1Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.

6Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

38The world was not worthy of them. 

1Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, 2keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecterof our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 11:1, 6, 38; 12:1-2

What type of person is the world not worthy of?

The person who builds a Fortune 50 business by scratch?
The person who creates ways for normal people to get to space?
The person who solves global crisis?
The person who brokers peace?

Faith is having Hope and chasing after it as if it is reality.
Faith is seeing things the way God sees them and then acts on it.
Faith is Hearing & Following Jesus.

Every entrepreneur has Faith and Hope. They see something in their minds that will certainly bring a better future for themselves and others. Their Faith makes this a reality.

We can go to church.
We can do the religious motions.
We can lead inside the church.

And yet put our Hope and Faith on our church, business, start up or leadership practices. This does not earn God’s pleasure.

The only way to please God is through Faith in him.
Really, the only way to please God is through Faith in his Son.

The Good News…

Jesus starts and completes our Faith.

We have Faith in the One who gives us Faith.
We have Faith in the One who organizes our Faith.
We have Faith in the One who grows our Faith.

Faith is seeing the certainty of our better future in Jesus and Hearing & Following him through every circumstance.

How do you keep going with Faith even in difficult circumstances?

Let Jesus Complete Our Faith

We don’t know what circumstances God will take us through. Faith isn’t Faith if we lose it through tough circumstances. Struggles will cause us to wonder, question and even accuse God. Like a body builder weakens their muscles, a Faith weakened by circumstances makes our Faith stronger.

Let circumstances poke holes in your Faith so the Starter and Builder of your Faith can make your Faith stronger.

We become a person who the world is not worthy of by being someone who Hears & Follows Jesus no matter what the circumstance brings.

The Old Testament heroes of Faith saw amazing things happen. They called down fire from Heaven. They brought back dead sons. They parted the seas. They saved nations from famine.

They also went to their death because it was better to suffer with Faith than be comfortable without Faith. They were sawed in two. They were stoned. They were killed by the sword.

And these people lived lives the world was not worthy of.

Let the Cheers of the Past Faithful Keep Us Going

We are in the arena. But we’re not alone. We’re completing the work of God’s kingdom and previous people of faith are cheering us on.

The people who the world was not worthy of is rooting for you to finish with Faith so you too will be someone the world isn’t worthy of.

God leads us all to different missions while on this earth. Success in the created order does not determine if you’re a person the world is not worthy of.

Our only God given job description we have is to Hear & Follow Jesus.

Our only God given job description we have is to Hear & Follow Jesus.

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As we fixate our eyes on Jesus to Hear & Follow him, God uses difficulty to build our life into a strong tower to withstand whatever life throws our way.

Your leadership matters. People look to you and the pressure is immense. Difficulty will never go away while we’re on this earth.

Your Foundation is Jesus.
Your Pillars of Hope, Peace, Joy, Love and Faith are strengthened by him.

Your life will make a difference in those around. Stay in the arena. Let the cheers of those who have gone before keep you moving. Jesus will build your Faith. God will accomplish what he wants with your life for his Kingdom.

And you’ll become a person who the world is not worthy of.