Committed to the cause
Text: Heb. 11:32-33, 37-40
Opening:
1. In two days, we will celebrate, Independence day, July 4th and it is indeed honorable to honor those who sacrificed so much to se this nation through
2. I want to look at what it was that literally made these men, and not only these men, but the Bible men of faith, risk their lives for a cause they considered much greater than themselves.
3. The things we teach today, will benefit us, whether we are working on relationship issues, job related issues, marriages, church work, etc.
4. It is imperative that we be men and women of commitment. More so, that we see our commitments through.
I honor our National heroes
A. The signing of that great document- The declaration of Independence.
1. A declaration that declared boldly and plainly- our stand for freedom, and the willingness to lay down their lives for it
2. 230 yrs. ago our founding fathers signed such a document.
Giving up cushy jobs, positions of power, loss of reputation.
B. They forever sealed their fate as rebels to the crown- as long as the British were in control
1. The last paragraph of the declaration of independence reads…
“And for the support of this Declaration, we mutually pledge to each other, our Lives, our Fortunes, our sacred Honor.”
C. They were Semper Fi- forever faithful to this mission
1. Have you ever wondered what happened to some of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence? Lets look at one of them.
Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags
I honor the heroes of faith
A. The Men of the Old Testament
1. Men like Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;" "Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;"
(Hebrews 11:24-25)
2. Men like Joseph, who sat for years in a prison because he would not compromise his beliefs.
B. The men of the New Testament
1. Men like the apostle Paul
a. Whose testimony was the thought of persecution did not bother him….
Acts 20:24- "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus…"
2. Men like Peter, who, when threatened with beatings and imprisonment said, I cannot help but speak the things which I have seen and heard., Acts 4:20
C. Men in our own generation
1. Men like Jim Elliot & Nate Saint and those other 3 men who poured out their lives even till death.
Jim wrote an entry in his journal that read, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain, what he cannot lose."
2. Youth like Cassie Bernall- Columbine High School- when asked if she believed in God, answered yes and was shot to death
As I begin to close…
D. What was it that all these heroes of faith had that propelled them to such great length…
And what is it that you can do also to acquire the strength to stand where you should?
1. These men took the long view of things. They did not live for the here and now. They lived for tomorrow.
Too many of us are short timers… I will be here till…
I will stay in this relationship till…
I will be faithful till…
How about some… I will be faithful… FOREVER!
Does this word even exist in our vocabulary anymore?
2. These were men who knew of personal sacrifice.
"I beg of you brothers, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice…
" Rom. 12:1
3. They were men of faith. Their faith made them endure as did Moses…
4. They were men who sought out like minded men. They were men of relationship.
