Heroes
Ephesians 3:20-21
http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Heroes.html
What is a Hero? Say amen when you see a picture of a hero, and ‘boo’ when you don’t. [one-by-one slides of Britney Spears, 9/11 firefighters, American Idol judges, our military, Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, President Bush, Jerry Falwell, Barry Bonds, Spiderman, and Wesley Autry who is the recent NYC Subway hero.]
Mr. Autry was honored by the President during his state of the union speech recently, and was an honorary contestant on “Deal or No Deal” last Monday, turning down over $300k to go home with $25 [and a new Jeep!] Right after that was the season finale of NBC’s “Heroes”, one of their only successful dramas this year, which is spinning off “Heroes: Origins.” NBC also announced their plans to bring back the bionic woman! But are these real heroes? What is a true hero in God’s eyes?
Read Hebrews chapter 11 on your own for starters…it’s the “Hall of Faith”--what a great cloud of heroic witnesses have gone before us! And truly, anyone who gives their life to God is a hero. The same thing goes for serving your country. Many have died that we might live. May we never forget!
Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. It is a time in which we honor many of our nation’s heroes.
Everyone here can be a hero…one of God’s heroes. This morning I would like to share with you what it takes to be a true hero, a Christian hero. You see, a Christian hero is not some superman, endowed with a myriad of abilities and talents.
I. Belief in God’s Word
A. Today, many looked up to sport stars and athletes, movie stars and musicians as heroes. They are seen, as heroes because in many ways they do things that most of us can’t. But God’s heroes, the heroes of the Bible, were not men and women of extraordinary ability or talent but men and women of extraordinary faith. God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called!
B. 1 Corinthians 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."
C. The heroes of the Bible all took God at His Word. Look at what it says about Abraham in Romans 4:18-20 "Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
D. Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
E. Romans 10:17 "So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God."
F. Certainly God can use a person of great intellect, but only as long as his faith is even greater.
Most would say, of course I believe in God’s Word…but how about those commands you aren’t obeying, how about that passage you have rationalized away to not conflict with your lifestyle, and how has your daily Bible reading habit been going? Broke the habit? So, are you really a person of the Word? Are you truly one of God’s heroes? You should be…you can be…now will you be?
II. Commitment to God’s Will
A. Hebrews 11:13-14 "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”
B. Someone said, "A hero is someone who is sincere and does his duty. He is a man who really stands up and is counted."
C. Joshua 24:15 "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
D. “It does not take great men to do great things; it only takes consecrated men.” – Phillips Brooks (1835-1893)
E. Who is a hero? He who conquers his will. - The Mishna
F. Matthew 26:39 "And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."
G. The Holy Spirit chooses the nobodies of the church and makes them somebodies when they are committed to God’s will in their lives.
H. The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire for God.
I. We are to be consecrated to the will of God, to be and to do whatever he requires.
J. Psalms 37:5 "Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass."
K. Give me a hundred men who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I will shake the world. I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; and such alone will overthrow the kingdom of Satan and build up the kingdom of God on earth. -James S. Hewett.
Are you committed to God’s Will? Not only committed to following where He leads, but where He has already led? It’s one thing to pray about a big decision and do God’s will, but it’s another thing to make sure you are doing what is black and white that He has already commanded you to do! Are you one of God’s heroes? You should be…you can be…now will you be?
III. Devotion to God’s Work
A. James 2:18-22 "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. [19 ] Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. [20 ] But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? [21 ] Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? [22 ] Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?"
B. I am only an average man, but I work harder at it than the average man. – Teddy Roosevelt
C. Heroism is faith transformed into action.
D. Matthew 23:11 "He that is greatest among you shall be your servant."
E. There is a Norwegian Proverb that says’ A hero is one who knows how to hang on one minute longer.” In Christ’s service the heroes are those who work until Christ says it’s time to stop.
F. Hebrews 12:1-2 "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Jesus is the ultimate hero...Who gave His life that we might live a life more abundant!
Are you one of God’s heroes? You should be…you can be…now will you be?
[outline and several key thoughts courtesy Gerald Flury]
http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Heroes.html
