Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.(Hebrews 11:1-2, NIV)

Key Point: Living Faith

 A. Accessed Through Christ

By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.(Hebrews 11:4, NIV)

…even though he is dead.  Abel still speaks… (Hebrews 11:4c, NIV) 

B. Relational

By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” (Hebrews 11:5a, NIV) 

For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God…(Hebrews 11:5b-6a, NIV)

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.(Hebrews 11:6, NIV)

C. Obedient

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.(Hebrews 11:7, NIV) 

…became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.(Hebrews 11:7c, ESV

By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.(Hebrews 11:23, NIV).

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. (Hebrews 11:24-5, NIV) 

There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. (Hebrews 11:35b-38, NIV) 

Key Point: Running the Race of Faith

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3, NIV)

A. Find Your Fans

… we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses… (Hebrews 12:1a, NIV)

B. Free Yourself 

…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.(Hebrews 12:1b, NIV)

C. Fix Your Eyes 

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1c-3, NIV)