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“Hall of Faith” (Mess.#15) “The Heroes of Faith” (Part 2)
Text: Heb.11: 32-35 Intro.: As pointed out last week we have come to the period of the Judges and the kings and the list of the heroes has become 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. This week I want to focus on the triumphs of some the heroes of faith that are mentioned in this section. We will see that they triumphed in many areas of life and of course they did it all by faith! And then I want to take a look at the testimony of some the heroes of faith as well. Their testimonies of faith still stir our hearts to this day! Could we give the same testimony they did in our day and time? Finally I want to challenge you again with the tremendous need for heroes today! Let’s turn our attention once again to the heroes of faith and may your heart be challenged by their faith!
A) The Triumphs of the Heroes: (v.33-34) 1) “Who through faith subdued kingdoms . . . ” (v.33) David subdued all the long time enemies of Israel (2 Sam.8: 1-14). 2) “wrought righteousness” (v.33b) A) King David (2 Sam.8: 15). B) King Hezekiah (2 Chr.31: 20-21 - A great revival). C) Ezra and Nehemiah (Neh.8-10 - Another great revival). D) It’s a greater honor and happiness to work righteousness than to work miracles! 3) “obtained promises” (v.33c) A) Elijah - Prayed for no rain, then he prayed for rain (1 Ki.17: 1, 18: 42-45). B) Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - All obtained promise of a seed and all received an answer for a child. C) Children of Israel - Obtained the promise of deliverance from Egypt. D) Joshua and Caleb - Obtained the promise of Canaan. E) Jos.21: 45, “There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.” 4) “waxed valiant in fight” (v.34d) A) Joshua conquered all the enemies in Canaan (Jos.21: 44). B) The Judges - Gideon, Shamgar, Ehud, Othniel, Barak, Tola, Jair, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon, and Samson all waxed valiant in fight against greatly outnumbered odds! C) David in defeating all of his enemies waxed valiant! (2 Sam.5: 10). 5) “turned to flight the armies of the aliens” (v.34e) A) Joshua - Victory at Gibeon. Hailstones from heaven, sun, moon and stars stood still till Joshua had defeated all the enemy (Jos.10: 1-14). B) Samuel - Victory at Ebenezer. The Lord thundered against the Philistines and Israel pursued them. C) Barak - Victory over Sisera (Jud.4: 15-16). D) Gideon - Victory over the Midianites (Jud.7: 22-25). E) God as a reward and encouragement to their faith put their enemy’s to flight. F) We can do the same! If we’ll submit to God, resist the devil, then he will flee from us! We are more than conquerors!
B) The Testimony of the Heroes: (v.34, 35) 1) “out of weakness were made strong.” A) When kings faced greater and more powerful armies they acknowledged their weakness and received strength! 1) Asa - 2 Chr.14: 11-12 2) Jehoshaphat - 2 Chr.20: 12-13, 17 3) Hezekiah - 2 Chr.32: 6-8, 21-22 B) Uzziah - 2 Chr.26: 5, 15-16 - We must be careful we don’t make this same mistake! We must not think we’re strong and therefore no longer need God! The older we get the more self-sufficient we become – Watch out! We never reach the point where we can do it ourselves! We always need God! (2 Cor.12: 10). 2) “women received their dead raised to life again.” A) Elijah and the son of the widow of Zarephath (1 Ki.17: 23). B) Elisha and the son of the Shunammite (2 Ki.4: 36). C) What a testimony of faith! Raising the dead! D) We too can experience a resurrection from spiritual death by faith (Eph.2: 1).
C) The Tremendous need for Heroes today!: 1) Oh that we might see people of faith, like these mentioned here, in our day and time! They trusted, were tried, and were triumphant! 2) We need our own “heroes of the faith” today who will arise to fight the good of faith. 3) How about you, will you rise to the challenge and decide to be a “hero of the faith?” 4) Will you follow in their train? Can God count on you to be a “Hero of the faith?” 5) If you’re not saved, then you can experience that resurrection from spiritual death by putting your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who loved you, died for you and rose again from the dead to save you from your sins. “Behold now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation . . . ”
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