

Future Faith | Hebrews 11:22

When we think about faith, we often picture the big moments. We think about the victories, the breakthroughs, the times when God clearly shows up and changes everything in an instant. But Hebrews 11 reminds us that real, biblical faith is not just seen in the highlights of life. It is revealed in the quiet confidence that God will keep His promises, even when we may never see the outcome with our own eyes.

Hebrews 11:22 says, “By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.” Out of all the events in Joseph’s life, God chooses to highlight this moment. Not the dreams, not the rise to power, not the preservation of Egypt, but his final words. Why? Because those words reveal a faith that looked beyond the present and rested fully in the promises of God. Joseph believed that God would do exactly what He said He would do.

When you step back and consider Joseph’s life, you begin to understand just how powerful that kind of faith really is. 

1. A Declaration of Faith in God’s Promises

At the end of his life, Joseph made a clear and confident declaration. He said that God would surely visit His people and bring them out of Egypt into the promised land. This was not wishful thinking. This was not a hopeful guess. This was faith anchored in the Word of God. Joseph believed what God had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and he rested his confidence in that truth.

The Bible says in Genesis 50:24, “And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” Joseph was surrounded by Egypt, living in a land that was not his home, yet his focus was not on his surroundings. His focus was on God’s promise. True faith does not anchor itself in what is seen, but in what God has said.

That kind of faith speaks with certainty. When God makes a promise, you can believe it. When He says He will never leave you nor forsake you, that is not a possibility, it is a guarantee. Joseph teaches us that real faith confidently declares that the God who promises is the God who delivers.

2. A Journey That Developed His Faith

Joseph’s faith did not appear overnight. It was forged through a lifetime of trials, disappointments, and hardships. From the very beginning, his life followed a pattern. He was elevated, then knocked down. Elevated again, then knocked down again. 

He was elevated with favor but met with hatred. His father loved him, but his brothers despised him. He was elevated with a vision from God, but met with rejection when he shared it. He was given responsibility and opportunity, yet he was betrayed and sold into slavery. Later, he was elevated in Potiphar’s house, only to be falsely accused and thrown into prison. Even in prison, he was elevated again, only to be forgotten by those he helped.

At every stage of his life, Joseph had a choice. He could become bitter, or he could trust God. Humanly speaking, he had every reason to walk away. He could have said that God was unfair or that life was not worth it. But Joseph chose faith. He believed that God was still working, even when nothing made sense.

Genesis 50:20 reveals his perspective: “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good.” Joseph saw beyond the pain. He saw the hand of God behind the scenes. His experiences did not weaken his faith. They strengthened it. That is what God desires for us. Not a faith that quits when life gets hard, but a faith that grows through the hardship.

3. A Personal Identification with God’s Plan

Joseph’s request about his bones may seem unusual at first glance. He told the children of Israel that when God brought them out of Egypt, they were to carry his bones with them. This was more than a strange request. It was a powerful statement of faith.

Joseph was declaring that Egypt was not his home. He was identifying himself with the promises of God, not the comforts of his present life. Even though he lived and prospered in Egypt, he knew that God had something greater ahead. He believed so strongly in that promise that he wanted his final resting place to be in the land God had promised.

This is what faith does. It changes how we view this world. If you are a child of God, this world is not your home. You are just passing through. What you do here matters, but your ultimate destination is with the Lord. Joseph’s life reminds us to live with eternity in view and to align ourselves with God’s plan rather than temporary surroundings.

4. A Faith That Endures to the End

The greatest lesson from Joseph’s life is this: true faith does not quit. It endures. It presses on. It trusts God through every valley and every trial. 

Joseph’s final words were not about his suffering. They were not about the injustices he endured. They were about God’s faithfulness. He believed that the same God who was with him in the pit, in the prison, and in the palace would also be faithful to the next generation.

And God proved him right. Hundreds of years later, when the children of Israel left Egypt, Exodus 13:19 tells us, “And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him.” God kept His promise, just as Joseph believed He would.

This is the kind of faith God is calling us to have. A faith that keeps going when prayers seem unanswered. A faith that continues serving when no one notices. A faith that keeps giving, witnessing, and trusting even when life feels difficult. The delay is not God’s denial. The silence is not His absence. He is still working.

Reflection Question

Do you have a faith that continues to trust God even when life is hard, or have you allowed your circumstances to weaken your confidence in Him?

Sermon Series

The Mission for Missions | Acts 1 & Matthew 28 | Missions Conference 2026

When we think about faith, we often think about believing in God for something big. We think about trusting Him for provision, for healing, or for direction. But Scripture shows us that faith goes deeper than that. Faith is not just believing in God when everything makes sense. Faith is trusting God when nothing makes sense. Faith is not built on what we can see, but on what God has already said.

Hebrews 11 reminds us that faith is what pleases God. It is not our performance, our background, or our abilities. It is our willingness to trust Him. The Bible says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is not a blind leap. It is confidence in the unseen realities of God. We did not see Him create the world, yet we believe He did. We do not always understand His ways, yet we trust that they are right.

As we come to Hebrews 11:20–21, we find two short verses that might seem easy to pass over. But inside these verses is a powerful truth about faith that we cannot afford to miss. 

“By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff” (Hebrews 11:20–21).

These verses point us back to Genesis and show us that true faith is trusting God’s plan, even when we do not understand it.

1. Faith Must Be Personal, Not Borrowed

When we look at the lives mentioned in Hebrews 11, we see generations of faith. Abraham had faith. Isaac had faith. Jacob had faith. Joseph had faith. But each one had to make that decision personally.

Faith cannot be inherited. You cannot live off your parents’ faith. You cannot rely on someone else’s relationship with God. There comes a moment when every person must choose to trust God for themselves. The faith of others can guide you, but it cannot carry you.

This is especially important when we think about missions. The command in Acts 1:8 and Matthew 28 is not given to a select few. It is given to every believer. God calls each of us to have a personal faith that responds in obedience. A borrowed faith will never move you to action, but a personal faith will.

2. Faith Is Not Dependent on Perfection

As we study Isaac and Jacob, we quickly realize they were not perfect men. Isaac showed spiritual passivity. He lacked discernment at times and even allowed personal desires to influence his decisions. Jacob was known as a deceiver. He manipulated situations and made choices that were far from godly.

Yet God still used them.

This reminds us that God is not looking for perfect people. He is looking for people who will trust Him. The presence of flaws does not disqualify us from living by faith. If that were the case, none of us would qualify.

In our own lives, we often hesitate to step out in faith because we feel unworthy or unprepared. But faith is not about our ability. It is about God’s ability. When we trust Him, He works through us in spite of our weaknesses.

3. Faith Accepts God’s Plan Over Our Own

In both accounts referenced in Hebrews 11, something unusual happens. In Isaac’s blessing and in Jacob’s blessing, the younger son receives what would normally belong to the older. This was not tradition. This was not expected. This went against everything they would have naturally chosen.

And yet, this was God’s plan.

Isaac had to accept that Jacob would receive the blessing. Jacob had to accept that Ephraim would be blessed above Manasseh. In both cases, God’s way did not match human reasoning. But faith required them to accept what God was doing.

Proverbs 3:5–6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Faith does not argue with God. Faith does not try to reshape His will. Faith submits. It says, “God, even if I do not understand, I trust You.”

4. Faith Trusts God Even When It Makes No Sense

At the heart of these verses is one simple but powerful truth. Faith is trusting God when you do not understand.

There are moments in life when everything inside of you will say that something is wrong. Your feelings will be loud. Your reasoning will push back. Your instincts will tell you to take control. But God’s Word will point you in a different direction.

In those moments, faith is choosing to trust God over your feelings.

Just like a pilot must trust his instruments when his senses are misleading him, we must trust God’s Word when our hearts and minds are confused. What we feel may seem real, but it is not always right. God’s truth is always right.

There will be times when obeying God feels risky. Times when following Him seems like it will cost too much. Times when you cannot see how things will work out. But faith says, “I will trust Him anyway.”

This is where missions begin. The call of Christ in Matthew 28 to go into all the world does not always make sense from a human perspective. It requires sacrifice. It requires surrender. It requires stepping into the unknown. But faith responds with obedience.

Faith that pleases God is not complicated, but it is costly. It means laying down our understanding and trusting His. It means following Him when the path is unclear. It means believing that His plan is better, even when it looks different than ours.

So the question is not whether you have faith. Everyone has faith in something. The question is where your faith is placed.

Reflection Question:

Are you trusting God’s plan, or are you resisting it because you do not understand it?

Faith-Filled Characters Sermon Series

Trusting When We Don't Understand | Hebrews 11:20-21

When we come to Hebrews 11:20-21, we find two verses that at first seem small compared to the rest of Hebrews 11. The chapter is filled with powerful stories of faith, men and women who obeyed God in dramatic ways. Then we arrive at Isaac blessing Jacob and Esau, and Jacob blessing the sons of Joseph, and it almost feels easy to pass over. Yet God does not waste words. If He placed these two verses in this great chapter of faith, there is something here that we must not miss.

Faith is not only seen in the big moments of action. It is often revealed in the quiet moments of surrender. These two accounts take us back to the book of Genesis, where God’s plan did not always make sense to those involved. Fathers were blessing sons in ways that seemed backward. Expectations were overturned. Traditions were crossed. And yet, in each case, God was at work, accomplishing His sovereign will. The lesson is clear. True faith is trusting God even when we do not understand what He is doing.

The Bible says, “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come” and “By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph” (Hebrews 11:20-21). These blessings were not based on what seemed right to man. They were rooted in what God had already determined. Faith, then, is not about figuring everything out. Faith is about trusting the God who already has.

1. The Reality of Personal Faith

One of the first truths we see in these verses is that faith must be personal. Abraham had faith. Isaac had faith. Jacob had faith. Joseph had faith. Each generation had to trust God for themselves.

You cannot live off the faith of someone else. A parent’s faith may guide you, but it cannot save you. A pastor’s faith may instruct you, but it cannot carry you. God calls each of us to trust Him personally. These generations remind us that faith must be passed down, but it must also be received individually.

This is practical for us today. You may have grown up around truth. You may have been taught the Word of God. But there comes a point where you must decide for yourself to trust Him. Faith that pleases God is not inherited. It is exercised.

2. The Imperfection of God’s People

When we look back at Isaac and Jacob in Genesis, we do not find perfect men. Isaac struggled with spiritual passivity. He showed favoritism. He allowed his appetites to influence his decisions. Jacob was known as a deceiver. He manipulated situations and took advantage of others.

Yet God still used them.

This is a great encouragement. God is not looking for perfect people. He is looking for people who will walk by faith. The presence of flaws does not disqualify you from being used by God. What matters is whether you are willing to trust Him.

Too often, we excuse ourselves by saying we are not good enough. The truth is, none of us are. But faith is not about our perfection. It is about our dependence on Him.

3. The Confusion of God’s Plan

In both Genesis 27 and Genesis 48, we see something that does not make sense at first glance. The younger son receives the blessing instead of the older. Isaac blesses Jacob. Jacob blesses Ephraim over Manasseh. In both cases, expectations are reversed.

From a human standpoint, it looks wrong. It feels out of order. It even creates tension and confusion in the moment.

Yet God had already declared His plan. In Genesis 25:23, He said, “the elder shall serve the younger.” What looked like disorder was actually divine order. What seemed like a mistake was the fulfillment of God’s promise.

There will be times in your life when God’s plan does not make sense. You will look at your circumstances and wonder why things are happening the way they are. You may even feel like something has gone wrong.

But God is never confused. He is never surprised. He is never out of control. What we cannot see, He has already planned.

4. The Response of Faith

The key truth in these verses is not just what happened, but how these men responded. Isaac gave the blessing. Jacob gave the blessing. They accepted what God was doing, even when it did not follow human reasoning.

Faith is accepting God’s sovereign plan rather than resisting it.

The Bible says in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” That is the heart of this message. Faith means trusting God beyond what you can see or explain.

There are moments in life when everything in you wants to resist. Your thoughts, your emotions, and your fears all push you in another direction. But faith says, “God, I will trust You anyway.”

This is where faith becomes real. It is easy to trust God when everything makes sense. It is much harder when your plans are crossed, when your expectations are overturned, when your understanding falls short. Yet that is exactly where God calls us to trust Him.

If we are honest, many of us struggle here. We want clarity. We want answers. We want God to explain every step before we take it. But God does not work that way. He calls us to follow Him, not to fully understand Him.

When we resist His plan, we live in frustration. When we trust His plan, we find peace. Faith does not remove the unknown. It anchors us in the One who knows.

Reflection Question

Are you trusting God’s plan in your life, even when you do not understand it, or are you resisting what He is trying to do?

Sermon Series

The Gospels Part Two | Book Studies

When we open the Gospel of John, we are not simply reading a timeline of events in Jesus’ life. We are being confronted with who He is. John’s purpose is clear from the beginning: to show that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Every chapter, every miracle, and especially every “I am” statement points us back to that truth.

As we study these statements, we begin to see that Jesus is not offering help for life from the outside. He is declaring that He Himself is everything we need. If we are going to study the Bible rightly, we must come to the place where Christ is not just part of our life, but the very source of it.

1. Jesus Is Our Complete Satisfaction and Direction

When Jesus said, “I am the bread of life” and “I am the light of the world,” He was addressing two of the deepest needs in every human heart. We need satisfaction, and we need direction.

The crowd in John 6 followed Jesus because they wanted more bread. They were focused on physical needs, yet completely blind to their spiritual hunger. Jesus made it clear that nothing in this world can truly satisfy the soul. People chase success, money, pleasure, and recognition, and for a moment, it feels fulfilling. But that feeling fades because it was never meant to satisfy the heart. Only Christ can do that.

At the same time, Jesus declares, “I am the light of the world.” Light reveals what is hidden, exposes what is wrong, and shows the right path. Spiritually, Jesus does all three. He shows us our sin, reveals our need for Him, and guides us into truth.

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).

If we are not looking to Christ for satisfaction and direction, we will constantly feel empty and lost. But when we follow Him, we find both fullness and clarity.

2. Jesus Is the Only Way to Salvation and Safety

In John 10, Jesus makes two powerful statements: “I am the door of the sheep” and “I am the good shepherd.” These truths go hand in hand.

As the door, Jesus is the only access point to safety, provision, and life. There are not many doors to God. There is only one. Every false system, every false teacher, and every self-made effort promises security, but only Christ truly saves.

As the good shepherd, Jesus goes even further. He does not just guide the sheep. He gives His life for them. His goodness is not just seen in His care, but in His sacrifice.

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

This is where we often misunderstand God. We question His goodness when life becomes difficult. But His goodness is most clearly seen at the cross. He willingly laid down His life for us. That is the ultimate proof that He is a good shepherd.

3. Jesus Is the Source of Life and Eternal Hope

When Jesus stood before the tomb of Lazarus, He said, “I am the resurrection, and the life.” He was not just claiming to raise the dead. He was declaring that He is life itself.

Death is not the final authority. Jesus is. What seemed like a hopeless situation became a display of His power. He showed that He has authority over death, and that life flows from Him.

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1).

Before salvation, we were spiritually dead. But through Christ, we are made alive. He gives us life now and promises eternal life forever. No circumstance, not even death, can overcome the life that Jesus gives.

4. Jesus Is the Only Way to God and the Power for Daily Living

In John 14, Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Then in John 15, He says, “I am the vine, ye are the branches.”

These two truths work together. First, Jesus is the only way to the Father. There is no alternative path, no secondary option. If we are going to know God, it must be through Christ.

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).

Second, once we know Him, we must remain connected to Him. As the vine, Jesus is the source of all spiritual life, strength, and fruit. As branches, we have no life in ourselves. Without Him, we can do nothing.

This is where many believers struggle. We acknowledge that Jesus saved us, but we try to live the Christian life in our own strength. The truth is simple. We are completely dependent on Him, not just for salvation, but for every day of our lives.

5. Jesus Is God Himself

All of these statements point to one final truth. In John 8:58, Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I am.”

This was not a metaphor. This was a direct claim to be God. The listeners understood exactly what He meant, and they reacted strongly because of it.

Every “I am” statement only has meaning because of this truth. Jesus can satisfy, guide, save, and give life because He is God. If He were only a teacher, these would be empty words. But because He is the great “I am,” every promise He makes is sure.

This brings us to the heart of the Gospel of John. Jesus is not just showing us truth. He is truth. He is not just pointing us to life. He is life. He is not just giving direction. He is the way.

Reflection QuestionIf Jesus truly is everything He claims to be, are you fully depending on Him in every area of your life, or are you still trying to find satisfaction, direction, and strength somewhere else?

Sermon Series

Religious Hypocrisy | Isaiah 58

When we think about hypocrisy, many people assume it means imperfection. They hear someone say, “The church is full of hypocrites,” and they imagine people who fail, struggle, or fall short. But Isaiah 58 reveals something far deeper. Hypocrisy is not struggling with sin. Hypocrisy is pretending that there is no struggle at all. It is presenting an outward image of spirituality, while something is off underneath. It is looking right on the outside while being wrong on the inside.

Isaiah 58 is one of those passages that lands close to home. God is not speaking to pagans here. He is speaking to His own people, people who were active in religion, people who fasted, people who gathered for worship, people who sought Him daily. On the surface, everything looked right. But God shines His light into their hearts and exposes that their worship was empty because it was centered on self rather than on Him. The message is clear. God is not interested in outward performance. He desires inward devotion that overflows into a life that honors Him and serves others. 

The Bible says, “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression” (Isaiah 58:1). God commands the truth to be declared, not to condemn His people, but to call them back. He sees beyond what others can see. He knows when something is off beneath the surface, and in His mercy, He brings it to light so that we can be made right again.

1. The Command to Speak the Truth

God begins this chapter with a clear command. He tells Isaiah to cry aloud and show His people their sin. This is not a suggestion. It is a divine charge. God knows exactly where His people stand spiritually, even when they appear strong on the outside. He is never confused about our condition. He sees the heart.

What is striking is that God still calls them “my people.” Even in their hypocrisy, He has not cast them aside. He is calling them back. This reminds us that conviction is not rejection. When God speaks to our hearts, it is because He desires restoration. He wants us to see where we truly are so we can return to walking with Him.

We may fool others, but we cannot fool God. He knows our motives, our thoughts, and our intentions. The question is not whether God knows. The question is whether we are willing to acknowledge what He already sees and respond to Him in humility.

2. The Exposure of Empty Religion

If we only read Isaiah 58:2, we might think this was a spiritually healthy group. They sought God daily. They delighted to know His ways. They asked spiritual questions. They enjoyed religious activity. Everything on the outside looked right.

But God reveals that their problem was not a lack of activity. It was a problem of the heart. Their religion was empty because it was self-centered. They were doing the right things for the wrong reasons. Outwardly, they appeared devoted. Inwardly, they were disconnected from God.

God cares about the outside, but He cares far more about the inside. When the heart is wrong, even the right actions become empty. True worship begins within. Without that, everything else is just performance.

3. Fasting That Meant Nothing

The people in Isaiah 58 were fasting, but their fasting had no value before God. They even complained that God was not noticing their efforts. They said, “Wherefore have we fasted… and thou seest not?” (Isaiah 58:3). They were frustrated that their religious activity was not producing the recognition they desired.

God exposes three problems with their fasting. First, it was self-centered. Even in a time meant to deny self, they found ways to please themselves. Second, it was oppressive. They acted spiritual in public but treated others harshly in private. Third, it was hostile. Their religion produced strife and conflict rather than peace.

Their fasting created the illusion of spirituality, but it did not draw them closer to God. They were going through the motions without experiencing transformation. This is the danger of empty religion. It can look right while accomplishing nothing.

4. The Root Problem of Self on the Throne

At the heart of their hypocrisy was one issue. Self was on the throne instead of God. They were doing religious things, but they were doing them for themselves. Whether it was fasting, keeping the Sabbath, or gathering for worship, it was all centered on personal benefit and appearance.

When self is at the center, everything becomes distorted. You can sing the songs, say the right words, and participate in every service, yet still be far from God. The issue is not activity. The issue is authority. Who is on the throne of your life?

God calls us to examine our motives. Are we doing what we do for Him, or are we doing it for ourselves? This is the dividing line between true worship and hypocrisy.

5. God’s Definition of True Worship

God does not leave us guessing about what He desires. In Isaiah 58:6-7, He clearly defines true worship. It is not empty rituals. It is a life that reflects His heart. True worship brings freedom. It loosens the bands of wickedness and breaks the yokes that bind.

True worship also produces compassion. God says it is to deal bread to the hungry, to care for the poor, and to meet the needs of others. A heart that is right with God will not remain self-focused. It will overflow into love and service.

James echoes this truth: “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27). Real Christianity is not about appearance. It is about a transformed heart that loves God and loves others.

When we walk with God, He brings freedom into our lives. He breaks the chains of sin, bitterness, anger, and pride. And as He works in us, He begins to work through us to touch the lives of others.

6. The Call to Genuine Devotion

Isaiah 58 brings us to a simple but searching question. Are we doing what we do for God, or for ourselves? That question cuts through every area of life. When we read our Bible, is it for God or for ourselves? When we pray, is it for God or for ourselves? When we serve, is it for God or for ourselves?

Even forgiveness reveals our motives. We do not forgive to make ourselves feel better. We forgive as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven us. True Christianity is not about checking boxes. It is about honoring God with a sincere heart.

God is not asking for perfection. He knows we are broken people. But He is asking for authenticity. He desires hearts that are fully surrendered to Him. When something is off, His call is not to hide it, but to bring it to Him and be made right.

Reflection Question

Is what you are doing for God truly for Him, or is it for yourself? What might be off on the inside that God is calling you to make right today?

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About Pastor JD Howell

Pastor J.D. Howell is a faithful and passionate servant of God whose heart beats for preaching the truth of God’s Word and shepherding God’s people with love and integrity.

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© 2026

First Baptist Church of Bridgeport | All Rights Reserved

About Pastor JD Howell

Pastor J.D. Howell is a faithful and passionate servant of God whose heart beats for preaching the truth of God’s Word and shepherding God’s people with love and integrity.

Home

Sermons

About

Authors

Contact

Newsletter

Subscribe now to get timely updates and in-depth insights designed to keep you in touch with First Baptist Church.

You're in! Thank you.

© 2026

First Baptist Church of Bridgeport | All Rights Reserved

About Pastor JD Howell

Pastor J.D. Howell is a faithful and passionate servant of God whose heart beats for preaching the truth of God’s Word and shepherding God’s people with love and integrity.

Home

Sermons

About

Authors

Contact

Newsletter

Subscribe now to get timely updates and in-depth insights designed to keep you in touch with First Baptist Church.

You're in! Thank you.

© 2026

First Baptist Church of Bridgeport | All Rights Reserved