The Great Believer's Faith Series

Letting Your Faith do the Walking Part 15

The Great Believer’s Faith

Hebrews 11:32-40

Introduction

We live in a society where winning is everything. Everything in our society is success oriented. Even the church has acquired the success syndrome. One religious leader says that what we need is to “think positively,” “you just need to claim the wealth that God wants you to have” if your faith is strong enough “something good is going to happen to you.”

All of these ignore the principal that there is a difference between spiritual success and material success. There is a difference between being deemed a success by the world and deemed a success by God.

Tonight we are going to conclude our look at faith as it is displayed in Hebrews chapter 11. Last time we saw how true faith involves a willingness to obey, in the case of Rahab obeying the command to put the scarlet thread in her window to secure the salvation of her and her family. Today in the author’s summary to his great “Heroes of the Faith Hall of Fame,” he gives four great principles about faith.

Read Scriptures: Hebrews 11:32-40

I. A Faith that accepted incredible responsibility.

Vs. 32 “And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets,”

This verse highlights the lives of some great men of faith—men who dared to believe God against unbelievable odds, and accepted great responsibility, and also showed undying courage.

There was the faith of Gideon. Who according to the book of Judges went into battle against the Medianites with three hundred hand-picked men against thousands and thousands of Medianites. Judges 7:15 “Get up! The Lord has given the Medianite camp into your hands”

There was the heroic faith of Barak. When called by God through the prophetess Deborah to fight for the freedom of the Israelites against the Canaanites. He agreed to fight against a massive Canaanite army of with over 900 iron chariots, and Barak with an army of only 10,000 men. Through faith they won an incredible victory. He believed God and because he believed, God gave him the victory.

There was the faith of Samson. Despite Samson’s life long weakness of passion, when the time came, he alone believed God; he alone was available for God to use.

Matthew Henry in his commentary makes a statement dealing with Samson, he said “True faith is acknowledged and accepted, even when mingled with many failings.”

That is certainly true of Samson’s life.

There was the heroic faith of Jephthah. Jephthah was called by God to save Israel from the Ammonites. Jephthah’s mother was a harlot a prostitute, he was raised by his father; he endured abuse and rejection by his family and society. So much so that he was driven into exile in the desert. While in exile, God used him to gather some of his surrounding neighbors to protect small villages from raids by the Ammonite terrorists. Being obedient to that call, when God called him to save Israel from the Ammonites he was ready and responded with great faith.

There was the heroic faith of David. David’s life and legacy is truly a blessing to all of us. Just think about all the psalms written by David. David wrote approximately 73 of the psalms. David was a boy of heroic faith, we all know about his battle with Goliath. David was a young man of heroic faith; David was on the run a great portion of his young life due to the fact that the King of Israel Saul hated him and feared him because he was anointed the new King over Israel while Saul was still seated on the throne. He showed great faith and trust in God as he lived in the wilderness in exile. David ruled over Israel for forty years.

There was the heroic faith of Samuel. Samuel was both prophet and Judge over Israel. During his lifetime he was the lone figure of great faith among the people who rebelled against God and refused to follow Him in righteousness and holiness. He was a man of heroic faith in the Midst of a faithless and unbelieving generation.

There was the heroic faith of the Prophets. There were all men who sensed their unworthiness before God but who answered God’s call. They faced every imaginable trial that is known to man by wicked and sinful people. But despite it all, they stood for righteousness and proclaimed the message of God, a message of hope for those who would repent and a message of judgment for those who refused.

These people accepted great responsibility but through there faith they are shining examples for us today.

II. A Faith that witnessed the impossible.