Part 1: The Faith of Heroes Proved

Hebrews 11:17-28

by Samuel E. WardPastor, Covenant Baptist Church

STAND FIRM,CARRY YOUR

CROSS

Introduction

You might be a Hero of Faith if you . . . A. Offer God what He asks of you

instead of only what you are willing to give or part with. (Abel)

B. Live to please God rather self. (Enoch)

C. Take God’s warnings about judgment seriously and seek deliverance His way. (Noah)

D. Leave your comfort zone to go places or do things armed only with the promise of God’s presence and guidance. (Abraham)

E. Believe that God can do the impossible if necessary in order to keep His promises. (Abraham)

F. Do not to withhold from God what you treasure most in your heart when He asks for it. (Abraham)

G. Communicate your hope in God’s eternal inheritance to your children. (Isaac and Jacob)

H. Live your life preparing for your future in heaven rather building for comfort on earth. (Joseph)

I. Experience the persecution and wrath of men in order to be obedient to God. (Moses’ Parents)

J. Choose suffering and disgrace for Christ’s sake rather than the pleasures of sin. (Moses)

K. Obey God rather than fear the threats of men. (Moses)

L. Trust God to deliver you when there does not seem to be a way out. (Moses)

There are more examples of Heroes of the Faith in Hebrews eleven that we now consider.

M. You Might Be a Hero of the Faith If You Follow God’s Directions for Gaining Victory, (Israel - Heb 11:30)

God’s purpose for the battle of Jericho was at least two-fold. First, it was God’s judgment upon its inhabitants for the enormity of their wickedness.

Second, it was the first step in the fulfillment of God’s promise to give the children of Israel the land of Canaan. Here He would establish His nation where He would be their God and they would be His people, Gen 15:18-21.

It all began with a simple and seemingly implausible plan, Josh 6:2-5.

Victory over the enemy came not because of Israel’s strength, but faith in God’s plan and His power. Christians should remember when engaged in life’s battles that God is able bring victory to us according to His immeasurable power and oftentimes in unimaginable ways for the sake of His glory, Eph 3:20-21.

Scripture teaches that the humanity has three main enemies which each of us will have to engage on a continual basis throughout our lives. The Word of God also teaches that none of them need have victory over us. Consider . . .

1. Death, Eph 6:12-13 2. The world system, James 4:2-4;

1 John 5:2-53. The spiritual forces of evil in the

heavenly realms, Eph 6:12-13

N. You Might Be a Hero of the Faith if You Risk All in Order to Do the Right Thing, (Rahab - Heb 11:31)

We all have a past. Paul reminds us of this fact in Colossians, Col 1:21-23.

O. You Might Be a Hero of the Faith if You Attempt Anything God Asks and Are Ready to Endure Any Consequence of Obedience to Him. (The Faithful Multitude - Heb 11:32-33)

1. The names of some deserve to be honored, Heb 11:32.

2. The conviction of all of them deserved to be remembered, Heb 11:33-37.

3. The testimony of God concerning them deserves to be recorded, Heb 11:38-40.

Conclusion

The question that has been formulating from the beginning of this chapter to its end for each reader is this. Is the faith you profess one of conviction or of preference. One is not saved by preferring Christ over some other means of salvation, but only by the conviction that He is the only Way of Salvation and that they are ready to die than deny this fact.

Remember what Jesus said to his disciples.

(Mat 16:24-26 NIV) "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. {25} For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. {26} What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”

In which kingdom will you live? The world’s or God’s. You cannot live in both for both require complete allegiance and are in direct opposition to each other. Joshua demanded that Israel make a choice as they stood on the banks of the Jordan River poised to enter the land of God’s promise.

(Josh 24:14-15 NIV) "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. {15} But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

Any of you who are double-minded in your commitment to Christ should know that you can’t live in both kingdoms—the world’s and God’s. You may try. And you may even fool some people into believing that you have made a choice for Christ, when in reality you merely prefer to associate with Him as long as it does not require much from you.

(James 4:4 NIV) “Don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.”