MEN AND WOMEN OF FAITH. ( He’-roes and She’-roes!)
THE VARIOUS MEANINGS OF FAITH.
1.Firm persuasion.
2. Strong conviction.
3. Real assurance.
4. Unwavering confidence.
5. Seeing before believing.
6. Taking a risk.
FAITH VERSUS HOPE
Both are intertwined in the Scriptures. It will depend upon your perspective what you choose to believe.
Hope, from our perspective, can have an element of doubt in it.
For instance, you “hope” it might happen. Whereas, faith says. “It has happened.”
GOD’S PERSPECTIVE. Hope can mean the same thing as Faith, as we call Him the “God of all hope.”
We put our faith and hope in Him.
See Hebrews 10:38.
THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY HIS FAITH.
Keep this verse in mind as we observe our heroes in chapter 11.
At the time when Paul wrote this book, Judaism was once again infiltrating this young church. It enticed young believers back into religious practices of keeping the Law to obtain Salvation, so there was no need for faith to obtain God’s promises.
FAITH MUST FIRST BE A LIFESTYLE, NOT JUST A MENTAL ASSENT. (mind without the heart)
In this section of the chapter, we will examine the lives of the Martyrs.
Men and Women, whose lives were tested to the extreme, enduring the horrors of severe suffering and persecution, even to the point of death.
It will make your trials seem like a piece of cake!
Please read our text, Hebrews 11: 32-40.
We could say, that
FAITH IS: VISUALIZING THE OBJECT IN OUR MINDS BEFORE WE PHYSICALLY SEE IT WITH OUR EYES.
For example, we believe that we are in good health, and we are healthy even when we feel sick.
Or our bills are paid, though we are broke.
Our unsaved children will be saved and serving the Lord before it actually happens.
We by faith believe in the reality of God…that He exists.
We believe the Bible is the infallible Word of God.
We believe that Jesus Christ, was virgin born, lived as God in the flesh, was crucified for our sin, not only for us but for the whole World. That He rose again victorious over sin death and Hell.
And we believe by faith in his soon coming again.
And we believe all the promises of God in Him are Yes and Amen personally.
Our heroes believed in Christ despite what others believe and suffered for it.
They possessed, BOLD FAITH.
Paul demonstrates the GOD KIND OF FAITH in the lives of these believers to encourage us that…
TRUE FAITH IS, LIFE CHANGING FAITH and LIFE GIVING FAITH.
I like to think that faith is a,
STRONG CONFIDENCE IN WHAT IS REAL THOUGH WE CANNOT SEE IT, OR UNDERSTAND IT, WE BELIEVE IT TO BE TRUE, SO WE ACT UPON IT.
We believe that it is so, even when it is not so.
We examine the lives of some of the Prophets.
They believed what God told them was true and they prophesied it to everyone. Not everyone listening believed and these men of God suffered great persecution.
JEREMIAH.
God’s Word to him was like “fire in his bones” Jeremiah possessed, “persevering faith.”
When God prompts me to share the Gospel with someone, it’s like an unquenchable fire in my soul… a knot in my stomach, I cannot help but do it.
These amazing prophets subdued kingdoms by faith. (Took away their power.)
GIDEON. The Midianites.
DAVID. The Philistines.
SAUL. Slew his thousands and David his ten thousands. I like to think of them as possessing a
FIGHTING FAITH.
The driving force, of course, was the Holy Spirit.
Paul says, “THEY WROUGHT RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
They carried the laws of God’s righteousness and justice by punishing the wicked and cutting off God’s enemies.
“THEY OBTAINED PROMISES.”
God’s blessings that were passed on to many generations. I call this,
“BELIEVING FAITH.”
“THEY STOPPED THE MOUTHS OF LIONS.”Samson, David, of course, Daniel, brave, faith filled, fearless Daniel.
Their faith rendered the ferocious LIONS harmless.
I can imagine Daniel calling, “Here, kitty, kitty!” See him sound asleep, cuddled up to them in that cold dungeon. Snoring!
“QUENCHED THE FIRE OF VIOLENCE.”
Here we view Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego being thrown into the extremely heated furnace of 🔥 fire, because they would not worship anything but the “TRUE AND LIVING GOD.”
Imagine them joking with each other as the were escorted toward the furnace.
“Looks hot in there.”
“Yea, it must be the heat!!”
But, Jesus was in the angry flames with them. So they perished not.
When they were called out, not even the smell of smoke lingered upon their clothes.
How amazing!
They possessed. “FURNACE FAITH!”
They dared to believe God’s promises.
They believed the “Impossible and received the Incredible!”
Do you believe that the Lord is your strength?
That He is your Salvation?
That you are loved?
That your needs are met?
That He is with you at all times?
You may know it… but do live it?
The text continues…
OUT OF WEAKNESS, THEY WERE MADE STRONG.
Samson, though disobedient, repented, and God strengthened him to destroy more Philistines at his death than in his life.
He exercised, SUPERNATURAL FAITH.
These heroes were valiant in the fight. Many Righteous Kings subdued their enemies and brought deliverance to Israel.
They turned to flight the armies of the aliens. (Not citizens)
The Amonites. The Philistines. The Assyrians and other people who rose up against them.
How do these heroes lives affect you?
Ask God to make you brave, bold, and fearless to fight the enemies that Satan brings your way.
You are indeed a soldier of the cross. Remember the Captain of the Lord’s host is with you, fighting for you.
THE VICTORY IS YOURS!
More from Hebrews 11 next week….
Amen.
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