Heroes of the Faith
Series
Text: 1 Samuel 17:1-11
The edgy television drama Heroes follows a group of individuals who carry an unusual genetic marker giving them unique, superhuman abilities. These superhuman capabilities include things like reading people’s thoughts, becoming invisible, time traveling, knowing the future, exhibiting incredible strength, and being indestructible. As the story progresses these heroes are coming to the realization that together they have a mission to ’save the world’.
The early taglines for the publicity of this series was “Ordinary people discovering extraordinary abilities."
It that was a hero is all about - - - Superhuman, extraordinary capabilities? Hollywood would have us believe that.
I think heroes are made another way. And I think the Bible give us a great of how heroes are made and who qualifies as a hero.
I. Who needs a hero?
It’s hard to imagine that in an “It’s all about me” society, that anyone would need a hero. After all, if I can do it myself, figure it out myself or at the very lease “google” it, why do I need anyone else.
But really, isn’t everyone in pursuit of a hero? Someone that they can look up to, emulate, and model? A well known child psychologist has stated that “The need for a hero is even more urgent for children because they don’t know how to think abstractly. But they can imagine what their hero would do in the circumstances, and it gives them a useful reference point to build abstract thinking skills."
Truth is, we all need a hero. Someone we can look up to, someone we strive to be like.
Heroes live a life worthy of imitating.
The Apostle Paul told the early church believers that if they were looking for a hero they could look to him. He said “14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. 15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me. and again in 1 Corinthians 11:1 he instructed again that they “imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ”.
Remember what our earlier definition of a Hero is? “Ordinary people doing extraordinary things.”
Our country is in need of some heroes
Our community would use a few heroes
Our Church could benefit from some heroes
Our homes desperately need to be led by a couple of heroes
II. What makes a Hero?.
Israel was in desperate need of a hero. Oh, they had a king, Saul, a man who at one time was the most influential man in the kingdom, chosen by the people, not so much because he was God’s pick, but because of his statue and status. The Bible puts it this way:
1 Samuel 9:1-2
1 There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, , a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. 2 And he had a choice and handsome son whose name was Saul. There was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.
But something had drastically changed by the time Israel got to the battlefield of Sochoh. Let’s look at our text again (verse 11)
11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed (broken and cracked, defeated) and greatly afraid (drained of courage)”.
In the next several weeks we are going to take a biblical look at some - maybe not so well known - Heroes of the Faith. Men and women, just like you and I, that rose to the occasion of their day and made themselves available to be used of God in a great way.
What are some of the characteristics of these and other heroes? Here are some common traits among true heroes:
Sacrifice A hero will, without thought, put his own needs aside for the sake of others.
Determination A hero will possess an inner resolve to see a matter through without weighty consideration of potential cost and loss or public opinion
Courage Mental or moral strength to resist opposition, danger, or hardship. Courage implies firmness of mind and will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty An ingrained capacity for meeting strain or difficulty with fortitude and resilience
Selflessness A hero will purposefully put others above him/her self. By the very breakdown of the word a hero will focus less on his “selfness” and more on others.
Perseverance A hero doesn’t quit when the going gets tough. He pushes through when pressed in, He uses external pressure to propel him to the finish.
Heroes are not those who can “leap tall buildings in a single bound,” who are “faster than a speeding bullet, and more powerful than a locomotive”. That’s the material of a comic strip.
Real heroes are men and women who battle through the daily struggles gaining victory after victory through the greatest Hero of them all. Jesus!
III. You can be a Hero!
How is it that a man like Paul could tell people to imitate him. What was so special about him? - It’s who was in him.
It was Jesus in him that gave Paul the confidence to say:
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
And through Christ you can too! - Just consider these Scriptural facts:
• In my name you will say to this mountain….
• You will ask whatever you will and it will be done …
• Anything you ask the Father in my name, He will give it...
John 14:12
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
Don’t kid yourself, you are someone’s hero. Someone is watching you … imitating you.
• They may live down the street,
• They may be in the next cubicle
• They may be at the ball field
• They may be behind the checkout
• They may be living in your house
• They may be sitting next to you thing morning…
Are you living up to the title?
A godly hero is not one who is great because of their own abilities or talents, they just had faith enough to tap into the recourses of a great God.
Let’s Pray
A note from Pastor Terry,
Thanks so much for looking over this message. I trust that, in some way, you were blessed, encouraged and empowered on your own walk with Christ. Every message I prepare is bathed in prayer that God will draw, inspire, and challenge my listeners (or readers) into a more meaningful and power-filled walk with Him.
Pastors, how we need one another! We need to be encouraged, strengthened and built up in order to encourage, strengthen and build up. It’s my personal prayer that the message you’ve just reviewed has done that for you in a personal way. Use what you can of this message, toss what you can’t and above all, let God’s Spirit inspire it all!
Sometimes I feel like Peter and John at the Temple steps…”Silver and gold; I don’t have but what I do – I give to you”
Grace and peace to you, your family and the Flock you tend.
Pastor Terry
