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“Hall of Faith” (Mess.#14) “The Heroes of Faith” (Part 1)
Text: Heb.11: 32-35 Intro.: We have been journeying down the hall of faith for the past thirteen weeks. In our journey we have examined the faith of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joseph and Rahab. We now come to the period of the Judges and the kings and the list of the heroes becomes so vast that Paul now realizes that he cannot possibly mention each and everyone by name. He now simply names a few of the heroes of faith and then begins expounding on the deeds of the heroes. We should be encouraged by the great number of believers in the Old Testament and how strong their faith was in spite of their lack of revelation. And we who are now in New Testament times, when the rule of faith is more clear and perfect, should be asking, “Where are the heroes of faith today?” “Where are the Gideon’s, the Samson’s, the David’s, and the Samuel’s?” How about you, do you want to be numbered among the New Testament heroes of faith?
A) The Trustworthy Heroes: (v.32) 1) Gideon: (Jud.6: 11-7: 24; “A mighty man of valour”; The sixth Judge) A) Called by God to defeat the Midianites. B) A man of a lowly family and tribe (Poor family, Manasseh). C) A man called from a lowly occupation - Threshing wheat. D) ILL. - 1 Cor.1: 26-29, “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.” E) He fights the Midianites (135,000 man army). His army is reduced from 32,000 down to 300! F) By faith he turned to flight the army of the aliens! Who says the Bible doesn’t mention UFO’s and creatures from outer space! HA! 2) Barak: (Jud.4:14-16; Fourth Judge) He defeats the host of Sisera. 3) Samson: (Jud.13-16; Thirteenth Judge) A) He overcame a lion, and fought with the Philistines (slew 1000 with the jawbone of an ass). B) The greatest victory he gained was by dying (killed nearly 3000). C) He had faith though mingled with many failings. 4) Jephthae: (Jud.11; Ninth Judge) A) He delivered Israel from the Ammonites. B) God uses the most undeserving and unlikely people (He was the son of a harlot!) to accomplish His will! (Illustrating again 1 Cor.1: 26-29). 5) David: A) A man after God’s own heart. He was the unlikely choice, for he was the youngest of eight sons. He was just a shepherd boy. He was anointed to be king when he just a teen! B) Few ever met with greater trials, few ever had a more lively faith! C) He fought and conquered a lion and a bear in secret, then defeated the giant in public! D) He endured the hatred and malice of Saul, and waited until God finally put him on the throne. E) He became a great and successful king and warrior! (2 Sam.8: 1-6, 13-15) F) He left us some of the greatest, heart touching Psalms. The product of his many trials and troubles! 6) Samuel: A) He was the first of the prophets. B) God revealed Himself to him when he was a child and continued to do so till his death. C) This illustrates the importance of beginning early in life to exercise faith as it will lead to great feats later in life! 7) The Prophets: A) Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi . . . B) The ones who were given the responsibility of proclaiming judgment, promising mercy and pouncing on sin. But most importantly prophesying of the Messiah. C) Yet they were subjected to slander, imprisonment, mocking and death!
B) The Trials of the Heroes: (v.33-34, 35b) 1) “stopped the mouths of lions . . . ” (v.33d) Samson (Jud.14: 5-6), David (1 Sam.17: 34-35), Daniel (Dan.6: 22). 2) “quenched the violence of fire . . . ” (v.34a) The three Hebrew children - Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego (Dan.3: 17-27). 3) “escaped the edge of the sword . . . ” (v.34b) A) David escaped Goliath’s sword and Saul’s sword several times! B) Mordecai and the Jews escaped Haman’s sword due to Esther’s intervention. C) Elisha spared the city of Dathan from the king of Syria’s sword by smiting the army with blindness. D) Elijah escaped Jezebels’ sword. 4) “and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection.” (v.35b) Those that were raised from the dead (v.35a) died again. But the resurrection of the just is a “better resurrection” because it’s not temporary! Once you are raised, you never die again!
Conclusion: The Trustworthy Heroes and their Trials - To be a “Hero” you must face trials, conflicts, and battles and by faith come out victorious! To be a “Hero” you must take the heat! We need our own “heroes of the faith” today who will arise to fight the good fight of faith! How about you, will you rise to the challenge and decide to be a “hero of faith?” Remember it’s those who are weak, despised and base that God uses! If God could use these “foolish,” “weak,” and “despised” men, he can use you too! Are you willing to volunteer? If you want to be a part of the “better resurrection” you must be saved. You will then come up from the grave never to die again!
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